As with the Toxic Avenger movies, the cartoon series revolves around Melvin, a young janitor, who fell into some radioactive waste. Our hero emerges from the goo to become the Toxic Avenger who along with several other mutants form the Toxic Crusaders who battle the evil alien, Dr Killemall, whose mission is to turn the city of Tromaville into a desolate wasteland.
Shows aimed at boys in particular during the late eighties and early nineties were full of potty humor and gross jokes. The TV show (and subsequent comic) Toxic Crusaders was no different. In fact, this issue was entitled the 'Special All-Toilet Issue.' It comprises of three stories devoted to clogged toilets, large piles of feces, and lots of plungers.
Though I remember this show being on TV as a kid I do not remember watching Toxic Crusaders. Like other preteens my age, I would watch horror movies like those made by Troma. In fact, I do recall watching Toxic Avenger on cable but I wasn't a huge fan. But man was it gory and full of nudity.
I also remember that this show was banned in Delaware and Maine because of the source material of which this cartoon was based. I do not recall Toxic Crusaders being banned in my area but with North Carolina being so conservative I would not doubt that at least a station or two followed suit like the channels up North did.
The thing that made Toxic Crusaders so controversial in the nineties wasn't necessarily the gross humor but the fact that the series was based on an r-rated movie known for nudity, rape, and madcap sex. A little T & A is even shown in this book when Toxie's magic mop emerges from a toilet in a residential bathroom. During this scene, you see that woman is taking a shower without a shower curtain. In that scene, you can actually see the woman's naked butt. Lucky for the girl (and the Comics Code) she managed to cover her breasts.
Toxic Crusaders, like its film predecessor, has become a cult classic. This series which ran for about 13 episodes and 8 issues and is considered a collector's item for fans of The Toxic Avenger films. It is also a difficult comic to find. When I found this at a comic book store in Burlington North Carolina last week it was the first time I had ever seen this series which was published in 1992.
The comic book (and cartoon) wouldn't be so bad if its target audience wasn't children under the age of 13. This series would be very popular if it was aired at a later time like the Adult Swim shows are on Cartoon Network. Personally, I found the jokes a little tasteless, a little Juvenile, and a little gross. But the story structure as well as the art wasn't so bad. I happen to have bought two issues of this series and look forward to reading the other issue sometime soon.
However, the reason I still own this issue is based on its controversial nature. As you may know, I am a huge supporter of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Since the TV series was banned in some parts of the country, I consider this a banned comic of sorts. Thus, feel that this book has an important place in comic book history. Would I let my children read this book? Not until they were older, but I do not feel that this book warrants a witch hunt either.
Instead, Toxic Crusaders should join the ranks of Rambo, Robocop, James Bond, Conan, and Starship Troopers as adult films repackaged to kids as a cartoon program in the Bad Idea Hall of Fame.
Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.
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