You will feel the heat when you pick up TOXIC SUMMER #1's sizzling second printing photo variant.
The press release follows:
Media Release -- Oni Press, the multiple Eisner and Harvey Award-winning publisher of groundbreaking comics and graphic novels since 1997, proudly announces the return of Eisner Award-winning cartoonist Derek Charm's critically acclaimed and chemically altered summertime smash TOXIC SUMMER #1 – with an all-new Second Printing Photo Variant returning the surf, sunburns, and screams to comic shops everywhere on June 19th! Clocking in at 48 double-sized and dangerous pages, Charm's deep-water death sentence rages back to life with an eye-popping Second Printing Photo Variant that's (almost) too hot to handle:
Best friends Ben and Leo had the perfect summer planned after high school graduation. As lifeguards in the idyllic beach town of Port Dorian, they were planning for three months of hot guys, late-night bonfires, and no regrets . . . until a toxic spill of unknown properties on the beach transformed their dream summer into a waking nightmare. Now Port Dorian is flooded with panicked tourists, a local researcher is paralyzed while investigating the spill, and a horrifying pack of subhuman monstrosities is snatching beachgoers in the night.
Mix one part Riverdale with one part The Creature from the Black Lagoon and drink it down fast because this bi-monthly horror shocker comes packed with enough acidic sludge, perverted beach maniacs, and ill will to ruin anyone's first summer away from home!
You'll be (beach) bummed if you don't get your hands on this comic– make sure you order before FOC on May 27th and get it when it dives into comic shops everywhere June 19th!
Then, just two weeks later: Your local comic shop will be a BEACH BLANKET BLOODBATH when the second fright-fueled, bi-monthly chapter comes calling in TOXIC SUMMER #2 (of 3) – featuring covers by Derek Charm (Jughead), Nick Cagnetti (Pink Lemonade), and Alexis Ziritt (Space Riders)!
PRAISE FOR TOXIC SUMMER #1
"A charming first issue that's funny, the perfect summer read, and has all the makings of a great B-movie horror… Jam-packed with fun character moments, toxic reveals, and plenty of comedy… Toxic Summer captures the vibrancy of youth with plenty of sludgy horror dumped over it. The characters are electric and super fun while they battle to nab hunks, regardless of toxic monsters lurking in the shallows. Considering this issue is highly entertaining without monsters arriving just yet, and this is a bonafide must-read."—AIPT
"Colorful art, lovable characters, and gripping storyline… From its queer cast to its creeping mystery, TOXIC SUMMER promises to be the must-read comic of the summer… With its mix of humor, horror, and heart, this is one comic you won't want to miss!"—TOONS MAG
"Thrilling… With a blend of classic beach movie charm, teen horror suspense, and Derek's unique perspective, Toxic Summer promises readers an unforgettable adventure filled with twists, turns, and plenty of surprises."—GEEK VIBES NATION
"Triple-threat Derek Charm (i.e. writer, artist, colorist) delivers a comic that is tailor made for a specific generation and a story that is perfect for the comic format. Like a queer-take on Roger Corman movies and Toxic Crusaders, this is the best horror movie that you never accidentally stumbled upon while channel surfing late at night. Charm has cracked fun characters that are fastened into a plot with unlimited potential, and paneling that clearly defines his narrative, plus color that pops with each page. This is a must read for anyone after a unique horror style and a purely fun read."—COMICBOOK.COM
"Blends Riverdale with The Creature from the Black Lagoon in the best way."—SCREENRANT
"Queer and sharp-witted… The art is charming (no pun intended) … almost like something you'd see on Cartoon Network."—COMICSBEAT
"Frightfully fun."—DAILY DEAD
"The series deftly weaves the camp of summer beach movies with gross-out teen horror slashers, keeping readers on the edge of their seat from start to finish."—FANBASE PRESS
"How do you create a Toxic Summer? Add 1950's teen beach movies, Mad Magazine, H.P. Lovecraft, the Archies, and Creature from the Black Lagoon to a tiki mug, shake well, and serve hot or cold at your next beach bash."—CONSKIPPER
"A fun summer romp with a toxic spin… The book delivers on artwork and story with both substance and style. Charm's captivating artwork, relatable characters and toxic storyline is a superb reason to grab this debut issue."—CAPES AND TIGHTS
"Every panel and design pull the reader in. I feel like a broken record, but the book is just fun to look at."—FREAK SUGAR
TOXIC SUMMER #1
Written by DEREK CHARM
Art by DEREK CHARM
Cover A by DEREK CHARM
Cover B by W. SCOTT FORBES
Cover C by SKYLAR PATRIDGE
Full Art Variant (1:10) by DEREK CHARM
VARIANT COVER (1:20) by FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA
B&W VARIANT (1:30) by FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA
"RADIOACTIVE WASTE FIFTH INK" SKETCH VARIANT ALSO AVAILABLE
IN STORES MAY 1st, 2024 | $6.99 | 48 pgs. | FC
About the Creator
Derek Charm is an Eisner Award-winning comic artist, illustrator, and character designer for animation. He was the artist on several monthly comic runs, including Jughead and Jughead's Time Police for Archie Comics, The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl for Marvel, and Star Wars Adventures for IDW Publishing/Lucasfilm. Outside of comics he has done illustration and design work for Marc Jacobs, Pepsi, and Warner Bros. Animation.
About Oni Press
Founded in 1997, Oni Press has a 25-year history as one of the industry's most respected and acclaimed publishers of award-winning comic books and graphic novels with titles including Bryan Lee O'Malley's Scott Pilgrim, K. O'Neill's Tea Dragon Society, Cullen Bunn & Brian Hurtt's The Sixth Gun, Maia Kobabe's Gender Queer, Ezra Clayton Daniels' Upgrade Soul, Brenna Thummler's Sheets trilogy, and many hundreds more. In 2019, Oni Press merged with Lion Forge Comics – the Eisner Award-winning independent comic book publisher founded by Academy Award-winning producer and entrepreneur David Steward II – to create one of the largest, independent libraries of comics content anywhere in media. The Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group now exists as a publishing subsidiary of Steward's diversified global media company, Polarity.
The Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group publishes more than 60 original and licensed graphic novels annually, in addition to an extensive list of periodical comics.
