Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko has been found
dead in his Manhattan apartment, police confirmed late Friday.
The 90-year-old artist had not been seen for several days when he was
found "unresponsive" by a maintenance worker on June 29, a New York
Police Department spokesman told dpa.
"Maintenance gained entry using a key and found Mr Ditko unresponsive
inside. Emergency services were called and Mr Ditko was pronounced
deceased at the scene," the spokesman said.
The police were unable to provide a cause or exact date of death.
Ditko and writer Stan Lee created Spider-Man in 1961, with the artist
coming up with the character's iconic red-and-blue costume and
web-shooters.
Ditko also created the popular Doctor Strange character in 1963, but
he left Marvel comics soon after a fight with Lee which has never
been explained by either man.
The artist worked for DC Comics and independent publishers before
rejoining Marvel in 1979, where he continued to work as a freelancer
in the 1990s.
He was known for being reclusive, with the director of the latest
film adaptation of Doctor Strange saying the artist had intentionally
stayed out of the spotlight.
Steve Ditko, the co-creator of Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, has passed away at the age of 90 years old.
Rest in peace to a Marvel legend whose work will be remembered forever. pic.twitter.com/GpRHCuKk0t
— MCU News & Tweets (@MCU_Tweets) July 7, 2018
"I hope he goes to see the movie wherever he is, because I think we
paid homage to his work," Scott Derrickson told The Hollywood
Reporter (THL) in October 2016.
"We were infused with the Ditko-aesthetic, but I never spoke to the
man," the film's screenwriter Jon Spaihts added.
On Friday, author Neil Gaiman paid tribute on Twitter to an artist
who was "never equalled."
"I know I'm a different person because he was in the world," Gaiman
wrote.
Meanwhile, a restraining order was granted Friday on behalf of Lee
against his former adviser, who allegedly embezzled assetts worth
more than 5 million dollars, Variety reported.
The Marvel icon was granted a protective order last month against
Keya Morgan. That order was dismissed earlier Friday by Los Angeles
Superior Court Judge Pro Tem Ruth Kleman on the basis she did not
recognize Tom Lallas as Lee's attorney.
However, the judge later granted a new restraining order to protect
Lee and his family from Morgan, who has been accussed of isolating
the 95-year-old to control his business matters.
The order is temporary pending a hearing on July 26.
Separately, Morgan has been charged with filing false reports to
police and violating probation.