The Toxic Avenger Is Back, and He's Teaming Up With... Jesus Christ?

AHOY Comics' 2024 revival of cult hero Toxic Crusader continues this year with "Toxic Mess Summer," a crossover event uniting Toxie with AHOY's diverse roster of heroes, including a surprising team-up with Jesus Christ.

The summer extravaganza begins in May with The Toxic Avenger Pinup Special, showcasing various artists' interpretations of Toxie and his cohorts. Following this, the Toxie Team-Up miniseries will launch, featuring Toxie alongside the Jersey Devil (from Project: Cryptid), Acid Chimp (My Bad), Dragonflyman and Stinger (The Wrong Earth), Swamp Cop and Schitt (Justice Warriors), and, notably, Jesus Christ from Second Coming.

Toxie Team-Up #1 is penned and illustrated by Mark Russell and Richard Pace, the creative duo behind Second Coming. Russell commented in AHOY's press release, stating the team-up was highly anticipated and that the story explores themes beyond violence, highlighting relatable aspects of Tromaville for those familiar with the Roman Empire era.

AHOY Comics Editor-in-Chief Tom Peyer highlighted Toxie's pop culture status, prompting the question of why the character lacks his own religious following.

Furthermore, Toxie's cinematic return is slated for 2025. IGN's review of the 2023 Toxic Avenger film, penned by Amelia Emberwing, describes it as a mixed bag, acknowledging its increased budget but noting a shortfall in the "so-bad-it's-good" charm of Troma's earlier works. However, the review praises the film's heartfelt moments and practical effects, along with the strong performances of Kevin Bacon and Peter Dinklage.