Comments on: The comics artist's comics artist

The comics artist's comics artist

DonnieSticks — Mon, 29 May 2006 00:39:13 -0800

Space Ghost, The Herculoids and made Saturdays worth getting up for with his Super Friends. In addition, he was a prolific comics artist. Comics great Alex Toth is dead at 77.

By: wendell

wendell — Mon, 29 May 2006 00:53:29 -0800

As usual, Mark Evanier has a good explanation of why Toth was significent... and very very good.

By: DonnieSticks

DonnieSticks — Mon, 29 May 2006 00:53:53 -0800

Or maybe you've seen this. If you're a fan of Space Ghost Coast-to-Coast, Sealab 2021 or Harvey Birdman, you owe Toth a tip of the hat. No Alex Toth, no Adult Swim as we know it. R.I.P.

By: DonnieSticks

DonnieSticks — Mon, 29 May 2006 01:02:54 -0800

Sorry, that prolific link is bad, but any Google image search will prove my point.

By: wendell

wendell — Mon, 29 May 2006 01:08:18 -0800

It was Toth's simple, clean drawing style that made the low-budget superhero toons of the '60s possible, and, therefore, the even lower-budget early Adult Swim toons possible. If I haven't already made it clear: . Totally off-topic: Last month I was made aware of a news story about a couple who had won $40 million from the Florida lottery and now were accused of tax evasion on the money. (Like there was any chance nobody would notice?) The man's name was Alex Toth, but absolutely NOT the same Alex Toth. Still, when his mug shot was published I noticed a certain resemblence...

By: JHarris

JHarris — Mon, 29 May 2006 01:49:50 -0800

By: Joey Michaels

Joey Michaels — Mon, 29 May 2006 02:07:51 -0800

Toth was a favorite. RIP, sir.

By: TwelveTwo

TwelveTwo — Mon, 29 May 2006 02:45:07 -0800

Who will make us things to reanimate now?

By: Faint of Butt

Faint of Butt — Mon, 29 May 2006 03:37:45 -0800

By: Smart Dalek

Smart Dalek — Mon, 29 May 2006 03:54:02 -0800

By: trip and a half

trip and a half — Mon, 29 May 2006 05:28:33 -0800

By: WhipSmart

WhipSmart — Mon, 29 May 2006 06:15:54 -0800

By: Eideteker

Eideteker — Mon, 29 May 2006 06:23:42 -0800

By: Fuzzy Monster

Fuzzy Monster — Mon, 29 May 2006 06:26:41 -0800

By: klangklangston

klangklangston — Mon, 29 May 2006 06:43:29 -0800

Man, I kinda regret that his biggest fame came from the TV shows. His comics work was amazing, especially his sense of line. The motherfucker was CLEAN! And that's hard to do.

By: rdone

rdone — Mon, 29 May 2006 07:00:38 -0800

It is sadly gratifying to read that Alex passed away at his drawing table: he went quick, and he was doing something he liked to do. I hope I get as much respect from the Reaper when my number is called.

By: Bron

Bron — Mon, 29 May 2006 07:48:50 -0800

His style took me awhile to appreciate. Seemed almost too simple--not enough lines. Until I realized every line there was in exactly the right place. And the way he knocked in those blacks; just beautiful. .

By: bingo

bingo — Mon, 29 May 2006 07:58:45 -0800

In the Superfriends image, who is that dork next to Aquaman?

By: dig_duggler

dig_duggler — Mon, 29 May 2006 08:20:02 -0800

By: Faint of Butt

Faint of Butt — Mon, 29 May 2006 08:20:13 -0800

bingo, that would be Marvin White.

By: Alvy Ampersand

Alvy Ampersand — Mon, 29 May 2006 08:46:05 -0800

Goddamn. I was planning an FPP that featured the awesome annotated gallery on Tothfans.com., but here's as good a place as any. .

By: Alvy Ampersand

Alvy Ampersand — Mon, 29 May 2006 08:51:20 -0800

B For Blog also has a couple of features on Toth worth looking at.

