Steve Ditko is the reason I got into this biz, really. I loved Walt Disney Comics and Stories when I was in grade school, but for all I knew they were drawn by Walt Disney who was a god. And even at my young age I knew I could never obtain that stature. But when I graduated from The Mickey Mouse Club to the Merry Marvel Marching Society in Junior High I wanted to be the next Steve Ditko. Not that I could ever hope to attain his ability, but through Marvel calling him things like “Sturdy Steve” he somehow seemed more human that the Diety Disney. And, man did I love (and do I love) all his fantastic work. So, inspired by Steve Ditko, I set my sights on becoming a cartoonist.

I actually got to know Steve when I was Creative Director/Vice President/General Manager of the Muppets. I gave him a ring, told him what I did and Steve invited me over to his studio in Times Square. It was such an honor to go there and Steve was gracious and showed me some pages he was currently working on and it was so great to talk to him. A couple of weeks later I returned the invite and I gave Steve a tour of the Muppet Creature Shop which was one of the things I was in charge of. Seeing Steve in the midst of all the creature parts hanging from the rafters was just like being in one of his sensational fantasy stories. Steve was fascinated by the making of the puppets and had lots of questions. The puppet builders were excited to meet him.

After we had a nice lunch Uptown on the Muppet expense account I took Steve to our main offices in a beautiful old Victorian brownstone on 69th where I introduced Steve and Jim Henson. What a cool moment that was, seeing two creative powerhouses, creators of some of the worlds’ most beloved characters, and who were certainly both my heroes, shake hands. The Amazing Spiderman Meets Kermit the Frog! I was thrilled, astounded and very humbled to be in their presence all at once.

Steve drawing and thinking at his studio where I visited him.

Myself, Jim Henson and some friends.

Kermie meets Spidey!

After Jim Henson passed on I left the Muppets and opened YOE! Studio. One of our first accounts was producing the B1g B0y comic book premium for the restaurant of that name. Besides his genius realistic adventure art I had seen some terrific humor material Steve had done for Charlton and Witzend. So, I asked him to draw a fill in issue for us which he was excited to do. I think it represented a refreshing change to the material he usually handled. The art he did was wonderful, of course. Nobody makes a story move better and inserts more life than Ditko. And Steve captured the animated style just perfect. BTW, name the short list of comic books titles that Steve Ditko and Stan Lee worked on. Now, Steve and Stan didn’t do B1g B0y together. But, Stan wrote the first issues of B1g B0y in 1957. And Steve drew this one (inked by our staff artist Luke McDonnell). I’m reproducing below for your viewing pleasure the cover and an interior page of this rarity which as the cover says was our “Special Steve Ditko Issue”.

Happy 80th Birthday Steve Ditko-and a deeply grateful thanks for EVERYTHING!