As a kid in the 70s, I was buying all the Ditko I could afford. I was lucky enough to find the original ASM Annual 2 for $6 at a shop in 1982 and still own it.
Been waiting for y’all to cover some Ditko from day 1! I think one of the essential elements of Ditko’s Dr. Strange work is this sense of paranoia, especially during the issues of Strange Tales which ran a 13 (?) part arc which Dr. Strange is chased around the globe and is on a mission to save the Ancient One and find Eternity. It’s really this rare combination of paranoia that is mixed with an altruism and belief in the good of humanity that makes it great to read. I feel as though Dr. Strange always has his back against a wall, similar to the Parker Luck, but he always overcomes by powering up through his struggles and being clever.
I had the original Spider-Man Annual #2. When Spidey took the wand into another dimension with the two mindless thugs his costume was colored yellow and green for the pages he was there. In the numerous reprints I've seen over the last 45 years or so it was never duplicated; his costume was the standard blue and red. Too bad, it looked pretty good.
its the hands! ditko hand gestures are king! so dynamic and in reality you could never make half of those gestures because it is anatomically impossible!
The excellent Sandy Plunkett/P.Craig Russell story "Switch Witch" that appeared in MARVEL FANFARE #6, is a real riff on this Annual Story. It features Spidey vs. Xandu and an identical wand. But has Scarlet Witch, instead of Doctor Strange.. The story even mentions a reference to MARVEL TEAM-UP #21, which I believe was also connected to this Annual story, in some form..
At about 13:44 when Jim is talking about hands that last panel the way Spider-Man is sort of shifted while he is standing reminds me of how romita jr always draws guys standing. So expressive.
Have been thoroughly enjoying these videos! So glad to have discovered you guys. I am currently waiting on multiple artists edition books I didnt know existed before you. Thanks!
I mean for a repressed 15 year old in Michigan...this art was very dynamic and innovative for a young mind to grasp. Doc Strange was the bomb...way before Crumb or Corben. And, he was tame by comparison..no Kirby photo collage or FF trope phantom zone stuff. Ditko was just steady and visually stellar. Always loved his stuff......his Blue Beetle stuff was so Spidermanesque and I recall a Thunder Agent run, thar t he did a Noman strip with the use of locking leg braces for his vacated android body...thoughtful stuff for a fill in artist. Ditko is just the best.....too bad he has left us. Would have loved to see a live interview with this artist.
In an interview George R. R. Martin said that Steve Ditko and Flo Steinberg were the the guests of honor at the first (alleged) comic convention in NY. He said he bought his ticket from a young Len Wein. That may have been the only time Ditko ever made an appearance
The colours in that reprint are completely different to the original Annual (and the restored version in the Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus #1) - I think that they're a bit more dynamic than the original. The white highlight on the cover isn't there at all (actually, as you can see in the video's thumbnail).
Their favorite part of the issue: Look at the art! So Strange yet so Amazing! My favorite part: Wand of Watoomb. Damn thing has a life of its own. Diablo 2 has it for a wand and I've seen it in other games. Shows up in the Dr Strange movie. For a throwaway thing... it's actually more resilient than Dr. Strange. I have no idea why, it's a double ended thing with horns, it can't be that comfortable to carry around.
Andrew -- you can order it from Copacetic Comics: copaceticcomics.com/comics/mtsyry-octobriana-1976 Or from the publisher AdHouse Books: adhousebooks.com/comics/mtsyry.html
Ed's Patreon: www.patreon.com/edpiskor
Jim's Patreon: www.patreon.com/jimrugg
As a kid in the 70s, I was buying all the Ditko I could afford. I was lucky enough to find the original ASM Annual 2 for $6 at a shop in 1982 and still own it.
You can retire rich with all that!
Steve Ditko was the master of negative space and his minimalist art style was amazing.
Been waiting for y’all to cover some Ditko from day 1!
I think one of the essential elements of Ditko’s Dr. Strange work is this sense of paranoia, especially during the issues of Strange Tales which ran a 13 (?) part arc which Dr. Strange is chased around the globe and is on a mission to save the Ancient One and find Eternity.
It’s really this rare combination of paranoia that is mixed with an altruism and belief in the good of humanity that makes it great to read. I feel as though Dr. Strange always has his back against a wall, similar to the Parker Luck, but he always overcomes by powering up through his struggles and being clever.
