Well observed Kingcat!
Ditko has stated that
Meskin was an influence.
This article is not only about those artists who influenced Ditko, but should be required reading for any aspiring comic-book artist.
And there are a few surprises here!
The Artists That Influenced Steve Ditko's Comic Book Art Stylehttps://www.cbr.com/steve-ditko-influences-will-eisner-mort-meskin-joe-kubert/ In 1964, Ditko explained why he was a fan of Mort Meskin in a piece in a fanzine in that year:
"(1) He knows how to draw good proportions, etc. and can handle any type of story well. (2) His panel compositions are consistently superior to most artists, (3) and most important he is truly a remarkable storyteller. No one who reads a Meskin drawn story is ever in a fog as to what is happening. Not only does Meskin tell a story extremely well, but he does it in the most difficult way. he does not take the easy way out or use impressive eye-catching gimmicks that only confuse the story's continuity."
Unfortunately Meskin had a breakdown towards the end of his career. His later work, while excellent, is not a patch on his earlier work.
Most easily accessible articles on Meskin on the internet don't mention that, but from memory, this biography does.
From Shadow to Light: The Life and Art of Mort Meskinhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7151614-from-shadow-to-light Actually, that last opinion,
he does not take the easy way out or use impressive eye-catching gimmicks that only confuse the story's continuity.
is, in my judgement, one of the most annoying traits of many current comics artists.
Cheers!