Writer: Matt Bors
Artist: Fred Harper
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Production & Letterer: Rob Steen
Cover Artists: Fred Harper & Matt Bors
Logo: Mark Kaufman
Editor: Tom Peyer
Publisher: Ahoy Comics
Price: $4.99
Release Date: January 7, 2026
President Young may struggle with her teleprompter. Still,
she wants the Toxic Avenger to testify before Congress. And Toxie has plenty to
say. Melvin Junko knows how the politicians are conspiring with the Smogulans.
He doesn't want to see Earth become embroiled in World War III: the Smog War.
Nor does Melvin want Apoc Chem to evict him and his mom from their home. Will
the Toxic Crusaders be joining Melvin Junko on his march to Washington, D.C.?
And can Melvin stop the politicians from aiding and abetting the alien invasion
of Earth? Let's pull on our hazmat suits, leap into Toxic Avenger Comics #6,
and see!
Story
When Toxie and Yvonne reach Washington, DC, Zander organizes
a motorcade for them. As they ride toward Capitol Hill in an SUV,
Vice-President Karns and Senator Greene brief them on their expectations for
the day. Senator Greene warns that the lobbyists and special interests will
want to derail her Clean Act bill. She doesn’t want him to risk his credibility
by discussing the Smogulan threat or referencing Lydia Flick’s book about alien
invaders.
Matt Bors begins his story at the end. But when he rewinds
his narrative to show their arrival in Washington, D.C., Yvonne mentions she's
worried that Toxie keeps lapsing into dreams. This use of the unreliable
narrator reminds readers of Toxie's dream of World War III, which Blahb used to
assess Toxie’s ability to defend his planet. Regardless of how much of Toxic
Avenger Comics #6 is dream versus reality, the threat of extinction hangs over
Earth, just as it did for Blahb’s world.
As Toxie and Yvonne experience their first day in the
nation's capital, Yvonne worries. Earth doesn't need alien invaders to destroy
the world. Humans can do that on their own. And like the toxic waste that
transformed Toxie, Yvonne worries that the politicians will prey on her
boyfriend’s optimism and seduce him with money and power.
Art
Fred Harper opens with ample evidence that Toxie has
overcome his reluctance to have a physical relationship with Yvonne. Yet smoke
rises around them. And where there is smoke, there are aliens. Toxie doesn’t
carry his mop as he enjoys the historic sights. But while he strides boldly
where no Toxic Avenger has gone before, Yvonne follows with her beehive hair
and her Uhura-like dress.
Lee Loughridge lavishes a loaded palette on Toxic Avenger
Comics #6. As Senator McFlurrie infers, Toxie's green skin oozes vitality.
Beige warms outdoor scenes, while Toxie and Yvonne huddle with Vice-President
Karns and Senator Greene amid pink and dark gray. The crowd outside the
gleaming Capitol shines brightly in the SUV's TV-like window. While red warns
of impending danger, yellow and orange accompany damage and injuries, and light
blue colors the new defenders of Earth.
Rob Steen fills white dialogue balloons with black uppercase
letters and melting green narrative boxes with black lowercase letters. The
dialogue grows bold with intonation, enlarges for elevated voices, and rarely
shrinks. Music notes accompany a familiar tune, while dialogue in white
starbursts enliven a blue-and-white television show. Sound effects enhance battles
for Humanity’s future, or democracy, or at least the all-important TV ratings in
Toxic Avenger Comics #6.
Extras
In “Under a Stairway in a Mirage,” Byron Ackerman introduces
us to life in 2156. Abelyn Montelepre celebrates her 18th birthday
by registering to vote. This cautionary story extrapolates on contemporary
political events and developments in artificial intelligence. “Look a Gift
Horse in the Mouth” by Mallory introduces us to Henry McAdams. The reverse
centaur’s desperate plea warns of the dangers of anger and the cost of
immortality. The Editor’s Notes page contains letters from readers and
announcements without a single sonnet. Thanks to Ahoy Comics and Superfan
Promotions for providing a review copy.
Final Thoughts
Everyone wants something from Toxie. And everybody hopes to
capitalize on his visit to Washington, DC. While Yvonne worries that the US
government is more dangerous than toxic waste, Toxie wonders if positive change
is akin to the mutations occurring in Tromaville in Toxic Avenger Comics #6.
Rating 9.8/10
To look inside see my preview of Toxic Avenger Comics #6.
