The Walt Disney Company has named 14 creative individuals as the latest inductees to their Disney Legends program. Comic art luminary Steve Ditko, who was a key figure in building Marvel comics, is among the newest Disney Legends.

No artist other than Jack Kirby had as much influence on the formative years of the Marvel Comics universe as Steve Ditko. Although he was not as prolific as Kirby, the style, substance and mood of his artwork defined Spider-Man, Doctor Strange and numerous other characters for the publisher.

His work debuted in Black Magic Vol. 4 #3 and Captain 3-D #1 at about the same time in 1953. He worked for Marvel predecessor Atlas on horror, monster and science fiction stories. Tales of Suspense, Journey Into Mystery, Amazing Adventures, and Tales to Astonish, all featured his work at Marvel, but it was Amazing Fantasy #15 and his subsequent 38-issue run on Amazing Spider-Man and his Doctor Strange stories in Strange Tales that made him a fan favorite. At Charlton, he worked on Captain Atom, Blue Beetle, The Question, and other characters, and at DC he created Shade The Changing Man, among other works.

The Disney Legends program, akin to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, began in 1987. Its members now number over 300 with honorees from film, TV, music, animators, Imagineers, Mousketeers, and others who work behind the scenes on Disney film and TV projects and at Disney theme parks.

New Disney Legends joining Ditko are costume designer Colleen Atwood, actress Angela Bassett, Martha Blanding of Parks and Resorts, TV producer/series creator James L. Brooks, director James Cameron, actress Jamie Lee Curtis, singer/actress Miley Cyrus, actor Harrison Ford, animator Mark Henn, actor Frank Oz, TV host Kelly Ripa, Imagineer Joe Rohde, and composer John Williams.

The induction festivities will be held at the D23 Expo on August 9-11, 2024.