They were gross back in the day, but they still managed to charm. Now, the Toxic Crusaders are back and grosser than ever in a brand-new comic book series that takes their slimy antics to a whole new level. The entire first issue is available to read right now, ahead of the collected trade paperback release on September 23.
This isn't the first time the Toxic Crusaders have made a comeback. The property has a history as wild as its heroes. It all started with a syndicated cartoon in 1991 from Murakami-Wolf-Swenson, the same studio behind the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The show was a spin-off of Troma Entertainment's R-rated Toxic Avenger films, but with a kid-friendly, environmentalist twist. It followed Toxie, a mutated janitor turned superhero, and his team of equally righteous but disgusting mutants: Nozone, Major Disaster, and Junkyard. Together, they fought against a cabal of evil aliens and mutants determined to pollute the world. The series ran for 13 episodes and even spawned a line of Playmates action figures, just like the Turtles.
Now, decades later, the Toxic Crusaders are getting a modern makeover in a comic book miniseries from Ahoy Comics. Written by Pulitzer-nominated cartoonist Matt Bors and illustrated by newcomer Tristan Wright, the series brings back Toxie, Nozone, Major Disaster, and Junkyard, along with a new addition named Fungirl. The team is dropped into a very 2020s setting, but their mission hasn't changed: battling evil, which, as it turns out, is even more cartoonish in real life than in fiction.
The five-issue series is being collected into a trade paperback, hitting stores on September 23. But before that, you can dive into the entire first issue for free right now. It's a perfect introduction to this satirical take on the characters, blending gross-out humor with sharp social commentary.
Ahoy Comics, founded in 2018 and based in Syracuse, New York, is known for pushing boundaries. Their catalog includes The Wrong Earth, a comedy superhero series by Tom Peyer and Jamal Igle; the horror anthology Edgar Allan Poe's Snifter of Terror; and Babs!, a sword-and-sorcery parody from Garth Ennis and Jacen Burrows. They also picked up Mark Russell and Richard Pace's Second Coming, a satirical comic about Jesus Christ in a superhero universe, after DC Comics passed on it.
If you're a fan of irreverent humor and classic cartoon nostalgia, this new Toxic Crusaders comic is a must-read. And with the trade paperback on the horizon, it's the perfect time to jump in. For more on the latest in comics and entertainment, check out our coverage of shows to watch while waiting for The Pitt or the emotional Oasis reunion documentary.
Stay tuned to ShowtimeSpot for more updates on Toxic Crusaders and other exciting releases.
