Happy 88th birthday, Steve Ditko

Steve Ditko’s cover to Amazing Spider-Man 33

Today, Nov. 2, is the 88th birthday of artist Steve Ditko. In an era when Marvel Comics characters are big business at the movie, Ditko was one of the people who made that possible.

Ditko co-created Spider-Man, already the subject of five movies from 2002 to 2014 and about to become part of the movie “universe” of Marvel Studios.

He also created Dr. Strange, another Marvel character that’s about to get the big-screen treatment. Ditko also helped to revamp the Hulk when that character got revived in the mid-1960s (in Tales to Astonish) after an initial comic title of his own was canceled after six issues.

In the 1960s, Ditko’s politics were far different, and much more conservative, than his many college-age fans. The artist is an admirer of author Ayn Rand, and that influenced much of his post-Marvel comic book work.

Ditko keeps to himself. In the 2000s, British television show host Jonathan Ross did a documentary about the artist. The program went into detail about how much Ditko contributed to the plots of those early Spider-Man and Dr. Strange stories. In short, it was a lot.

The show’s climax was Ross finally getting in to see Ditko (with the assistance of writer Neil Gaiman), but that moment took place off-camera. Somehow, it seemed appropriate.

Regardless, Ditko was, and is, an original. Here’s wishing Mr. Ditko a happy birthday.

MI6 comes out with a SPECTRE issue

MI6 Confidential has come out with its second issue in a month’s time, this one focused, understandably, on SPECTRE.

Issue 33 includes interviews with Lea Seydoux, Monica Bellucci and Dave Bautista, according to an MI6 Confidential promo.

The issue also has a non-SPECTRE  story about the Steven Spielberg-directed film Bridget of Spies.

The publication urges readers to “be sure to watch the film before you dive in,” which sounds like there are spoilers to those who haven’t seen the 24th James Bond film yet. The issue will ship around the time of SPECTRE’s U.S. release on Friday. That’s about a month after issue 32.

The price is 7 British pounds, $11 or 8.50 euros. For more information, CLICK HERE.