The Toxic Avenger Pinup Special #1 Review

 

Writers: Matt Bors, Tyrone Finch, & Robert Jeschonek

Artists: Fred Harper & Joe Orsak

Colorist: Lee Loughridge

Letterer: Rob Steen

Pinups: Chris Giarrusso; Cayetano Valenzuela; Mauricet; Carol Lay; Tristan Wright; Fred Harper; Ben Clarkson; J Gonzo; Matt Howarth; Sandy Jarrell; Dan Schoeneck; Greg Scott & Lee Loughridge; Ar Sullivan; Matt Bors

Cover Artist: Fred Harper

Trading Card Art & Design: Shannon Wheeler & Tom Napolitano

Publication & Logo: John J Hill, Rob Steen, & Mark Kaufman

Editor: Tom Peyer

Publisher: Ahoy Comics

Price: $3.99 ($4.99 with Trading Card)

Release Date: May 14, 2025

 

What lurks in your plumbing? Who cowers in your cupboards? How are people plotting to exploit you? And how many toxic pinups can you stand before you scream with insanity and delight? Let’s grab a plunger, leap into The Toxic Avenger Pinup Special #1, and see!

 

It’s A Girl: Story

In this charming five-page story, Melvin Junko is helping his customer, while Yvonne wants to discuss their relationship. Complications ensue when Toxie and Yvonne discover the source of the homeowner's plumbing problems. Matt Bors sprinkles his story with sparkling dialogue while helping you empathize with the characters’ dilemmas. But the story ends by reminding us that courage isn’t about not feeling fear but facing what frightens us and caring for others regardless of the dangers.

 

It's A Girl: Art, Coloring & Lettering

Despite how the toxic chemicals transformed his features, Fred Harper helps you understand how Yvonne could find Melvin attractive. After setting the scene on the first page, the next two burst with frantic action and Yvonne's fright. Fred Harper enhances the action with perspective shots that elevate the shock and suggest slow motion to enhance big-screen fight scenes.

 

Lee Loughridge lavishes a loaded palette on The Toxic Avenger Pinup Special #1. His interior scenes feature rich coloring, while the exterior shots boast a slightly overexposed quality. Rob Steen delivers uppercase letters in white dialogue balloons that grow bold for intonation, swell for raised voices, and deform balloons to convey fright. The red sound effects remind us how difficult it can be to see past exterior appearances to appreciate the person beneath.

 

Pinups

This special issue contains a wealth of pinups. From Chris Giarrusso’s two-page Army Of Delights, to the Black & White Halloween Horror of Matt Howarth, Greg Scott and Lee Loughridge’s homage to classic Universal Monster movies, and Matt Bors’ tribute to another film that came out the same year as the first Toxic Avenger movie, The Toxic Avenger Pinup Special #1 has something for everyone.

 

Best If Used By: Story And Art

Jeremy Givens has a problem. He is hosting a family gathering but has forgotten a vital ingredient. A search through his cupboards yields a potential solution. But how important are those Best If Used By dates? Tyrone Finch's one-page prose story helps us identify with Jeremy and the story's protagonist. Although set at Thanksgiving, Finch's story evokes The Fir Tree by Hans Christian Andersen. Joe Orsak's illustration reveals a family's plight as one member demands the attention it deserves.

 

Grief Is The New Crypto: Story And Art

When nothing else works, an unexpected caller awakens Vitus’ interest in the outside world. Instead of trying to sell him something, the man offers to give Vitus money. But as the saying goes, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Robert Jeschonek’s two-page prose story in The Toxic Avenger Pinup Special #1 reminds us that people always look for ways to exploit opportunities. The title suggests the association of crypto with financial scams. Joe Orsak's illustration conveys the fear of seeing strangers outside your door and worrying about what they want.

 

Final Thoughts

The Toxic Avenger Pinup Special #1 boasts a short comic tale, two prose shorts, an impressive image gallery, and an essay detailing all the upcoming Toxic Avenger titles from Ahoy Comics. Amid stories of love, horror, and responsibility, this special issue explores the demands and joys of family. Thanks to Ahoy Comics and Superfan Promotions for providing a copy for review.

 

Rating 9.5/10

 

To look inside see my preview of The Toxic Avenger Pinup Special #1.