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ericfheiman's review against another edition
4.0
Nicely illustrated monograph of the Spider-Man co-creator, who I didn't initially appreciate until this book. (I was a John Romita acolyte when it came to Spider-Man artists.) Ditko's story also has built-in drama as he comes more under the sway of Ayn Rand's Objectivism teachings that compromises his professional relationships and ultimately credit for his work. I'm still not swooning over his rubber band figural renderings, but I can now appreciate his impressionistic style and unique approach to visual narrative.
lukeisthename34's review
5.0
Honestly not what I expected and I was happy for it to be so. I suppose I was only use to Ditko's Marvel stuff and had no idea of any of the early things.
totally_different_head's review
5.0
Great overview of a comic innovator, who like Jack Kirby watched his work make Marvel millions,but who also sabotaged his own success thru his 100% adoption of Ayn Rands objectivist philosophies. Its a turning point where objectivism took over his work and life, severing work relationships, disappointing his fans and worse still sacrificed all the great technique that made him the great storyteller just to preach his divisive libertarian views. This book is essential: Excellent reproductions of his art and very sharp but sympathetic critical analysis of his work both technically and philosophically.
sfian's review
3.0
Two things "wrong" with this book. The first that Ditko is represented as both bitter and hard to work with - that may be true, but you know what they say about meeting your heroes. The second is the amount of time spent telling us how much and how often Ditko pushed his Rand-ian beliefs into his work (or turned down work because of them) - again, almost certainly factual but, even though I've heard of Ayn Rand, I'm no scholar of philosophy and, therefore, didn't really follow the "argument".
Having said that, as a collection - or, perhaps more accurately, a sample - of his artwork and as a biography, it's both interesting and informative, while not necessarily being fawning, which some biographies can be. Ditko may not have been your average comic writer/illustrator and this book goes a long way to show that. I wonder what some of his more ardent fans thought of it. For me, always more of a DC fan, but interested in comics in general, it is a worthy addition to my shelves, despite the faults I, personally, found with it.
Having said that, as a collection - or, perhaps more accurately, a sample - of his artwork and as a biography, it's both interesting and informative, while not necessarily being fawning, which some biographies can be. Ditko may not have been your average comic writer/illustrator and this book goes a long way to show that. I wonder what some of his more ardent fans thought of it. For me, always more of a DC fan, but interested in comics in general, it is a worthy addition to my shelves, despite the faults I, personally, found with it.
rickklaw's review
5.0
The first critical retrospective of the co-creator of Spider-man, Strange and Stranger grants an inside look into the workings and artistic life of this unusual man. Bell successfully argues Ditko's place within the pantheon of great artists while at the same time presenting the many shortcomings of Ditko the person. Ditko's strong adherence to [a:Ayn Rand|432|Ayn Rand|http://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1168729178p2/432.jpg]'s philosophy of Objectivism ostracized and made a pariah out of the artist. Bell shines light on many diverse corners of the comics industry in an attempt to understand the reclusive Ditko. Lavishly illustrated throughout, Strange and Stranger: The World of [a:Steve Ditko|10298|Steve Ditko|http://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1204665020p2/10298.jpg] is a must for fans of the artist in particular and comic book history in general.
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