I had the original Spider-Man Annual #2. When Spidey took the wand into another dimension
with the two mindless thugs his costume was colored yellow and green for the pages he was
there. In the numerous reprints I've seen over the last 45 years or so it was never duplicated;
his costume was the standard blue and red. Too bad, it looked pretty good.
Ditko's character designs are the best. Kirby's designs get updated all the time, but Ditko's have almost all stayed the same.
Well it's Romita's Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy that have lasted. Not Ditko's.
The 12:19 comic Ed refers to is ASM#25 with Jamaeson on the Screen of the Spider-Slayer, the first story on which Ditko had plot credit.
its the hands! ditko hand gestures are king! so dynamic and in reality you could never make half of those gestures because it is anatomically impossible!
The excellent Sandy Plunkett/P.Craig Russell story "Switch Witch" that appeared in MARVEL FANFARE #6, is a real riff on this Annual Story. It features Spidey vs. Xandu and an identical wand. But has Scarlet Witch, instead of Doctor Strange.. The story even mentions a reference to MARVEL TEAM-UP #21, which I believe was also connected to this Annual story, in some form..
Your channel and comic tropes channel really make my day
The Master! Still the best version of Spidey ever. Love this issue!
Look at the credits. Plot by Ditko...so probably not even a sentence from Stan Lee...
At about 13:44 when Jim is talking about hands that last panel the way Spider-Man is sort of shifted while he is standing reminds me of how romita jr always draws guys standing. So expressive.
Have been thoroughly enjoying these videos! So glad to have discovered you guys. I am currently waiting on multiple artists edition books I didnt know existed before you. Thanks!
I remember it well. One of my favorite stories from the early days. The wand of watoomb.
Ed and Jim need the "Ditko is STRANGE" edition to review!
I mean for a repressed 15 year old in Michigan...this art was very dynamic and innovative for a young mind to grasp. Doc Strange was the bomb...way before Crumb or Corben. And, he was tame by comparison..no Kirby photo collage or FF trope phantom zone stuff. Ditko was just steady and visually stellar. Always loved his stuff......his Blue Beetle stuff was so Spidermanesque and I recall a Thunder Agent run, thar t he did a Noman strip with the use of locking leg braces for his vacated android body...thoughtful stuff for a fill in artist. Ditko is just the best.....too bad he has left us. Would have loved to see a live interview with this artist.
Superbly superb work!
So happy to see you talk about Ditko, one of my favourites
In an interview George R. R. Martin said that Steve Ditko and Flo Steinberg were the the guests of honor at the first (alleged) comic convention in NY. He said he bought his ticket from a young Len Wein. That may have been the only time Ditko ever made an appearance
Other than the Ditko stuff, the Englehart/Brunner Doctor Strange run is gorgeous and probably the second best Strange stuff.
Ditko! Love Ditko.
This story is in the king size "Ditko is Amazing" collection that came out last year. www.amazon.com/Ditko-Amazing-King-Size-Steve/dp/1302920677
The colours in that reprint are completely different to the original Annual (and the restored version in the Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus #1) - I think that they're a bit more dynamic than the original. The white highlight on the cover isn't there at all (actually, as you can see in the video's thumbnail).
"For The Good Of Comics" could be a what-if anthology lol
Neat! Now do ASM annual number 1!
Absolute best Marvel Annual of the era. New art from cover to cover. Those Annuals really felt like special events in a way they haven't since.
Their favorite part of the issue: Look at the art! So Strange yet so Amazing!
My favorite part: Wand of Watoomb. Damn thing has a life of its own. Diablo 2 has it for a wand and I've seen it in other games. Shows up in the Dr Strange movie. For a throwaway thing... it's actually more resilient than Dr. Strange. I have no idea why, it's a double ended thing with horns, it can't be that comfortable to carry around.
Jim ive been to all my comic shops i cant find your book anywhere 😩😭
Andrew -- you can order it from Copacetic Comics: copaceticcomics.com/comics/mtsyry-octobriana-1976
Or from the publisher AdHouse Books: adhousebooks.com/comics/mtsyry.html
14:56
When do we get Ed’s manga version of Doctor Strange?
What do those black bars at the top of the pages signify? I've always found them distracting
I think they're to let the printers know the pages are aligned when assembling the comic.
Oh yes!
Will you guys ever talk about Stan Lee's theft of this specific character?