THE STATUS OF THE
 and
BLAKE BELL
"STEVE DITKO
THE MYSTERIOUS TRAVELER"
PROJECT
(7/2/03) - I'm sure you're all wondering about the status of the STEVE DITKO: THE MYSTERIOUS TRAVELER coffee table book that was going to be out in time for this July's 2003 San Diego Comic Convention. The story is this:
In our fervent desire to get out a grand project befitting Ditko's legendary career, Gary Groth, publisher of FANTAGRAPHICS and I made the error of rushing the project way to completion. The pace I was working (self-imposed, since I would've killed to have it out for the Con) was suicidal, when factoring in my normal 9-5pm day job. It wasn't leading to the best work that the book deserved so, in March, we just took a step back and said, "Let's slow it down. What's truly the bloody rush?"
It would turn out to be the best thing for the project. The book's original first chapter had some serious literary concerns, but I cleared the cobwebs for the Spider-Man chapter and the book's copy-editor said of it: "I really like your critical take on Spider-Man as a text; I think it’s the best I’ve read." The book's other big critical chapter - the Objectivism chapter - has been completed and (if I do say so myself) follows in the same quality footsteps.
I had always imagined the book would be out for San Diego, but when we pulled back, retail outlets like Amazon.com had to be notified that the July solicitation was to be shelved for a later re-scheduling. Unfortunately, confusion reigned when Amazon.com - as they always does when a book is either delayed or canceled - sent out a "this book is canceled" notice. The notice really meant: "This solicitation was canceled" as opposed to the whole project.
Because of the way a larger publisher like Fantagraphics works - a publisher tapped into the mainstream bookstore market - they solicit a catalog twice a year for their material. My dreams of having the book out later this year went up in smoke when I discovered we had just missed the entry for the September 2003 to March 2004 catalog. I was faced with the prospect of an April 2004 release at earliest if wanting to continue with a company the stature of Fantagraphics.
Conversations took place between myself and Gary Groth just a week (June 26th) and - after having come out on the fog of the company's recent financial concerns thanks to a bankrupt distributor eating $70,000 of their money - Mr. Groth tells me he is definitely committed to getting out a Ditko book, so I can happily announce that the project moves forward!
He and I weren't able to get into a great degree of detail, but the San Diego Comic Con will tell the tale. There is where the final details will be discussed. I should be able to return home with all the details firmly in place and will announce them at that time on the site.
It's been a ridiculously busy time on many fronts and I thank all for your patience and enthusiasm for the upcoming book. No one was more wounded than I that the project was originally delayed, but I can assure you it is the best thing for it. It will be worth the wait.
This also allows for more time for more contributions. If you have any more original artwork, or high quality B&W reprints of Ditko's 1950s work, please do come forward and I'll happily add your name to the THANK YOU section of the book. The response so far has been overwhelming - there is so much excellent material that you've never seen before - but I want to add even more! Please do email me at ditko37@sympatico.ca if you have any questions.
- Blake Bell
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