Steve Ditko Co-Creator of Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, and more!

Steve Ditko, born in Johnstown Pennsylvania, was an American comics artist and writer best known as artist and creator of the Marvel superheroes Spider-Man and Doctor Strange.

Ditko studied under Batman artist Jerry Robinson at the Cartoonist and Illustrators School in New York City. He began his professional career in 1953, working in the studio of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, beginning as an inker and coming under the influence of artist Mort Meskin. During this time, he then began his long association with Charlton Comics, where he did work in the genres of science fiction, horror, and mystery. He also co-created the superhero Captain Atom in 1960.

During the 1950s, Ditko also drew for Atlas Comics, a forerunner of Marvel Comics. He went on to contribute much significant work to Marvel. In 1966, after being the exclusive artist on The Amazing Spider-Man and the "Doctor Strange" feature in Strange Tales, Ditko left Marvel for unclear reasons.

Ditko continued to work for Charlton and also DC Comics, including a revamp of the long-running character the Blue Beetle, and creating or co-creating the Question, the Creeper, Shade the Changing Man, and Hawk and Dove. Ditko also began contributing to small independent publishers, where he created Mr. A, a hero reflecting the influence of Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism. Ditko largely declined to give interviews, saying he preferred to communicate through his work.

Ditko was inducted into the comics industry's Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1990, and into the Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame in 1994.

The Official Downtown Mural:

This mural stands tall as a commemoration to Steve Ditko's work in the world of Marvel Comic's. The design and execution of the mural were brought to fruition by Matt Lamb and The Bottle Works Ethnic Arts Center. The mural itself is located on the side of Stone Bridge Brewing Company at 104 Franklin St., Johnstown, PA 15901. Two other murals are currently planned to be painted in honor of Ditko, their locations are yet to be determined.