graven.images

I just found out today that one of my old favorites, Alex Toth, died yesterday while sitting at his drawing table. He was 78. Only towards the end did he come to realize how much he meant to everyone. Which I can take some solace in. Cards upon cards bombarded him when he was in the hospital. Toth was an influence on my work as well as many. Having worked in comics and animation. The guy left a huge imprint. From Superfriends to Zorro, he was a real presence in my childhood. He had a simple economy of line, coupled with fat blacks, that had an elegant quality. As seen below. Look how kinetic that is without the use of speed lines. Of the old school, I rank him right up there with Kirby, Hirschfeld, Kurtzman & Raymond. A real master of the black and white. One of the best and grosly out of print. His health had been poor for a while which had me worried.  This was how it went with Eisner last year (?)  No word yet on where to send cards. R.I.P. Alex.