The Toxic Avenger (franchise)

The Toxic Avenger is an American superhero black comedy splatter film media franchise created by Lloyd Kaufman. It originated with the 1984 film of the same name and continued through three film sequels, a stage musical, a comic book series from Marvel Comics, a video game, and an animated television series.[1]

The Toxic Avenger
Official franchise logo
Created byLloyd Kaufman
Original workThe Toxic Avenger (1984)
OwnerTroma Entertainment
Years1984–present
Print publications
ComicsThe Toxic Avenger (1991–1992)
Films and television
Film(s)
Television seriesToxic Crusaders (1991)
Theatrical presentations
Musical(s)The Toxic Avenger
Games
Video game(s)

Two less successful sequels, The Toxic Avenger Part II and The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie, were filmed as one. Kaufman realized that he had shot far too much footage for one film and re-edited it into two. A third independent sequel was also released, titled Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV. An animated children's television series spin-off, Toxic Crusaders, featured Toxie as the leader of a team of mutated superheroes who fought against evil alien polluters. The animated series was short-lived and quickly cancelled. In 2019, it was announced that Legendary Pictures would be making a reboot of the film, with Kaufman and director/producer Michael Herz serving as producers, and Macon Blair serving as writer and director.[2]

The films generally follow the heroic exploits of Melvin Ferd, a weak and skinny janitor turned into the deformed and mutated superhero, the Toxic Avenger, or "Toxie", by exposure to toxic chemicals. All films in the series were released by Troma Entertainment, known for producing low budget B-movies with campy concepts and gruesome violence. Virtually ignored upon its first release, The Toxic Avenger caught on with filmgoers after a long and successful midnight movie engagement at the famed Bleecker Street Cinemas in New York City in late 1985. It eventually came to be regarded as a cult classic.

Films

The Toxic Avenger (1984)
Main article: The Toxic Avenger (1984 film)

Tromaville has a monstrous new hero. The Toxic Avenger is born when meek mop boy Melvin falls into a vat of toxic waste. Now evildoers will have a lot to lose.

The Toxic Avenger Part II (1989)
Main article: The Toxic Avenger Part II

The Toxic Avenger is tricked into traveling to Tokyo to search for his estranged father, leaving Tromaville open to complete domination by an evil corporation.

The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie (1989)
Main article: The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie

Toxie finds he has nothing to do as a superhero, as he has ridden his city of evil. He decides to go to work for a major corporation, which he discovers may be the evilest of all his adversaries.

Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV (2000)
Main article: Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV

The Toxic Avenger must defend his friends from his own evil alternate universe doppelgänger, The Noxious Offender.

The Toxic Avenger (2023)
Main article: The Toxic Avenger (2023 film)

Based on the 1984 cult classic of the same name. Set in a fantasy world following Winston, a stereotypical weakling who works as a janitor at Garb-X health club and is diagnosed with a terminal illness that can only be cured by an expensive treatment that his greedy, power hungry employer refuses to pay for. After deciding to take matters into his own hands and rob his company, Winston falls into a pit of toxic waste and is transformed into a deformed monster that sets out to do good and get back at all the people who have wronged him. On December 10, 2018, it was announced that Legendary Pictures had the rights to reboot the film, with Kaufman and Herz set to serve as the film's producers.[3] In March 2019, Macon Blair was announced to write and direct the upcoming reboot.[4] In December 2020, Peter Dinklage is set to star.[5] In April 2021, Jacob Tremblay also joined the cast with Taylour Paige, who joined in May 2021. On June 12, 2021, it was announced that Kevin Bacon had joined the film as the villain followed by Julia Davis and Elijah Wood on June 16, 2021.


Television

Toxic Crusaders (1991)
Main article: Toxic Crusaders

A group of mutants fight against the pollution-loving alien Dr. Killemoff in the fictional city of Tromaville, led by Toxie, a nerd-turned-superhero.

