Disney just crowned a new batch of Disney legends at D23, honoring actors, creators, and storytellers who have had a major impact on the company. This year’s crop of Disney Legends included everyone from Star Wars composer John Williams to Avatar director James Cameron. But perhaps the most interesting selection was the late Steve Ditko, the comics artist who co-created Spider-Man and Doctor Strange.
With a pedigree like that, there’s no question that Ditko deserves to be inducted as a Disney Legend. But would he have wanted to be? That’s another matter entirely. Ditko was a comic book writer and artist who made his debut in the early ‘50s, first working in the studio of Captain America creators Joe Simon and Jack Kirby and then branching out on his own professionally.
He quickly developed a strong relationship with publisher Charlton Comics, co-creating the character Captain Atom in 1960. Ditko would also later create The Question and work extensively on Blue Beetle, helping to shape three characters who would eventually be folded into the DC Universe in the ‘80s. But Ditko is undoubtedly best known for his work at Marvel; he began working there in the late ‘50s, when the company was still known as Atlas Comics.
He struck up a strong working relationship with writer Stan Lee on the series Amazing Adult Fantasy, culminating in their most important collaboration of all in the series’ final issue, 1962’s Amazing Fantasy #15. That’s where Spider-Man was born. I.