I'm just gonna outright say it: Steve Ditko's Doctor Strange is better than Steve Ditko's Spider-Man.

A trio of Masterworks came in today (Ant-Man v1, Avengers v3 and Doctor Strange v1). I'm reading the Doctor Strange book, and it may be the best Masterworks in my collection. While I don't have the first 7 FF books yet, I do have most of the other contenders - the early Spider-Mans, the two Silver Surfers, and Thor v3-4. The Adams X-Men would be the only other serious contender, I think. Frankly, Silver Surfer v1 is the only one that comes even close to as good (so far).

That sounds more like par for the course than heresy. Ditko is more famous for Spider-Man, but it seems that people who like his artwork like Doctor Strange better.

I prefer Spider-man, but than, I'm judging the writing and art on both.

I also think Silver Surfer is also outstanding (again writing and art). I'd have to look at them again to judge solely the art.

Certainly, the Dr. Strange universe allowed for more imaginiative fantasy things than the Spider-man universe, in many ways.

Ive read a bit of the Dikto Doc Strange stuff...and I have to admit its amazing...

Now im temtpted to go out and buy some more..maybe the Essentials volume

Barring the notion of subjective taste, I think if you look at the overall atmosphere, the entire designed universe, then you have to go with Dr. Strange. While Kirby was going comic, Ditko was getting freaky!

However, if you look at the sheer number of memorable character designs, the nod goes to Spidey.

I prefer Spidey, but there's no denying that Ditko's Doctor Strange was a visual feast. Absolutely incredible design work.

I'm a big Silver Age Marvel junkie, and you're talking about my two favorite characters! Yeah, I'm definitely more of a Ditko guy than a Kirby guy.

I don't think you're talking heresy. A lot of critics have voiced this opinion.

I don't agree with you, though. I love the Doc, but I think that Spidey is just a little bit better. It may be because Stan brought a little more to the table in that collaboration. I don't know, but I suspect that the sense of irreverance and irony that pervades the early Spider-Man issues comes from Stan. Ditko's characters never show much sense of humor in Ditko's solo work, and I think it's often Stan's dialogue and characterization that makes Peter Parker so relatable. Ditko brought his usual brand of freakiness and sense of alienation to the work, and Stan kept things grounded. It's that balance that makes me love Spidey more.

Of course, if you're a die-hard Ditko fan, then you might well prefer Dr. Strange. That one seems more "pure Ditko" to me - with much less Stan Lee showing through. (Stan's main contribution to Strange may well be the sorceror dialogue, with all the alliterative, rhyming spells.)