Of interest: 'Jack Kirby and the Auteur Theory of Comics'

http://www.tcj.com/sdcc12-cac-session-7-jack-kirby-and-the-auteur-theory-of-comics/

An interesting discussion in the development of some of comic book, animation and cinema's best superhero characters. A comparison to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's storytelling method in the 1960's, to the Auteur- Directors theory of French Cinema. Very interesting in regards to the writer/artist collaboration/co-creation, by friend and author of 'The Silver Age of Comic Book Art', Arlen Schumer.

A storytelling artist you NEED to know #2: Steve Ditko

An excellent documentary on one of my favourite artists, and a gentlemen whose name is often said in the same breath as 'Jack Kirby' in regards to the best storytellers in the comic field, Steve Ditko.

I had the pleasure of running into British late night talk show king Jonathan Ross while walking the isles of San Diego Comic-Con this year, ironically, he was talking Stan Lee and Jack Kirby to Neal Adams, another  fantastic illustrator. He said he still regrets the line of questioning regarding Stan Lee's opinion in regards to giving Steve co-credit status for Spider-man after all these years. I don't think it was that harsh, really. Anyways, I'm trailing off topic.

The point is, on the subject of storytelling, character design, and the creative process, Steve Ditko is a wonderful and interesting study. Only a handful of photographs of him are in existence in the public arena, and to this very day, he is a very private individual (I have a close friend who spoke to him recently, and he was reportedly a gentlemen).

Anyways, enjoy :)

p.s: I wrote a rather light-hearted, article about where the development of Spider-man came from, if interested. It is an eye-opener in a sense of how ideas aren't necessarily "spare of the moment", "or out of the blue". Often , elements of ideas are batted around for a long time, and need revision before the first incarnations in some sort of storytelling medium. http://girlygeekspeak.com.au/blog/spider-mans-origins/