Too Cool To Be Forgotten [Hardcover]

Alex Robinson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 29, 2008

From the critically-acclaimed cartoonist behind Box Office Poison and Tricked comes the delightful Too Cool to Be Forgotten, a story of second chances. Andy Wicks is a forty-something father of two who's tried everything to quit smoking -- from going cold turkey, to the latest patches and nicotine chewing gums -- so he figures he'll give this hypnosis thing a try. What's the worst that could happen? Unfortunately, Andy gets dealt a fate worse than death: high school! Transported back to 1985, Andy returns to his formative years as a gangly, awkward teenager. Is he doomed to relive the mistakes of his past, or has he been given a second chance to get things right? One thing's for sure -- this time he's going to ask out that girl from math class...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Robinson (Box Office Poison, Tricked) returns with his latest, a high-concept graphic novella. In 2010, mild-mannered software engineer Andrew Wicks goes to a hypnotist to quit smoking, but wakes up from his trance to find himself in high school in 1985. While the Peggy Sue Quits Smoking premise could have been disastrous, with this slim volume, Robinson cements his reputation as a master cartoonist. The art is exceptional. His characters are all visually distinct, with subtle facial expressions and body language. He uses layout and even lettering to establish mood and keep the reader firmly fixed through complicated shifts in time, place and perception. Two sequences—the initial hypnosis scene and a later confrontation between two characters—are bravura performances, using innovative but still clear ways of depicting complicated inner monologues. Unfortunately, while Robinson has mastered the graphic, his skill with the novel lags behind, with some wordy dialogue and occasional narrative clunkers: one piece of foreshadowing is so clumsy it reads better as a typographical error. When Robinson the writer catches up with Robinson the artist, watch out. Even with its flaws, this is still a master class in graphic storytelling. (July)
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From School Library Journal

Grade 10 Up—Robinson is back with a concise gem that packs just as much punch as his lengthier titles. The premise here is nothing groundbreaking: Andy Wicks, a middle-aged family man, goes to a hypnosis clinic to break a 25-year smoking habit. As he mocks the ordeal as "mumbo jumbo," he is suddenly transformed into his 15-year-old self. With a 40-something mind still intact, he is forced to relive the horrors of algebra class, visits to the principal, elaborate social hierarchies, and, of course, intense sexual frustration. What makes Too Cool remarkable is the author's ability to revisit high school drama and reality bending in a lighthearted way yet with a depth and thoughtfulness that consistently underscore the plot. Robinson never trivializes adolescent angst. Instead, Andy's journey allows him to explore and understand the complex psychology behind his coming-of-age choices and behavior. That he has lived to see the results adds a compelling twist. Readers will gain perspective on mortality, family relationships, compassion, and love among bikini posters, gum-infested lockers, and family TV nights. As usual, Robinson's portraits perfectly underscore the intricacies of emotion in the story line, from the awkwardness of goofy permed-out and barely mustachioed teens to the anxiety of aging fathers with worry lines. Further, the artist's use of white pace, page composition, and flexible panels create a compelling sense of movement and a satisfying sense of flow. Teens are sure to have a lot of fun with the book.—Shannon Peterson, Kitsap Regional Library, WA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Top Shelf Productions (July 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1891830988
• ISBN-13: 978-1891830983
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 0.5 x 9.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #585,338 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Alex Robinson was born in the Bronx on 8 August. He grew up in Yorktown Heights, New York where he graduated high school in 1987. His first job upon graduation was washing dishes in a gourmet deli and it was while working there he decided that maybe college was a pretty good idea afterall.

He spent one year at SUNY Brockport and then transferred to an art school in New York City, where he majored in cartooning. Among his teachers were Will Eisner, Andre LeBlanc, Sal Amendola and Gahan Wilson. In his sophomore year he got a job at a bookstore, where he continued to work for seven long years.

After graduating from art school, Alex began doing mini comics (small print run comics xeroxed and stapled by himself). He soon started working on the story that would become his first graphic novel, Box Office Poison.

In 1996, Antarctic Press started publishing the serialized version of Box Office Poison. The series ran for twenty-one issues, and once the story was complete, Top Shelf Productions published the entire thing in one 608 page book. Shortly after the book was published, Alex won the Eisner Award for Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition.

Although Box Office Poison was nominated for several awards (a Harvey, an Eisner, an Ignatz and the Firecracker book award) it failed to take home a single prize. Pathetic. Alex bitterly got to work on a second book.

2005 got off to a great start when the French translation of Box Office Poison won the prestigious Prix du Premier Album award in Angouleme, France. August finally saw the release of Tricked, which Top Shelf announced was going to a second printing in November.

