Steve Ditko’s Eternal Relevance: ‘In Principle: The Unchecked Premise’
by Batton LashSteve Ditko is one of the most innovative and influential comic book artists of all time. He co-created “The Amazing Spider-Man” (Ditko’s original and imaginative design for that character is an icon known world-wide) and worked on such well-known characters as The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man. His creative contributions to those characters during their early years helped secure their longevity and appeal over the decades.
Among the scores of Ditko’s own creations include Dr. Strange, The Creeper, and the unique and uncompromising Mr. A. Ditko has also illustrated some of the most memorable fantasy stories the comics medium has ever seen.
Ditko continues to be active, writing, drawing and creating new characters and using the medium as a bully pulpit. Like his avenging heroes, Ditko pulls no punches, as you can see in the following strip, “In Principle: The Unchecked Premise.” Originally included in the graphic novel, “Steve Ditko’s Static,” published by Robin Snyder and Steve Ditko in 1988, “In Principle” is chillingly more relevant today than it was when it was originally published.
Here is Ditko’s “In Principle: The Unchecked Premise” © 2009 Robin Snyder. [click images to enlarge]:
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58 Comments
Wow. And how would Progressives respond to this comic strip from 20 years ago? They'd wonder what blood is since they have none flowing through their own veins.
That is astonishingly good and oh so relevant today. Thanks!
Ditko understands and he knows that it never ends. Once hooked up to someone elses need/want the drain on a resource will never end. Because that so-called need is really a bottomless pit.
Spread the word, brother Batton! (but © Robin Snyder?)
Every time a new tax of fee is proposed, the politicians and the media do "surveys" where they ask if people would mind just paying a "dollar or two" every month for whatever the project du jour is. NEVER do they go back to all the other times they've asked for "just" a dollar or two over the years and add them all up.
when only the productive are tapped to help the needy. The number of needy will always increase.
this is the John Galt experience in Atlas Shrugged. But since reading 1100 pages is a bit of a process, Mr. Ditko's 4 pages are a good subsitute
As if I didn't adore this man for creating one of the coolest Comic Book characters of all time enough, after reading this has cemented that to me forever.
I wonder if he knew this was racist when he drew it twenty years ago?
In 1898, short-term luxury tax on phone service was signed into law. Who could it hurt since only the rich had phones? And how short-term would it be? Why, just long enough to fund the Spanish-American War, which ended the same year the tax started, 1898. Who was “rich” after 1898? Anyone who owned a phone. This temporary tax fluctuated between 3% and 25% for 108 years, finally ending it's "short-term" life in 2006.
Enjoy the revolution, folks.
Not his best artwork, but clearly from the heart and very Objectivist. In my fan-boy days, I remember reading that he liked Ayn Rand's work. This could have been written by Ayn Rand or Madelyn Murray O'Hair.
Mr. A became a lot more popular when he essentially molted and became The Question.
The comic book industry needs more people like Mr. Ditko.
Great article, about a truly great artist– Mr. Ditko's genius evokes discussion about his black-and-white philosopies, whether one agrees with them or not.
ditko, a genius in his own right, nails it here. note the committee(call them czars maybe), fat cats, all deciding that which needs to be paid, but do not pay a portion themselves.
however, the victims (taxpayers) of the victimhood mentality are waking up. the days of the left are waning with each new outrage. stand strong.
Those who like the above strip should check out The Ditko Collection, volume I and II.
http://www.ditko-fever.com/ditkocollection.html
who is John Galt?
Not only did visions of Ayn Rand come to mind as I read this comic, but also "the forgotten man." People A and B agree to help X, who is in need, and A and B enlist the aid of C, and C is the only one asked to help. C is the forgotten man, drained of everything until he can't give any longer.
C is the Tea Partier, of course.
It's always easier to be compassionate and generous with other people's stuff.
Amazingly poignant. That's the type of message that needs to be spread into the mass media world, instead of the self absorbed, narcissistic drivel being peddled today. Of course the Red Cross may have liked a different metaphor. Tea anyone?
And of course "The Question" became Rorshach in Watchmen.
That's just plain creepy because it's so relevant. It would be one thing if everyone asked for "just a dollar or two" were allowed to make the personal decision to give or not depending on their own circumstances and ability to give, but increasingly, we have Washington pols deciding that another dollar or two isn't too much because if you live thus and so, you're clearly rich and have endless amounts of "a dollar or two."
I kept waiting to have the recipient of the "volunteer"s blood turn to be a vampire.
