FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IDW and YOE Books Announce
The Art of Ditko
Large format retrospective showcases influence of groundbreaking creator
Preview available at TheArtofDitko.com
San Diego, CA (September 27, 2009) – Coming this November, IDW Publishing and its imprint YOE Books are proud to announce, The Art of 
Ditko, a beautifully [The Art of Ditko cover]designed, large format retrospective on the art and influence of Steve Ditko. Comics legend Stan Lee provides a glowing introduction, while P. Craig Russell, John Romita, and Jerry Robinson each offer their own insights into this enigmatic and incredible creator. In addition to these one of a kind essays, The Art of Ditko also introduces fans to the very best of Ditko’s rare and striking work. The Art of Ditko is the first book from IDW’s new imprint YOE Books, and is edited and designed by Craig Yoe (Secret Identity).
A lifelong fan of comics, Ditko began his professional career as a student of Robinson at the Cartoonists and Illustrators School in 1950, and was quickly recognized as a hard working and talented creator. Ditko went on to add his unique style to some of the biggest names in the business, co-creating Spider-Man and Dr. Strange with Lee, and working at both Marvel and DC during his career. In addition to these famous characters, Ditko also heavily influenced the world of comics through his innovative and groundbreaking stories, challenging the accepted boundaries of the medium.
“I’m excited to show these rare stories that pull back the curtain on how Ditko pushed the comics medium’s story telling techniques in radical, revolutionary ways that have been hidden by his steller co-creation of Spider-man and Dr. Strange,” said Yoe. “The Art of Ditko also meticulously reproduces, in color, full page pieces of original Ditko art–including unpublished works–that breathtakingly show off the creator’s powerful artistry.”
The Art of Ditko combines riveting essays about the legendary creator with some of his most revolutionary, yet little known, works. In his introduction, Lee details his relationship with Ditko and how their co-creating of Spiderman and Dr. Strange came about. More fascinating essays follow by Robinson, who created the Joker. John Romita described what it was like to follow Ditko on Spiderman and P. Craig Russell gives careful insight into the task of inking his idol. Drawn during his little known “Innovation Period,” the twenty-eight stories exquisitely presented in full color amply show Ditko as a great auteur experimenting with, twisting, and transforming the comics form.
“The addition of YOE Books to IDW has brought a new creative direction and spirit to our book line,” said IDW Editor Justin Eisinger. “Craig’s unique vision and spirit have a contagious quality, a quality that we’re ready to release onto the reading public.”
The Art of Ditko is the groundbreaking first book of the IDW imprint, YOE Books, edited, designed and written by Yoe, winner of both an Eisner Award and the Society of Illustrator’s Gold Medal. Vice Magazine had deemed Yoe “The Indiana Jones of Comics Historians.”
The Art of Ditko will be available in stores in November. Diamond order code SEP09 0893.
About IDW
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. Renowned for its diverse catalog of licensed and independent books, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry including: Hasbro’s The Transformers and G.I. JOE, Paramount’s Star Trek; Fox’s Angel; the BBC’s Doctor Who; and television’s #1 prime time series CBS’ CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. IDW is also home to the Library of American Comics imprint, which publishes classic comic reprints; YOE Books, a partnership with YOE! Studios; and is the print publisher for ComicMix.
IDW’s original horror series, 30 Days of Night, was launched as a major motion picture in October 2007 by Sony Pictures and was the #1 film in its first week of release. More information about the company can be found at IDWPublishing.com.
