Bravo For Adventure

by Alex Toth, Dean Mullaney (Editor)

Alex Toth's magnum opus, collected in book form for the first time ever! This deluxe hardcover edition contains all three of The Genius's stories starring Jesse Bravo, knock-about pilot and reluctant swashbuckler, including the original graphic novel that's been out of print for 30 years. Also included are never-before-seen pencil roughs, preliminary drawings, and story fragments, as well as Toth's own coloring samples for an edition that never saw print, and-freed from storage after 40-some-years of the coloring for what was intended to be Bravo's original 1975 first printing in France! It's not just a comics collection, it's a capital "E" Event -- the ultimate Bravo for Adventure, published by special arrangement with the Toth family!

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Adventure, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Pulp, Historical Fiction

100 pages, Hardcover

First published June 30, 2015

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

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is recognized by many as Alex Toth's magnum opus. I don't know about all that but it's pretty sweet. Jesse Bravo is a stunt pilot in Hollywood in the 1930s. Since Alex Toth can draw the shit out of planes, it's no surprise that this features some great art in the trademark Toth minimalist style. The heavy use of blacks makes the three tales look like old noir movies.

Actually, the first tale is just a four page intro to Brave and the last tale is another short tale inspired by Alice in Wonderland. The real meat of the book is the middle story. Bravo agrees to fly some people to a movie shoot and things go to hell in a handbasket in a tale involving impersonation and debts to mobsters.

[Drew Canole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been trying to find some great Alex Toth comics to read since I've heard so much about him. This is a later book he wrote and drew. He only did a few pages of it before he stopped / it got cancelled.

It's alright. Well drawn. The story is a bit generic and boring. Starring a good-guy pilot Jesse Bravo who has a run in with some gangsters who run a casino and another pilot with some gambling debt.

It's in B+W but this book includes some of the pages with color by Toth which look incredible.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Toth never really got the Bravo for Adventure concept off of the ground, but this book collects the couple tales he did complete. The art is magnificent, and if you're a fan of Toth, you won't be disappointed. Toth wasn't much of a writer, though, and the dialog feels a bit wooden at times. The scenario isn't bad, but could have used some punching up with a good editor. Still, five stars for the art alone. Every Toth fan should have this book in the library.

[Derek Royal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book, and thanks to Dean Mullaney for pulling this together in a nice hardbound volume for his Library of American Comics series at IDW. This is a bittersweet work, in that the material is so good, but so limited. You can't help but mourn the fact that Toth couldn't generate more of these stories. The writing was difficult for him, but this is a solid narrative. We interviewed Dean about this, and other books, for a podcast episode: http://comicsalternative.com/comics-a....

[Doc Pastor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Los cómics clásicos no son para todo el mundo, en ocasiones su forma y formato se alejan mucho de los cánones más actuales y hacen de su lectura algo pesado. Pero con todo siempre hay que hacer el esfuerzo de adentrarse en el pasado, en los creadores que hicieron de este medio lo que es y sin duda Alex Toth es una parada obligada.

Bravo for Adventure lleva su firma, algo que salta a la vista desde un primer momento y es que sus trazos son inconfundibles, su estilo inimitable, capaz de dotar a la narrativa de una agilidad inherente a la vez que de una elegancia innata.

Si bien es cierto que en esta obra en concreto el guión se muestra algo soso, sin llegar a enganchar como en otras obras de Alex Toth. En parte compensando por el arte del autor pero igualmente haciendo que la lectura no resulte lo sabrosa que podría.

[Alessandro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bravo For Adventure is Alex Toth at his purest — elegant, confident, and effortlessly stylish. Set against the backdrop of the Golden Age of Hollywood, it’s both a love letter to pulp adventure and a sly reflection on the era’s charm and excess. Every panel feels like a frame from a lost classic film, and Toth’s storytelling economy is nothing short of brilliant.
The characters, especially the suave protagonist Jesse Bravo, move through a world of stunt pilots, movie sets, and moral ambiguity with irresistible flair. Even the villains are impeccably designed — one, in particular, looks like he could have stepped straight out of Torpedo by Abulí and Bernet, adding a wonderful visual echo to European noir.
In short: Bravo For Adventure isn’t just a comic — it’s a masterclass in graphic storytelling. Stylish, mature, and timeless.

