|
Post by medicar on Apr 26, 2007 17:52:26 GMT -5
This thread was technically started elsewhere. I'll try to bring everyone up to speed. I just didn't want to hijack the thread. It started in the Charlton Comics thread under eBay listings with this: To which I replied: I didn't know there was any question, I can't find #11. I also have a cover proof(?) of this issue signed by Ditko. It's the front cover without the edges trimmed down, printed on both sides. Mr. Ditko signed the bottom of it. And then: Ditko rarely signs anything, so that's impressive. My understanding is that if you visit his home, coffee mugs will be sitting on original art and pieces of artwork may be sticking out of his trash can. He just has his own values that may or may not relate to anyone else's. defiant1 So we're up to speed. I've always heard Mr. Ditko is a little....different. A lot of fans seem to take offense to mentioning this, and I don't understand why. I've described Mr. Ditko as "reclusive" which I had my hand slapped for. Then I went to "eccentric," which got me another rap on the knuckles. So, I came up with "eclectic" and got one more smack. So, please forgive any terminology that you might find offensive. I love what Mr. Ditko has done for the last 50 plus or minus years. Everyone is most certainly entitled to live and work the way they want to, but I would think that someone who has achieved his stature in pop culture would capitalize on it a little more. After all, the man is a legend! I keep hoping he will go the way of many of the Golden Age artists, and do sketches and commissions and such. I seriously doubt it, but a guy can hope. Another big hope is that there will be a comprehensive biography or interview eventually. Again, highly unlikely. I don't really want of have to know about his personal life, but would love to know more about his professional life and professional relationships and his opinions and ideas, particularly on the creation of Spider-Man.
|
|
|
Post by medicar on Apr 26, 2007 19:19:42 GMT -5
In the vein of living as you want, R. Crumb comes to mind. He moved to France. He still produces a variety of items though and sells some great signed prints of both new and old art work.
The prints are out of my range right now, and I'm specific as to what I want. I don't want to be embarrassed when the in-laws come over, but I also want it to be instantly recognizable as Crumb's art.
|
|
Quato
Level 14
a.k.a. Defiant1
Quato a.k.a. Defiant1
Posts: 1,669
|
Post by Quato on Apr 26, 2007 22:16:58 GMT -5
After years of reading comics, it dawned upon me that a large sense of my morality came from comics and particularly the Ditko/Lee Spiderman.... most likely as interpreted into the 1960's TV cartoon.
If you want to tap into Ditko's mind a little, there a book collecting some of his later work which dips into his stance on morality. If you read it for 5 minutes it should give you an idea why he and Stan Lee had a falling out.
Reading that book fascinated because he is the first person I've seen treat words as a restrictive box. His sentences never confined themselves to using just one adjective. When he wrote he'd use adjective/adjective/adjective rather than just pick one. That tells me that he's trying to convey a concept and didn't want the reader to restrict their thinking to one stereotypical way of looking at the issue he was writing about..
If I find the book, I'll scan it. Of all the creators, I'd like to meet him the most. Not because of his art, but because of his beliefs. I kinda agree with a lot of things he's rambled about.
Q
|
|
|
Post by gowaltrip on Apr 27, 2007 8:57:38 GMT -5
I dont know much about Ditko the person. Just what others say who seem to know more about him and I find it interesting. I personally have only looked at him as a comic fan and I have a love/hate relationship with his work. For the longest of long time, I have hated his work. I always felt it was too cartoony and often anything he did on a series to me was the worst moments. I felt that way about Machine Man, Captain Marvel (Marvel Spotlight vol 2), Daredevil, Hulk...etc. His work just seemed very ordinary to me. Bland..sketchy...raw...just not as good as surrounding issues by other artists. But my view on those works have softened. I look at his Machine Man stuff now (one thing I most highly detested) and it doesnt look that bad to me now. His early works on Spiderman and other 60s characters I find fantastic. I find any of his trippy acid type work with Horror books or even Superheroes to be so very original, fun to look at and masterpieces to own and collect. I now find myself after his works. I feel he is THE artist to get for my beloved Charltons, although I feel there is a mix of both good and bad Ditko work in there as well. Im just saying I appreciate the man now. To be honest. I had the same view on Kirby growing up and now for the last 15 years, I have loved the man's works as one of my all-time favorite artists. I think slowly, I am getting that way with Ditko too.
|
|
|
Post by medicar on Apr 27, 2007 21:32:14 GMT -5
Q- I'd settle for the title of the book. Since true interviews and bios aren't coming, I'd love a look into his mind and morality.
|
|
|
Post by medicar on Apr 27, 2007 21:39:15 GMT -5
Gowaltrip- I've been the same way with Ditko. Love this, hate that. Love his style here, wonder who picked him for a project there. It was just all over the map. Now, I understand there's more to it than just the artwork. He actually wants to communicate more than the average artist. He tries to expolore ideas and concepts rather than just tell a story. I don't think he does it all the time, but he certainly pushes the boundaries on his self-published stuff.
