Featuring: Stan Lee and Steve Ditko
Release: June 11, 1964
Cover: 1964
25 cents
By: Stan Lee and Steve Ditko
3 pages
Wonderful opening page with the creators, particularly that first panel with Stan and all the characters.
This story is an interesting little artifact. It pokes fun at the two creators and their relationship. Ditko drew the story, seemingly in good humor. This suggests their relationship had not yet fully deteriorated.
Within 2 years, Ditko would leave Marvel over bitter conflict with Stan. He had been refusing to speak to Stan long before he left the series. There are many with more expertise who can give you the behind-the-scenes details, though plenty remain uncertain or debated.
I’ll focus on what we can glean from the stories themselves. As I said, this story suggests a relatively positive relationship. The story tells humorously how a Spider-Man comic comes to be. A notable detail is that Stan is depicted as coming up with the idea, which he gives to Ditko to draw.
My understanding is that is not how a typical Spider-Man comic was conceived, and it will become increasingly less true as the series continues. That Ditko drew this story suggests he has no objection to the notion that Stan originates the ideas for these comics. Perhaps it was relatively true at this point in the series. Or perhaps Ditko just didn’t think it much mattered.
He would come to think it mattered a lot who did what and who got what credit.
In addition to a whimsical look at the working relationship, Ditko provides some actual insight into the artistic process, showing a panel over multiple stages.
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 50/100
Significance: ★☆☆☆☆
I read this story in Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection vol. 1: Great Power. One scan is taken from a reprint in Giant-Size Super-Heroes #1 (1974).
You can also find the story in Marvel Masterworks: Amazing Spider-Man vol. 2. Or on Kindle.
Characters:
- Stan Lee
- Steve Ditko
Story notes:
- Story notes Stan gives Steve the script.
- Reference to Dick Ayers.
#236 story in reading order
Next: Journey Into Mystery #108
Previous: Amazing Spider-Man Annual 1, Story B
