Summary

• Stalker, Punch & Jewelee, and Starman showcase Ditko's diverse creations at DC, from fantasy to superheroes.
• The hidden potential of characters like Captain Atom, Creeper, and Hawk and Dove was later realized by DC.
• From Shade the Changing Man to Hawk and Dove, each character exemplifies Ditko's unique storytelling and impact.

Although Steve Ditko is best ed as a Marvel visionary, his output at DC Comics is no less great, and includes some of the publisher’s finest characters. Interestingly enough, many of Ditko’s best DC creations did not start at the publisher, instead originating with Charlton Comics. The rights to these characters were later obtained by DC.

Steve Ditko’s DC creations are diverse, ranging from street-level vigilantes such as the Question to high-concept science fiction heroes like Starman. When compared to his work at Marvel, Ditko's contributions to the DC Universe are sparse. Yet the wonderful characters he helped create are still having an impact on the DC Universe, and here are the ten best, ranked.

10 Stalker Was a Compelling Character Who Sadly Never Went Anywhere

First Appearance: Stalker #1, co-created with Paul Levitz

Steve Ditko did excellent work in a variety of genres other than superheroes, and Stalker is the proof. Rooted in the sword and sorcery genre, Stalker was a young prince who defeated a demon lord. Stalker gained immortality but lost his soul, and embarked on a quest to get it back. Stalker’s book only lasted four issues before cancellation, and while the character has made sporadic appearances since, he has largely fallen into obscurity. This is sad, as his highly compelling story was never resolved, as Levitz and Ditko moved on to other characters.

9 Punch and Jewelee Are No Laughing Matter

First Appearance: Captain Atom #85, co-created with Dave Kaler

Steve Ditko moved to Charlton Comics mid-decade, creating a number of innovative characters, such as Punch and Jewelee. Beginning as Captain Atom villains, Punch and Jewelee would go on to the Suicide Squad, but tragically, Punch was killed for defying Amanda Waller. Adopting a clown/court jester theme, the two were viewed as primarily “joke villains,” of no real consequence, but their appearances in later comics, particularly after being acquired by DC, have shown their deadly potential. Jewelee used the clown gimmick years before Harley Quinn came about, and a fight between the two could make for comic gold.

8 Prince Gavyn, the Starman, Underwent the Hero’s Journey

First Appearance: Adventure Comics #467, co-created with Paul Levitz

Steve Ditko made a name for himself at Marvel illustrating science fiction stories, and this is on display beautifully in his Starman tales. The second of Ditko’s co-creations with Paul Levitz, Starman, alias Prince Gavyn, was the protector of Throneworld. Originally a spoiled and entitled aristocrat, Gavyn would go through an incredible journey, becoming a true hero. Gavyn’s adventures only lasted 11 issues, and the character would not make a proper return until James Robinson and Tony Harris’ mid-1990s Starman book. Gavyn’s appearances in Starman helped introduce this great Dikto creation to a new generation.

7 Nightshade Underwent a Huge Metamorphosis

First Appearance: Captain Atom #82, co-created with Dave Kaler

Another one of Steve Ditko’s Charlton Comics creations, Nightshade, has undergone perhaps the biggest change of any character on this list. Introduced as a partner and love interest for Captain Atom, Nightshade over time became a more supernatural-themed character. Hailing from the “Land of the Nightshades,” she has shadow-based powers, as well as the ability to teleport people through her home dimension. After being integrated into the DC Universe after Crisis On Infinite Earths, Nightshade would an early incarnation of Amanda Waller’s Suicide Squad, as well as Shadowpact.

6 The Creeper Is a Colorful Character In Both Appearance and Personality

First Appearance: Showcase #73, co-created with Don Segall

Steve Ditko regularly used journalists as characters, and the Creeper was a great example of this. Jack Ryder, a loud and brash journalist, possessed a device that transformed him into a yellow-skinned maniac with a terrifying laugh. In addition to his physical transformation, Ryder gained superhuman strength and agility that he then used to fight crime as the Creeper. A cult favorite, the Creeper has been the subject of several revivals over the years and recently appeared in the pages of Tom King’s Danger Street, which played on the character’s arrogant and loud nature.

5 Shade the Changing Man Lived Up to His Name

First Appearance: Shade the Changing Man #1

One of Steve Ditko’s most unique DC creations, Shade the Changing Man, has lived up to his name in more ways than one. Shade’s original title, which Ditko both wrote and drew, only lasted eight issues before cancelation, and the character would make occasional appearances in the DC Universe, most notably in Suicide Squad. Then, in the early 1990s, writer Peter Milligan and artist Chris Bachalo substantially revamped the character, and helped lay the foundation for the late Vertigo imprint. Although the title made a few token allusions to Ditko’s version, it was largely its own.

4 Hawk and Dove Were More Than Just Mouthpieces

First Appearance: Showcase #75, co-created with Steve Skeates

Steve Ditko was not afraid to take on philosophical issues in his works, and Hawk and Dove are excellent representative of this. Imbued by the Lords of Order with fantastic powers, brothers Hank and Don become avatars of war and peace, respectively. Under Ditko’s guidance, Hawk and Dove was a compelling exploration of the themes of war and peace, but the dynamic between the two brothers kept it from being a didactic exercise. Don was killed in the Crisis on Infinite Earths, and a new Dove, named Dawn, took his place. This team is still a part of the DC Universe today.

3 Captain Atom Was a True Cold War Hero

First Appearance: Space Adventures #33, co-created with Joe Gill

The early 1960s were the peak of the Cold War, and the comics of the time reflected this, including one of Steve Ditko’s best creations: Captain Atom. The character’s origin and appearance have undergone substantial change since his first appearance, but the core remains the same. Captain Nathaniel Adam volunteers for an experiment that gives him nuclear powers. He has to wear a containment suit to protect others. Captain Atom, like other Charlton characters, was later acquired by DC, and is most notable today for being the inspiration for Watchmen’s Doctor Manhattan.

2 Steve Ditko Dared to Ask…The Question

First Appearance: Blue Beetle, Volume 4 #1

Steve Ditko was a well known champion of the ideas of Ayn Rand, and her philosophy informed one of his best creations: the Question, which he created for Charlton Comics. Continuing Ditko’s fascination with journalists, the Question was crusading reporter Vic Sage, who used a special chemical to obscure his facial features and fight crime. The Question was notoriously inflexible in his beliefs, arrogantly assuming he was always in the right. When Charlton’s Action Heroes stable was acquired by DC, writer Denny O’Neil and artist Denys Cowan reworked the Question into a more morally ambiguous hero.

1 For a Generation, Ted Kord was the Blue Beetle

First Appearance: Captain Atom #83

The Ted Kord incarnation of the Blue Beetle ranks as Steve Ditko’s most lasting contribution to the DC Universe. Like the Question and Captain Atom, Ted Kord began as a Charlton Comics character, and was later folded into the DC Universe. The character soon became a member of the Justice League, where he meets his best friend, Booster Gold. Kord was seemingly killed in the buildup to Infinite Crisis, but would return to life during the New 52 era. Today, he still enjoys adventures with Booster Gold, while serving as a mentor for his successor, Jaime Reyes.

Steve Ditko was a visionary, having co-created Spider-Man and a number of Marvel icons. Yet the characters in this list prove that Dikto’s vision extended beyond Marvel and into other publishers as well, cementing his status as one of comics’ all-time greats.