Artist behind Spider-Man dies aged 90
STEVE DITKO, the comic book legend who helped give the world Spider-Man, has died at the age of 90, it was revealed yesterday.
The artist rose to fame for his work with Marvel Comics in the early 1960s, working with the company’s future chief, Stan Lee, on ideas including Spider-Man and Doctor Strange.
Lee came up with the idea of Peter Parker, a teen superhero with the powers of a spider, but it was Ditko who created SpiderMan’s distinctive blue and red costume and the web-shooters on his wrists.
Ditko left the company in 1966 after reportedly falling out with Lee and went on to create superhero The Creeper with DC Comics.
He was found dead at his flat in Manhattan on June 29.
Jonathan Ross, who made a documentary about Ditko, described him as ‘the single greatest comic book artist and creator who ever lived’.
Author Neil Gaiman said: ‘Steve Ditko was true to his own ideals. He saw things his own way and he gave us ways of seeing that were unique. Often copied. Never equalled. I know I’m a different person because he was in the
world.’