Steve Ditko Archives goes Digital: More on "Strange Suspense"

Last Saturday, we posted the news that you can now order a digital version of my book, Strange Suspense: The Steve Ditko Archives vol. 1 via Comixology. This has jump-started us to take a deeper look at some stats from the original art that differ quite a bit from the published version of the story found in the volume. First, we looked at "Range War", and now we take a look at the stats of Ditko's 3rd professional solo job, "A Hole In His Head." The 6-page story is from 1953's Black Magic #27, done when Ditko briefly worked at the Joe Simon & Jack Kirby studio.

Really, this post and my last were inspired by Nick Caputo's examination of the two stories in question. Here's a link to his "Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko and that old Black Magic" post that looks at the latter story for alterations to Ditko's artwork by Kirby.

The B&W stats show some different alterations to the production work on the first page but, most importantly, to the last panel of the story that was wiped out and replaced with an pimple ointment ad! Before that, though...

Still want a print copy?

I still have a few copies of the $39.99 hardcover of Strange Suspense: The Steve Ditko Archives vol. 1. If you'd still like a paper version, send me an email at ditko37@rogers.com. I am only asking for the cover price plus any shipping and handling costs to your location. (Correct, I'll charge you just exactly what it costs to bring it to your door, and no more.)

"A Hole In My Head"

Okay, Black Magic #27. Below is the published splash panel of the first page.

Steve Ditko Archives goes Digital via Comixology

It's been a long time since we've posted here, and that's because I've been working: A) through the final stages of production on my three books that will come out in the second half of this year; B) planning the next two (yep, more on this soon); C) watching translations come to life for a couple of my older books; and D) seeing my back catalogue venture into the digital realm.

The first of two on the e-docket now (more on number two coming soon) is the most appropriate. Volume one of my Steve Ditko Archives, Strange Suspense, has been sold out from Fantagraphics and Amazon, etc. (plus I never see it pop up on e-Bay) for quite a while now.

But Fantagraphics and Comixology (the leader in comics on the digital platform) have delivered on a digital version! 238 pages of pre-Comics Code Authority Steve Ditko horror comics (plus a Western and Romance story!)

• Download Strange Suspense: The Steve Ditko Archives Vol. 1 here from Comixology.

Still want a print copy? 

Yes, I still have a "stash" of about 10 copies of the $39.99 hardcover. If you'd still like a paper version, send me an email at ditko37@rogers.com. I am only asking for the cover price plus any shipping and handling costs to your location. (Correct, I'll charge you just exactly what it costs to bring it to your door, and no more.)

I'll spend the next 9 days updating everyone on each of my current projects, which include Heroic Tales: The Bill Everett Archives vol. 2, The Secret History Of Marvel Comics, and Impossible Tales: The Steve Ditko Archives vol. 4, and we'll see what I can reveal about the yet-to-be-revealed ones! Now, let's take a deeper look at some of the quirks of Ditko's earliest work that is included in Strange Suspense: The Steve Ditko Archives vol. 1...

Steve Ditko Minutiae

One of the great authorities today on Steve Ditko and the Silver Age of Marvel Comics is Nick Caputo. Nick was actually "in the house" when the very first copies of my Strange And Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko were unboxed into our hands (delivered to the MoCCA museum for the same-named festival back in June of 2008).

Bookgasm reviews of my 3 Ditko books

Yesterday, we cracked the news re: the title and cover image for my next next book ('cause I still have Amazing Mysteries: The Bill Everett Archives v1 on its way in September), Mysterious Traveler: The Steve Ditko Archives v3 that will be coming out in November.

In the meantime, Rod Lott welcomed the news yesterday with his review of my Unexplored Worlds: The Steve Ditko Archives v2. "As always, Fantagraphics’ top-notch presentation makes the publisher the go-to stop for comics preservation."

The review also links to his review of my Strange Suspense: The Steve Ditko Archives v1 - "it’s assembled by Blake Bell, who wrote the terrific Ditko bio 'Strange and Stranger' in 2008" - as well as his review of the aforementioned Ditko biography/art book o' mine, Strange and Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko - "it’s one of the year’s finest nonfiction works on the comics industry."

Remember, you can join my newly-created Steve Ditko Archives Facebook Page for updates on volume 3 in the series, or follow my Twitter feed at @blake_bell.