Fantagraphics’ Ditko retrospective to debut @ MOCCA

[ENGLISH] Fantagraphics Books is proud to announce that Strange and Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko – the first critical retrospective of Steve Ditko, the co-creator and original artist of the Amazing Spider-Man – will make its much-anticipated debut on Saturday June 7th, 2008 at the MOCCA Comics Art Festival. The author, Blake Bell, will be on hand both days at MOCCA to sign copies of the book and will debut his slide show presentation on Ditko’s work as part of the festival’s programming. As well, a bookstore signing event at Jim Hanley’s Universe will take place during the festival weekend.

In addition to updates, teasers, and media news on Bell’s Steve Ditko web site at www.ditko.comics.org, readers will be able to keep abreast of updates on the book’s Facebook and MySpace pages, as well as multiple radio and print appearances. For example, Wizard magazine will be running a 6-page feature, excerpting from the Amazing Spider-Man chapter, in its July issue – out in early June). Also, beginning tomorrow, the book’s Introduction will be posted on www.fantagraphics.com, with an additional excerpt being made available to Fantagraphics’ 20/20 Club members.

Available in comic-book stores nation-wide in mid-June, and in mainstream book stores in early July, the book will explode many of the myths of Ditko’s career, as well as present reams of rare and unpublished Ditko artwork. All at once, the book functions as a biography of the artist, and an examination of his work (spotlighting over 300 images) with commentary on what makes Ditko one of history’s greatest sequential storytellers from the author and some of comics most skilled and articulate comic creators.

2008 will mark the year when Steve Ditko fans the world over will have the opportunity to celebrate the artist’s 50-plus year career with this definitive volume from Blake Bell and Fantagraphics Books. A selection of images in a variety of formats is available for publication. For additional information, contact Eric Reynolds at the numbers above.

TITLE INFORMATION:

Strange & Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko
By Blake Bell
$39.99 Hardcover
220 pages, full-color, 9” x 12”
Diamond order code: MAR08 3707
ISBN 978-1-56097-921-0
PUBLICATION DATE: June 2008