Everyone prepare to roll your eyes....
As for the cartoony quality of Ditko's art, I like it on some books, on others it just doesn't work well. I thought of Todd McFarlane the same way when he took over the second issue of Batman Year Two in Detective. He was cartoony, but in a very cool way. Marshall Rogers was another that could pull it off with class too. Toddy might be able to still do it now, but I wouldn't count on it. How's that for a leap? Comparing McFarlane to Ditko?
|
|
|
Post by Defiant1 on Apr 28, 2007 2:30:53 GMT -5
Q- I'd settle for the title of the book. Since true interviews and bios aren't coming, I'd love a look into his mind and morality. Unfortunately, since it's not available to scan at the moment, that also leaves me with the inability to read the title. I did some online searches of Fantagraphics & Ditko and I never located a scan or title. This is the exact reason I make my checklists. I get frustrated that information gets neglected. I'll keep looking. Defiant1
|
|
|
Post by gowaltrip on Apr 28, 2007 6:12:21 GMT -5
I have often felt McFarlane was over rated. I do see some comparisons with him and Ditko in the cartoon like way. McFarlane was just a lot more detailed. I find I have the opposite view on McFarlane that I do with Ditko. I remember when Spiderman #1 came out in 1990. I was like all the other fanboys at the time. Thinking it was great and loving and collecting every issue. Even though even then, there was things that bothered me about his work. His anatomy and proportion (sp?) was not always there. His cartoony human characters. I ignored it all. But the older I get, the more I cant stand these things when I look at his work. I look back and wonder what was the big deal? Other than some nice shots here and there, I just dont find his work or style to be that great. I find Ditko had the same qualities that I hated from day 1. But I find the more I dig into his style, when the man hit it, he was very unique. And some of his work, especially his older works, just have a surreal quality about them. And it works for me. Spiderman, Doctor Strange, Captain Atom his horror works....some of his works are so original, that Im glad it was him that did it and no one else. But I still say, his guest penciling jobs on some books and his rushed every day no detail style on others, were just unforgivable at times. There is a big difference between good Ditko and bad Ditko. But when he hits it, its awesome.
|
|
Quato
Level 14
a.k.a. Defiant1
Quato a.k.a. Defiant1
Posts: 1,669
|
Post by Quato on Apr 28, 2007 12:28:49 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by medicar on Apr 28, 2007 12:36:50 GMT -5
I took the gaffes in proportion and forshortening as part of the cartoony style. I think McFarlane was at his peak on Year Two and his run on Amazing Spider-man. Once he became a recognized "star" I cared less and less. I've often wondered if he was being ghosted by other artists on his Spider-man run. He sure was able to find a bunch of artists to draw a lot like him on Spawn.
I love Ditko when he's psychadelic. His Doctor Strange is phenomenal. I had hoped for more of that type of thing on Dark Dominion, whether it was the coloring or a change in his style, it just didn't feel right. It wasn't bad, just not what I expected.
|
|
|
Post by medicar on Apr 28, 2007 12:46:36 GMT -5
I'm not a fan of McFarlane at all. I don't even compare the two. Ditko is a master of layouts. Not the layouts, or anything innovative, just a cartoony style that I thought really worked. Toddy did some fun stuff too, if memory serves, I just don't have the books at hand to cite examples. I'd love to have a copy of that! Also, in Blake Bell's "The Comics" newsletter, Ditko did a series of essays, I'd love to track all of those down too. Once again, for the insight. Ditko only did the #0 issue, not #1. So, no, it's not him. I have a Hulk page from an annual with the Hulk tossing a fire truck. Ditko and fire stuff....I had to have it!
|
|
|
Post by medicar on Apr 28, 2007 12:57:17 GMT -5
Here's some interesting stuff about Marvel ret-conning some stuff that really doesn't need it. No real depth here, but it's sort of funny and sad to see. www.bestofmostof.com/07apr/index070427.htmQ- I'm betting you're talking about "The Ditko Collection" from Fantagraphics. I'm trying to track it down already. It came out in 1985 and has tons of reprinted material from the master.
