The Toxic Avenger Collection (Troma) 4K Blu-ray Review + Screenshots + Packaging Shots **UPDATED**

Troma makes the leap to 4K with this collection of the four Toxic Avenger films.

Studio: Troma
Release Date: April 11th, 1986 (The Toxic Avenger) (theatrical) / February 24th, 1989 (The Toxic Avenger Part II) (theatrical) / November 24th, 1989 (The Toxic Avenger Part III) (theatrical) / November 2nd, 2001 (Citizen Toxie) / October 24th, 2023 (4K blu-ray)
Run Time: 1 hour 22 minutes 10 seconds (The Toxic Avenger) / 1 hour 48 minutes 39 seconds (The Toxic Avenger Part II) / 1 hour 43 minutes 30 seconds (The Toxic Avenger III) / 1 hour 48 minutes 52 seconds (Citizen Toxie)
Region Code: FREE (all discs)

Disc Count: 8 (4 4K, 4 2K)
Picture: 2160p (1.85:1 aspect ratio) (all films) (4K) / 1080p (1.85:1 aspect ratio) (all films) (2K)

HDR: HDR10
Sound: Engish DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (all films) (all discs)
Subtitles: English
Slipcover: Yes (slip box)
Digital Copy: No
Starring: Andree Maranda, Mitchell Cohen, Pat Ryan Jr., Jennifer Babtist, Robert Prichard, Cindy Manion, Gary Schneider, Mark Torgl (The Toxic Avenger) / Ron Fazio, Phoebe Legere, John Altamura, Rick Collins, Rikiya Yasuoka, Tsutomu Sekine, Mayako Katsuragi (The Toxic Avenger Part II) / Ron Fazio, Phoebe Legere, John Altamura, Rick Collins, Lisa Gaye, Jessica Dublin, Michael Kaplan (The Toxic Avenger Part III) / David Mattey, Clyde Lewis, Heidi Sjursen, Paul Kyrmse, Joe Fleishaker, Debbie Rochon (Citizen Toxie)
Written by Joe Ritter (The Toxic Avenger) / Gay Partington Terry, Lloyd Kaufman (The Toxic Avenger Part II, The Toxic Avenger Part III) / Trent Haaga, Patrick Cassidy, Gabriel Friedman, Lloyd Kaufman (Citizen Toxie)
Directed by Michael Herz, Samuel Weil (Lloyd Kaufman) (The Toxic Avenger) / Lloyd Kaufman, Michael Herz (The Toxic Avenger Part II, The Toxic Avenger Part III) / Lloyd Kaufman (Citizen Toxie)
Rating: Unrated (strong sexual content and nudity, graphic horror violence and gore, and language) (all films)

UPDATE (11/01/2023) I have received my replacement copy for THE TOXIC AVENGER PART III: THE LAST TEMPTATION OF TOXIE and I am happy to report that the disc works and doesn't skip or freeze anymore. Thank you to Troma and MVD for taking care of this problem with a quickness and professionalism that other companies don't seem to know how to do anymore.

NOTE: I am having a problem with the 4K disc for the third film. It plays fine until the guys enter the video store. It freezes and locks up. I sometimes can hit stop and have it work but I have also had to unplug my player to reset it. I have reached out to Troma and they gave me this email address: customerservice@musicvideodistributors.com I have emailed this address and was told they would get me out a new disc as soon as they could. They don't have an ETA on when this will happen but they have assured me it will happen. I am hopeful they keep their word on this. Troma and MVD seem to want to make sure that their customers are happy. They did a replacement for their initial blu-ray for the film WAITRESS! Sure, they accidentally sent out a new disc with the same, messed up file but they fixed that fairly fast. This brings me hope that I will have a playable disc for my second favorite film in the series some time soon. If you run into any problems with the set then send them an email.

____________________________________________

Poster(s)

____________________________________________

What's It About?

