Steve Ditko, Iconic Marvel Artist and Spider-Man Co-Creator, Passes Away at Age 90

One of the founding fathers of the comic book industry has passed away: Steve Ditko has died at 90 years old. The legendary Marvel artist was a pivotal force in the industry, co-creating Spider-Man, Dr. Strange, and many more beloved characters during his tenure at Marvel Comics. Steve Ditko was born on November 2nd, 1927 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. After a stint in the army, Ditko enrolled in the Cartoonists and Illustrators School in New York City, where he studied under his idol, Batman artist Jerry Robinson.

In 1955 he began drawing for Atlas Comics, the pre-cursor Marvel Comics. Working with Stan Lee, the two created Spider-Man, on of the most iconic characters ever to exist in the medium. Ditko was responsible for many signature spidey traits, such as his costume design, red and blue color scheme, and his web shooters. The character first appeared in the anthology comic book Amazing Fantasy #15 in 1962. He went on to help create famous Spider-Man villains like Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Sandman and the Lizard.

In 1963 Ditko created Dr. Strange, where his surrealistic landscapes and psychedelic artwork made the character extremely popular in the growing counter-culture of the 1960s. In the mid 1960s, Ditko left Marvel Comics after a fight with Stan Lee. A notoriously private person, Ditko almost never gave interviews or spoke to the public, preferring his work to speak for itself. Ditko continued to work well into his 70s, creating cult character Squirrel Girl in 1992.

When news of his passing broke, many took to social media to express their condolences and to share the influence that Steve Ditko had on their life:

(via The Hollywood Reporter, image: screengrab)

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Chelsea Steiner

Chelsea was born and raised in New Orleans, which explains her affinity for cheesy grits and Britney Spears. An pop culture journalist since 2012, her work has appeared on Autostraddle, AfterEllen, and more. Her beats include queer popular culture, film, television, republican clownery, and the unwavering belief that 'The Long Kiss Goodnight' is the greatest movie ever made. She currently resides in sunny Los Angeles, with her husband, 2 sons, and one poorly behaved rescue dog. She is a former roller derby girl and a black belt in Judo, so she is not to be trifled with. She loves the word “Jewess” and wishes more people used it to describe her.

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