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{{Short description|American superhero comedy splatter franchise}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:''The Toxic Avenger'' (franchise)}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:''The Toxic Avenger'' (franchise)}}
{{Infobox media franchise
{{Infobox media franchise
| title = ''The Toxic Avenger''
| title = ''The Toxic Avenger''
| image = The Toxic Avenger (franchise) logo.png
| image = The Toxic Avenger (franchise) logo.png
| image_size =
| image_size =
| caption = The current logo of the franchise.
| caption = Official franchise logo
| creator = {{ubl|[[Lloyd Kaufman]]|Joe Ritter}}
| creator = [[Lloyd Kaufman]]
| origin = ''[[The Toxic Avenger (film)|The Toxic Avenger]]'' (1984)
| origin = ''[[The Toxic Avenger (1984 film)|The Toxic Avenger]]'' (1984)
| years = 1984–present
| owner = [[Troma Entertainment]]
| owner = [[Legendary Entertainment]] <br> [[Troma Entertainment]]
| tv = ''[[Toxic Crusaders]]'' (1991)
| tv = ''[[Toxic Crusaders]]'' (1991)
| films = {{Plainlist|
| films = {{Plainlist|
* {{nowrap|''[[The Toxic Avenger (film)|The Toxic Avenger]]'' (1984)}}
* ''[[The Toxic Avenger (1984 film)|The Toxic Avenger]]'' (1984)
* {{nowrap|''[[The Toxic Avenger Part II]]'' (1989)}}
* ''[[The Toxic Avenger Part II]]'' (1989)
* {{nowrap|''[[The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie]]'' (1989)}}
* ''[[The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie]]'' (1989)
* {{nowrap|''[[Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV]]'' (2000)}}
* ''[[Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV]]'' (2000)
* ''[[The Toxic Avenger (2023 film)|The Toxic Avenger]]'' (2023)
}}
}}
| comics = ''The Toxic Avenger'' (1991–1992)
| musicals = ''[[The Toxic Avenger (musical)|The Toxic Avenger]]''
| musicals = ''[[The Toxic Avenger (musical)|The Toxic Avenger]]''
| video_games = {{plainlist|
| vgs = ''[[Toxic Crusaders (video game)|Toxic Crusaders]]'' (1992)
* ''[[Toxic Crusaders (video game)|Toxic Crusaders]]'' (1992)
* ''Toxic Crusaders'' (2024)
}}
}}
}}


'''The Toxic Avenger''' is a multimedia low-budget [[superhero film|superhero]] [[comedy]] [[splatter film]] franchise originating with the 1984 film ''[[The Toxic Avenger (film)|The Toxic Avenger]]'', and continuing through three film [[sequel]]s, a [[The Toxic Avenger (musical)|stage musical production]], a video game and a children's TV cartoon.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.somethingjewish.co.uk/articles/575_lloyd_kaufman.htm |title=Lloyd Kaufman |accessdate=2008-06-05 |last=Westbrook |first=Caroline |date=2003-11-07 |publisher=Something Jewish}}</ref> Two less successful sequels, ''[[The Toxic Avenger Part II]]'' and ''[[The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie]]'', were [[Back to back film production|filmed as one]]. Director [[Lloyd 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 TV series spin-off, ''[[Toxic Crusaders]]'', featured Toxie as the leader of a team of mutated superheroes who fought against evil alien polluters. The cartoon series was short-lived and quickly cancelled. In 2019, it was announced that [[Legendary Pictures]] would be making a reboot of the film, with original creators [[Lloyd Kaufman]] and [[Michael Herz (producer)|Michael Herz]] of [[Troma Entertainment]] serving as producers, and [[Macon Blair]] serving as writer and director.<ref>{{cite web |title=Macon Blair to Direct and Write ‘Toxic Avenger’ Reboot for Legendary |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/macon-blair-toxic-avenger-reboot-1203169334/ |website=Variety}}</ref>
'''''The Toxic Avenger''''' is an American [[superhero film|superhero]] [[black comedy]] [[Splatter film|splatter film]] [[media franchise]] created by [[Lloyd Kaufman]]. It originated with the 1984 film [[The Toxic Avenger (1984 film)|of the same name]] and continued through three film [[sequel]]s, a [[The Toxic Avenger (musical)|stage musical]], a comic book series from [[Marvel Comics]], a video game, and an animated television series.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.somethingjewish.co.uk/articles/575_lloyd_kaufman.htm |title=Lloyd Kaufman |access-date=2008-06-05 |last=Westbrook |first=Caroline |date=2003-11-07 |publisher=Something Jewish |archive-date=2009-03-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305045253/http://www.somethingjewish.co.uk/articles/575_lloyd_kaufman.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>


