Spider-Man and the best contributions of Steve Ditko

Credit: DC Comics

4. Hawk and Dove

Now this one may sound a bit odd to some. Again, this is something that Steve Ditko played a small role in. Nonetheless, the concept of Hawk and Dove was quite risky and original at the time. They appear in Showcase #75 back in the summer of 1968. During this period is an election year, with plenty of college protests over the ever on-going and unpopular Vietnam War. Why not make a comic about the two sides, the war hawks and the doves. On top of that, they will be college students. To attempt such a thing like back then, especially with the Comics Code in place is quite bold.

Many try to pin Steve Ditko as a hard line right-winger. Hence, they assume he was on the side of Hawk. An objectivist Ditko may be, that does not equate to a traditional, American conservative. If anything, this series at first was trying to show both sides and in a way, poke fun at them. Hawk and Dove still exist to this day, as they have gone numerous incarnations. He was not on the series long, but it still remains with DC Comics to this very day. Heck, they came to Justice League Unlimited voiced by the brothers from The Wonder Years.