The Toxic Avenger (franchise)

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The Toxic Avenger
The Toxic Avenger (franchise) logo.png
Official franchise logo
Created by Lloyd Kaufman
Original work The Toxic Avenger (1984)
Owners Legendary Entertainment
Troma Entertainment
Years1984–present
Print publications
ComicsThe Toxic Avenger (1991–1992)
Films and television
Film(s)
Television series Toxic 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]

Contents

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

The Toxic Avenger (1984)

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)

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.

The Toxic Avenger (2023)

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)

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.
CharacterOriginal seriesAnimated 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
1984198919892000199119902023
"Toxie" The Toxic Avenger
Melvin Ferd Junko III / Winston Gooze
Mark Torgl
Mitch Cohen
Kenneth Kessler V
John Altamura
Ron Fazio V
John Altamura
Ron Fazio V
Michael J. Kaplan Y
Mark Torgl
David Mattey
Clyde Lewis V
Rodger Bumpass V Mentioned Peter Dinklage
Sarah / Claire Yvonne Junko
Kissy Sturnevan
Andree Maranda Phoebe Legere Heidi Sjursen Kath Soucie V Julia Davis
Mayor Peter Belgoody Goldberg
Satan, Chairman of Apocalypse Inc.,
Bob Garbinger
R. L. Ryan Rick Collins Ron Jeremy
Rick Collins C
Chuck McCann V Kevin Bacon
Mrs. Ferd JunkoSarabel Levinson Jessica Dublin Susan Silo V
Cigar FaceDan Snow
Czar Gaseous Maximus Zosta
The Trash Can, Ruler of Smogula
Steven J. Zmed Patric Zimmerman V
Bozo BoneheadGary Schneider Hal Rayle V
Girl in Locker Room Marisa Tomei
Leroy Patrick Kilpatrick
Ms. Mona Malfaire Lisa Gaye Susan Blu V Lisa Gaye
Chester of the Lardass
Apocalypse Inc. Executive
Joe Fleishaker
Sumo Wrestler Fish Salesman Lloyd Kaufman U Lloyd Kaufman C
Apocalypse Inc. Executive Michael Jai White
Newscaster Tsutomu Sekine
Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D.
Sergeant Detective Harry Griswold
Paul KyrmsePaul Kyrmse
Rick Gianasi Y
The Narrator Stan Lee
President of the United States Hugh Hefner U C
God Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf
"Noxie" The Noxious Avenger
Evil Melvin Ferd Junko III
David Mattey
Clyde Lewis V
Dr. Flem Hocking James Gunn
Kinky Finkelstein Corey Feldman
Captain Bender Hal Rayle V Noble Lee Lester
No-Zone Paul Eiding V
Major Disaster Ed Gilbert V
Captain Fender John Mariano V
Junkyard Gregg Berger V
Dr. Killemoff Rodger Bumpass V
Psycho Michael J. Pollard V
LotusSusan 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

Musical

Video game

See also

Related Research Articles

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<i>Toxic Crusaders</i> 1991 animated series on Syndication

Toxic Crusaders is an American animated series loosely based on The Toxic Avenger films. It features Toxie, the lead character of the films, leading a group of misfit superheroes who combat pollution. This followed a trend of environmentally considerate animated series and comics of the time, including Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Swamp Thing, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures, as well as animated series based on R-rated properties like RoboCop and Police Academy. As this incarnation was aimed at children, Toxic Crusaders is considerably tamer than the films it was based on, although it contained adult-oriented jokes that would go over most children's heads.

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The Toxic Avenger Part II is a 1989 American superhero splatter- comedy film released by Troma Entertainment. It is the second installment of The Toxic Avenger franchise. It was directed by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz and features The Toxic Avenger in an adventure to Japan to meet his father. Devilman and Cutie Honey creator Go Nagai makes a cameo appearance. The film is also the debut of actor/martial artist Michael Jai White and musician/composer/performance artist Phoebe Legere.

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The Toxic Avenger may refer to:

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The Toxic Avenger is a 2023 American superhero black comedy film written and directed by Macon Blair. It is the fifth installment in The Toxic Avenger film series. The film is produced by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz, who also produced the previous films in the series. It stars Peter Dinklage as the title character, alongside Jacob Tremblay, Taylour Paige, Kevin Bacon, Sarah Niles, Julia Davis, Julian Kostov, and Elijah Wood. The film premiered as the opening film of Fantastic Fest on September 21, 2023.

References

  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.