Two less successful sequels, ''[[The Toxic Avenger Part II]]'' and ''[[The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie]]'', were [[Back to back film production|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 (media)|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 (producer)|Michael Herz]] serving as producers, and [[Macon Blair]] serving as writer and director.<ref>{{cite web |title=Macon Blair to Direct and Write 'Toxic Avenger' Reboot for Legendary |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/macon-blair-toxic-avenger-reboot-1203169334/ |website=Variety|date=21 March 2019 }}</ref>
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 [[Camp (style)|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]].


The films generally follow the heroic exploits of Melvin Junko, 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 [[Camp (style)|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]].
==The Toxic Avenger film series==
* [[The Toxic Avenger (film)|''The Toxic Avenger'' (film)]] – Original cult film
* ''[[The Toxic Avenger Part II]]'' – Sequel
* ''[[The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie]]'' – Sequel
* ''[[Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV]]'' – Sequel
* ''The Toxic Avenger'' - Reboot


==Other==
==Films==
* ''[[Toxic Crusaders]]'' – an animated spin-off
===''The Toxic Avenger'' (1984)===
{{main|The Toxic Avenger (1984 film)}}
* ''[[All I Need to Know about Filmmaking I Learned from The Toxic Avenger]]'' – an autobiographical book
Tromaville has a monstrous new hero. The Toxic Avenger is born when meek mop boy Melvin is forced into a vat of toxic waste. Now evildoers will have a lot to lose.

