The Toxic Avenger (franchise)

The Toxic Avenger is a multimedia low-budget superhero comedy splatter film franchise originating with the 1984 film The Toxic Avenger, and continuing through three film sequels, a stage musical production, a comic book series from Marvel Comics, a video game and a children's TV cartoon.[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. 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 of Troma Entertainment serving as producers, and Macon Blair serving as writer and director.[2]

The Toxic Avenger
Official franchise logo
Created by
Original workThe Toxic Avenger (1984)
Owned byTroma Entertainment
Films and television
Film(s)
Television seriesToxic Crusaders (1991)
Theatrical presentations
Musical(s)The Toxic Avenger
Games
Video game(s)Toxic Crusaders (1992)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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

Television

Toxic Crusaders (1991)

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 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
The Toxic Avenger
Melvin 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
Sarah Claire Yvonne Junko Andree Maranda Phoebe Legere Heidi Sjursen Kath SoucieV
Mayor Peter Belgoody Goldberg
Satan, Chairman of Apocalypse Inc.
R. L. Ryan Rick Collins Ron Jeremy
Rick CollinsC
Chuck McCannV
Mrs. Ferd Junko Sarabel Levinson Jessica Dublin Susan SiloV
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
Cigar Face Dan Snow
Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D.
Sergeant Detective Harry Griswold
Paul Kyrmse Rick Gianasi
The Narrator Stan Lee
President of the United States Hugh HefnerUC
God Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf
The Noxious Avenger
Evil Melvin Ferd Junko III
David Mattey
Clyde LewisV
Dr. Flem Hocking James Gunn
Kinky Finkelstein Himself
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

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.
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