The Toxic Avenger: The Novel (Paperback)

~ (Author), Adam Jahnke (Author) "This is the story of a town..." (more)
Key Phrases: Toxic Avenger, Shinbone Alley, Taco Shack (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The novel version of Kaufman's 1985 cult classic film stays true to the original while throwing in modern references to keep the story fresh—or at least as fresh as a novel preoccupied with head crushing and bodily fluids can be. Weakling Melvin Ferd lives with his mother and works at the local gym as a "mop boy," tormented daily by weight-lifting thugs. When Melvin jumps out a gym window to escape forced sex with a goat, he lands in toxic waste and emerges as a deformed superhero, the Toxic Avenger. Toxie, as he is affectionately called, becomes the symbol and savior of Tromaville, a New Jersey city that has become a toxic waste dumping ground, "a punch line to a nationwide 'Who Farted?' joke." Toxie proceeds to dismember the town's evildoers, including everyone in the corrupt government and on the police force. Much of the novel is adolescent exposition, serving only to get to more gore, sex and toilet humor—which is, of course, the point. If you're already a fan of the ferociously juvenile Troma Entertainment oeuvre, you'll have no complaints; otherwise, you might want to save your money and hang out at a local middle school instead. (June)
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Product Description

Over the past two decades, The Toxic Avenger has achieved the status of cult icon. Discerning fans around the world have followed "Toxie's" adventures through four films, an animated feature, a Saturday-morning cartoon series, comic books, action figures, and more. His name has been used by everyone from the Environmental Protection Agency to the U.S. Army to PETA; he appears in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade; and his creator, Lloyd Kaufman, is claimed as an influence by directors like Peter Jackson and Quentin Tarantino.

Now Kaufman has set aside his video camera and unleashed his twisted brilliance on the artistic form of Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Faulkner, and Mitch Albom. And to put it simply, Kaufman has blown those jokers out of the water. Readers who dare to crack the spine of this book will experience the gamut of human emotion (and then some): laughter, tears, and perhaps even vomiting and spontaneous ejaculation. With more girl-on-girl action than an episode of Springer, more blood-soaked bad taste than an After School Special, and with special "guest narrators" such as J. D. Salinger and Oliver Stone, The Toxic Avenger oozes hilarity on every page.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Running Press; illustrated edition edition (April 19, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560258705
• ISBN-13: 978-1560258704
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #473,938 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insanity at its best!, September 30, 2006

By	L. Quaranta "Audrey" (Staten Island, New York) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Since Troma first unleashed Toxie into the world, he's been the most unique, out-there hero you'll ever find - but also the most relatable. He's the average underdog we all idenitfy with and root for while marveling at his all his...well, toxic avenging.
This novel is a Toxie fan's wish come true. It offers everything we know and love about the hero and then some! In true Troma style, we delve into the muck of the Toxie experience, and how joyous it is! (Honestly, who DOESN'T want to know the grapic details of his sex life?)
Whether you're an old school Toxic Avenger fan or new on the scene, you'll enjoy the hell out of this book! A great read!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I LOVE THIS BOOK, September 4, 2006

By	addley the butcher "addley the butcher" (new york) - See all my reviews

i'm a 15 year old kid in highschool and i just wanna say, if it was'nt for this book i would'nt be reading, this was the first book i ever fully read. it is amazing, it has inspired me to write a book and has made me realize that not all books are boring wastes of papper, LONG LIVE TROMA

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars awesome new book! dont miss this book!, August 20, 2006

By	verizon steve "verizon steve" (harrisburg pa) - See all my reviews

dont miss this book! for any fan of anything troma this is fantastic. anyone who is a fan of the toxic avenger this is your book. buy a copy! this does not disapoint. just as great and goofy as the movie. for non fans or those who dont know this is a great introduction to bring you on board and leave you wanting more of anything that troma films puts out. this book will make you a fan just as seeing the movie toxic avenger did me many years ago.