Remembering Artist Alex Toth

Remembering artist Alex Toth on his birthday (June 25, 1929-May 27, 2006) with a quick look at his Hot Wheels covers (Hot Wheels being based on the animated cartoon that featured cars, and the name of toy  cars still in existence today). 

Alex Toth provided interior art for the first five issues, but only 3 covers.

The series followed the adventures of the Hot Wheels Racing Club, led by Jack "Rabbit" Wheeler, and his friends, Kip Chogi, Janet Martin, Tank, Mickey and Ardeth and their automotive pursuits.

Hot Wheels #1 and #4 (March-April and September-October, 1970)

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Hot Wheels #5 (November-December, 1970)

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Remembering Artist Alex Toth

Remembering master artist Alex Toth on his birthday (June 25, 1928 - May 27, 2006), with a look at his covers to Big Town.

Big Town was a popular radio and TV series, that lasted 50 issues in the 1950s, following the adventures of ace newsman Steve Wilson, as he fought crimes and deadlines, with the help of star reporter Lorelei Kilbourne, who served as his conscious.

Toth only covered these issues...

Big Town #8 and #9 (August and September, 1951)

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Big Town #10 and #11 (October and November, 1951)

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Big Town #12 and #13 (December, 1951 and January-February, 1952)

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Remembering Artist Alex Toth With A Question

Remembering artist Alex Toth (June 25, 1928-May 27, 2006) on his birthday, with a quick look at some work he did for a fanzine, in the Charlton Bullseye #5 (July-September, 1976), in a story plotted by Roger Stern and scripted by Michael Uslan featuring Steve Ditko's Question.

Here, intrepid reporter Vic Sage (secretly the faceless hero, the Question) battles with his foe, the Banshee (all in a glorious black and white adventure, the much better to appreciate the subtle stylings of the masterful artwork of Alex Toth!).

4 of the 8 pages of the story, and what a story it was with all the hard hitting crime action you could ask for!

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Secret Love Of Young Hearts

One doesn't think of reoccurring characters in romance comics, nor of stories that crossover titles, but, for the trials and tribulations of young socialite Melanie Winters, and her ill fated romance with Juan Ricco/Perez, as told by Barbara Friedlander, Alex Toth and Vince Colletta....it took four issues in two titles to tell the story of "20 Miles To Heartbreak"!

Here are the covers mostly by Dick Giordano! (with Secret Hearts #141 by Bill Draut and Vince Colletta)

Young Love #78 (Jan-Feb, 1970)/Secret Hearts #141 (January, 1970)

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Secret Hearts #142 (March, 1970)/Young Love #79 (Mar-Apr, 1970)

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First, Melanie starts her story by secretly being in love with stepfather, and running away from home.  As she flees, she's picked up by Juan, whom people would not approve of (and as a fight breaks out as they dance, she flees again, and is hit by a car!).  Recovering, Melanie finds that Juan was arrested for causing her accident, but Melanie's estranged sister returns, getting Juan freed (to see the shock of Melanie's mom when Melanie hugs Juan).  Then, realizing he is a pawn Melanie is using against her mom, Juan takes off as Melanie's sister announces her own upcoming wedding!

So much drama for eight pages an issue, but great Alex Toth art, even if heavily inked by Vince Colletta (and the four part story is reprinted over Young Love #122 to #125...).

Remembering Artist Alex Toth

 

Remembering one of comics' greatest artists, Alex Toth (June 25, 1928 - May 27, 2006), on his birthday.  One of the most influential pieces of work he did was on the Limited Collectors' Edition #C-41 (December-January, 1975/1976), where he did the cover, and art for a special bridging story in this treasury sized book that focused on the popular animated series of the time, the Super Friends.

The story that allowed them to use two previous issues of the Justice League of America was having junior Super Friends Marvin White, Wendy Harris and the Wonder Dog are given a tour of JLA headquarters (the Hall Of Justice), as well a little history of the team as well.

Really, its just an opportunity for Toth to draw the Justice League and all its members at the time, as well as a few of the people who helped the team (which include Hawkgirl and Zatanna, as they weren't members at this time...

...likely this and a DC Super-Stars which reprinted some wonderful Zatanna tales are likely the reason she became a member of the JLA).

The treasury also had features on Super Friends animation (which Alex Toth worked on, providing model sheets for the characters.....highlighting the basics needed, which worked well for animation...).

....as well as an article on how involved animation was, which, of course, having worked there, he knew a little about!   Incredible work by an incredible talent, not unlike his work a few years before on the Black Canary series in Adventure Comics!

All this and two classic issues of Justice League of America as well (#61 and #36  from March, 1968 and June, 1965 by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky), which #61 was covered under the mystery villain of the piece, and the other needs covering in the future!  

A book collection, and artist, that had a lifelong effect on this old comic reader!