Spider-Man 3

A man laughs after watching a "Spider-Man 3" promotional video in Hong Kong May 2, 2007. Reuters/Claro Cortes IV

Police say Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko has died at the age of 90 in New York, reports the BBC.

Ditko, one of Marvel Comics’ legendary staffers was found unresponsive at his flat in Manhattan on 29 June and was declared dead by paramedics who attended the scene.

Police said that they believed he had been dead for two days when he was found, reports Ars Technica.

Media reports say Ditko left behind no family or survivors.

Ditko rose to fame for his work with Marvel Comics in the early 1960s, working with the company's future CEO Stan Lee on ideas including Spider-Man and Doctor Strange.

Lee came up with the idea of a teen superhero with the powers of a spider, says BBC North America correspondent Chris Buckler.

But it was Ditko who created Spider-Man's distinctive blue and red costume and the web-shooters he wore on his wrists.