Working With Ditko by Jack C. Harris (book review).
Don’t approach the book, ‘Working With Ditko’ by Jack C. Harris, as a biography of the renowned comic book creator, Steve Ditko. Instead, it offers an inside look at their professional collaboration. Harris, who initially served as a sub-editor at DC Comics, first met Ditko when he allowed the artist to sit in his office as Ditko awaited a meeting with Joe Orlando. This initial interaction paved the way for their continued association when Harris became both an editor and scripter for Ditko’s creations at DC, notably the Creeper, among others.
The book showcases abundant samples of Ditko’s work, even hinting at how he might have approached Batman. However, a distinctive take on the Dark Knight’s gauntlet blades drawing blood raised concerns among other editors about the extremity of his vision. Surprisingly, what might have been deemed extreme then would likely be uncontroversial today, just like the idea of Batman using his cape as a glider.
An interesting tidbit reveals Ditko’s aversion to crafting an origin—or as he dubbed it, ‘legends’—story too early, fearing it might not garner sufficient readership. He also had a penchant for shorter character names to save space within dialogue balloons.
However, not all of Ditko’s creations saw the light of day. Many factors, from a company’s closure to unexpected changes, can halt a project. Harris showcases some of these unseen gems in the book, revealing Ditko’s meticulous pencil work with minimal layout lines.
Harris notes that many of their collaborative ideas or sample strips remained on the drawing board, highlighting the capricious nature of comic book companies as strategies evolved. Yet, their unique two-issue ‘Substance’, produced in 3D by Ray Zone’s firm, stands out. A novel twist in the narrative reveals the lead character, Justin Smith, is invisible, but becomes perceptible through 3D glasses when one eye is closed.
While Steve Ditko’s legacy remains intertwined with iconic characters like Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, this book underscores the breadth of his work for DC Comics and other publishers. His prolific artwork constantly evolved, though one could argue about the recurrence of certain facial features—a challenge many comic artists face, as evidenced by Dave Gibbons in the past. Over his nine-decade-long journey, Ditko crafted distinctive realities, conceived unconventional super-powers, and left an indelible imprint on the global comic book industry. Truly, legends don’t get grander than that.
GF Willmetts
October 2023
(pub: TwoMorrows Publishing. 126 page illustrated softcover. Price: $24.95 (US). ISBN: 978-1-60549-122-6. Direct from them, you can get it for $24.95 (US))
check out websites: www.TwoMorrows.com and https://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=95_93&products_id=1760