Welcome to TROMAVILLE, NEW JERSEY – a small American town, terrorized by criminals. The town’s corrupt mayor sits idly by, while muggers, robbers and teenage punks victimize helpless citizens. Among the residents of Tromaville is MELVIN, a nerdy emaciated janitor at the local health club. That is, until he becomes THE TOXIC AVENGER! A gang of thugs devise a cruel hoax that goes horribly wrong as Melvin is cast through a third story window into a vat of hazardous toxic waste. However, an unexpected metamorphosis takes place. As the chemicals take hold of his body, Melvin turns into the TOXIC AVENGER, doer of good, and brutal mauler of evil! The rest, as they say, is history! The excitement is non-stop as the hero sets out to single handedly wipe out the forces of evil that torment the people of Tromaville. (The Toxic Avenger)

Toxie’s mean, green, and back on the screen! Melvin Junko was a nerdy 98lb weakling until he fell into a vat of toxic waste, turning him into the first ever superhuman superhero from New Jersey. This time the hideously deformed creature of superhuman size and strength takes on Tokyo. (The Toxic Avenger Part II)

Times are hard for Toxie. What’s a hideously deformed creature of superhuman size and strength to do after he’s eliminated crime from his hometown? Desperate to raise money for the experimental surgery that could restore his blind fiancée’s eyesight, Toxie accepts a lucrative job with the evil multinational conglomerate Apocalypse Inc. Now, Toxie’s transforming into an even more monstrous creature: a yuppie. And all of Tromaville is paying the price of Toxie’s Faustian bargain. The Toxic Avenger must defeat his own inner demons before taking on the Devil himself in a battle royale, while the fate of Tromaville hangs in the balance. (The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie)

Citizen Toxie is Troma’s most ambitious and successful movie. When the notorious Diaper Mafia take hostage the Tromaville School for the Very Special, only the Toxic Avenger and his morbidly obese sidekick Lardass can save Tromaville. However, a horrific explosion creates a dimensional portal between Tromaville and its dimensional mirror image, Amortville. While the Toxic Avenger (Toxie) is trapped in Amortville, Tromaville comes under the control of Toxie’s evil doppelganger, the Noxious Offender (Noxie). Will Toxie return to Tromaville in time to stop Noxie’s rampage or is he doomed to remain a second-class citizen in Amortville forever? How did Toxie’s wife Sarah become pregnant with two babies from two different fathers? Will Tito, the Retarded Rebel, ever get over his teen angst and become a productive member of society? Citizen Toxie features the most formidable line-up of superheroes ever assembled, including Sgt. Kabukiman NYPD, Mad Cowboy, Dolphin Man, Master Bator and The Vibrator. (Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger Part IV)

____________________________________________

Film Review

The TOXIC AVENGER series is a strange one. The first film is essentially a slasher movie mixed with a monster film while also being a dark comedy mixed with a romantic comedy, all with some really great graphic violence. The film is what put Troma on the map. The film is well made and a great watch.

The second film would come four years later and it would drop the slasher aspects of the first film and lighten the horror aspects up considerably. The film is bright and colorful and it makes Tromaville a joy to live in. There is still a ton of graphic violence, supplied by Pericles Lewnes of REDNECK ZOMBIES fame, while also including a lot of nudity. The film still has the dark humor of the first but the lighter tone the film embraces takes some of the edge away. Ron Fazio will always be my Toxie but I like part 1's Claire (Sara in the original film). I like Phoebe Legere, she gives the role something different from the "normal" girlfriend role typically found in a romantic comedy, but I prefer Andree Maranda. I do love the scene set at the Tromaville School for the Blind is the best scene in the film and one of the best in the series. The inventiveness is off the charts and the effects are top notch. This was the film that gave us Michael Jai White so if you hate this film, think about what came from it.

