The Question | Vic Sage | Renee Montoya

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 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stores in early July, the book will explode many of the myths of Ditko’s career, as well as present reams of rare and unpublished Ditko artwork.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 Bell 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 elebrate 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.

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

Lots of Final Crisis news this week, and probably much more to be announced during NY Comic Con this weekend. Here are some of the big stories from this week:

ITEM!:
Grant Morrison to utilize Montoya in Final Crisis.

From the latest solicitations for Final Crisis #3 –

What bizarre warning from beyond awaits Frankenstein, The Question and the agents of S.H.A.D.E. in the shadows of the Dark Side Club? What grim fate lies in store for The Human Flame? What happens when the Anti-Life Equation hits the internet? Can the Fastest Men Alive outrun The Black Racer — Death himself? And who are the Justifiers?

ITEM!:
Greg Rucka and Philip Tan to work on book featuring Montoya teaming with old partner Cris “The Spectre” Allen — Final Crisis: Revelations.

Rucka discusses at Newsarama, then Philip Tan comes in for the second punch.

ITEM!:
The Question seen in the pages of the New York Times.

For more, see this forum posting by eagle-eyed Amedeo.

“Comics Should Be Good” has posted the bottom 10 of the top 100 best comic runs over at CBR. The O’Neil/Cowan Question placed 96th with 99 points (1 1st place vote), just behind Lone Wolf and Cub which received 100 points.