An Eight-year-old Comic Fan Wrote Steve Ditko a Letter, and Here’s How Ditko Responded

Rawburn · 24 Sep 2004

Quote:

Steve Ditko isn’t known for being a chatty fellow with the press, but one eight-year-old just nabbed to exclusive of a lifetime.

A young comic reader named Carl runs the blog “Carl’s Comix!” with help from his father. Though Carl’s a big Spider-Man and Batman fan, he more frequently talks about the old-school stuff, like ’60s Flash comics and early “Amazing Spider-Man” stories. That’s why back in June, he took it upon himself to write the legendary Ditko a little note.

Carl wanted to know if any of Ditko’s teachers made him want to get into comics, and also what he had the most fun drawing. He capped it off by thanking him for inventing Spider-Man. It was a fan letter many people may have written at one point or another in their lives, but Carl actually got a response.

Earlier this week, Carl received a handwritten reply from Ditko, directly answering the young reader’s questions. He wrote that there wasn’t a particular teacher who inspired him to draw, and noted that “A teacher comes after one thinks or would like to draw comic book stories.” He also that his favorite things to draw are characters in action. “One of the hardest things to learn to do well are the mechanical things,” he added, “like cars, buildings, ett and animals – horses, etc. but they can be fun like with Gorgo and Konga.”

Carl admitted he’d never heard of those two monster characters, but he’ll be sure to read up on them now. Below, check out pictures of both the letters.

Beachy · 18 Sep 2005

Nice.

And those Gorgo and Konga collections can be had pretty cheaply. Lots of pages for just a little money.

Hanzo the Razor · 24 Jun 2007

Steve's got nice handwriting. Pretty cool.

Li'l Jay · 28 May 2006

Hanzo the Razor wrote:

Steve's got nice handwriting. Pretty cool.

I'll bet it's way better than Kirby's.

Hanzo the Razor · 24 Jun 2007

I'd put it on the tier just below Kirby's handwriting. Its nice but its not as legible as Will Eisner or Hal Foster's printing.

Li'l Jay · 28 May 2006

Bob Kane wrote that letter.

Beachy · 18 Sep 2005

Oh, come on. Surely it was written by Bill Finger FOR Bob Kane.

TS Garp · **Joined:** 29 Dec 2006 **Posts:** 32250 **Location:** MN

His name is Jay not Shirley.

Paulo · 29 May 2012

That's so cool.

Marcus · 27 Nov 2004

That's very nice.

Ocean Doot · 25 Oct 2007

Hanzo the Razor wrote:

I'd put it on the tier just below Kirby's handwriting. Its nice but its not as legible as Will Eisner or Hal Foster's printing.

Wow, so apparently Stan Lee doesn't even rate. You don't even consider Stan a handwriter?

Fraxon! · **Joined:** 22 Aug 2004 **Posts:** 40603

Evans · 02 Mar 2005

Ocean Doot wrote:

Hanzo the Razor wrote:

I'd put it on the tier just below Kirby's handwriting. Its nice but its not as legible as Will Eisner or Hal Foster's printing.

Wow, so apparently Stan Lee doesn't even rate. You don't even consider Stan a handwriter?

A Finger writer, not a whole hand.

Evans · 02 Mar 2005

His handwriting seems simplistic and childlike. Like Objectivism.

Simon · **Joined:** 26 Oct 2006 **Posts:** 59410

I'm afraid to ask about Rob Liefeld's handwriting.

Fraxon! · **Joined:** 22 Aug 2004 **Posts:** 40603

Simon wrote:

I'm afraid to ask about Rob Liefeld's handwriting.

IT'S EXTREME!!!!!

Simon · **Joined:** 26 Oct 2006 **Posts:** 59410

Fraxon! wrote:

Simon wrote:

I'm afraid to ask about Rob Liefeld's handwriting.

IT'S EXTREME!!!!!

Hanzo the Razor · 24 Jun 2007

Ocean Doot wrote:

Hanzo the Razor wrote:

I'd put it on the tier just below Kirby's handwriting. Its nice but its not as legible as Will Eisner or Hal Foster's printing.

Wow, so apparently Stan Lee doesn't even rate. You don't even consider Stan a handwriter?

While he dictated the words verbally, it was Flo Steinberg who actually wrote the letters, so she must be considered the co-handwriter for all of Lee's letters.

An Eight-year-old Comic Fan Wrote Steve Ditko a Letter, and Here’s How Ditko Responded

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