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Oldguy: Superhero—The Complete Collection

by William Trowbridge with illustrations from Tim Mayer

Disclaimer: Oldguy contains language that may be inappropriate for children. Reader discretion is advised.

Meet Oldguy: your regular aging superhero whose powers have dwindled over the years, and whose very mechanics are seriously fizzling. In seriocomic misadventures, Oldguy valiantly attempts to continue his former heroism in a somewhat wry version of Faulknerian endurance, defeating his enemies time and again—if not through superhuman abilities, then at least by “outliving the sons-a-bitches.” With its comic book–style illustrations, Oldguy inhabits a space all to itself—not strictly a poetry collection, not quite a graphic novel—a hybrid sure to visually and aurally delight.

ADVANCE PRAISE

“When has geezerhood been handled so appealingly? (Well, except for those movies where Ann-Margret is inexplicably cast as a senior citizen.) Oldguy may exit the Oldguy mobile creaking and farting, but comedian-con-simpatico Bill Trowbridge so ably superjuggles hijinks and empathy that, despite all the geriatric odds, a true American hero is born. Don’t know a ‘Packard’ from the ‘Oscar Mayer Wienermobile,’ or ‘Roundheads’ from ‘the Blob’? Then snap your trap shut, punk, and give a listen: Oldguy’s here to save your day.”—Albert Goldbarth, recipient of two National Book Critics Circle awards

“Oldguy: Superhero—The Complete Collection is a banquet of dinner rolls, Jell-O, turkey sandwiches and moonlit ballrooms, Kung Fu and sarsaparilla, Artie Shaw, Moby Dick; one surprise after another, imaginative and beautifully crafted, with enough laughs and charm to make any guy or gal, old or young, roll in imagery to last forever! This collection should come with instructions on how to stop smiling! Dance through these remarkable poems, meet an enchanting group of characters, and fall fast in love with William Trowbridge as he takes you to the top ledge of the Chrysler Building. Get ready to jump off and land on two exuberant feet!”—Kim Dower, author of Sunbathing on Tyrone Power’s Grave

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The former Poet Laureate of Missouri, William Trowbridge is the author of seven full poetry collections and five chapbooks. His poems have appeared in more than thirty-five anthologies and textbooks, as well as in numerous publications including The Writer’s Almanac, and American Life in Poetry, and his awards include an Academy of American Poets Prize, a Pushcart Prize, a Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference scholarship, a Camber Press Poetry Chapbook Award, and fellowships from the MacDowell Colony, Ragdale, Yaddo, and the Anderson Center. He lives in the Kansas City area, where he teaches in the University of Nebraska Low-residency MFA in Writing Program.

Tim Mayer is an artist working from Omaha, Nebraska. He has contributed art to projects such as The Anywhere Man and Prophetica. He has also designed book covers for the sci-fi novel series The Surface and EAB publishing's Midnight Circus. When he's not hunched over a drafting table, he teaches for the Art of Imagination program at Ollie Webb Center, Inc. 

PUB DATE: October 3, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-888996-42-5 
SIZE: 6 in x 9 in