Like so many titles I have previously discussed in this column, this one is likely stuck in licensing hell. DC got into the TV and Toy tie-ins during this era (see Captain Action and Bomba), but this one was a real standout. Hot Rod comics had been around forever, and were on the decline by the time the first issue of Hot Wheels hit newsstands. Still, it was a valuable property and DC knew exactly which creative teams to bring on board. Alex Toth had done plenty of work for Drag Cartoons and had a way with cars. They also made sure that they got some fantastic Adams/Giordano covers to help pump sales. Jack Keller and Ric Estrada, both strong auto-artists, also made contributions. Apparently, none of this worked as the series was short-lived. They can be found, but it may take you a while. I have been buying these off and on for years and I am still a two issues short of a complete run. I would love to have it all in one volume so that I could revel in the amazing artwork.Friday, December 23, 2011
Reprint This! Hot Wheels
Like so many titles I have previously discussed in this column, this one is likely stuck in licensing hell. DC got into the TV and Toy tie-ins during this era (see Captain Action and Bomba), but this one was a real standout. Hot Rod comics had been around forever, and were on the decline by the time the first issue of Hot Wheels hit newsstands. Still, it was a valuable property and DC knew exactly which creative teams to bring on board. Alex Toth had done plenty of work for Drag Cartoons and had a way with cars. They also made sure that they got some fantastic Adams/Giordano covers to help pump sales. Jack Keller and Ric Estrada, both strong auto-artists, also made contributions. Apparently, none of this worked as the series was short-lived. They can be found, but it may take you a while. I have been buying these off and on for years and I am still a two issues short of a complete run. I would love to have it all in one volume so that I could revel in the amazing artwork.
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8 comments:
Yes, pretty elusive Toth series that I have yet to get a single issue of. Even on Ebay, they are rather scarce, and almost always in lower grades. And they are usually pricey even in those lower grades since they appeal to many type of collectors: Alex Toth fans, toy collectors, Car/dragster fans, Neal Adams fans...
There was even a syndicated comic strip of this complete with Toth art! Why was this a huge success?
Syndicated comic strip by Toth and it has not been reprinted?!?
What are they waiting for???
My mistake, there were ads for Hot Wheels cars done in the form of a newspaper strip. Darn faulty memory. There's very few pages. http://www.tothfans.com/thumbs.php?a=3qa8hrb8yfq6yrpwgdysw08072008215109&row=
Thanks for the info and the link David! Too bad the poster didn't scan with a higher resolution.
I don't remember seeing those before. Cool find!
Toth is a god (and not just in ancient Egyptian mythology! ha!)
I actually picked up issues 3 & 5 of this series last year in my local comic back issue shop in Glasgow -really nice books and as a Toth and Adams fan I have been searching in vain ever since for some other issues but to no avail- so its not just rare in North America sadly. Nice blog by the way - McScotty
You can find the lead story (by Neal Adams) of the Christmas issue HERE... http://captainvideossecretsanctum.blogspot.com/2011/12/captains-library-christmas-comics-hot.html
and the entire series will be posted starting with #1 beginning in February!
Thanks, Britt, for posting the story. I enjoyed it. Now I want to find the cartoons on DVD!
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