The late ’80s and ’90s were an interesting time for children’s animation. For some reason, studio executives decided that characters from R-Rated films could become the stars of Saturday morning. There were cartoons based on Rambo, Robocop and Police Academy. Even Chuck Norris was animated. They toned down the violence and humor to make them cute for the kiddies. Why did this happen? The VCR made it easier for small children to get used to R-rated action in their family room. They knew these movies. Those cartoons were rather awkward trying to sweeten up their heroes for the time slot. But one R-rated movie made perfect sense being retrofitted for a younger audience: The Toxic Avenger. The hero of Tromaville, New Jersey had a pro environmental story at his core. The Toxic Avenger was against pollution since toxic waste turned him into a mutant. Toxic Crusaders: The Series has all thirteen episodes of the Saturday morning show that aired in 1991.
The pilot episode “The Making of Toxie” has the origins story just like in the movie although toned down for the kids. Melvin Junko cleans up at a health club in Tromaville. One day he gets picked on by punky popular kids that leads to him ending up in a tutu and falling into a barrel of toxic waste. Instead of the goo killing him, he became a mutant with a mop. In the movie, he becomes the Toxic Avenger. But that might be a little too harsh for the kiddies so in animated form, he’s the Toxic Crusader (Roger Bumpass, Squidward on SpongeBob SquarePants). He encounters the biggest polluter in the area, Dr. Killemoff (also Roger Bumpass). Killemoff has to wear a massive ventilator pumping smog into his lungs. We learn later his evil plan for the Earth. Luckily Toxie isn’t alone in his fight as No Zone (Paul Eiding, Max in Ben 10) and Major Disaster (Ed Gilbert, Baloo on Tailspin) join the struggle. What’s amazing is that the first episode was written by Chuck Lorre, who’d go on to make The Big Bang Theory and HBO’s Bookie (with Nick Bakay).
Later episodes would bring more members to the Crusaders including Headbanger that fused the bodies of mad scientist Dr. Bender with Fender, a singing telegram guy. There’s also Junkyard who is a guy who merged with a dog. Toxie needs all the friends he can get as Dr. Killemoff gets support from Psycho (Bonnie and Clyde‘s Michael J. Pollard) and wicked mayor of Tromaville, Max Grody (Far Out Space Nuts‘ Chuck McCann). It’s not all fighting bad guys for Toxie. He has to deal with his mother and girlfriend Yvonne. It’s a rather well-rounded life for Toxie. Which is rather impressive seeing how many of the cartoons of this era featured characters that were as two-dimensional as their drawings.
If you’re wondering why the Toxic Crusaders movie isn’t included in the boxset, the “movie” was merely the first three episodes edited together. You’re getting those episodes in an upgraded image along with the other 10. Toxic Crusaders is a fun show for kids or a kid-like attitude. In an odd way, this can be considered A Young Person’s Guide to Troma. You get a taste of their adult movies, but without the more grotesque and oozy elements. Thankfully Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz understood what was gross enough for a younger viewer to appreciate such as No Zone’s snot projectiles. The show should have lasted longer that 13 episodes. It was blazing a trail in environmentally aware characters a few years before Captain Planet would hit the TV screens. Lloyd explains how things went wrong for the show in the bonus features. I don’t blame him for being bitter because he did produce a funny Saturday morning cartoon that deserved more. Lloyd’s able to give a bit more to the show thanks to Toxic Crusaders: The Series getting the visual upgrade on Blu-ray.
The Video is 1.33:1 full frame. The 1080p transfer of the series makes Toxie and pals look so much better than when they ran on TV back in 1991. The Audio is Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo. The sound is as sharp as the upgraded video. The episodes are subtitled in English.
Lloyd Kaufman’s Gonna’ School Ya’ (1:44) lets us know about the Saturday morning show. Lloyd Kaufman’s tells kids in a classroom how the show wasn’t given a second life in syndication. But now it’s back and better on Blu-ray.
Who Are The Toxic Crusaders (1:46) gives a summary about the series for kids (and probably station managers) about the series.
Toxie and No-Zone March in the Macy’s Day Parade! (0:32) is clips of them marching in costumes. Shame there was no giant Toxie balloon.
Message From Space (1:30) is three toy ads. It reminds us that Toxie is about defeating pollution. This is from 1991.
Toxic Toy Jingle (0:30) has a song to sell the action figures.
Toxic Crusaders in 3D (0:44) isn’t really in 3D. Just looks like it with figures on sticks.
Christmas Comes But Once A Year (7:44) is the Max Fleischer cartoon. There’s no Toxie.
Snow Foolin’ (6:02) is a vintage cartoon that wasn’t made by Troma. It features bobsledding hippos and the singing of “Jingle Bells.”
Jack Frost (8:01) is an Up Iwerks cartoon about that icy guy. Not animated by Troma.
Hectors Hectic Life (6:01) is about a dog. There’s no Toxie here.
Lloyd Kaufman’s Classic DVD Intro (2:02) has him showing off the various toys on his desk. It’s old enough that Lloyd has a large boxing model. He sort of explains how he got screwed out of syndication.
Original Toxic Crusaders Retail Presentation (4:54) gives people a sense of Tromaville. They’re environmental heroes for the ’90s. They show off the sneakers and lunchbox. He was a Marvel Comic. There were 141 TV stations running the show. “Join the Crusade!”
File Footage (3:09) has them taking the live action star in the ’80s to an animated star in the ’90s.
Toxic Toy Commercials (1:00) has the world being smogified if Toxie doesn’t show up in time. Also new figures introduced.
Toy TV Spots (1:31) has more of the action figures in action.
Lloyd Gets Bent Over By the Studio System (1:17) has him on the sidewalk explaining the TV series only lasted 13 episodes.
Making The Toxic Crusaders- Making of The Game (73:49) has Lloyd Kaufman give the history of the Toxic Avenger. How was this R-rated character found acceptable to kids on Saturday morning. Playmates Toys wanted an environmental cartoon to replace the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles that was losing steam at the time. Decades after the series ended, a video game studio wanted to make the show into an action game.
Toxic Crusaders: The Game! (1:08) shows off the four way player action as Toxie and pals clean up the town. It’s supposed to be up on Steam soon.
Radiation March (0:56) has a modern dance company performing.
TA In 4K! (1:10) is the 4K UHD release of their four jewels in higher resolution.
Troma presents Toxic Crusaders: The Series. Created by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz. Screenplays by Chuck Lorre and others. Starring the voice of Gregg Berger, Susan Blu, Rodger Bumpass, Paul Eiding, Ed Gilbert, John Mariano, Chuck McCann & Michael J. Pollard. Boxset Contents: 13 episodes on 2 Blu-ray discs. Rating: Unrated. Release Date: December 10, 2024.
