An objectively fascinating book…
Taking Spider-Man out of the equation, my favorite Steve Ditko work is what he did at DC Comics — specifically Hawk and Dove and the Creeper.
It’s pretty groovy, then, that the publisher is planning The DC Universe by Steve Ditko Omnibus for 2025.
Dig the description from online listings:
THE DC UNIVERSE BY STEVE DITKO OMNIBUS
The innovative DC work of legendary comic book artist and writer Steve Ditko, the co-creator of Spider-Man, is collected in a massive hardcover omnibus!
After his historic work at Marvel, co-creating Spider-Man and creating Doctor Strange, Steve Ditko arrived at DC in 1968, bringing the comics world new and enduring creations: the Creeper and Hawk and Dove! Roughly a decade later, Ditko returned to DC to bring his inimitable style to more unique new characters, such as Shade, the Changing Man and Stalker—along with contributing to genre anthologies like House of Mystery and Time Warp.
The DC Universe by Steve Ditko Omnibus collects Ditko’s work in one oversize volume!
This omnibus collection includes Detective Comics #483-485; Legends of the DC Universe 80-Page Giant #1; Tales of the New Gods #1; House of Secrets #139 and #148; World’s Finest Comics #249-255; Adventure Comics #467-478; Showcase #73 and #75; Superman #400; House of Mystery #236, #247, #254, #258, #276; 1st Issue Special #7; Beware the Creeper #1-6; Cancelled Comics Cavalcade #1-2; Strange Adventures #188-189; The Legion of Super-Heroes#267-268, #272, #274, #276, #281; Shade, the Changing Man #1-8; Plop! #16; Weird War Tales#46, #49, #95, #99, #104-106; Secrets of Haunted House #9, #12, #41, #45; The Unexpected#189, #221; Ghosts #77, #111; Mystery in Space #111, #114-116; Time Warp #1-4; Stalker #1-4; Amazing World of DC Comics #13; The Outsiders #13; The Hawk and the Dove #1-2; Man-Bat#1, plus behind-the-scenes extras!
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A few thoughts:
— The 1,168-page hardcover lists for $125 and is due June 10, 2025.
— Ditko did only one issue of Man-Bat, but boy would I have loved to see what he could have done with the character.
— Standard caveat: This has not been solicited by DC yet, so anything can change. Keep coming back to 13th Dimension for updates.
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MORE
— Two Major NEAL ADAMS DC OMNIBUS Editions Set for New Releases in 2025. Click here.
— BATMAN: THE GOLDEN AGE OMNIBUS Continues Re-Release Run in 2025. Click here.
August 9, 2024
Is it wrong of me to want them to include DC Comics Presents #36 which ends the Prince Gavyn Starman saga, even though Mr. Ditko had nothing to do with that issue? I really want a Prince Gavyn Starman deluxe edition.
August 9, 2024
This is quite a massive omnibus which is on my list to purchase. I would like to see a complete PLOP! omnibus since they are reprinting a story from that series.
August 9, 2024
It would have been interesting if they added his Charlton work or do another Omni for that.
August 9, 2024
This has all the material in the smaller Steve Ditko Omnibus Volumes 1 & 2 and whatever should have gone in the unpublished Volume 3. I might have to get this and upgrade.
August 10, 2024
Problem is, Ditko left unfinished most of his storylines.
Which makes for a frustrating read