Spider-Man is obviously a popular character, he has been since his creation in 1962. A lot of the character’s popularity has to do with the groundwork laid by two men, Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, Spidey’s co-creators. Sadly, while the duo had a good run, creative differences between the creators ended their collaboration after a 38-issue run. Since then, Ditko has no longer been associated with Spider-Man… until today!
Yes, in today’s Amazing Spider-Man Sunday Spectacular Steve Ditko makes an uncredited appearance! The book, collecting Stan Lee and Marcos Martin’s acclaimed 2-page back up tales. It also includes an all new tale called “Identity Crisis” where Spider-Man sees a psychiatrist who looks amazingly like a certain Stan “The Man” Lee…
"Dr. Madder" sure looks like Stan Lee throughout the years.
Over the course of the story, Spider-Man talks to “Dr. Madder” about the insane convolutions of his life, eventually driving Madder, well, mad. That’s when things get interesting. The doctor that Madder goes to see could possibly be a stand-in for Ditko. Having a copy of Atlas Shrugged certainly alludes to Ditko’s known embrace of Objectivism. Still, since he’s shrouded in shadow, there’s no way to know for sure. Then, my geek brain kicked in. It is absolutely Ditko. The proof lies in a story from 1964: “How Stan Lee & Steve Ditko Create Spider-Man!” From Amazing Spider-Man annual #1. In that story, Stan & Steve appear as themselves and tell a humorous, possibly telling, version of their working relationship. When I looked back at that issue and compared it to the one in today’s issue, there’s no doubt.
Not only is that pretty telling, but it’s also pretty cool. I hope that if he sees this, Mr. Ditko will take it as the loving homage that it is and not anything with malicious intent. Well, that’s my independent research for today, hope you enjoyed it!