"Toxic" Friday

Troma Entertainment, the longest-running independent movie studio in North America, proudly celebrates the Dec 10th release of Toxic Crusaders: The Series on Blu-ray with TROMAtic digital restoration and remastering.     The early ‘90s was an interesting time for children’s television when R-rated films found themselves turned into animated television shows aimed at kids. During this fascinating time, children across the nation embraced the first superhero from New Jersey. Toxic Crusaders adapted The Toxic Avenger into a Saturday morning delight that went perfectly with a balanced breakfast. Elements of The Toxic Avenger had to be toned down, including giving the lead character the title of the Toxic Crusader since “Avenger” was too violent of a word for little ears. The little ones knew him as the friendly “Toxie.” The origin story was the same:  Melvin was still a nerdy kid working the mop cleaning up a gym in Tromaville, New Jersey, when cruel bullies caused him to fall into an open barrel of toxic waste. The illegally dumped chemicals transformed Melvin into Toxie, a being with super strength and a powerful mop. Toxie uses his new powers to clean up the evil and greedy forces that are willing to poison the environment. Dr. Killemoff wants to destroy the Earth with toxic chemicals and radioactive waste, so it resembles his polluted planet Smogula.      Toxie isn’t alone in his battle against Dr. Killemoff. Other hideously deformed creatures with superhuman size and strength join up with Toxie to form the Toxic Crusaders. Nozone flew through a hole in the ozone layer and now has powerful sneezes. Major Disaster emerged from a radioactive swamp with the ability to control plants. Headbanger has the heads of the mad scientist Dr. Bender and a singing telegram boy named Fender from an atom smasher accident. Junkyard is a man-dog that merged when lightning hit their toxic sludge covered shelter. Toxie also has the help of his girlfriend Yvonne, who is practically blind without her glasses. Together, the Toxic Crusaders battle against Dr. Killemoff and his evil cohorts to preserve Tromaville.     Toxic Crusaders: The Series was made for the whole family. The action appealed to preteens with its environmental message. There are jokes that will make the adults in the room laugh. This is a show for the family that wants to share the Troma experience together.      Toxie was voiced by Rodger Bumpass, who is currently voicing the character of Squidward Tentacles on SpongeBob SquarePants. Bumpass did double duty by voicing Dr. Killemoff. Other notable voices in the series belong to Paul Eiding (Ben 10), Ed Gilbert (Tattooed Teenage Alien Fighters from Beverly Hills), Hal Rayle (SWAT Kats: The Radical Squad), John Mariano (The Sewer Czar on The Tick), Kath Soucie (Lola Bunny in Space Jam), Susan Silo (Biker Mice From Mars), and Gregg Berger (Cornfed Pig on Duckman).   Two major guest voices were Michael J. Pollard (Bonnie and Clyde) and Chuck McCann (Far Out Space Nuts and Pac-Man). The first episode was written by Chuck Lorre, who went on to create Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory and HBO’s Bookie. Troma’s co-founders, Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz, also co-wrote a few scripts too.     The bonus features include a new introduction from Troma’s Lloyd Kaufman, commercials for Toxic Crusaders toys, TV spots, lost archival footage, and a documentary on the video game. Toxic Crusaders: The Series includes all 13 episodes on 2 Blu-ray discs.     Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9YZWmxKk84&t=1s