Synopsis
- Part of the first generation to grow up with comic books, Alex Toth came to the medium with a fresh eye and enough talent and discipline to graphically strip it down to its bare essentials. His efforts reached fruition at Standard Comics, creating an entire school of imitators. Setting the Standard collects this highly influential body of work in one substantial volume.
- Toth began his professional career at fifteen in 1945 for Heroic Comics, but quickly advanced to superhero work for DC. Responding to the endless criticism of editors, the young artist strove toward a technique free of "showoff surface tricks, clutter, and distracting picture elements." Simply put, he learned "how to tell a story, to the exclusion of all else." After falling out with DC in 1952, Toth moved West. He freelanced almost exclusively for Standard over the next two years, contributing classic work for its crime, horror, science fiction, and war titles. But perhaps most revelatory to the reader will be the romance collaborations with writer Kim Ammodt, Toth's personal favorites. "I came to prefer them for the quieter, more credible, natural human equations they dealt with ― emotions, subtleties of gesture, expression, attitude."
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Review
The presentation of the comics themselves proves crisp and strong. The manner in which the increasingly valuable Sadowski and his publisher chose to present the supporting material is even better.--Tom Spurgeon
About the Author
Greg Sadowski is a writer, editor and designer (B. Krigstein, Supermen!, Four Color Fear, Setting the Standard: Alex Toth; Action! Mystery! Thrills!) living in Washington State.
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Seller Image
Setting the Standard: Alex Toth
Published by
Fantagraphics Books August 2011, 2011
ISBN 10: 1606994085
ISBN 13: 9781606994085
Used
Trade Paperback
First Edition
Seller: Reclaimed Bookstore, Richmond, VA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Trade Paperback. Condition: Used. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First Edition. Used Very Good Condition 1st Edition. Minor bumps/wear at edges/corners. Pages are clean and bright. Minor bending of fron cover. Spine is straight and tight. Seller Inventory # 81593
Stock Image
Setting the Standard: Comics by Alex Toth, 1952-1954
Published by
Fantagraphics Books
ISBN 10: 1606994085
ISBN 13: 9781606994085
Used
Softcover
First Edition
Seller: Memories Lost and Found, Avondale Estates, GA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Softcover. Condition: Near Fine. Alex Toth (illustrator). First Edition. Collects Toth's complete comics work in full color for Standard Comics in the early 1950s, arguably the most creative and innovative period of his career. Includes romance stories, crime, science fiction, horror and more. Very slight corner wear. Seller Inventory # 5128