Steve Ditko "is an enigmatic figure," wrote Jordan Raphael in the Los Angeles Times, "the J. D. Salinger of comics." Best known as co-creator, with writer Stan Lee, of the ever-popular "Spider-Man" comics artist Ditko has been a major force in illustration for five decades, his unique graphics style influencing new generations of comic book artists and his creations, such as Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Captain Atom, Question, and a dozen more superheroes and villains, enchanting fans. "When Steve Ditko first dreamed up our hero's [i.e. Spider-Man's] threads," Lee noted in the New York Times, "he created one of the most unique designs in comic-book history."

An object of reverence to comic book aficionados worldwide, Ditko remains a mystery figure in the field, a virtual recluse in Manhattan, where he continues to draw for various comics and to produce collections of earlier work. Most critics agree Ditko's best...