The third film has the exact same tone, comedy, gore, and nudity because they were once the same film. They were split into two films because of the original film's length. Much like the recent RETURN TO RETURN TO NUKE 'EM HIGH aka VOL. 2, this sequel has a lot of filler. It even reuses scenes from the second film because they were needed to move the film along. I have never liked the way nerdy Melvin is here. He is all wrong. Melvin was a nerd but he was never a doofus. The Melvin here is a buck-toothed moron who has a high pitched, whiny voice and can't seem to stop moving. As you watch this monstrosity come to horrifying life, you start to feel bad for the actor. He probably wasn't paid more than $25 so its not like he did it for the money so it makes you feel even worse than if he was paid a lot of money. While I do hate this film's Melvin, I can't say the same thing about both the video store and the entire third act. The video store is the best scene Troma has ever done with gore that outdoes the entirety of part 2. The gore is just fantastic with a guy getting his arm ripped off with the heads of a VCR and then having his head twisted off. I have seen the third act of this film so many times. Part 3 used to play on cable all the time for some reason I always caught the third act. I have seen this third act more than any other scene in any Troma film. It's not the best thing Troma has ever done but it is a lot of fun.

CITIZEN TOXIE is the lesser of all four TOXIC AVENGER films. Don't get me wrong: I like the film. I just don't like it as much as the previous three. Troma has always had an "in your face" approach to their films but CITIZEN TOXIE feels like Troma took this approach to an almost unbearable extreme. Everything in this film is dialed up to 11, like every single person working on the film, from the director all the way down to the PAs, snorted all the cocaine they could find. There are very few scenes where characters get to have dialogue with the other characters. Sure, there are a few, but the film doesn't really care about them too much. It just wants to put all the things in your face all the time. The film is far too manic for me to like it more than I do. There are a lot of things I like about the film including the amazing practical effects and I think some of the comedy lands but it is my least rewatched film in the series.

'____________________________________________

Video/Audio

All four films are presented in their original aspect ratios of 1.85:1 and are all taken from recent 4K scans with HDR10. I have never seen these films look this good. Each film gains a substantial uptick in resolution with everything from textures and surface detail looking rather impressive. Colors are now well balanced and whites aren't blown out due to the HDR10. There is also a surprising amount of depth to the picture and the overall picture is a tad darker. Grain is managed well here as well. One thing to keep in mind: There has been no clean up done on any of these films. Scratches, hairs, specs, and a line or two all make appearances in each of the films. I don't have a problem with this. I would rather have these imperfections if it means that there will be no DNR or any of the other bullshit we see on other releases. I have no problem with smaller companies not cleaning up their transfers. It adds to the charm of these films. These are great looking transfers.

____________________________________________

Extras/Packaging

Disc 1: Toxic Avenger 4K

Introduction by Lloyd Kaufman (1m 35s, 4K, 1.90:1) auto-plays at the start but also found in the "Bonus" menu

Director's Commentary

Cast Commentary

Disc 2: Toxic Avenger 2K

Introduction by Lloyd Kaufman (4m 22s, HD, 1.78:1)

Director's Commentary (found in both the Special Features and Set-Up Menus)

Cast Commentary (found in both the Special Features and Set-Up Menus)

Interviews:

These interviews are taken from different points in the history of The Toxic Avenger with the Jennifer Babtist interview being the most recent (I think this was on the US blu-ray for the first film) while the rest were taken from various DVD releases. They all cover the same stuff (how to came to be in the film, what they brought to the film, the film's legacy, etc.). The Micahel Herz interview was a big deal when it appeared on the 21st Anniversary DVD release and it is definitely a worthwhile interview.

Jennifer Babtist (18m 39s, HD, 1.78:1)
Robert Prichard (2m 37s, SD, 1.33:1)
Mitch Cohen (8m 41s, SD, 1.33:1)
Dan Snow (4m 38s, SD, 1.33:1)
Michael Herz (15m 23s, SD, 1.33:1)

Mark Torgel's Special Video (6m 18s, HD, 1.78:1)

40 Years of Troma (2m 3s, SD, 1.78:1)

Behind the Scenes and In-Production Slideshow (4m 19s)

Trailers

The Toxic Avenger (3m 11s, SD, 1.33:1)
The Toxic Avenger II (2m 19s, SD, 1.33:1)
The Toxic Avenger III (3m, SD, 1.33:1)
Citizen Toxie (3m 28s, SD, 1.78:1)
Return to Nuke 'Em High (2m 34s, HD, 1.78:1)

Disc 3: Toxic Avenger Part II 4K

Intro by Lloyd Kaufman (1m 56s, 4K, 1.90:1) auto-plays at the start but also found in the "Bonus" menu

Director's Commentary

Disc 4: Toxic Avenger Part II 2K

Director's Commentary

Intro by Lloyd Kaufman (3m 6s, HD, 1.78:1)

At Home with Toxie (3m 51s, SD, 1.33:1) This mockumentary focuses on Toxie after the third film where he has become a recluse. He is not with Claire anymore and lives in a mansion.

