DEAR JOHN: The Alex Toth Doodle Book

by Alex Toth, John Hitchcock

When comics retailer and fan John Hitchcock first wrote to one of his cartoonist heroes, he had no idea what that letter would begin. A 25-year correspondence with Alex Toth resulted, and stacks of doodles, sketches and roughs that might have been tossed aside were saved for posterity! Along with the art Alex passed along are the original postcard letters, full of insights, rants, and wisdom for artists and comics readers everywhere. Also included are interviews and "director's commentary" by the artist on some of his classic comics stories. Nominated for the 2007 Eisner Award for Best Comic Book Related Book

Genres: Art

Paperback

Published January 1, 2006

About the author

Alexander Toth was an American professional cartoonist active from the 1940s through the 1980s. Toth's work began in the American comic book industry, but he is also known for his animation designs for Hanna-Barbera throughout the 1960s and 1970s. His work included Super Friends, Space Ghost, The Herculoids, and Birdman. Toth's work has been resurrected in the late-night, adult-themed spinoffs on Cartoon Network: Space Ghost: Coast to Coast, Sealab 2021, and Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law.

He was inducted into the comic-book industry's Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1990


Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Colin Post · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really special book - a comic book fan/retailer starts up a correspondence with a reclusive and crotchety cartoonist legend and continues that discourse for the next 25 years. Over the course of the correspondence, Toth discusses his life and provides deep insights into his work, but also mentions mundanities in passing and comments on current events. You can see the relationship between Toth and Hitchcock ebb and flow but ultimately grow into a lifelong friendship.

The book is especially meaningful to me because the “Dear John” who Toth writes to is the owner of my Local Comic Shop, Parts Unknown in Greensboro, North Carolina. Through the letters, Alex inquires into the shop and John’s life, and it’s as much a book about him too. It was really cool to see this other side of a guy who I’ve know as an institution.

Of course, the doodles are magnificent. With just a few lines, Toth conjures distinct personas, all the more amazing for being a rushed off sketch on the back of an envelope.

This is a window into an artist’s life and work all the more because it’s so unintentional, an accrual of thoughts and doodles over decades.

[Hanif · Rating 5 out of 5]

an obvious must for fans of classic comics. anyone interested in drawing and illustration should check it out - although it's very hard to find.

toth holds his own against any other comic artists and his ability to tell the story was peerless.it's a shame the material he worked on didn't do justice to his genious.

profusely illustrated with his sketches (outline drawings) and with his own handwritten analysis of some of his best work, including 'white devil, yellow devil'.

[Shawn Aldridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

A master illustrator and designer.

Though you may not know it, there's a good chance you've seen a toth design or illustration.

Johnny Quest, Space Ghost, Herculoids, Superfriends, and more were all characters Toth help define/design. Any given night on Adult Swim you'll see a take on a Toth designed character at some point.

[Harold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toth was quite the curmudgeon in his commentary and letters (and a little of it goes a long way) but the sketches are both inspirational and fun to look at.