When I first started collecting comics, I used to get annoyed by the big swath of pages in the Overstreet Price Guide that seemed to list page after page of unrelated titles, all under the caption “Four Color” by Dell.  What were these books?  Why were they all different?  Who the *&^%$ is Barney Baxter and why is he listed right next to Oswald the Rabbit?  

Well, time passed.  And while I don’t remember the exact scenario, eventually I purchased my first four color book (probably an early Tarzan, or maybe a Donald Duck book).  I started doing a little more research and it wasn’t long before I realized that Four Color comics was practically it’s own universe of comic goodness, all under one roof!  Titles that catered to many tastes with a lot of great story telling and art work.

One such title, humble on the outside but boasting a brilliant interior, is Four
Color 1134 from 1960.  The Real McCoys was a TV show running on ABC at the time, starring three time Oscar winner Walter Brennan (who appears on this cover).  The art in this book is  by the great Alex Toth.  The story is about Amos McCoy who receives a race horse as a gift from a friend.  His family encourages him to enter the horse into a race…and craziness ensues.  While the story is fairly pedestrian (good, but nothing special) it’s the art that really makes this book stand out.  

Alex Toth had a gift – one that is on full display in this book.  Perspectives that are so cinematic, that the reader can almost see the panels moving. Manipulation of light, shadow and texture that make the action jump off the page.  The art offers an interpretation of story that is dynamic and focused on the action.  Three pages in the book demonstrate these characteristics of Toth’s work in spades!  The aerial view of the fairgrounds, the horses parading to the post and the horse, Birthday Boy, racing ’round the last turn to the stretch.

I’m not going to spoil all the fun.  If you want to see the third page, go out and get a copy of this fabulous book at your local comic shop, on eBay (search for Four Color 1134 Toth), or here, on the Curated Comic!  I have several copies of this book to chose from.  Just message me here or on Instagram @thecuratedcomic and I can set you up!

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