Notes: Three delightfully Ditkoesque characters cavort among an array of distinctively detailed scenery and curios. The characters, familiar archetypes from the Ditko playbook, are identified by their physical appearance, their clothes, and their hats: The "old man shopkeeper" in his vest and fez, the "small-time criminal" who believes in the force of physical intimidation with his underworld-style-cap, and the "Rich man" in his suit and bowler who believes in the power of the dollar.

Surrounded by dusty swords, totems, and taxidermy, a cobweb-covered realistic statue catches the eye of the "Rich man". The "old man shopkeeper" reveals the story of the man who became a statue, and so doing also reveals one of the most potent Ditko-objects of the canon: A door covered in faces, from behind which is housed the Medusa of legends, a gaze at whose visage will turn a man into stone. We are told how the "small-time criminal" forced the "old man shopkeeper" to open the door revealing Medusa, (fortunately for us only revealed from the back,) turning him to stone. The "Rich man" deciding he has more important things to do no longer wishes to press the issue, and departs leaving the "old man shopkeeper" alone with his enigmatic smile and his stone statue friend.

Ditko gives us several views of his delicious door, each one full of expressive faces.

Like many of the players from Ditko's troupe, the old man also did time as a scientist from an alien planet, in Charlton's Unusual Tales 22.

-the stikman