|
|
Quato
Level 14
a.k.a. Defiant1
Quato a.k.a. Defiant1
Posts: 1,669
|
Post by Quato on Apr 28, 2007 13:08:49 GMT -5
|
|
Quato
Level 14
a.k.a. Defiant1
Quato a.k.a. Defiant1
Posts: 1,669
|
Post by Quato on Apr 28, 2007 13:11:36 GMT -5
It may have been his Avenging World TPB (as opposed to just the comics which may have similar or the same content. Read this... www.answers.com/topic/mr-aQ
|
|
Quato
Level 14
a.k.a. Defiant1
Quato a.k.a. Defiant1
Posts: 1,669
|
Post by Quato on Apr 28, 2007 13:28:47 GMT -5
|
|
Quato
Level 14
a.k.a. Defiant1
Quato a.k.a. Defiant1
Posts: 1,669
|
Post by Quato on Apr 28, 2007 17:35:51 GMT -5
I'm ashamed to admit that I actually like the cheesy retcon. They put Hank Pym in Tomb of Darkness #22. Q
|
|
|
Post by medicar on Apr 29, 2007 8:00:04 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Defiant1 on Apr 29, 2007 14:58:51 GMT -5
Cool, but I'll probably end up missing it. Defiant1
|
|
|
Post by medicar on Apr 29, 2007 17:20:56 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Defiant1 on Apr 29, 2007 20:42:29 GMT -5
Something about Cat Yronwode always makes my skin crawl. If it's not her web pages about sex worship or selling herbs ( www.herb-magic.com/ ) then it's her attitude toward people in general. If I was Steve Ditko, I'd want my personal life just as private as he wants his. She's just another name I assopciate with the CBG and everything I dislike about that publication. After reading her words, I feel inclined to go take a shower and then meditate upon bunnies and kittens playing on a soft green well manicured lawn. In other words, something about her disgusts me. defiant1
|
|
|
Post by medicar on Apr 30, 2007 12:26:45 GMT -5
I know there's something about her I don't like. I want to say it was something to do with Will Eisner and her dealings with him, but I really don't remember. She just disappeared, I actually thought maybe she was dead until I found this letter.
|
|
Quato
Level 14
a.k.a. Defiant1
Quato a.k.a. Defiant1
Posts: 1,669
|
Post by Quato on Apr 30, 2007 22:13:38 GMT -5
She used to pass those ads off as articles in the CBG. That alone was enough for me to ignore what she wrote.
|
|
|
Post by Defiant1 on Sept 28, 2008 21:05:24 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Defiant1 on May 3, 2009 18:12:22 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Defiant1 on May 14, 2013 18:58:33 GMT -5
Thought this was interesting. I thought Robin Snyder was a guy. Shows what I know.
Defiant1
|
|
|
Post by gowaltrip on May 14, 2013 21:11:22 GMT -5
I don't know why, but when i came here and seen the most recent post was on Steve Ditko, I was afraid to look. I thought it was going to say he died.
whew! That would have made me sad.
|
|
|
Post by Defiant1 on May 14, 2013 23:59:09 GMT -5
I don't know why, but when i came here and seen the most recent post was on Steve Ditko, I was afraid to look. I thought it was going to say he died. whew! That would have made me sad. I think he'll outlive Stan. I'd love to just sit and listen to him talk his logic. I'd probably agree with everything he says. Defiant1
|
|
|
Post by gowaltrip on May 16, 2013 15:14:47 GMT -5
I don't know why, but when i came here and seen the most recent post was on Steve Ditko, I was afraid to look. I thought it was going to say he died. whew! That would have made me sad. I think he'll outlive Stan. I'd love to just sit and listen to him talk his logic. I'd probably agree with everything he says. Defiant1 I believe he is probably a VERY interesting person. I've read a few stories about him written about his eccentric or rather, hard line approach to how people get information out of him. It's not something that comes easily from what I've heard. I've been dying to see some documentary, I believe the BBC made it like 4 or 5 years ago about him. And I believe it was aired on PBS or something. I'm not sure of the finer points. But I have heard there is a documentary out there which has interviews with him. I've never seen any of it. Old links of it I've seen advertising it have been taken down or are just plain broken links. If anyone has a link to watch it, I'd love to see it.
|
|
|
Post by Defiant1 on May 16, 2013 17:14:00 GMT -5
I don't think you will see any video interviews of him. he won't let anyone take his picture. Even on the audio record that went out to marvel fans, he is absent. They mention him, but he's not recorded.
This is an excellent video. This is what you are describing.
In Search of Steve Ditko
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Defiant1
|
|
|
Post by gowaltrip on May 16, 2013 19:16:03 GMT -5
Yeah, that's it. Thanks. I just watched part 1. Excellent already.
I knew he didn't do photos or grant interviews, I just knew I heard something about it and it seems like it was the most comprehensive thing you could see about him. So, sorry about the term "interviews".
I like the room the guy doing the interview is in with all those covers and splash pages in the backgrounds. Of few of those books I have. I especially am found of my Charlton Ditkos.
I just remembering how much I thought the guy sucked in the 70s and 80s and how much I appreciate him now. It's funny because I was the same way about Kirby.
Even though their art is not technically as detailed as today's works, their mastery of the craft of comics and storytelling in single panel form just blows away today's artists. When I see stuff like this I feel like today's work just forgot how to appreciate craftsmanship and instead today just draw one pose pic after another.
|
|