"TOTHcentric" & A HAPPY ANNIVERSARY-BIRTHDAY DAD.

As a young girl and into my teens, each year, on my father's birthday, I wondered what on earth to get him. I knew little about him, except a few generic things: he liked licorice, gummy bears and needed tums; he "puffed" but didn't "inhale"; he liked models (both types, the female human-type, and the plastic model versions of the cars and planes he admired); he preferred candy from Europe or Canada (and he liked their lifestyle and politics better as well); he shopped exclusively at Trader Joes and kept a wide variety of dried fruit and nuts for nibbles; he liked trains (and loved talking about steam engines); and his art supplies were simple. He craved nothing my allowance could afford, including a hamburger at his favorite place (which would include cigarette smoke wafting into my face.)

In later years, I grew to watch how these things connected. He was visual, simple, minimalistic, and treasured connection, conversation, integrity... and "tried & true." These days, in my mind, that is my guiding voice with anything attached to him, his work, and his following.

This year, we created a T-shirt (available on AlexanderToth.com) to commemorate the birthday (June 25th) of our father, Alex Toth, and the partnered launch of “TOTHcentric,” an ongoing series featuring discussions and analysis surrounding our father's legacy and work. The episodes will be hosted by cartoonist, educator and passionate Toth fan, Paul Fricke, on his newly branded podcast/video program, "COMIX CRUSH”. A must see.

Happy Birthday, Dad...! 

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