Oct 7

The Toxic Avenger #1 amps up the Body Horror and Slaps on the “Certified Fun” Sticker

About the Toxic Avenger #1

Writer: Matt Bors

Artist: Fred Harper

Colorist: Lee Loughridge

Letterer: Rob Steen

Publisher: Ahoy Comics

Cover Art: Fred Harper (Cover A & D), Matt Bors (Cover B) and Tim Seeley (Cover C)

Publication Date: October 9th, 2024

Logline:

You remember him from the classic films, animated series, and action figures-now America's grossest icon returns to comics! A train hauling chemical waste derails in Tromaville, NJ, transforming bullied teenager Melvin Junko into the massive, mop-wielding Toxic Avenger. Pulitzer finalist Matt Bors (The Nib, Justice Warriors) and artist Fred Harper (Highball) deliver a Toxie reboot brewed especially for the 21st century!

The Toxic Avenger #1 Review:

Matt Bors and Fred Harper have dropped us off at Tromaville, thrown out the keys and burnt down the school bus as we’re introduced to their take on The Toxic Avenger. A version that amps up the grotesque and slaps on the “certified: fun” sticker as the world of Toxie and Tromaville is once again open for business.

As an unknown infection swoops the citizens of Tromaville we find Toxie investigating this new infection and are treated to a world of body horror as friends of his are mutating into this horrific slop of creatures reminiscent of Cabin Fever. The first one, not the aborted sequel.

Thankfully, although a new take, Bors’ swing at a new Toxie storyline takes queue from what made Lloyd Kaufman’s story so incredibly bold and schlocky. It’s centered around the high school, the local politicians are repugnantly gross and focused on capitalistic greed and doesn’t shy away from the nonsense satire of Toxie’s character.

After further investigating the infections in a nearby hospital we’re treated to Toxie’s origins of a radioactive superhero at the hand of a bunch of bullies who are bullying him to clock up views on whatever social media site that exists in the Troma-verse.

Both parts of the overall issue are equal parts gross and linked symbiotically to one another thanks to the B-grade inspiration of Lee Loughridge’s coloring and mutant-green thought bubble glory that Rob Steen capitalises on. Evoking an intensely empathetic moment in the scene where it’s revealed that Toxie is constantly in pain. Reminiscent of the truly horrific revelation in Return of the Living Dead where one of the zombies admits to eating brains to dull the pain. Whether purposely or not, the result is evolving The Toxic Crusader into more of a three-dimensional radioactive dispenser of justice.

And that’s why The Toxic Avenger #1 is My Kind Of Weird.