The Toxic Avenger: The Musical 2018

As the story begins, we see a very typical setting for a dark comedy — a toxic waste dump located off the New Jersey Turnpike, which sets the stage for a unique and bizarre superhero tale. The residents of Tromaville are desperately calling for help, singing a catchy chorus of “Who Will Save New Jersey?” Their cries echo through the scene as we are introduced to Melvin Ferd the Third (Chô), an overly earnest and somewhat awkward aspiring earth scientist. Melvin is deeply committed to cleaning up his town, despite the widespread skepticism from the townspeople who doubt that he can make any real difference.

Melvin’s quest for environmental justice takes him to the Tromaville Library, where he visits Sarah (Emma Salvo), the town’s beautiful but blind librarian. Driven by his unrequited love and a desire to help, Melvin informs her about the mysterious and destructive vats of toxic goo suddenly appearing throughout Tromaville. Sarah, intrigued by Melvin’s dedication, asks to feel his face, an act that reveals her flirtatious curiosity. However, she quickly realizes that she isn’t attracted to Melvin, which adds a layer of bittersweet humor to the scene.

In the same breath, Melvin uncovers a shocking truth at Tromaville City Hall. The town’s mayor, Babs Belgoody (Natalie Hope), harbors ambitions of becoming the governor of New Jersey. Her megalomaniacal plans are evident as she discusses her political aspirations with her aides, Sluggo and Bozo, before revealing her true nature — greed, corruption, and environmental neglect. Melvin confronts her with evidence of her complicity in allowing the town’s toxic waste crisis to escalate, prompting her to feign innocence and promise to change her ways if she’s appointed deputy. But her deception is short-lived; as Melvin departs, she conspires with her henchmen to “Get the Geek,” signaling her willingness to silence him.

In a cruel twist, Melvin is thrown into a drum of toxic waste by the mayor’s goons, leaving him for dead. In a shocking but humorous turn of events, Sarah stumbles upon the scene just in time. The goons, ever lecherous, tease her and cause her to faint in fear. Amidst this chaos, a terrifying roar shakes the air — out of the slime emerges the Toxic Avenger (Ben Irish), a hulking green mutant with a deformed face and superhuman strength. The mutant, calling himself the Toxic Avenger, quickly demonstrates his heroism by ripping the goons apart, saving Sarah from their harassment, and gathering her into his arms.

Despite his monstrous appearance, the toxic superhero takes a moment to introduce himself and share his insecurities. Sarah, initially frightened, finds herself strangely attracted to this “big green freak,” and she names him Toxie. Their connection deepens, and she invites him to brunch the next day, jokingly bragging to her friends about her “smokin’ hunk of a hero”. Meanwhile, Toxie’s thoughts are weighed down with loneliness and longing, especially expressed in his song “Thank God She’s Blind,” where he hopes for companionship and acceptance despite his deformities.

Toxie’s path to heroism intensifies as he seeks aid from Professor Ken, a mad-scientist with dubious ethics. The professor reveals that household bleach is the only thing capable of killing Toxie, highlighting the tragic irony of his existence. Toxie’s desire to protect Tromaville grows stronger, and he pledges to eliminate all traces of toxic waste from the town, even if it means risking his own life. His renewed sense of purpose is contrasted with Sarah’s romantic pursuits, as she whispers her plans for a “best-selling memoir” and confesses her feelings.

The conflict escalates as the mayor’s plans to unload more toxic waste are foiled by Toxie, who unexpectedly reveals his true identity during a confrontation at the docks. The mayor, enraged, vows to destroy him and unleashes her full fury, which culminates in a frenzied mob scene at Tromaville’s City Hall. As chaos erupts, Toxie is cornered and the mayor prepares to douse him with bleach — a moment of impending tragedy. Yet, Sarah, loyal and brave, intervenes by firing gunshots that miss the mayor but ultimately hit her. During the chaos, Toxie is hit with bleach, collapsing to the ground as everyone believes he’s dead.

In a poignant and heroic moment, Sarah weeps over his fallen form as Ma Ferd (Chô), Melvin’s mother, arrives with a vial of water from the Hudson River, which has the power to save Toxie. Miraculously revived, Toxie vows to continue his mission, promising to fight pollution and end global warming. The story concludes with a triumphant scene of Toxie as Governor of New Jersey, alongside his loving wife Sarah and their adorable, blind, green baby Toxie Jr., symbolizing hope, acceptance, and a better future for Tromaville.

Throughout the film, there’s a consistent tone of satire, parody, and lighthearted absurdity, highlighted by musical numbers like “A Brand New Day in New Jersey” and the humorous, yet heartfelt, reflections on human difference — exemplified in Ma Ferd’s advice that “All Men Are Freaks.” This quirky, over-the-top tale combines comedy, social commentary, and superhero antics to create a memorable parody of classic comic heroes, making it a true cult classic filled with humor, heart, and outrageous moments.