Thursday, June 28, 2018

Random Reads: "A Connecticut Ice Cream Man In King Arthur's Court" by Fleischer and Toth

Hey, hey, hey, Groove-ophiles! Last week we took a look at Michael Fleischer's "melting man" trope (for the second time, that is--oops). Well, Groove-ophile B Smith noted that Fleischer gave his "melting man" a new (Ol' Groove's gotta say it) twist with House of Secrets #123's (June 1974) "A Connecticut Ice Cream Man In King Arthur's Court" with scrumdiddlyumptious art by the great Alex Toth! You won't be able to resist this'un, Groove-ophiles!
Cover art by Frank Robbins













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11 comments:

  1. Rip JaggerJune 28, 2018 at 5:03 AM

    Thanks again. I've noticed this cover over the years, but did not know it referenced an Alex Toth story. Nice!

    Rip Off

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  2. AnonymousJune 28, 2018 at 6:05 AM

    Toth made great drawing look so easy & as natural as breathing, but it isn't. His layouts, storytelling, & characterizations are also magnificent. If I have only one criticism it is that he was TOO GOOD for a medium which didn't monetarily reward him as he would be with today's royalties & reprints. This was published & largely forgotten after it saw print.Alex Toth was a GENIUS who was as much an auteur as any great film maker.

    Best regards,
    Chris A.

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    1. keythd23June 28, 2018 at 12:42 PM

      He spent a good deal of his career in animation, which I'm sure did provide the safety net he needed in old age. That is why his comics output from the 70s on was a rare treat. Also, to add to your effusive praise he lettered all his work, giving it another Tothian distinctiveness.

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  3. tomJune 28, 2018 at 7:23 AM

    awesome, once again Alex Toth delivers the goods.

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  4. keythd23June 28, 2018 at 8:08 AM

    Love Alex Toth. As Dick Giordano observed, he is a genius.

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  5. pete doreeJune 28, 2018 at 11:47 AM

    And I'm saying Toth used Phil Silvers as a model...

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    1. AnonymousJune 29, 2018 at 4:53 AM

      He may have! Toth used Errol Lynn's likeness in "Bravo for Adventure," along with Katherine Hepburn & C. Aubrey Smith in the supporting cast. In Hot Wheels 1-5 one of the characters was based on the likeness of Beau Bridges in the film "For Love of Ivy."

      Best regards,
      Chris A.

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    2. AnonymousJune 30, 2018 at 1:44 PM

      Errol Flynn. Autocorrect will drive you crazy.

      Rwgards,
      Chris A.

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  6. speedJune 28, 2018 at 12:28 PM

    The Ice Cream Man bears an uncanny resemblance to Phil Silvers' character in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum."

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  7. RichardJune 29, 2018 at 9:33 PM

    It could be Phil Silvers. But it also looks like the young Julius Schwartz back in the days when Julie had black hair and heavy dark eyebrows. And based on Toth's bad history with Schwartz, it's not hard to imagine he might have worked an unflattering caricature into a story where the character is a greedy backstabber who receives an ugly revenge...

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    1. keythd23July 2, 2018 at 8:14 AM

      Kind of like Jack Kirby and Funky Flashman (Stan Lee).

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