Late Breaking News

Not so much late breaking news as just late, as this item is from a few days ago.

Disney Vs. Ditko Ends

After more than two years, Disney and subsidiary Marvel have reached a settlement with the estate of acclaimed comic book artist Steve Ditko.

https://deadline.com/2023/12/marvel-court-termination-disney-spider-man-dr-strange-1234843941/

Steve Ditko’s original, unused cover for Amazing Fantasy #15.

My First Favorite Marvel Artist

John Romita became my first favorite Marvel artist with the first Marvel Comic I bought, Daredevil #19.

Daredevil #19, 1966

Romita wasn’t a flashy artist, and he wasn’t a fast artist. He was a dedicated, hard-working professional whose attractive style greatly expanded the popularity of Spider-Man after the departure of co-creator Steve Ditko.

Amazing Spider-Man #43, pg. 19. Art by John Romita, Sr.

John Romita passed away in his sleep Monday night at age 93, leaving us with one fewer of the few remaining comic book creators of the Silver Age.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/14/arts/john-romita-sr-dead.html

Voices Gone But Not Forgotten

The audio from my copy of THE VOICES OF MARVEL flexi-disc is being featured on Boing Boing. Sadly, everyone who is heard on the record is now gone.

Listen to a rare flexi-disc record of Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and the “Voices of Marvel” from 1964

The scripted and rehearsed recording was made in 1965, during Wally Wood’s brief stint working for Stan. Steve Ditko was still at Marvel, but he isn’t heard. Jack Kirby later regretted participating, despite his apparent enthusiasm at the time. Joe Sinnott didn’t return to the Bullpen until a few months later.

I know that one of my audio transfers was used for the video shared on Boing Boing, because of the “thump” heard while artist Don Heck is talking. The audio was captured lovingly and with careful attention to detail, using high-quality audio equipment, as I explained here fifteen years ago.

The MMMS Records Remastered

Our Marvelous American Heritage

A couple of choice pieces of original art currently on Heritage Auctions.

Jack Kirby/Joe Sinnott – Fantastic Four #86 Cover

I can’t say for sure if the Pro-White changes on Doctor Doom were made by Joe and/or someone at the Marvel office. In this collection of Joe’s brushes, in the middle of the container you’ll see one with dried Pro-White.

Ditko’s inking is a good contrast to Joe because he favored a pen for outlines, using a brush for emphasis and solid areas.

Steve Ditko – Amazing Spider-Man #18, p.12

Taking Sides

Chuck Jones hated Bob Clampett for claiming he created Bugs Bunny. Jack Kirby resented Stan Lee for claiming he created the Marvel Super Heroes. Fans often express their opinions in these matters as if they have a personal stake in them, regardless of whatever the full truth may actually be.

Steve Ditko’s position on the creation of Spider-Man is a particularly frustrating example. Ditko wanted credit that he felt was denied to him by Stan, which wasn’t legally Stan’s to give anyway. But Ditko also acknowledged that he had accepted payment under a work for hire arrangement. The rigid Ayn Rand logic that Ditko followed allows both of these viewpoints to be valid, leaving them irreconcilable.

With that in mind, as a follow-up to yesterday’s post, did Ub Iwerks hate Walt Disney for claiming he created Mickey Mouse, and did Walt resent his studio’s co-founder for leaving to become a competitor? Not likely from this photo, taken not long before Disney’s death.