But the reality is that there really doesn't have to be ANY recipient. Those who initiate statist solutions never have to actually demonstrate that anyone is actually being helped. This is the infernal genius of the environmental movement: as the cooler temperatures put the lie to Global Warming, the language is changed to Climate Change.
Don't know about the Randian connection; I believe helping the less fortunate is a moral duty, and that we have an obligation to be generous. The Progressive heresy is to declare a "right" to receipt of charity, and the State's authority to forcibly impose collection on the population at large.
The problem with this strip is that the burden is imposed upon a single individual, rather than the whole population. Al Capp had a great Lil' Abner script on the topic back in the 60's which better pointed to the problem; I recall the title was "No man is an Ir'land!"
The most telling part for me is how the good guy accepts the premise that 'something must be done', before sacrificing himself to the parasites.
So clearly the moral of the story here is… TAX THE RICH, not the average guy.
Perfect parable to show what's in store for socialized medicine. Shows where the morality of altruism ultimately leads.
Your second paragraph seems to be contradictory. Your "moral duty" and "obligation" arguments are what the left uses to force (or "volunteer") people to help, and your statement only lacks enforcement. I'm just wondering how you can argue duty and obligation without some sort of enforcement for those beliefs? Or any consequences for violating those duties and obligations. From that second sentence, you don't think anyone should be forced to help, but duty and obligation have connotations of enforcement or consequences if not adhered to.
And what kind of help do you think is our duty and obligation? Do we give the less fortunate a fish, or do we teach him to fish?
Literally so. Most of the appearances of The Question since the publication of Watchmen have been influenced by Rorschach — ruthless, obsessed with conspiracy theories, but absolutely uncompromising and devoted to the truth whenever he finds it.
From that second sentence, you don't think anyone should be forced to help, but duty and obligation have connotations of enforcement or consequences if not adhered to.
Giving aid out of our own generosity is no bad thing. The bad thing comes in when someone attempts to legislate charity, to make it a requisite for continuing to live in society. Charity that is made mandatory ceases to be charity — it can't even be called "generous" anymore.
One man helps another because helping is just the right thing to do, not because someone else is standing over him threatening him with temporal consequences for not helping.
And as to your last question: I say we teach him to fish. The best kind of charity is that which helps the recipient to stand on his own feet, to the point that he no longer has to rely on you; if he continues to rely on you, either he hasn't gotten the point yet or he's a lazy bastard undeserving of continued assistance. I don't think even a Randite would find anything wrong with helping people achieve autonomy.
There's nothing wrong with the morality of altruism, as long as it is true altruism. Forcing people to pay for the needs of other people is a different matter. Which is what Ditko's story perfectly illustrates. A true master!
Actually, I believe a number of the other Marvel heroes also started their careers fighting the Reds. Even unlikely ones such as Thor.
Good thing Stan Lee changed tactics relatively quickly or Marvel would have long since been "red-listed".
Something's fishy about it this comic. Has anyone flagged it yet?
Altruism is defined as "unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others". The "unselfish" part is what makes altruism evil. Only someone who places little value on their own life would regard the wants and needs of others more than their own. And if you see yourself as nothing more than a sacrificial animal, so will everyone else.
My admiration for Ditko is expressed in my blog name Mr A.
Ah, Mr. Ditko's right wing plutocratic bullcrap.
Ditko lives apart from the general comic book creator population. This is a Good Thing. He doesn't follow the liberal line that most artists wallow in. Whether you agree with him or not, you have to admit that the man is a thinker.
Amazing that it was written 20 years ago. Also check out Ayn Rand's essay "The New Left: The Anti-Industrial Revolution". Written in the late 60's, it nails today's leftists. Chilling.
"how you can argue duty and obligation without some sort of enforcement for those beliefs? "
There is no contradiction here. The duty to help the less fortunate has always been part of the Judeo-Christian cultural mandate for the INDIVIDUAL. Making it the mandate of the State has only become part of the template within the last century. Judeo-Christian culture (and my Catholic faith) instruct me that helping others is my personal obligation. These leave the decision of when, where, how much, and to whom I give such help up to my conscience.
Governments have no business doling out charity; as a former employee of a state Social Services program, I can attest to the fact that they do it very badly.
[...] spinning off too far into some political rant, this post over at Andrew Breitbart’s Big Hollywood blog is the best thing I’ve read in awhile. [...]
I wonder what Ditko would say about Marvel's current storyline, which is unconsciously incredibly Objectivist in its presentation.
