The Toxic Avenger, Vol. 1
Writer: Matt Bors
Artist: Fred Harper
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Rob Steen
Publisher: AHOY Comics
Publication Date: April 2025
This collection of Toxie adventures has that Tromaville spirit. It keeps things goofy but gory, with plenty of nasty incidents. Yet the young spirit and important messages here make this an ideal read for older teens, who will likely bond with Melvin while really enjoying the character.
Toxic Avenger. Vol. 1 has a lot of fun with its first chapter, Major Disaster, which follows Tromaville as it copes with a toxic waste spill that threatens the citizenry across the span of a week. When a group of teens who’ve been exposed to toxic waste are experimented upon, Toxie breaks into the hospital to save a bunch of teenagers and friends, none of whom are adapting well to their new condition. Unfortunately, the teenagers mutate into a major threat that Toxie feels bad about having to take down. But the threat doesn’t stop there.
The book intersperses flashbacks to Melvin’s earlier years, specifically the struggles he faced in high school as he’s bullied by adults and kids alike.
The book is totally unafraid of portraying Toxie as a rubbery, melting guy who nonetheless continues to care about his people and the downtrodden. In this version, he’s a young teenager who becomes the victim of a toxic waste spill himself instead of an adult. Getting exposed to said toxic waste finally allows him to unleash his socially unacceptable, free-spirited wild side, much to the dismay of the adults in the room. This is terrific and wonderfully handled, and will endear Toxie to you all the more.
Troma fans will be highly amused by the changes wrought by the comic. Yvonne, for instance, is now Toxie’s platonic friend. She’s still blind and plays the accordion, but she’s also clearly the brains of the outfit. But as in all of the Toxic Avenger movies, good will triumphs, making this an excellent book for a light read.
The Toxic Avenger Vol. 1 is now available
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