A Word from the Villainess Lisa Gaye (2m 15s, SD, 1.33:1) A very short interview done in the style that Troma would use for what seems like forever.

Toxie on Japanese T.V. (3m 7s, SD, 1.33:1) I have no idea what the hosts are saying as it is in Japanese. This is a brief segment on a Japanese morning tv show that shows us some behind the scenes footage of the making of part 2.

Original DVD Intro (41s, SD, 1.33:1) I remember this intro. Back when they weren't very long.

This used to be on EVERY DVD that Troma released.

40 Years of Troma (2m 3s, SD, 1.78:1)

Troma Trailers

The Toxic Avenger (3m 11s, SD, 1.33:1)
The Toxic Avenger II (2m 19s, SD, 1.33:1)
The Toxic Avenger III (3m, SD, 1.33:1)
Citizen Toxie (3m 28s, SD, 1.78:1)
Troma's War (2m 46s, SD, 1.33:1)
Return to Nuke 'Em High Vol. 1 (2m 34s, HD, 1.78:1)
Return to Nuke 'Em High Vol. 2 (1m 48s, HD, 1.78:1)

Disc 5: Toxic Avenger Part III 4K

Intro by Lloyd Kaufman (1m 33s, 4K, 1.90:1)

Director's Commentary

Joe Flieshaker Commentary

Disc 6: Toxic Avenger Part III 2K

Intro by Lloyd Kaufman (3m 43s, HD, 1.78:1)

Director's Commentary

Joe Flieshaker Commentary

Tromoma (11m 40s, HD, 1.78:1) This is the premiere of Return to Nuke 'Em High Vol. 1 at the Museum of Modern Art.

40 Years of Troma (2m 3s, SD, 1.78:1)

Make Your Own Damn Horror Film! (11m 26s, SD, 1.78:1) Here we join Lloyd on his trip to the set of the film Old 37 which he cameo'd in.

A Halloween Carol (9m 54s, HD, 1.78:1) A Troma-fied Halloween spoof of A Christmas Carol starring Lloyd.

Rapid Grannies: The Infomercial (1m 56s, HD, 1.78:1) This is an infomercial style ad for the then new blu-ray of Rabid Grannies.

Radiation March (56s, SD, 1.33:1)

Troma Trailers:

The Toxic Avenger (3m 11s, SD, 1.33:1)
The Toxic Avenger II (2m 19s, SD, 1.33:1)
The Toxic Avenger III (3m, SD, 1.33:1)
Citizen Toxie (3m 28s, SD, 1.78:1)
Troma's War (2m 46s, SD, 1.33:1)
Return to Nuke 'Em High Vol. 1 (2m 34s, HD, 1.78:1)
Return to Nuke 'Em High Vol. 2 (1m 48s, HD, 1.78:1)

Disc 7: Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger Part IV 4K

Lloyd Kaufman Intro (2m 1s, 4K, 1.90:1)

Director's Commentary

Cast Commentary

Editor's Commentary

Disc 8: Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger Part IV

Apocalypse Soon: The Making of Citizen Toxie (2h 17m, SD, 1.33:1) I remember when Citizen Toxie was first released on DVD. The front of the box claimed that this doc was 95 minutes long. Cut to my surprise when the run time stretched to well over 2 hours long. This doc is a beast. They run into so many problems, from a pissy lead to a canceled check, to the worst full body burn you have ever seen. I love this doc and would venture to say that it is one of the best making of docs of all time. This thing has ZERO chapter selections despite being almost two and a half hours long.

