In Search of Steve Ditko

Yesterday, I said the Steve Ditko Spider-Man Artist’s Edition book would be delivered today. I had pre-ordered it with Amazon in February. In fact, I ordered two copies, with one going to Denro as a birthday present.

Here it is, after 2 PM, and they haven’t shipped yet. Based on my past experience, I know that if something isn’t on its way by now, it won’t be arriving as expected.



Also based on past experience, I expected that canceling wouldn’t work; and, indeed, it didn’t, because the order was “being prepared.” Which is nothing more than a timed software action, not based on something actually happening.

Was the publisher unable to ship copies to Amazon in time? Were they sent to the wrong Amazon location? Is there an internal problem at Amazon? Doesn’t matter.

Canceling should be presented as an option once Amazon declares that delivery has been delayed. I’ll cancel and then take advantage of the now-discounted price for later delivery.

Follow-up: 7 PM – not yet shipped.

9 PM – Shipped, arriving tomorrow.

7/22/26 8:26 AM – Package being processed at carrier facility.

Oh boy! A total of 22-cents off!

The Amazing Spider-Man by Steve Ditko Artist's Edition

Price on order date: $195.00

Price charged at shipping: $195.00

Lowest price before release date: $194.89

Amount to be refunded: $0.11

Quantity: 2

Total Savings: $0.22

Let’s compare that against the current price on Amazon. 22% off beats 22-cents.

-22%
$151.50
List Price: $195.00

Deadpool at Hoover

Jumble, 7/15/26

The timing of today’s Jumble is perfect. Except the water in Lake Mead behind Hoover Dam is in danger of falling low enough to reach the dead power pool level. Leaving it without the ability to generate electricity, so Hoover will be sucking air like the other namesake. California announced today it will do what it can to keep that from happening.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/weather-news/articles/lake-mead-dry-bone-california-205118456.html

Hey Beatles/Hey Bingle!

I’m thinking Joe Sinnott probably had Bing Crosby’s Hey Jude/Hey Bing! album in his record collection. 65-year-old Bing covered two Apple label singles from the fall of ’68.

On December 11, 1961, ABC-TV in America broadcast a TV special that Bing had produced in England, in which he performed this humorous rendition of ‘The Sheik of Araby’.

A few weeks later, on January 1, 1962, the Beatles, with Pete Best on drums, recorded their own humorous take of ‘The Sheik of Araby’ at their Decca Records audition.

An Aussie Good Cartoonist

Pat Oliphant has died. Originally from Australia, Oliphant found his way to America, where he established himself as one of the leading political cartoonists. He was an exceptionally gifted draftsman, with a loose and seemingly effortless drawing style.

Here’s the NYTimes obit/appreciation:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/13/arts/pat-oliphant-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.xlA.E8y-.QcOKLMBkveSh&smid=url-share