===''The Toxic Avenger Part II'' (1989)===
{{main|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|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|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|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/toxic-avenger-remake-update/|title=Toxic Avenger Remake Still Developing as Legendary Scoops Up the Rights|publisher=SlashFilm|last=Pearson|first=Ben|date=December 10, 2018}}</ref> In March 2019, [[Macon Blair]] was announced to write and direct the upcoming reboot.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/macon-blair-toxic-avenger-reboot-1203169334/|title=Macon Blair to Direct and Write 'Toxic Avenger' Reboot for Legendary|publisher=Variety|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=March 21, 2019}}</ref> In December 2020, [[Peter Dinklage]] is set to star.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/11/peter-dinklage-legendarys-toxic-avenger-reboot-1234635150/|title=Peter Dinklage To Star In Legendary's 'Toxic Avenger' Reboot|date=November 30, 2020|last=Kroll|first=Justin|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=November 30, 2020}}</ref> 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|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===
<blockquote class="toccolours" style="text-align:justify; float:center; padding:5px; width:98%; display:table;">
{{center|'''Key'''}}
* A {{note label|Young|Y}} indicates the actor portrayed the role of a younger version of the character.
* An {{note label|Old|O|}} indicates a role as an older version of the character.
* A {{note label|Voice|V}} indicates the actor or actress lent only his or her voice for his or her film character.
* An {{note label|Model|M}} indicates the model served as a body double, with the actor or actress's likeness superimposed onto the model.
* An {{note label|Likeness|L}} indicates the actor or actress lent only their likeness for his or her film character.
* An {{note label|Photgraph|P|}} indicates an appearance through a photographic still.
* An {{note label|Archival|A|}} indicates an appearance through archival footage or audio.
* A dark gray cell indicates the character was not in the film.
</blockquote>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:99%;"
|-
! rowspan="3" style="width:16%;"| Character
! colspan="4" style="text-align:center;"| Original series
! style="text-align:center;"| Animated series
! rowspan="2" style="text-align:center; width:8.5%;"| ''[[Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D.]]''
! rowspan="2" style="text-align:center; width:8%;"| ''[[The Toxic Avenger (2023 film)|The Toxic Avenger]]''
|-
! style="text-align:center; width:10%;"| [[The Toxic Avenger (1984 film)|''The Toxic Avenger'']]
! style="text-align:center; width:8%;"| ''[[The Toxic Avenger Part II]]''
! style="text-align:center; width:15%;"| [[The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie|''{{small|The Toxic Avenger Part III:}}<br>The Last Temptation of Toxie'']]
! style="text-align:center; width:10%;"| [[Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV|''Citizen Toxie:<br>{{small|The Toxic Avenger IV}}'']]
! style="text-align:center; width:9%;"| ''[[Toxic Crusaders]]''
|-
! style="background:ivory;"| <span style="color: black;">{{small|1984}}</span>
! style="background:ivory;"| <span style="color: black;">{{small|1989}}</span>
! style="background:ivory;"| <span style="color: black;">{{small|1989}}</span>
! style="background:ivory;"| <span style="color: black;">{{small|2000}}</span>
! style="background:ivory;"| <span style="color: black;">{{small|1991}}</span>
! style="background:ivory;"| <span style="color: black;">{{small|1990}}</span>
! style="background:ivory;"| <span style="color: black;">{{small|2023}}</span>
|-
! [[The Toxic Avenger (character)|"Toxie" The Toxic Avenger<br>{{small|Melvin Ferd Junko III / Winston Gooze}}]]
| Mark Torgl<hr>Mitch Cohen<hr>Kenneth Kessler{{ref|Voice|V}}
| John Altamura<hr>Ron Fazio{{ref|Voice|V}}
| John Altamura<hr>Ron Fazio{{ref|Voice|V}}<hr>Michael J. Kaplan{{ref|Young|Y}}
| Mark Torgl<hr>David Mattey<hr>Clyde Lewis{{ref|Voice|V}}
| [[Rodger Bumpass]]{{ref|Voice|V}}
| {{n/a|''Mentioned''}}
| [[Peter Dinklage]]
|-
! Sarah / Claire Yvonne Junko<br>{{small|Kissy Sturnevan}}
| Andree Maranda
| colspan="2" | [[Phoebe Legere]]
| Heidi Sjursen
| [[Kath Soucie]]{{ref|Voice|V}}
| style="background:lightgrey;"|
| [[Julia Davis]]
|-
! [[Satan#In film and television|Mayor Peter Belgoody Goldberg<br>{{small|Satan, Chairman of Apocalypse Inc.,<br>Bob Garbinger}}]]
| [[R. L. Ryan]]
| colspan="2" | Rick Collins
| [[Ron Jeremy]]<hr>Rick Collins{{ref|Cameo|C}}
| [[Chuck McCann]]{{ref|Voice|V}}
| style="background:lightgrey;"|
| [[Kevin Bacon]]
|-
! Mrs. Ferd Junko
| Sarabel Levinson
| colspan="2" | [[Jessica Dublin]]
| style="background:lightgrey;"|
| [[Susan Silo]]{{ref|Voice|V}}
| colspan="2" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! Cigar Face
| colspan="3" | Dan Snow
| colspan="4" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! [[Czar|Czar Gaseous Maximus Zosta<br>{{small|The Trash Can, Ruler of Smogula}}]]
| Steven J. Zmed
