Steve Ditko

• Born 1927-11-02 · Died 2018-06-29

American comic book artist best known for being the co-creator of Marvel superheroes [Spider-Man](app://character/6122) and [Doctor Strange](app://character/6430). He also made notable contributions to the character of [Iron Man](app://character/6211), introducing the character's signature red and yellow design. Ditko studied under Batman artist [Jerry Robinson](app://creator/6357) at the Cartoonist and Illustrators School in New York City. He began his professional career in 1953, working in the studio of [Joe Simon](app://creator/6805) and [Jack Kirby](app://creator/2), beginning as an inker and coming under the influence of artist [Mort Meskin](app://creator/9709). During this time, he began his long association with Charlton, where he did work in the genres of science fiction, horror, and mystery. He also co-created the superhero [Captain Atom](app://character/12830) in 1960. During the 1950s, Ditko also drew for Atlas Comics, a forerunner of Marvel. He went on to contribute much significant work to Marvel. Ditko was the artist for the first 38 issues of [The Amazing Spider-Man](app://series/1570), co-creating much of the Spider-Man supporting characters and villains with [Stan Lee](app://creator/12304). Beginning with issue #25, Ditko was also credited as the plotter. In 1966, after being the exclusive artist on The Amazing Spider-Man and the "Doctor Strange" feature in [Strange Tales](app://series/824), Ditko left Marvel. He continued to work for Charlton and also DC, including a revamp of the long-running character the [Blue Beetle](app://character/12801) and creating or co-creating [The Question](app://character/6239), [The Creeper](app://character/12717), [Rac Shade](app://character/25847), [Nightshade](app://character/12833), and The Hawk and the Dove. Ditko also began contributing to small independent publishers, where he created [Mr. A](app://character/20373), a hero reflecting the influence of [Ayn Rand](app://creator/24505)'s philosophy of Objectivism.