[Gonzalo Oyanedel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muy crítico de las historias que le ofrecían y de los rumbos de la historieta en general (aunque escribir guiones le resultó más difícil que criticarlos), Alex Toth evitó el tono oscuro presente en sus contemporáneos para decantarse por la aventura clásica; esa que lo entusiasmó desde niño y recoge en cada página de Bravo for Adventure. Un revival impecable, donde aplica a la perfección cada cliché del género con un ritmo que recuerda a los grandes clásicos; mencionar el apartado gráfico es reconocer al maestro en su mejor punto, dominando la limpieza del blanco y negro como pocos historietistas. Más reverenciado por otros dibujantes que por los lectores, Alex Toth seguirá siendo un impresionante artista a descubrir.

[Jake Nap · Rating 4 out of 5]

From a purely visual point of view, Toth is a genius. The art and visual story telling in this book is jaw dropping. Toth is a master of the medium. However, is writing definitely could’ve used some work and if this had gone on longer than it did, I’m sure it would’ve refined over time. The stories we get here though are entertaining, the writing isn’t awful it’s just a bit clunky. I like the plots but the dialogue definitely feels dated. Maybe that’s what Toth was going for, setting it in the 30’s and going for a pulp aesthetic, but it didn’t work too well for me in the dialogue department. Even some of the narration was much at times, Toth should’ve let his pictures tell more of the story.

Still loved this, perhaps the best drawn book I’ve ever read. This guy should do every book.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bravo for Adventure is a riff on a classic adventure serial - it's somewhat reminiscent of The Rocketeer with its classic Hollywood setting and adventure strip style, although Bravo has a workable story. Toth is, of course, sublime, a true master of comics. The illustrations are impeccable. The main story is sturdy and clear, although the "Wonderland"-like short story falls flat as a narrative (but it's a great excuse for some wild Toth drawings!).

[Jaydub · Rating 4 out of 5]

Narrative art/story-telling is crystal clear and breathtaking, and echoing other reviewers the story and characters are only mildly entertaining. This book is worth owning for the art however, and I am happy to have it as part of my collection.

[Jefferson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a great story. Fans of Indiana Jones or the Rocketeer should love this. It's a pity Toth didn't get the chance to do more of these.

[Rocco Versaci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful illustration work by the legendary Alex Toth.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex Toth is an acknowledged master of comic book art, and Bravo for Adventure is perhaps one of his finest showcases. Entirely his creation, this book shows Toth displaying his passion for period action and adventure and aviation. The writing--also by Toth--is a bit clunky in places, but I am willing to forgive that in exchange for the knowledge that what we see on the page, plot and script warts and all, is 100% pure Toth. It's a shame that he apparently found writing such a struggle, and had similar trouble finding a publishing home for Bravo. In a better, more perfect world, this would have just been the first of many adventures of Jessie Bravo. However, if this is all we get, it's great to have it in such a gorgeous edition. I've literally been waiting like 30 years for a chance to read this story, and I'm happy to finally have that chance.

[Randal · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only bad thing about this book is that it is too short! If you like comics at all--and if you like movies like Indiana Jones or have any interest in the Art Deco atmosphere of 1930s--you owe it to yourself to pick up this book. The book itself deserves praise; it is an oversized high quality publication. I love the work IDW is doing in putting out beautiful editions like this, and I only hope it continues!

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My only complaint about Bravo for Adventure is I wish it were longer. Alex Toth's Bravo should have had many, many more adventures, but the few collected here are wonderful. Thanks to IDW and the Library of American Comics (and, of course, Dean Mullaney) for making this book available. (Soon to be reviewed at The Comics Alternative)

[Brent]

I read a couple of these chapters in their original publication in Warren magazines, probably on the newsstand.
I would like to afford all the great Alex Toth work out there, much of it thanks to Dean Mullaney and IDW. I always loved Toth and his style.
Recommended.

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic art from Toth.

[Doyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

5-star art, 1-star story.