Via The Hollywood Reporter, AHOY Comics have announced a five-issue “Toxic Avenger” series by cartoonist Matt Bors (the former editor of The Nib), and artist Fred Harper (“Highball”). The comic will reimagine the cult 1984 film’s mutant janitor Melvin Junko, aka Toxie, as a teenager helping his parents run a junkyard in New Jersey, until he is transformed by a toxic spill into the titular anti-hero.
“He will fight the corporation named Biohazard Solutions, also known as BS, and its PR-spewing chairwoman, uncovering a vast conspiracy more far-reaching than he could have ever imagined, as his faith in humanity doing the right thing [is] tested in ways he never thought possible.” Bors further describes the comic as a cross between the films, and the 1991 cartoon spin-off Toxic Crusaders, “updated to tell a story of environmental devastation, corporate control, and social media mutation.”
The books marks the latest of several for Harper at AHOY, and the third for Bors, following “Justice Warriors” and “Project: Cryptid.” It will become the first licensed comic published by AHOY, and coincide with the 40th anniversary of the original film, as well as the upcoming reboot starring Peter Dinklage, Jacob Tremblay, Elijah Wood, and Kevin Bacon (which premiered at Fantastic Fest last year, but still hasn’t landed a release date.) Editor-in-chief Tom Peyer assures fans the series will live up to the films’ gonzo nature, promising it will have “violent action, gross mutations, bursting pustules, eye-popping visuals, and trenchant humor.”
Issue #1 will be released on October 9. For more from Bors until then, head to the Reporter.
