Writers: Mark Russell, Stuart Moore, Bryce Ingman, Tom Peyer, Matt Bors & Ben Clarkson
Artists: Richard Pace, Ryan Kelly, Sandy Jarrell, Jamal Ingle, Matt Bors & Ben Clarkson
Colorists: Richard Pace, Casbri Studios,Lee Loughridge & Sandy Jarrell
Letterer: Rob Steen
Logos: Rob Steen & Todd Klein
Cover Artist: Fred Harper
Editor: Sarah Litt & Tom Peyer
Publisher: Ahoy Comics
Price: $17.99
Release Date: January 27, 2026
When an itinerant minister quarrels with a Tromaville megachurch, he ends up in court. Despite suffering from a toxic chemical spill, the railroad once again transports hazardous materials through this New Jersey town. Still, a benevolent industrialist has rebuilt the local stadium, thanks to his investment in the town’s future.
Outside of town, a magical diner materializes when Tromaville’s citizens need it. While in the nation's capital, the President of the United States grows concerned with the side effects of Artificial Intelligence. Can a hero arise to meet the dangers threatening Tromaville and the United States? And who must he partner with to prevent others from becoming mutants like himself? Let’s grab our mops, leap into Toxic Avenger Team-Up Vol 1, and see!
Story
As he did in Biblical times, Jesus Christ walks the Earth today. He still cares about social justice. Yet people who claim to honor him co-opt his principles. When the judge assigns Jesus community service, Jesus ends up working in a soup kitchen. Although Toxie reminds him of the lepers that his fellow Jews expelled from their communities, Jesus finds in Toxie a kindred soul. In Mark Russell’s story, his challenge is to help Toxie discern the difference between the law and justice.
In Stuart Moore’s story “Like Roaches to Sugar,” Toxie has fallen from an airplane. He awakens in the snow to spy a diner glowing like the sun. As Toxie struggles to remember what brought him to this remote location, he recognizes The Roach Diner. Yet as he battles the Jersey Devil in this “creepy but comfortable” setting, he confronts disturbing memories and sees how people get trapped in bad situations in Toxic Avenger Team-Up Vol 1.
Since he took up rat catching to help his community, Toxie's relationship with Yvonne has progressed. But lately, he hasn't needed to rescue the frightened critters from his neighbors' homes. While Yvonne objects to Roger Leeling bringing the fracking industry to Tromaville, Toxie sees the recent absence of rat infestations as a plus in Bryce Ingman's story. But while enjoying his favorite hip hop band with his new pal Acid Chimp in the newly renamed "Roger Leel's Awesome Fracking Dome, Toxie finds clues to the rats' sudden disappearance.
When freight rail service resumes in his town, Toxie doesn’t have to look far before he discovers that companies are transporting toxic chemicals through Tromaville. But as in “Like Roaches to Sugar,” Toxie gets attacked and awakens elsewhere. In Fortune City, he meets Dragonflyman, who is tackling crime alone in his sidekick's absence. In Tom Peyer’s story, Toxie discovers that hazardous materials can transform people in unexpected ways when he assists the costumed hero.
Pollution and chemical contamination don’t just afflict Tromaville and Fortune City. While Senator Greene investigates the effects of pollution in the United States, the President grows concerned about how the AI industry is polluting the planet. As Toxie represents the environmental problems afflicting her nation, she entrusts him with the task of transporting it off-world. But after an accident threatens the mission, Toxie must confront the Justice Warriors in Matt Bors and Ben Clarkson’s story “Inhale The Future.”
Art
After employing a bird's-eye view to show Jesus gazing up at his likeness adorning a billboard, he sits at a table before a judge. Richard Pace’s sketches reveal Jesus' disappointment with those who take advantage of others, and his happiness with those who help people without expecting a reward. Richard Pace and Casbri Studios’ colors provide shading and depth as gentle Toxie grows angry with those who prey on the less fortunate.
Lee Loughridge lavishes a vibrant palette on Ryan Kelly's detailed art as Toxie awakens in the snow-covered hillside surrounded by evergreens in “Like Roaches to Sugar.” Toxie’s sepia-colored memories contrast with the rich tapestry of life outside the roaming diner in Toxic Avenger Team-Up Vol 1. But a limited palette and subdued tones reveal that life inside the diner isn’t as bright and inviting as its outward appearance suggests.
Yvonne turns away from Toxie and crosses her arms over her chest as he pleads with her. When Yvonne faces him, her hands fall to her hips. Yet despite his appealing expression and upraised hands, Yvonne’s frown never relents as Toxie picks up his mob and heads out to see the Mix Bros. Sandy Jarrell applies bright colors to the cartoony art in "Fracking Awesome." Yvonne's white dress contrasts with Mayor Seiple's white jacket and hat. While his shirt links him with the rich industrialist, the liquid in Acid Chimp's vials links him with Toxie.
Lee Loughridge adorns Toxie with fern green skin as he tosses his cracked phone to his mother. Jamal Ingle shows Toxie racing across the railyard, leaping onto a freight car, and tearing open the steel siding. Like outside the glowing diner, the yellow light surprises Toxie inside the train car. While Dragonflyman sports a vibrant green, yellow, and purple suit, his sidekick’s fern green outfit links him with Toxie.
Matt Bors and Ben Clarkson open “Inhale The Future” with a montage showing the President, workers in hazmat suits, Toxie saluting while clutching a helmet, and a spaceship orbiting the Earth. As he floats in zero G, Toxie interacts with an AI “face” on a monitor that evokes a 3-prong electrical plug. Yet when Toxie returns to Earth, he discovers Humans displaying animal traits. Then Toxie meets the more alien-looking Justice Warriors in Toxic Avenger Team-Up Vol 1.
Lettering & Extras
Rob Steen places black uppercase letters in white dialogue balloons and narrative boxes. The letters grow bold for intonation and swell for raised voices. Toxie’s thoughts appear as lowercase black letters in melting green boxes, Jesus’s uppercase thoughts in yellow parchment, and Dragonflyman’s in yellow boxes with a green border. Caspr, the AI assistant piloting Toxie's spaceship, speaks into yellow rectangular balloons with lightning bolt arrows.
Amid all the colorful and inventive sound effects, the most eyecatching is the multicolored rumbling that provokes Yvonne’s ire. Extras include a script excerpt, a cover gallery, and the fronts and backs of the trading cards that accompanied each issue. Thanks to Ahoy Comics and Superfan Promotions for providing a review copy.
Final Thoughts
Despite his fearsome appearance, Toxie is a gentle soul who enjoys having fun and yearns to help others. Yet as he teams up with heroes and antiheroes, Toxie discovers new facets of himself. Toxie grows as he combats rule-breakers, confronts his painful past, makes friends, and embraces his girlfriend’s causes. By the time he rises to serve his nation and defend his world, Toxie demonstrates that the student of social justice has become the teacher in Toxic Avenger Team-Up Vol 1.
Rating 9.2/10
To look inside:
For Toxie's Adventure with Jesus, see my preview of Toxie Team-Up #1.
For Toxie's Adventure with the Jersey Devil, see my preview of Toxie Team-Up #2.
For Toxie's Adventure with Acid Chimp, see my preview of Toxie Team-Up #3.
For Toxie's Adventure with Dragonflyman, see my preview of Toxie Team-Up #4.
For Toxie's Adventure with the Justice Warriors, see my preview of Toxie Team-Up #5.
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