Steve Ditko Cover of the Week: The Thing #17

Here's a very early example of Ditko's work. Published in 1954, it seems quite ahead of its time, and would not have been at all out of place as a black light poster hanging in some stoner's dorm room in 1973. I'm quite comfortable declaring Steve Ditko to be the King of the Wizards. I don't really think anyone does them better than Sturdy Steve. Ever heard of Dr. Strange? He's a Wizard. I find the amount of black used in these Charlton covers to be amazing. It really helps set the tone. I can't imagine that there are many copies of this books in high grade. People talk about Amazing Spider-Man #28, but how many Charlton horror books from the 50s managed to survive without white stress marks? We also get some terrific Ditko spider webs and his signature on a scrap of paper. Great stuff, all around!