Lloyd Kaufman Intro (3m 15s, HD, 1.78:1)

Director's Commentary

Cast Commentary

Editor's Commentary

Troma's Tribute to Lemmy (8m 14s, SD, 1.78:1) This a montage of scenes and behind the scene footage of Lemmy from all the different projects he made for Troma.

The American Cinematheque Honors 40 Years of Troma Entertainment (2m 3s, SD, 1.78:1)

Troma Trailers:

Return to Nuke 'Em High Vol. 1 (2m 34s, HD, 1.78:1)
Return to Nuke 'Em High Vol. 2 (1m 48s, HD, 1.78:1)
Pro-Wrestlers Vs. Zombies (1m 47s, HD, 2:1)

The packaging for this 4K box set is pretty interesting. There is no mention whatsoever about tech specs or special features anywhere on the packaging. You would figure they would be mentioned on the outer box or on the back of each film's 4K blu-ray case but they aren't. I found this to be really weird.

Anyway, the outer box features the Toxie logo that Troma has been using for decades now. The entire box is green with all the lettering on the box being embossed. Inside you will find a post card featuring a photo of Troma co-owners Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz of them from when Troma first started on one side and a current photo of the two on the other side. There are four 2-disc black 4K blu-ray cases inside the box. Each case features the original poster art for that film while the back of the box is made to resemble what these films looked like in the video store. I like the look of this set and it looks great on my shelf.

WHAT'S MISSING?

Here is a list of special features that have not been carried over from previous DVD and blu-ray releases:

The Toxic Avenger (1984)

Original DVD Release:

Toxic Lost Scenes:

Toxic Phone Home
Fat Girl Goes Nutzoid - Cat Fight
Sketch Artist" (0:45)
Peanut Butter and Drano Sandwich
Fatty Shack
No Troubles in Tromaville
Pull My Finger Julie

Troma Interactivity:

Take T.I.T. (Troma Intelligence Test) interactive test
Take the Troma Building Tour featurette

Sex Department featurettes:

Virgins
Hot Dogs
Lesbians
Chickens

Executive Washroom:

Toxic Tinkles scene from Toxic Avenger
Cretin Girls Pees scene from "Class of Nuke 'em High
Tromeo Dumps scene from "Tromeo and Juliet
Nuclear Puke scene from Class of Nuke 'em High

Violence Department:

Bicycle Head Crushing from Toxic Avenger
Weight Head Crushing from Toxic Avenger
Fire Hydrant Head Crushing from Toxic Avenger

Wardrobe featurettes:

School Uniform
Debutante
Sunday Best
High Tea
Oval Office
Boardroom
Theatrical Releasing
Soundstage
Script Dept
Gateway to Troma
Special FX
Commissary

Toxic Slide Show

Hot Tromabilia

Director's Intro (2:19)

Toxic Crusaders Trailer

Tromaville Cafe: The Death of Toxic

Aroma du Troma

Mopboys Secrets featurettes (with mandatory commentaries with Mark Torgl)

Put Me in a Tutu
Kiss it! Kiss it
Help Me! Help Me!
Brave the Cold
Get Otta My Home

Toxic 15 Years Later

Troma Website

Director's Farewell Interview

Bonus Trailers:

Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D.
Class of Nuke 'em High
Tromeo & Juliet
Def by Temptation
Surf Nazis Must Die
Bloodsucking Freaks

Credits

The 21st Anniversary DVD:

Audio Commentary with creator Lloyd Kaufman and fan Lenny Goodman

Introduction by creator Lloyd Kaufman

Interview with Sarabel Levinson

Laserdisc Intro And Outro

Deleted Scenes

"Where In The World Is Toxie?" interactive game

Bonus Trailer for Make Your Own Damn Movie

Short Films:

Russel Vincent Porter’s Film Inspired by Lloyd Kaufman
Toxie's 21st Birthday Party
Testimonial From Blade
James Bernardinelli
Lloyd Kaufman Interviews Fans About The Toxic Avenger
The Tromamercial
Peta2 featurettes

4 Scenes from Ira Kortum’s "Toxic Avenger: The Musikill":

The Opening
Joy Riding
Melvin Transforms
Slug and Bozo Die

Music Videos:

The Toxic Avenger Theme performed by Richard Taylor
The Toxic Avenger Theme performed by Uncle Monsterface

DVD Production Credits

Troma Website Advertisement

Trailers:

Cannibal! The Musical
The Children
Tales From the Crapper
Parts of the Family
Terror Firmer
Class of Nuke'em High Part 2: Subhumanoid Meltdown

The Japanese Cut:

Production Stills Slide Show

Why Is Lloyd Kaufman Living in a Refrigerator Box?

