Films

The cult classic that introduced Melvin Junko, a janitor transformed into a mutant avenger determined to eradicate crime in a city overrun by corruption. Created by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz of Troma Entertainment — known for their low-budget independent films and grindhouse subversion — this “benevolent monster” saga is a rallying cry against an oppressive system, marked by an unlikely sincerity and a message of justice against corporate greed. Celebrating the marginalized in opposition to the immoral elite, “The Toxic Avenger” marks the rise of an outcast to the status of a pop culture icon. The film’s cultural impact endures, spawning comic books, including a series published by Marvel, a musical, and even an animated children’s TV show.