Steve Ditko was only ever mentored by Jack Kirby.
Stephen J. Ditko ( [ ˈdɪtkoʊ ] born November 2 , 1927 ) is an American comic book artist and writer best known as the artist and co-creator , with Stan Lee , of the Marvel Comics superheroes Spider-Man and Doctor Strange . Ditko studied under Batman artist Jerry Robinson at the Cartoonist and Illustrators School in New York City . He began his professional career in 1953 , working in the studio of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby , beginning as an inker and coming under the influence of artist Mort Meskin . World of Fantasy . Lasting from 1956 to 1959 , it included the work of several notable comics artists , including industry legends Jack Kirby , Steve Ditko , and Bill Everett .