Trailers:

Father's Day
The Taint
Mr. Bricks
Class of Nuke 'Em High
Tromeo and Juliet

The Toxic Avenger Part II

Original DVD Release:

Scenes from the Tromaville Cafe

Toxie 15 Years Later

Lloyd Kaufman`s Autobiography

Public Service Announcement #2

Public Service Announcement

Theatrical Releasing

Soundstage

Script Department

Gateway to Troma

Special FX:

The Leg
The Evil Worm
Mutant Meltdown
Head Crushing
Morphing
Commissary

Toxic Commentary:

Fangoria Managing Editor Michael Gingold Interview
Video Hound`s Mike Mayo Interview
Toxic Family Album

Bonus trailers:

Bloodsucking Freaks

Credits

The Toxic Avenger III: The Last Temptation of Toxie

Toxic Interviews:

Rick Collins
Ron Fazio
The Stars of Toxie 3 on the Set of Citizen Toxie
Gay Terry
Tracy Mann
Joe Fleishaker

Radioactive Waste" featurettes:

Anthology Film Archives Screening
Naked Dance of the Damned Fat
Radiation March
Troma Treasure Chest
Learn to Tromadance
Mutant Slideshow
Troma.com

Where in the World is Toxie?:

Belgium
Canada
England
Japan
Korea
Shanghai China
Spain
Switzerland
Washington

Citizens of Tromaville

Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger Part IV

Jaw dropping outtakes

Wacky Outtakes

Deleted scenes w/ optional audio commentary by editors Gabe Friedman and Sean McGrath:

Dick Culpa
American tragedy
Jet's work
Red cuffs
Counting down
Benoius noseches
No smoking
Noxie kills
Right leg
Mommy complains
Tito knows the truth
Howl
Prepared speech
Chester flashback
Sara gets preggers
Praise Jesus
Noxie's press conference
LK wins award
Urine town

Citizens of Tromaville featurettes:

Tito/Toxie in Car
Tour of Toxie's Shack
Meet Claire
Time-Lapse Toxie
Meet Tito
Zork's Big Break
Taco Retard Interview
Ron/Al in Tromaville
Kinky Finkelstein
Hank
James Gunn

Troma Trailers & Toxic Stuff

Make Your Own Damn Movie

Troma.com Commercial

Completion the End... Is Just the Beginning:

Clyde Lewis Dubs Toxie
NYC Premiere
La Premiere
Rashamoron Part I
Sitges

Conception - in the Beginning:

Pre-Production
Toxie Mold - Test Make-up
Script Meeting

____________________________________________

Overall

The TOXIC AVENGER series is one of my favorite series. All four films in the series are winners and they are easily watchable. The first film is an outright classic, parts 2 and 3 are fun, and part 4 is fun in it's own way. These films are filled with tons of graphic violence and more sex and nudity you can throw a stick at. These films aren't for everyone but if you like Troma's other stuff, then you will love these films.

I was surprised by this release. Troma is known for cutting many corners with their previous releases containing a ton of special features but the video and audio weren't always the best. Hell, they screwed up their blu-ray release for part 3 and did nothing to fix it. I can't say this release is without its problems but these problems are few and far between. Picture and audio quality is the best Troma has ever released and the special features are fun. There aren't any new features, besides a Lloyd introduction on every 4K disc, but the stuff that is here is fun. You will have to buy the older DVDs in order to get everything but they can be found for relatively cheap prices. This is a great release that every Troma fan will eat up.

____________________________________________

Extras/Menus

The Toxic Avenger