Eddie Campbell on Romance Comics

Eddie Campbell has recently blogged about the Prize romance comics (It’s just comics- part 4). He has some complimentary things to say about my serial post the Art of Romance. But my suggestion is to visit his blog and scroll down until you find the start of It’s just comics and proceed to read all the parts. It will be worth your while because Campbell has some interesting things to say about the comics of the 50’s.

In one chapter Campbell discusses the work Alex Toth did for Standards Comics. Frankly Toth is an artist that I really do not know much about. He never worked for the Simon and Kirby studio and I do not believe he appeared in the comic books that I followed when I was young. Toth is highly praised by a lot of fans. I cannot say I understand what the fans are so excited about but neither am I turned off by what I have seen (unlike some other artists I can think of). Campbell does such a nice job of discussing Toth that I am encouraged to take the plunge and pick up a book about him. I have to admit at this time I am reluctant to purchase anything from the publisher whose book Campbell discusses but there is another book out about Toth that might do very well.

It is pleasant to see a blog from such a fine comic book artist as Eddie Campbell. I am a great admirer of the work he did on “From Hell”. I have to admit that I am not familiar with his other work but that should not be interpreted as any reflection on him. Unlike many Kirby fans I think great comics are still being made. In fact in my opinion we are going through a second golden age. Perhaps not in the number of books sold but in the variety and quality of what is being published. The only problem is that I only have the time and money to read a small fraction of what is out there. But I have no doubts that I will at some time read more work by Campbell.

3 thoughts on “Eddie Campbell on Romance Comics

  1. Ger Apeldoorn

    I’d love to know why you have problems with ‘that publisher’. I have my own reservations, although wish everyone in this field luck. But you don’t have to buy that book, or the one by Greg Theakston or the previously best book available by Auth. Because there is a great book by Dean Mullany from IDW, which covers Toth’s career until the midfifties. With two more books and a slipcase coming.

  2. Harry Post author

    I do not want to make a big deal of it but I have always criticised publishers that try to exploit Simon and Kirby. And I am not talking about the big two but the smaller ones who everyone seems to think should get a free ride on this issue. I do not want to use my blog for my personal rants so I will leave it at that.

    And it was the Mullany book that I was writing about in my post.

  3. Pat Curley

    I love Toth’s early work in the 1940s, but his later stuff leaves me cold; it’s just too spare. Great perspectives and layouts always, but the actual drawing seems simplistic.

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