Cast and crew

Principal cast
Key
  • A Y indicates the actor portrayed the role of a younger version of the character.
  • An O indicates a role as an older version of the character.
  • A V indicates the actor or actress lent only his or her voice for his or her film character.
  • An M indicates the model served as a body double, with the actor or actress's likeness superimposed onto the model.
  • An L indicates the actor or actress lent only their likeness for his or her film character.
  • An P indicates an appearance through a photographic still.
  • An A indicates an appearance through archival footage or audio.
  • A dark gray cell indicates the character was not in the film.
Character Original series Animated series Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. The Toxic Avenger
The Toxic Avenger The Toxic Avenger Part II The Toxic Avenger Part III:
The Last Temptation of Toxie		 Citizen Toxie:
The Toxic Avenger IV		 Toxic Crusaders
1984 1989 1989 2000 1991 1990 2023
"Toxie" The Toxic Avenger
Melvin / Winston Ferd Junko III		 Mark Torgl
Mitch Cohen
Kenneth KesslerV		 John Altamura
Ron FazioV		 John Altamura
Ron FazioV
Michael J. KaplanY		 Mark Torgl
David Mattey
Clyde LewisV		 Rodger BumpassV Mentioned Peter Dinklage
Sarah Claire Yvonne Junko Andree Maranda Phoebe Legere Heidi Sjursen Kath SoucieV Julia Davis
Mayor Peter Belgoody Goldberg
Satan, Chairman of Apocalypse Inc.		 R. L. Ryan Rick Collins Ron Jeremy
Rick CollinsC		 Chuck McCannV Kevin Bacon
Mrs. Ferd Junko Sarabel Levinson Jessica Dublin Susan SiloV TBA
Cigar Face Dan Snow
Czar Gaseous Maximus Zosta
The Trash Can, Ruler of Smogula		 Steven J. Zmed Patric ZimmermanV
Bozo Bonehead Gary Schneider Hal RayleV
Girl in Locker Room Marisa Tomei
Leroy Patrick Kilpatrick
Ms. Mona Malfaire Lisa Gaye Susan BluV Lisa Gaye TBA
Chester of the Lardass
Apocalypse Inc. Executive		 Joe Fleishaker
Sumo Wrestler Fish Salesman Lloyd KaufmanU Lloyd KaufmanC
Apocalypse Inc. Executive Michael Jai White
Newscaster Tsutomu Sekine
Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D.
Sergeant Detective Harry Griswold		 Paul Kyrmse Paul Kyrmse
Rick GianasiY
The Narrator Stan Lee
President of the United States Hugh HefnerUC
God Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf
"Noxie" The Noxious Avenger
Evil Melvin / Winston Ferd Junko III		 David Mattey
Clyde LewisV
Dr. Flem Hocking James Gunn
Kinky Finkelstein Corey Feldman
Captain Bender Hal RayleV Noble Lee Lester
No-Zone Paul EidingV
Major Disaster Ed GilbertV
Captain Fender John MarianoV
Junkyard Gregg BergerV
Dr. Killemoff Rodger BumpassV
Psycho Michael J. PollardV
Lotus Susan Byun
Reverand Snipes Larry Robinson
Reginald Stuart Bill Weeden
Jughead Jones Brick Bronsky
TBA Jacob Tremblay
Taylour Paige
Elijah Wood

Other media

Musical

Video game

See also

References
  1. Westbrook, Caroline (2003-11-07). "Lloyd Kaufman". Something Jewish. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
  2. "Macon Blair to Direct and Write 'Toxic Avenger' Reboot for Legendary". Variety.
  3. Pearson, Ben (December 10, 2018). "Toxic Avenger Remake Still Developing as Legendary Scoops Up the Rights". SlashFilm.
  4. Kroll, Justin (March 21, 2019). "Macon Blair to Direct and Write 'Toxic Avenger' Reboot for Legendary". Variety.
  5. Kroll, Justin (November 30, 2020). "Peter Dinklage To Star In Legendary's 'Toxic Avenger' Reboot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  6. Romano, Sal (March 15, 2023). "Side-scrolling beat 'em up Toxic Crusaders announced for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC". Gematsu. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
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