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Alex Toth: Genius #2
Genius, Illustrated: The Life and Art of Alex Toth
The second book of the series continues the comprehensive review of the life and art of one of the most significant comics and animations artists of all time.
Covering the years from the 1960s to Toth's poignant death in 2006, this lavishly illustrated biography features artwork and complete stories from Toth's latter-day work at Warren, DC Comics, Red Circle, Marvel, and his own creator-owned properties. It also includes samples of his animation work for Hanna-Barbera, Ruby-Spears, and others, as well as sketchbook pages, doodles, advertising art, and other rarities provided through the cooperation of Toth's family and his legion of fans.
Two of Toth's best stories are reproduced complete from the original artwork: "Burma Skies" and "White Devil…Yellow Devil." A full-length text biography charts the path from Toth's increasingly-reclusive lifestyle to his touching re-connection to the world in his final years.
Winner of the 2014 Eisner Award for Best Comics-Related Book and Best Publication Design.
Covering the years from the 1960s to Toth's poignant death in 2006, this lavishly illustrated biography features artwork and complete stories from Toth's latter-day work at Warren, DC Comics, Red Circle, Marvel, and his own creator-owned properties. It also includes samples of his animation work for Hanna-Barbera, Ruby-Spears, and others, as well as sketchbook pages, doodles, advertising art, and other rarities provided through the cooperation of Toth's family and his legion of fans.
Two of Toth's best stories are reproduced complete from the original artwork: "Burma Skies" and "White Devil…Yellow Devil." A full-length text biography charts the path from Toth's increasingly-reclusive lifestyle to his touching re-connection to the world in his final years.
Winner of the 2014 Eisner Award for Best Comics-Related Book and Best Publication Design.
352 pages, Paperback
First published February 12, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 28, 2024
The second of the three volumes covers the last half of Toth's career and the later stages of his life. This covers the period in which Toth became a legend in animation and did significant commercial art. He certainly still did comic book work...and still some of his best, but this was really Toth's animation period. Obviously his most important output here was the design of many (most) of the Hanna-Barbera superheroes. Space Ghost. The Herculoids. Birdman and the Galaxy Trio. Dino Boy. The animation designs of The Super Friends.
He also did significant comic book work. The book includes the entire story for the Hot Wheels tale "The Case of the Curious Cord," which may be Toth's best work. If it's not then Bravo For Adventure very likely is.
While the art is gorgeous, this isn't necessarily an easy read. Toth pretty clearly had significant undiagnosed mental health problems. His habit of burning bridges both professionally and with friends is uncomfortable. His almost complete deterioration into hermitage following the death of his wife Guyla is tragic. It is lovely that his children persevered and forced a reconciliation toward the end of his life. And it's also good that he was able to mend some of the friendships he'd broken.
Ultimately, Toth was a brilliant artist. The proverbial "artist's artist" recognized by those who know art, while not fully understood by most fans because he spent so much of his career working on books that didn't feature characters in long underwear. The authors walk the line between art book and biography brilliantly.
He also did significant comic book work. The book includes the entire story for the Hot Wheels tale "The Case of the Curious Cord," which may be Toth's best work. If it's not then Bravo For Adventure very likely is.
While the art is gorgeous, this isn't necessarily an easy read. Toth pretty clearly had significant undiagnosed mental health problems. His habit of burning bridges both professionally and with friends is uncomfortable. His almost complete deterioration into hermitage following the death of his wife Guyla is tragic. It is lovely that his children persevered and forced a reconciliation toward the end of his life. And it's also good that he was able to mend some of the friendships he'd broken.
Ultimately, Toth was a brilliant artist. The proverbial "artist's artist" recognized by those who know art, while not fully understood by most fans because he spent so much of his career working on books that didn't feature characters in long underwear. The authors walk the line between art book and biography brilliantly.
September 19, 2023
Second of three volumes on the life and art of the influential cartoonist and animator. This covers the 1960s to the 2000s up to his death with ample research (interviews and letters) and a good dose of realism instead of fawning hero worship. It is brutally honest about his failings and decline, but somehow human and kind to him as well.
June 25, 2023
It's hard to describe how transformative this painstakingly detailed and thoughtful biography is. But it changed everything I love and appreciate about art, design, storytelling, and so much more. When speaking of Alex Toth, the term "genius" is not an exaggeration.
May 4, 2023
Great art choices. Of course I would have liked more complete stories. Looking forward to the third volume.
August 14, 2023
Incredible book! Not just the content, but the layout and design truly honors its subject. Anxious to read the other two volumes.
April 9, 2015
This is the second book in the trilogy but the last one I read. Actually it is fitting that it is the last one because it – more than Genius Animated – talks about the last days of Alex’s life. Animated focuses on the animated work but this one finished what Genius Isolated started and completes Alex’s life story while throwing in some breath taking artwork. This book feels like a labour of love. Made by people who loved Alex and wanted to celebrate his life (warts and all) and his talent. I think it does so admirably. You get a wonderful commentary – with interviews – of Alex’s life. It has ups and downs but fittingly it ends on a high note as Alex mellows a bit near his end and opens his heart to his family in the end. While there is so much wonderful art it isn’t just an art book, there is a good deal of effort to put the text in this book. I really love this trilogy. The size, the thick pages, the fabric bookmark (I love that touch), the care and love that went into assembling it. Before reading it I appreciated Alex but now I celebrate Alex.
November 3, 2013
This is the second book in the Toth "Genius" series, and just as good as the first one. The art is great, and inspiring. Toth's biography is also very interesting. In many cases he sounds like he could be very difficult to get along with, and a hard man to like. But nobody could deny his talent or influence, and he had many fans and friends that loved him anyway. This series is really a fantastic exploration of his life and work, and I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books. When the final one, "Genius, Animated", is released, I will be getting it for sure.
August 23, 2014
Alex Toth was true genius, a cartoonist's cartoonist, and this book was a pleasure to read, and will be a book I return to in the years to come. I can't wait for the third volume in this series to be published.
December 26, 2013
Magnificent. Gorgeous artwork, great production values, and a well researched biography that presents a powerful portrait of one of comics' half dozen all-time best artists.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews