Last week, the comic book community lost one of its most influential creators. Steve Ditko, co-creator of Spider-Man, Doctor Strange and the Question, was found dead in his apartment on June 29; it is believed that he died on June 27. No cause of death was announced.

In 1961, Ditko created Spider-Man with the editor-in-chief at Marvel Comics, Stan Lee. Ditko’s contributions to the Spider-Man character are fundamental, including his red and blue costume, web-shooters, and several of Spidey’s villains including Doctor Octopus, Sandman, the Lizard and Green Goblin.

Ditko left Marvel Comics after a falling out with Stan Lee, the causes of which have never been made public, and most explanations remain speculative. Ditko was notoriously private and rarely spoke on record.

Ditko went on to work for other publishers including Charlton and DC Comics, and eventually returned to Marvel in 1979, where he worked until the 1990s.

Other than his work at Marvel, Ditko is probably best known for creating characters inspired by Ayn Rand’s objectivist philosophy , which Ditko was an ardent believer in. These characters included Mr. A, The Question, Hawk and Dove and the Creeper.

Tributes to Ditko and his influence on comics are flooding social media from creators and fans alike.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter