As we are still recovering from the news of Steve Ditko's passing, why don't we remember his legacy by enjoying the covers and splashes featuring one of his most memorable and enduring creations,
The Creeper. Ol' Groove thinks
Jack Ryder's eccentric super-heroic other self might've been one of Ditko's favorite characters, since, in a rare move, Mr. Ditko returned to
The Creeper not once, but twice (1975 in 1st Issue Special and 1977 in World's Finest Comics). And since the covers and splashes Ditko provided for
The Creeper were so gorgeous, Ol' Groove couldn't bear to split them up, so here they are in all their glory (including the
Creeper cover and splash intended for a 1978 issue of
Showcase, courtesy
Cancelled Comics Cavalcade #2).
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| Beware The Creeper #6 |
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| Layouts by Carmine Infantino, Pencils by Ditko, Inks by Al Milgrom |
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| World's Finest #249 |
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| World's Finest #250 |
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| World's Finest #251 |
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| World's Finest #252 |
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| World's Finest #253 |
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| World's Finest #254 |
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| World's Finest #255 |
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| From Cancelled Comics Cavalcade #2 |
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| From Cancelled Comics Cavalcade #2 |
This post makes me a little sad. I just lost a good friend days ago. And Ditko dying was like losing a second friend. These covers and splashes are a good tribute to him. I wasn't reading comics when the Creeper appeared in World's Finest, but it looks like Steve was revitalized there with some artwork that was hitting home runs.
ReplyDeleteI'm gearing up for some in-depth reading of vintage Ditko and alas the one character I don't have all of is The Creeper. I have the original issues of the first run, but none of the later stuff. The Creeper was a vital part of the DCU when I was first plumbing its depths, showing up in a great Brave and Bold issue by Neal Adams and in curious issue of Justice League of America with art by Dick Dillin and Sid Greene. I want to have The Creeper tome which came out some years ago, but prices I find are too steep. Hopefully DC will issue it again. I've seen indications of a Showcase volume due out next year, but I'm sure if that's for real or a phantom of the internet.
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Yowza. I need to open up the long boxes and reread these gems! I remember seeing them on the spinner and thinking there was something special there (especially for DC) though I’d end up selecting Marvel.
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