| colspan="3" style="background:lightgrey;"|
| [[Patric Zimmerman]]{{ref|Voice|V}}
| colspan="2" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! Bozo Bonehead
| Gary Schneider
| colspan="3" style="background:lightgrey;"|
| [[Hal Rayle]]{{ref|Voice|V}}
| colspan="2" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! Girl in Locker Room
| [[Marisa Tomei]]
| colspan="6" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! Leroy
| [[Patrick Kilpatrick]]
| colspan="6" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! Ms. Mona Malfaire
| style="background:lightgrey;"|
| colspan="3" | [[Lisa Gaye (actress, born 1960)|Lisa Gaye]]
| [[Susan Blu]]{{ref|Voice|V}}
| Lisa Gaye
| {{cEmpty}}
|-
! Chester of the Lardass<br>{{small|Apocalypse Inc. Executive}}
| style="background:lightgrey;"|
| colspan="3" | [[Joe Fleishaker]]
| colspan="3" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! [[Sumo|Sumo Wrestler]] [[Fishmonger|Fish Salesman]]
| style="background:lightgrey;"|
| [[Lloyd Kaufman]]{{ref|Uncredited|U}}
| style="background:lightgrey;"|
| [[Lloyd Kaufman]]{{ref|Cameo|C}}
| colspan="3" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! Apocalypse Inc. Executive
| style="background:lightgrey;"|
| colspan="2" | [[Michael Jai White]]
| colspan="4" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! Newscaster
| style="background:lightgrey;"|
| colspan="2" | [[Tsutomu Sekine]]
| colspan="4" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! [[Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D.|Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D.<br>{{small|Sergeant Detective Harry Griswold}}]]
| colspan="3" style="background:lightgrey;"|
| Paul Kyrmse
| style="background:lightgrey;"|
| Paul Kyrmse<hr>Rick Gianasi{{ref|young|Y}}
| style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! [[Narrator|The Narrator]]
| colspan="3" style="background:lightgrey;"|
| [[Stan Lee]]
| colspan="3" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! [[President of the United States]]
| colspan="3" style="background:lightgrey;"|
| [[Hugh Hefner]]{{ref|Uncredited|U}}{{ref|Cameo|C}}
| colspan="3" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! [[God]]
| colspan="3" style="background:lightgrey;"|
| [[Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf]]
| colspan="3" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! [[The Toxic Avenger (character)|"Noxie" The Noxious Avenger<br>{{small|Evil Melvin Ferd Junko III}}]]
| colspan="3" style="background:lightgrey;"|
| David Mattey<hr>Clyde Lewis{{ref|Voice|V}}
| colspan="3" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! Dr. Flem Hocking
| colspan="3" style="background:lightgrey;"|
| [[James Gunn]]
| colspan="3" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! [[Corey Feldman|Kinky Finkelstein]]
| colspan="3" style="background:lightgrey;"|
| [[Corey Feldman]]
| colspan="3" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! Captain Bender
| colspan="4" style="background:lightgrey;"|
| [[Hal Rayle]]{{ref|Voice|V}}
| Noble Lee Lester
| style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! No-Zone
| colspan="4" style="background:lightgrey;"|
| [[Paul Eiding]]{{ref|Voice|V}}
| colspan="2" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! Major Disaster
| colspan="4" style="background:lightgrey;"|
| [[Ed Gilbert]]{{ref|Voice|V}}
| colspan="2" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! Captain Fender
| colspan="4" style="background:lightgrey;"|
| [[John Mariano]]{{ref|Voice|V}}
| colspan="2" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! Junkyard
| colspan="4" style="background:lightgrey;"|
| [[Gregg Berger]]{{ref|Voice|V}}
| colspan="2" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! Dr. Killemoff
| colspan="4" style="background:lightgrey;"|
| [[Rodger Bumpass]]{{ref|Voice|V}}
| colspan="2" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! [[Psychopathy|Psycho]]
| colspan="4" style="background:lightgrey;"|
| [[Michael J. Pollard]]{{ref|Voice|V}}
| colspan="2" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! Lotus
| colspan="5" style="background:lightgrey;"|
| Susan Byun
| style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! Reverend Snipes
| colspan="5" style="background:lightgrey;"|
| [[Larry Robinson]]
| style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! Reginald Stuart
| colspan="5" style="background:lightgrey;"|
| [[Bill Weeden]]
| style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! [[Jughead Jones]]
| colspan="5" style="background:lightgrey;"|
| [[Brick Bronsky]]
| style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! Wade
| colspan="6" style="background:lightgrey;"|
| [[Jacob Tremblay]]
|-
! J.J. Doherty
| colspan="6" style="background:lightgrey;"|
| [[Taylour Paige]]
|-
! Mayor Togar
| colspan="6" {{cEmpty}}
| [[Sarah Niles]]
|-
! Budd Berserk
| colspan="6" {{cEmpty}}
| [[Julian Kostov]]
|-
! Fritz Garbinger
| colspan="6" style="background:lightgrey;"|
| [[Elijah Wood]]
|-
! Guthrie Stockins
| colspan="6" {{cEmpty}}
| [[David Yow]]
|-
! Thad Barkabus
| colspan="6" {{cEmpty}}
| [[Jonny Coyne]]
|-
! Shelly Gooze
| colspan="6" {{cEmpty}}
| [[Rebecca O'Mara]]
|-
|}

