1984 - Amazing Spider-Man Annual #18

The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #18
"The Scorpion Takes A Bride! (But Not The Way You Think!)"
Script by Stan Lee
Plot by Tom DeFalco
Breakdowns by Ron Frenz
Finishes by Bob Layton and Jackson Guice

Ah, yes. 1984. The simple days. Only three Spidey titles to collect: Amazing Spider-Man, Spectacular Spider-Man, and Marvel Team-Up. Remember when a comic book could actually be fun to read? "What happened to the good ol' days when I only hadda chase after souped-up sedans?" laments Spidey as he chases down some bank robbers escaping by helicopter.

The main thrust behind this story is that J. Jonah Jameson has finally decided to tie the knot with his girlfriend Marla Madison. And of course, Spidey has to drop by and congratulate JJJ in his own unique and infuriating way...

As the wedding approaches, JJJ tries to re-connect with his son, John. Unfortunately, it back fires on him as John isn't emotionally ready to handle his old man getting married, and JJJ's visit enrages Mac Gargan prompting him to escape. And to make matters worse, the Scorpion captures John Jameson and the news ruins Jameson's staff party.

Eager for revenge, Gargan fights his way through Jameson's police protection, but is intercepted by Spidey. Marla gets caught in the middle and Spidey's kept more than busy keeping her away from the Scorpion.

Frenz's breakdown really give this issue a lovely Ditko feel and the finishes by Layton and Guice add a nice layer of polish.

It's a fun, self-contained tale that's Stan Lee's farewell fitting farewell to Jameson's character.

The Mysterious World of Doctor Strange

The Mysterious World of Doctor Strange
Hardcover, 176 pages
DK Publishing
Written by Billy Wrecks, Nick Jones, and Danny Graydon

“The Mysterious World of Doctor Strange is a lavishly illustrated tour of the unique, mind-bending universe of Stephen Strange, Sorcerer Supreme and Marvel Super Hero extraordinaire. The brainchild of Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, Doctor Strange opens the doors to a wonderland of otherworldly dimensions, mystics and monsters, and demons and demigods.

“Packed with fantastic facts and astonishing artwork selected from over 50 years of Doctor Strange's awesome comic adventures, The Mysterious World of Doctor Strange will delight new and die-hard Marvel fans alike.”

I’ll admit up front that I was apprehensive about this Doctor Strange book, in the same way I was surprised that he was chosen for a feature film. You see, Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme has always been a second tier Marvel character. There’s been significant periods of time where we haven’t even see him in a monthly book, and several of his series were bi-monthly books, or split-title books, like Strange Tales, which he shared with the likes of Nick Fury and Cloak and Dagger.

In many ways, Doctor Strange is one of the most powerful characters in the Marvel Universe. He’s taken down Galactus, exiled the Hulk, and defended the Earth from extra-dimensional threats on multiple fronts. All the while, the Earth’s population go on with their daily lives with no concept of the battle he fights on their behalf. And that power level is what I believe makes him so difficult to write well.

Now let’s get back to this book. The Mysterious World of Doctor Strange does live up to its advertised billing. While there’s a significant focus on Strange’s recent adventures, the book does a really good job at acknowledging the silver age contributions that established this character’s place in the marvel Universe.

As with all great DK books, this one breaks down Strange’s world by outlining his friends and foes as well as the cosmic entities he encounters and entreats. Easy and fun to read, this hardcover’s a great primer or refresher on the good doctor’s career.

With the movie less than a couple of weeks away, you don't have to look any further as this book shines the all-seeing light of the Eye of Agamotto on Doctor Strange!

1982 - Marvel Tales #137-142

1981 - Anatomy of a Cover - Spectacular Spider-Man #59

By Bob Wiacek with a tip of the hat to Ditko and Kirby's Amazing Spider-Man #10.

Doctor Strange by Joe Rubinstein

A la Ditko and Byrne

1988 - Marvel Masterworks article by Scott Lobdell.

From Marvel Age #61:

Happy Birthday Steve Ditko!

1989 - Monster Masterworks

Walt Simonson's monstrous wrap-around cover.

An attempt to capitalize on the reprinting of the classic Marvel Comics library in the Marvel Masterworks, this softcover Monster Masterworks retold stories from Where Monsters Dwell (1970-1975) #2-3, 6, 10, 15, and 21; Journey into Mystery (1952) #10; Where Creatures Roam (1970) #1, 4, and 7; and Creatures on the Loose (1971-1975) #13. Featuring art by Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Dick Ayers, and Bill Everett and story by Stan Lee. "Don't miss the monstrous exploits of Groot, Gigantus, Fin Fang Foom, and more!". This trade paperback was 176 full-colour pages and had a cover price of $12.95.

Thanks to Gerry Turnbull for the lead.

1983 - John Byrne's covers for the Doctor Strange Classics

And here's one more, a little more contemporary though...

1981 - Captain Universe house ad

Take from Incredible Hulk #256.

A Recent Letter From Steve Ditko

http://midtowncomics.tumblr.com/post/37650231571/a-recent-letter-from-steve-ditko-to-one-of-our

"A recent letter from Steve Ditko to one of our customers. He asked Steve what he remembered about designing Spidey’s costume."

I love Ditko's comment that "it was just another comic book art job".

1984 - Avengers Annual #13

Avengers Annual #13

Writer: Roger Stern

Artist(s): Steve Ditko/John Byrne

“In Memory Yet Green” is perhaps one of 1984’s more enjoyable reads. It’s an entertaining story displaying Stern’s strength as a writer and my favorite Avengers’ writer. The Avengers are called in to decide what to do with Bruce Banner’s the technical legacy (since at this point the Incredible Hulk has been banished to the Crossroads by Doctor Strange). Arnim Zola, however, also has a keen interest in Banner’s work and sends Hulk bio-clones in an attempt to seize Banner’s research. The Avengers along with Mr. Fantastic, She-Hulk, and Dr. Henry Pym, prevent Zola from getting his hands on Banner’s work. 

Steve Ditko provides the pencils for this issue and John Byrne does a wonderful job with the inking. I’m not overly fond of Ditko’s late art, but Byrne’s inks add more depth to it and modernizes it.