The Toxic Avenger is an American superhero comedy 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 and Ahoy Comics, a video game, and an animated television series.
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.
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. As Toxie, he fights different crimes in Tromaville, New Jersey which is described to be the "Toxic Chemical Capital of the World". 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 Film U.S. release date Director(s) Screenwriter(s) Producer(s) Original series The Toxic AvengerApril 4, 1984Lloyd Kaufman and Michael HerzJoe RitterLloyd Kaufman & Michael HerzThe Toxic Avenger Part IIFebruary 24, 1989Gay Partington Terry and Lloyd KaufmanLloyd Kaufman, Michael Herz & Jeffrey W. SassThe Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of ToxieNovember 24, 1989Lloyd Kaufman and Michael HerzLloyd Kaufman & Michael HerzCitizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IVOctober 8, 2000Lloyd KaufmanLloyd Kaufman, Michael Herz, Patrick Cassidy, Trent Haaga and Gabriel FriedmanLloyd Kaufman & Michael Herz Reboot The Toxic AvengerAugust 29, 2025Macon BlairMacon BlairMary Parent, Alex García, Lloyd Kaufman & Michael Herz Original series 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.
Reboot 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. In March 2019, Macon Blair was announced to write and direct the upcoming reboot. In December 2020, Peter Dinklage is set to star. 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.
The film premiered at Fantastic Fest on September 21, 2023, and was theatrically released by Cineverse in the United States on August 29, 2025.
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.
T.V. Guest Appearances Toxie guest starred on The Last Drive-in with Joe Bob Briggs, played by James T. Mills.
Cast and crew Principal cast A indicates the actor portrayed the role of a younger version of the character. An indicates a role as an older version of the character. A indicates the actor or actress lent only his or her voice for his or her film character. An indicates the model served as a body double, with the actor or actress's likeness superimposed onto the model. An indicates the actor or actress lent only their likeness for his or her film character. An indicates an appearance through a photographic still. An 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 Spin-off Reboot The Toxic Avenger The Toxic Avenger Part II The Last Temptation of Toxie Citizen Toxie: Toxic Crusaders Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. The Toxic Avenger "Toxie" The Toxic Avenger Mark TorglMitch CohenKenneth Kessler John AltamuraRon Fazio John AltamuraRon FazioMichael J. Kaplan Mark TorglDavid MatteyClyde Lewis Rodger Bumpass Peter DinklageLuisa Guerreiro Sarah / Claire / Yvonne Junko Andree Maranda Phoebe Legere Heidi Sjursen Kath Soucie Taylour Paige Mayor Peter Belgoody Goldberg R. L. Ryan Rick Collins Ron JeremyRick Collins Chuck McCann Kevin Bacon Mrs. Ferd Junko Sarabel Levinson Jessica Dublin Susan Silo Cigar Face Dan Snow Czar Gaseous Maximus Zosta Steven J. Zmed Patric Zimmerman Bozo Gary Schneider Hal Rayle Girl in Locker Room Marisa Tomei Leroy Patrick Kilpatrick Ms. Mona Malfaire Lisa Gaye Susan Blu Lisa Gaye Chester of the Lardass Joe Fleishaker Sumo Wrestler Lloyd Kaufman Lloyd Kaufman Apocalypse Inc. Executive Michael Jai White Newscaster Tsutomu Sekine Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. Paul Kyrmse Paul KyrmseRick Gianasi The Narrator Stan Lee President of the United States Hugh Hefner God Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf "Noxie" The Noxious Avenger David MatteyClyde Lewis Dr. Flem Hocking James Gunn Kinky Finkelstein Corey Feldman Captain Bender Hal Rayle Noble Lee Lester No-Zone Paul Eiding Major Disaster Ed Gilbert Captain Fender John Mariano Junkyard Gregg Berger Dr. Killemoff Rodger Bumpass Psycho Michael J. Pollard Lotus Susan Byun Reverend Snipes Larry Robinson Reginald Stuart Bill Weeden Jughead Jones Brick Bronsky Wade Gooze Jacob Tremblay Kissy Sturnevan Julia Davis J.J. Doherty 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 The Toxic Avenger (musical) – musical based on the film The Toxic Avenger
Video game A Toxic Crusaders video game was released in 1992 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy, and Sega Genesis. A new Toxic Crusaders video game will release in December 4th, 2025.
Home Video The Toxic Crusaders: The Series Blu-ray features the first appearance of the animated Toxie in live-action.
See also 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