For those not in the know, the storyline (which began in January of this year) is called "Dark Reign". Spider-Man's arch-enemy Norman Osborn (wonderfully played by Willam Dafoe in the '02 film series) has essentially become the head of the legitimate super hero activity in America. ("Legitimate" equals "government run".) His former crimes and associations are known to some degree to the public at large, but the American people are willing to give him a second chance after the "failed" policies of former director Tony Stark AKA Iron Man.
Osborn's been wrapping himself in the psudeo-patriotism of leftists (even designing a new identity for himself, the "Iron Patriot"), but his policies are as self-serving as you might expect. He's even gone so far as to assemble a group of, let's call them "czars" to act as a shadow government and manipulate things behind the scenes. (Doctor Doom is among their members, to give you an idea of the caliber of person he's working with.)
Whether or not Marvel Comics realizes it, this is a timely and disturbing parallel to certain other events in government today. (I'm not quite willing to say that Osborn = Obama, though; I like Osborn too much.)
The Objectivist absurdity is apparent in the new title launched under this story, the "Dark Avengers". As Iron Patriot, Osborn leads a team of super villains loyal to him, which operate under the guise of real heroes. Venom (the black alien parasite from the over-maligned Spider-Man 3 film) acts as Spider-Man. Bullseye (Colin Farrel's assassin character in "Daredevil") acts as former Avenger Hawkeye, etc.
A is not A. The very principles of logical reasoning have been thrown aside in a tide of mob-fueled emotions; this book does take place in New York City, after all. Who do you think the Man on the Street in these stories would have voted for?
The best conservative literature is often that which the writers don't know they're creating.
A bit ostentatious. Then again, Ditko was never one to be subtle.
Many of his super heros, Iron Man and even the Hulk became who they were by fighting Communism. (Yes, the Hulk. Read his first 2 comics. The commies sabotaged the gamma bomb. Then Hulk smash commies.)
Only tax the productive and see what happens. Or read Atlas Shrugged.
I'm not saying generosity is a bad thing. I guess what I was trying to say is that if person A (Stergeye) says person B (Jake) has a "duty" or "obligation" to help the less fortunate (CalVRWC), whether it's legislated or not, or coerced or not, still has that feeling of "do it or else" behind it.
I understood the initial comment as do your duty, complete your obligation, that I set for you, or else…because I believe you should. But I'm not going to say you should, but there's going to be a bad stigma attached to you if you don't do it.
"the more you sacrifice, the more virtuous you will be."
That sounds like any religion you can think of.
Most of our taxes go to war.
I think Peter Parker agreed with Ditko's sentiments in the "The Principle" until his uncle was shot.
The problem with socialism: sooner or later you run out of other people's money.
Oh man, gonna have some weird dreams tonight.
Gosh, the language the vampires use in this story sure sounds like the Obama administration and the Obamacare goons.
Thanks for sharing this, Batton. I hadn't read this previously.
The only thing missing here is the part where it shows how 90% or the blood is wasted or goes into the maws of a select group of corrupt bureaucrats.
Steve Ditko’s “In Principle: Unchecked Premise”…
A writer for Big Hollywood presents some info and a few panels of a graphic novel Ditko first drew in 1988…
When I was younger, I wanted to draw as well as Ditko- that would have been way cool, but I lacked the talent- not only for the ability to draw, but the ability for clarity when framing a theme.
This is clarity.
No- the moral is the rich will find an average guy they will guilt into helping until it kills him.
You apparently have a low tolerance for spot on parody. Considering this was done awhile back, it is almost prescient in it's right-on take of the healthcare debate and the liberal puke that inhabit this world.
[...] Big Hollywood » Blog Archive » Steve Ditko’s Eternal Relevance: ‘In Principle: The Unchecked P…. [...]
OMG! this is so relevant
This is the only kind of thing that can get to leftist youths, they get all their info in comics and comedy shows and blogs so we need much much more of it. Buy these comics and slip them under your kids doors.
"sooner or later you run out of other people's money."
Isn't that what happened at the end of last year with the banking crisis?
How so? If you're getting racial undertones from this story, it's because your mind put them there. Steve Ditko was a firm Objectivist, objectivism is a philosophy that condemns racism as irrational and sick.
If you're going to insult his personal politics, at least do some research.
Considering Ditko's entire universe is seemingly populated by straw men, I'm astonished there was any blood in the strip at all.
That said, I'm biased – I'm alive today because of the NHS. God bless them.
"I belong to a Philosophy, I cannot possibly be racist! *murders the hell out of a black dude*"
Belonging to *A* pihlosophy does not prevent you from racist, but being objectivist does. Grow up.
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