==Other media==
===Musical===
* [[The Toxic Avenger (musical)|''The Toxic Avenger'' (musical)]] – musical based on the film ''The Toxic Avenger''
* [[The Toxic Avenger (musical)|''The Toxic Avenger'' (musical)]] – musical based on the film ''The Toxic Avenger''

*''[[Toxic Crusaders (video game)]]''
===Video game===
* A [[Toxic Crusaders (video game)|''Toxic Crusaders'' video game]] was released in 1992 for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]], [[Game Boy]], and [[Sega Genesis]]. A new ''Toxic Crusaders'' video game is currently in development for release in 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2023/03/side-scrolling-beat-em-up-toxic-crusaders-announced-for-ps5-xbox-series-ps4-xbox-one-switch-and-pc|title=Side-scrolling beat 'em up Toxic Crusaders announced for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC|first=Sal|last=Romano|website=[[Gematsu]]|date=March 15, 2023|access-date=April 10, 2023}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D.]], ''conceived while filming The Toxic Avenger Part II in Japan''
* ''[[Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D.]]'', film conceived while filming ''The Toxic Avenger Part II'' in Japan
* ''[[All I Need to Know about Filmmaking I Learned from The Toxic Avenger]]'', autobiographical book


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

{{The Toxic Avenger}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Toxic Avenger, The}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Toxic Avenger, The}}
[[Category:The Toxic Avenger (franchise)| ]]
[[Category:American film series]]
[[Category:American film series]]
[[Category:Comedy films by series]]
[[Category:Comedy film franchises]]
[[Category:Films adapted into plays]]
[[Category:Films adapted into television shows]]
[[Category:Film series introduced in 1984]]
[[Category:Film series introduced in 1984]]
[[Category:Horror film franchises]]
[[Category:Horror film franchises]]
[[Category:Splatterpunk]]

Latest revision as of 20:57, 30 August 2024

The Toxic Avenger
Official franchise logo
Created byLloyd Kaufman
Original workThe Toxic Avenger (1984)
OwnersLegendary Entertainment
Troma 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)

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]

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 Junko, 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

[edit]

The Toxic Avenger (1984)

[edit]
Main article: The Toxic Avenger (1984 film)

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

The Toxic Avenger Part II (1989)

[edit]
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)

[edit]
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)

[edit]
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)

[edit]
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

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Toxic Crusaders (1991)

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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

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Principal cast

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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 Ferd Junko III / Winston Gooze 		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
Kissy Sturnevan 		Andree Maranda Phoebe Legere Heidi Sjursen Kath SoucieV Julia Davis
Mayor Peter Belgoody Goldberg
Satan, Chairman of Apocalypse Inc.,
Bob Garbinger 		R. L. Ryan Rick Collins Ron Jeremy
Rick CollinsC 		Chuck McCannV Kevin Bacon
Mrs. Ferd Junko Sarabel Levinson Jessica Dublin Susan SiloV
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
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 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
Reverend Snipes Larry Robinson
Reginald Stuart Bill Weeden
Jughead Jones Brick Bronsky
Wade Jacob Tremblay
J.J. Doherty Taylour Paige
Mayor Togar Sarah Niles
Budd Berserk Julian Kostov
Fritz Garbinger Elijah Wood
Guthrie Stockins David Yow
Thad Barkabus Jonny Coyne
Shelly Gooze Rebecca O'Mara

Other media

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Musical

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Video game

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Westbrook, Caroline (2003-11-07). "Lloyd Kaufman". Something Jewish. Archived from the original on 2009-03-05. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
  2. ^ "Macon Blair to Direct and Write 'Toxic Avenger' Reboot for Legendary". Variety. 21 March 2019.
  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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