Spider-Man and the best contributions of Steve Ditko

Credit: Marvel Comics

1. Spider-Man

Let us just face it, the biggest of contributions from Steve Ditko is none other than The Amazing Spider-Man, debuting in 1962. He would stay on Spider-Man until 1966. Alan Moore argues due to Ditko’s artwork, that the first thirty-plus issues are the best. Artistically there was nothing quite like Spider-Man at the time. There was no cape, no belt, no cowl or domino mask. Instead his face was completely covered. On top of that you can argue he is hardly a man. No, Spider-Man was just a teenage boy. A teenage boy living with his Aunt May & Uncle Ben. Hardly the traditional family in 1960’s America. Plus, he was this nerdy, nervous, scrawny little thing. He had terrible luck with bullies and was always being picked on.

To this day, Spider-Man is probably the most popular superhero on an international level. More so than Superman or Batman to be honest. Part of this stems from his background as a teenage kid. We all had similar problems to Peter Parker growing up. The idea of having to become financially responsible, of not being late to class. At times there are bigger worries rather than Sandman just robbing a bank. Having a teenage superhero was quite revolutionary and ahead of its time in the sixties. The character has grown up, going to college, marriage, holding a job and company, joining the Avengers. But people all the time always think to his high school years the most. It appears Ditko’s Spider-Man is here to stay with us.

Next: 50 greatest super heroes in comic book history

Of course there are many other contributions from Steve Ditko, but these probably remain the best. Imagine all the Spider-Man movies we would not have! Not just Rorschach, but other characters he worked on, had it not been for him we may not even have Watchmen. We owe Steve Ditko eternal gratitude for all of his contributions.