By: Skygazer

Skygazer — Mon, 29 May 2006 09:00:44 -0800

I remember waking up on Saturday morning as a kid seriously looking forward to Space Ghost. Such a great cartoon... .

By: shmegegge

shmegegge — Mon, 29 May 2006 09:25:12 -0800

By: marxchivist

marxchivist — Mon, 29 May 2006 09:50:39 -0800

Toth was a master of the narrative comic form. I was lucky enough to spend some time with him at a pre-convention party during my comic con going days in the 1980's. He was a complete gentleman, but also had more than a touch of the crusty old curmudgeon (in a good sort of way). He told a story about when he was drawing comic book adaptations of movies. Apparently Danny Thomas thought his nose looked too big in Toth's artwork and he wanted it changed. Toth said that he told Thomas: "If you want your nose fixed go to a damn plastic surgeon."

By: interrobang

interrobang — Mon, 29 May 2006 10:46:31 -0800

There's some great Toth art in the newish "House of Mystery" black and white compendium—every time I'd come across his work, I'd be surprised, go back to the table of contents, and find out it was his. I've been reading about him for years (especially his influence on the amazing Steve Rude), but only just started seeking him out. Sad.

By: interrobang

interrobang — Mon, 29 May 2006 10:50:52 -0800

(I should add that there is not a lot of Alex Toth in the above-linked "House of Mystery", but what is there is very, very good.)

By: Stynxno

Stynxno — Mon, 29 May 2006 12:27:30 -0800

By: bingo

bingo — Mon, 29 May 2006 12:40:55 -0800

that would be Marvin White. Oh. Interesting. I watched the Superfriends religiously as a kid, and I don't remember him. Looks like he was eliminated in 1977. Surely I was watching the show before then, but maybe I just can't remember back that far.

By: Nyrath

Nyrath — Mon, 29 May 2006 17:10:26 -0800

I've love Alex Toth's work from the day I saw my first Space Angel cartoon (with the magic of Synchro-Vox!). He will be missed.

By: evil holiday magic

evil holiday magic — Mon, 29 May 2006 17:34:01 -0800

By: Scoo

Scoo — Mon, 29 May 2006 18:26:18 -0800

By: ZachsMind

ZachsMind — Mon, 29 May 2006 20:01:54 -0800

"Much more 'adult and mature' are the stories no one can, or will, write about and illustrate: Joy, wonder, love honor, humor, wit, intelligence, invention, compassion, trust, respect, duty, character, sacrifice, sentiment, family, discovery, exploration, history, the myriad peoples, customs, and stories abounding out there in the world -- human stories! It's just too easy and predictable to grind out incessant repetitions of the doom and gloom, post-armageddon bilge, garbage anti- and non-heroic bumbling 'heroes', to feed the sickness of its own making -- damn how well it may be written or drawn! It's garbage! Created by the young for the younger and youngest readers -- who, for twenty years of it, almost two generations now -- keep buying it! It's beyond me! I fear for our future -- if we're to have one (?) -- if such is 'entertainments' for our fathers and leaders of tomorrow! What might their offspring be like, then, I wonder." - © 1991 Alex Toth. .

By: clunkyrobot

clunkyrobot — Tue, 30 May 2006 08:43:37 -0800

He hated Sealab 2021. sorry Mr. Toth.

By: Smedleyman

Smedleyman — Tue, 30 May 2006 11:10:52 -0800

By: DonnieSticks

DonnieSticks — Wed, 31 May 2006 22:22:46 -0800

In case anyone looks at this later, here's an excellent compilation of links, quotes and more about Toth.

By: xtian

xtian — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 07:08:30 -0800

interrobang, Right on bout the Toth influence. I collected comics as a kid. It is a great joy to identify a comic artist ("Oh, that's definitely Steranco. Look at the psychedelic inking!"). I liked playing this game on Toth, cuz it can take several panels before you're sure. His style just offerers so few clues!