Steve Ditko Archives HC (2009-2016 Fantagraphics) comic books

Volume 1 - 1st printing. "Strange Suspense!" Edited by Blake Bell. OVER 200 PAGES OF VINTAGE, PRE-SPIDER-MAN, PRECOMICS CODE HORROR COMICS FROM STEVE DITKO - Before the Amazing Spider-Man, before the mysterious Dr. Strange, before the black-and-white world of the Ayn Rand-inspired Mr. A, the legendary comic book artist Steve Ditko was conjuring all manners of horrors at his drawing table. In his first two years in the industry (1953 and 1954), Ditko drew tales of macabre suspense that were not yet hobbled by the imminent Comics Code Authority (adopted in Oct. 1954). These stories featured graphic bloodshed, dismemberment and blood-curdling acid baths as the ugly end to the lives of the dark and twisted inhabitants of Steve Ditko's imagination. Following up on strange and stranger: The World of steve ditko, Blake Bell's 2008 best-selling critical retrospective of Ditko's career, strange suspense: The steve ditko Archives Vol. 1 will, for the first time, feature spectacular full-color reprints of every story from those first two years of his career. Beginning with Ditko's very first story to Ditko's short stint in the Joe Simon/Jack Kirby studio, to Ditko's eventual encampment at the Charlton Comics operation in 1954, readers will see the initial works of an artist already at a level of craftsmanship that exceeded most of his peers. The book will also feature editor Bell's insightful historical notes, as well as a series of short essays by some of the comic book industry giants - Daniel Clowes, Gilbert Hernandez, etc. - who will speak to Ditko's influence and his unique craft. Hardcover, 224 pages, full color. Cover price $39.99.

Volume 2 - 1st printing. "Unexpected Worlds!" Edited by Blake Bell. As the original artist and co-creator who brought the Amazing Spider-Man to life in 1962, and established the look of Iron Man and the Incredible Hulk as we know them today, artist Steve Ditko's talents varied far beyond the realm of the superhero genre. Tales of unexplored worlds, of spine-chilling suspense, mystery, and horror dripped hauntingly from the pen of Steve Ditko over half-a-decade before he would bring to the world famous wall-crawler to life. Hardcover, 224 pages, full color. Cover price $39.99.

Volume 3 - 1st printing. "Mysterious Traveler!" Five years before his breakthrough as the co-creator of classic super-heroes such as Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, Steve Ditko was turning out some of the best work of his career. Mysterious Traveler collects stories from Tales of the Mysterious Traveler and This Magazine Is Haunted and reprints over 210 full-color pages of Ditko in his early prime. These are thrilling stories of suspense, mystery, haunted houses, and unsuspecting victims that have never been properly reprinted - until now! Hardcover, 224 pages, full color. Cover price $39.99.

Volume 4 - 1st printing. "Impossible Tales!" This fourth volume in Fantagraphics' on-going Steve Ditko Archives series features over 200 meticulously restored full-color pages by Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko in his early prime - stories that have never seen a proper reprinting until now. Thrilling stories of suspense, mystery, haunted houses, and unsuspecting victims all delineated in Ditko's wildly idiosyncratic, masterful style. Hardcover, 256 pages, full color. Cover price $39.99.

Volume 5 - 1st printing. "Dripping with Fear!" In this fith volume of The Steve Ditko Archives, the legendary cocreator of Spider-Man and Doctor Strange sets his pen to sometimesdisturbing flghts of fancy involving mermaids, mad scientists, alien invasions, exotic locales, and much more. Fantagraphics' meticulous full-color restoration gives these chilling Cold War-era yarns - many of which haven't seen print for more than half a century - a startling clarity. Story titles in this 220-page volume include: "The Man Who Couldn't Die, " "Valley Of Eternity," "The Statues That Came To Life," "Inside The Crystal Globe," "Mystery From Mars," and "Doorway Into Tomorrow." Hardcover, 240 pages, full color. Cover price $39.99.

Volume 6 - 1st printing. "Outer Limits!" Outer Limits: The Steve Ditko Archives Vol. 6 finds Ditko in his early artistic prime and features more than 200 meticulously restored, full-color pages. This volume's stories are heavily weighted toward the science fiction genre and includes an introduction by series editor Blake Bell as well as meticulous documentation of Stan Lee calling Ditko back to Marvel to begin the Silver Age of Marvel Comics. Hardcover, 240 pages, full color. Cover price $39.99.