Marvel Comics icon Stan Lee has made his first public comments on the death of Steve Ditko, the legendary comic book artist who co-created Spider-Man and Doctor Strange with Lee.

“I really cannot let the week go without commenting on Steve Ditko,” Lee said in a video posted on his Twitter account. “Steve was certainly one of the most important creators in the comic book business. His talent was indescribable.”

Remembering Sturdy Steve Ditko – Stan pic.twitter.com/gpmbSF9s5S

— stan lee (@TheRealStanLee) July 13, 2018

Also Read: Steve Ditko, 'Spider-Man' and 'Doctor Strange' Co-Creator, Dies at 90

Ditko died in late June at 90. New York police found Ditko dead in his apartment on June 29th, and is believed to have died two days prior from natural causes. Along with his more famous comic book co-creations, Ditko was as well known for his idiosyncratic politics as his contributions to comics.

“He told the story like a fine movie director would. I think that he will be very greatly missed by the public and by his fans,” Lee continued. “I’m sure there will be a lot written about him as time goes by, and I will be one of guys who buys the first book. You made a real impression here in the world. Excelsior.”

Ditko first joined Marvel in 1955, back when it was known as Atlas comics, and created the popular webslinger with Lee in 1962.

Also Read: Tom Holland Pays Tribute to Spider-Man Co-Creator Steve Ditko: He Changed My Life 'Most of All'

The two continued to collaborate, creating iconic Spider-Man villains like Doctor Octopus (July 1963), the Sandman (Sept. 1963), the Lizard (Nov. 1963), Electro, and the Green Goblin (July 1964), Hulk villains like The Leader, and another flagship Marvel hero, Doctor Strange (1963).

Despite their output and success, Ditko and Lee increasingly clashed over artistic decisions, what Ditko felt was a lack of proper credit and compensation, and even personal, social and even political differences. Eventually the pair were no longer on speaking terms. Ditko eventually quit Marvel in 1966.

Ditko was inducted into the comics industry’s Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1990, and into the Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame in 1994.

All 7 Theatrical 'Spider-Man' Movies Ranked, Worst to Best

We've been through a whole lot of Spider-Man in the past couple decades, from the Tobey Maguire years to Tom Holland in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to, now, a big-screen animated pic focused on Miles Morales and a whole bunch of other Spider-People. So how does this new animated version of Spidey stack up with the previous flicks?
7. "The Amazing Spider-Man"

The first attempt to reboot the series after the Sam Raimi version of "Spider-Man" is easily the worst Spidey film because it's just so irritating to watch. It's one thing to be bad, and it's something else entirely to be annoying.
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6. "The Amazing Spider-Man 2"

Unlike its predecessor, Marc Webb's second failed attempt to make a coherent "Spider-Man" movie at least had the decency to be amusing thanks to the decision to have an unhinged, glowing Jamie Foxx as the main villain.
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5. "Spider-Man 3"

In contrast to the more cynical failures of the "Amazing Spider-Man" movies, Raimi's last go-around maintained a beating heart even while it was severely hampered by somebody's need to shove a million villains in at once. The dance number alone makes it more interesting than nearly any other bad superhero movie.
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4. "Spider-Man"

A lot of the early movies in the modern age of superhero blockbusters were very novel and exciting at the time but ended up feeling pretty mundane next to more recent ones, and the original "Spider-Man" movie is definitely one of those. It's fine. Solid.
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3. "Spider-Man: Homecoming"

The storytelling suffers a bit upon reflection, but it's delightful and works so well as a comedy that it's hard to complain too much.
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2. "Spider-Man 2"

If you look back at every comic book movie ever made, you're not going to find a whole lot that feel totally complete on their own. But "Spider-Man 2" is definitely one of them. It's not just a great superhero movie -- it's a great movie, period.
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1. "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"

While "Spider-Man 2" might have made me cry, "Into the Spider-Verse" made me weep. It also proved once and for all that Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) is the superior Spider-Man to Peter Parker.

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How does the animated “Spider-Verse” stack up in comparison with all those live-action mega-budget movies?

We've been through a whole lot of Spider-Man in the past couple decades, from the Tobey Maguire years to Tom Holland in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to, now, a big-screen animated pic focused on Miles Morales and a whole bunch of other Spider-People. So how does this new animated version of Spidey stack up with the previous flicks?

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