Steve Ditko (1927-2018) revolutionized the comics industry with his distinctive visual storytelling and philosophical approach. Without him, comics would be very different today. His contribution to comics can never be overstated – from co-creating Spider-Man and Doctor Strange at Marvel to defining characters like The Question and Hawk and Dove at DC, he is foundational to both publishers.
His work outside of those major companies is harder to gauge because many of those publishers no longer exist, yet there is clear evidence of his consistent excellence across all his work. For example, his Charlton Action Heroes like Blue Beetle, Captain Atom, and the aforementioned Question later continued at DC Comics to great popularity, expanding into TV, movies, and animation.
To be honest, strip away the context of Marvel or DC, and a Ditko comic is still unmistakably powerful. His unique visual language and commitment to storytelling transcended publishers. It is exactly this enduring quality that makes the Steve Ditko Estate’s debut on Indiegogo as Ditkoverse so exciting – a chance to experience more of the master’s work presented with the respect it deserves.
To some, this project might seem exploitative of Ditko’s legacy, but the reality is this is being done by the legal entity of the Steve Ditko Estate. This is as legitimate as it gets. I wanted to explore this further because Steve remains an enigma to many fans, despite his enormous influence.
First Comics News: To start, could you share your connection to Steve Ditko? What experiences or qualities do you believe uniquely qualify you to carry forward his artistic legacy?
Mort Todd: Like millions of comic fans, I grew up loving Steve’s art. Unlike millions, I got to collaborate with him as a writer, inker, letterer, colorist, editor, publisher, and VCR installer (at his studio). Steve often visited my various offices, and we would chew the fat for hours on end about a range of topics.
1st: You bring impressive professional backgrounds to this project, with direct comics experience. How has your business background prepared you for managing Steve’s legacy, and what unique perspectives do you contribute to the Ditko estate’s projects?
Mort: Mark has vast experience in publishing with his technical books, nor is he a greenhorn on the topic of comic books. He is the literal Ambassador of Steve’s legacy. Ditkoverse is not in it for the money (ha ha, imagine comics making money) but to honor Steve’s incredible ability and his unprecedented creations. Mark’s also got more common sense about business decisions than I do. Despite my decades in the comic book field, I’m still a total fanboy geek at heart. My first phone call as a young Editor-in-Chief was to Steve Ditko about doing commissions. He arrived at my office about 15 minutes later, portfolio in hand… and it was the start of a long friendship.
1st: While fans have seen many Ditko reprints over the years, your Indiegogo campaign appears to offer something more substantial. Could you explain what makes this project unique and what specific content or experiences backers can expect that they haven’t seen in previous Ditko publications?
Mort: The production values for one thing. Many of the past Ditko reprints are just scans from the vintage comics or in black & white, usually without the context we bring to the publications. We’re starting with original art or photostats, cleaning it up, adding original color, and even fixing typos (shame on you, Joe Gill). Then we have vibrant variant covers and other one-of-a-kind Ditko collectibles. Plus, we have somenever-before-seenn unpublished stuff from the Steve Ditko Family vault. On top of that, you have Mark’s and my love and respect for Steve’s material. Humbly, I don’t think there’s a better team to steward future generations and make them aware of Steve’s individual and visionary comics.
1st: Steve Ditko was known for his strong principles and artistic integrity. How do you believe he would view this project, and what specific steps are you taking to ensure it honors his artistic vision and philosophical approach?
Mort: Over the years, I would color Steve’s Marvel/DC and Charlton art from black & white scans for just plain fun and send him prints for his critique. He usually liked them! I colored some pages I commissioned from him, that is now Mr. A: The Lost Adventures #1, and he approved. When I licensed Mr. A in the 1990s, we talked about how the character would function in live action, and he was intrigued by the concept of the all-white costumed Mr. A being highlighted by different color lights. Color noir!
And I’m sure Mark will tell you that he got a letter from his Uncle Steve stating he wanted Mr. A to be in the present and future.
In Steve Ditko’s own words: “Mr. A, …that is one character from the past that I would like to see in the present and the future.”
1st: This collection offers fans new glimpses into Ditko’s work. Are there any surprising or lesser-known aspects of his artistic technique or philosophical approach that these materials reveal that even longtime fans might not be aware of?
Mort: Ditkoverse will be reprinting his imaginative body of visuals spanning over 60 years. It’s interesting to see his art evolve from the 1950s on. There are also flashes of his art being influenced by other illustrators. Some are more obvious than others but he would deny most of them. Im a terminal fan, so it’s a kick to see our first four releases, Mr. A, Fantastic Giants, Static and Avenging World, side by side and compare the styles from different eras.
1st: Beyond the comics themselves, the campaign includes several Ditko-related collectibles. Could you highlight some standout items, particularly the Mr. A Cards and the story behind that unpublished Captain Atom cover? And the Ditkoin!
Mort: Merch is fun! I found a fairly nice stat of that unpublished Captain Atom cover, slight yellowing, but a lot of the type and logo paste-ups had fallen off over the years. Had to recreate that based on previous issues before I could color it. If I recall, the interior story finally showed up in a copy of the Charlton Bullseye fanzine and inked by John Byrne.
1st: The campaign seems to be building toward something called “Ditko 100.” Could you explain what this celebration entails and its significance to Steve’s legacy?
Mort: 2027 marks Steve’s Centennial, and Ditko100 will give his contributions to the industry and other worldwide mass media a spotlight on the talent that made it all happen. We plan to get some allies that will make this an international event.
1st: Ditko put on his A-game no matter who the publisher was. If you’re a fan of comics, you’re a fan of Ditko. Thank you to the Steve Ditko Estate, Mark, and Mort for keeping the legend vibrant and alive.
For fans excited about these Ditko projects and the upcoming Ditko 100 celebration, what’s the best way to stay informed about developments and ensure they don’t miss anything?
Mort: There’s www.ditkoverse.com, which is updated regularly, and the Ditkoverse page on Facebook. We also have our Indiegogo until 05/06/25 at www.igg.me/at/ditkoverse1
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