Steve Ditko Cover of the Week: Machine Man #13

Here's one from a book that, for one reason or another, I've never actually owned or read. At first glance, it seems like a fairly standard late 70s superhero cover. There are, however, some little touches that help to set it apart. For one, it has an incredible clean design. Covers were becoming increasingly cluttered during this era, and even Ditko fell into the trap of throwing too much onto a cover from time to time. I also really like the perspective chosen for this cover. The way it has been slightly titled to the left really helps provide the sense of height. Finally, the small figures of the construction workers really help to accentuate the perspective. I'm not really sure what 'Xanadu!' has to do with anything, but I am kind of wondering if Kublai Khan was a big Sam Peckinpah fan. This is not a Ditko classic, but serves as proof that he could still design an attractive and effective cover.