At San Diego Comic-Con, Skybound and Image Comics announced they’re teaming up with Scott Dunbier’s Act 4 Publishing to deliver one of the most highly anticipated Artist’s Editions ever: The Amazing Spider-Man by Steve Ditko Artist’s Edition. This landmark release, arriving May 2026, kicks off a multi-book collaboration with Marvel Comics.
The oversized 15” x 22” collection will showcase some of the most historic comics ever created by Spider-Man’s co-creator Steve Ditko, including Amazing Fantasy #15 (Spidey’s debut) and Amazing Spider-Man #33 (often hailed as Ditko’s masterpiece). Alongside these classic tales, readers will find dozens of splash pages, story pages, covers, and even rare, never-before-seen illustrations from the early 1960s—all scanned directly from the original art to preserve every ink line, blue pencil, and nuance.
“Steve Ditko, the co-creator of Spider-Man, was one of the most important and innovative creators in the Marvel Universe,” said editor Scott Dunbier. “His inventive style helped make Spider-Man one of the world’s most beloved heroes.”
Mark Ditko, nephew of the late artist, added: “Scott Dunbier. Steve Ditko. Spider-Man. A legendary trifecta. To finally see this book become real is surreal—it’s truly the book of the decade and a powerful tribute to his legacy.”
Unlike traditional collections, an Artist’s Edition reproduces original artwork at the exact size it was drawn. The pages may appear black-and-white, but every scan is in full color to capture the depth of ink, pencil, and texture, giving readers the closest possible experience to seeing Ditko’s boards firsthand.
“This is the perfect way to launch our partnership with Act 4 and Marvel,” said Sean Mackiewicz, SVP and Publisher at Skybound. “Ditko transformed comic storytelling, and this edition will highlight every stroke and detail like never before.”
This Spider-Man release is part of a larger slate of Artist’s Editions and Connoisseur Editions from the Skybound/Act 4 partnership, which also includes Jim Aparo’s DC Classics Artist’s Edition (late 2025), Darwyn Cooke’s The Complete Spirit Connoisseur Edition, Wally Wood’s EC Stories Artist’s Edition – Expanded, and Mike Mignola’s Hellboy in Hell Book 2 Artist’s Edition (all 2026). Future projects will spotlight creators like J. Scott Campbell, Dave Stevens, Jason Pearson, and Paul Smith.
The Amazing Spider-Man by Steve Ditko Artist’s Edition (ISBN 978-1-5343-3471-7, $195) hits comic shops on May 6, 2026, and bookstores on May 19, 2026. Fans can sign up for updates at Skybound’s official site.
Original art collectors interested in contributing scans to future volumes can reach the team at [email protected]. To learn more about Steve Ditko’s life and work, visit ditkoverse.com, maintained by his nephew Mark S. Ditko.
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