In 2006, Tricked lost the Eisner Award for Best Graphic Novel, but managed to win a Harvey and Ignatz Award. This year also so Astiberri in Spain release both of his graphic novels in handsome, one volume editions.

Alex has expanded his storytelling to include fantasy, with the release of Alex Robinson's LOWER REGIONS (2007), the time travel/high school drama Too Cool to Be Forgotten (2008) and an adaptaion of L. Frank Baum's A Kidnapped Santa Claus (2009).

He currently lives in New York City with his wife Kristen and their pets, Krimpet and Wrigley.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Robinson's best to date, but baffling title and presentation August 4, 2008

By Hotrodimus

Format:Hardcover

"Too Cool to be Forgotten" is probably Alex Robinson's finest work to date, though at a scant 128 pages it's far too short. Maybe I'm just a spoiled reader after the chunky "Box Office Poison" and the similarly thick "Tricked," but there's easily enough conceptual meat here (guy goes in for hypnosis, wakes up back in high school) to match the scope of those books. While the book flies by, Robinson still manages to hit all of the right and expected notes, and some of the funniest and most touching moments are derived from the natural conflict of a man with 50 years' experience trying to do things the "right" way instead of the way that his teenage self would have done them.

One spoiler-free note about the book's title and presentation in general; the final act takes such a heartbreaking left turn that I sat and cried for almost ten minutes after I finished it, having recently dealt with a similar experience in my own life. It's sort of baffling that the book has such a wackity-schmackity title and joke ciggy-pack presentation when the emotional center of the story ends up being a sledgehammer to the center of the reader's chest, though maybe that's the idea.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars My review for Comicbookdb.com: August 1, 2009

By William Hoffknecht

Format:Hardcover

Wonderful Cartoon Storytelling

There is a blurb on the back of this book that states something about the fact that no writer captures the pain, anger, happiness, and triumph of being a teen better except maybe Stan Lee, and boy is this ever true.

I dove into this book thinking it was going to be good, but I was blown away at how great it was. The art is A+. There is brilliant flashes of great cartooning. In some ways it reminds me of a Jeff Smith, using the panels to assist in telling an wonderful story.

The lettering is fun and understated, while being interesting to read and sometimes challenging when it serves the plot. There is a great scene when the main character is being hypnotized where Alex Robinson uses the lettering to spell out what he is hearing and thinking, then reverses chunks and spells everything out backwards for a bit as he delves into his sub conscience mind.

The story is A+ as well. It starts out with a middle-aged man who wants to quit smoking, quaintly, almost comical. Then he decides to try to get hypnotized to never want to smoke. This opens his life back to when he was in high school, but with the mind and thoughts of a middle-aged man. As he reflects and lives out his day as a 15 year old again, he tries to make amends and finds keys to his life in current days. Finally he finds a certain moment that he feels that he has to change in order to quit smoking. After that is done he learns of one last task that he must accomplish before he can be sent back to his life as a middle-aged man.

The ending is very emotional and sad, but good in a way. I got a bit teary myself for a second because I know a lot of the pain that our main character was going through. There is not much falling action after the emotional climax; the ending is almost totally understated, but I like it. After all of that, I was drained myself, so the ending keep sweetly and quickly.

This was definitely the best book of 2008 in my view. If you are a comic book fan or even just a fan of great storytelling and great cartooning, this is a book that is well worth picking up. I cannot imagine a comic book fan not having this on their shelf. It goes next to your Complete Bone book, your copy of Comic Book tattoo, and your Strangers in Paradise books.

A+

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Lean, charming graphic novel shows 40-year old Andy Wicks' second chance at high school July 29, 2009

By K. W. Schreiter VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

From the creator of the acclaimed graphic novel epics "Box Office Poison" and "Twisted" comes this lean, charming story of 40-year old Andy Wicks. At his wife's gentle suggestion, Wicks tries hypnotherapy in yet another attempt to quit smoking cigarettes. He instead is somehow transported back to his sophomore year of high school in 1985, though he retains his adult mind. Aware of his future, does he change the past by choosing or acting differently? The plot follows Wicks through a few school days and converges on the party where he tried his first cigarette. The closing chapter offers a tender, jarring conclusion. Robinson authentically captures the unpolished passions and cruelty of teenagers, at least based on what I remember from my experiences in the early 1990s. Wicks' reflective adult mind marvels at the overwhelming potentiality that fills the high school world, something he barely noticed his first time through. Michael J. Fox references abound, so similarities to 1985's "Back To The Future" blockbuster seem like an intentional homage. This book was nominated for a 2009 Harvey Award for "Best Original Graphic Album".