Toxic Summer # 1 (2024)
Writer/Artist/Colorist: Derek Charm
Letterer: Frank Cvetkovic
Rating: 
This week I will look at “Toxic Summer # 1” from One Press Inc. It’s a summertime romp that features subhuman monsters in a way that only writer/artist Derek Charm can bring to life.
Longtime best friends Ben and Leo had what they felt was the perfect summer planned after high school graduation- getting jobs as lifeguards in the idyllic beach town of Port Dorian; three months of hot guys, late-night bonfires, and no regrets, that is until a toxic spill on the beach transformed their dream summer into a waking nightmare. With Port Dorian now flooded with panicked tourists, a local researcher is paralyzed while investigating the spill leading to a horrifying pack of subhuman monstrosities snatching beachgoers in the night.
This series takes a more lighthearted approach to a summertime setting where some aspects of this issue may come off as being cheesy, it works because Charm has fun with it especially as he mixes in some elements of those Frankie Avalon movies along with the 1950s horror movies to truly present a coming-of-age story while setting the tone for something far more sinister when it comes to the monsters that’s inhabiting Port Dorian. Ben and Leo as the two leads make this story enjoyable due to the vibrant chemistry they share because I feel without that factor, it would just be another horror story complete with characters with wooden personalities; Thankfully, Charm’s writing has that unique knack for giving every character besides Ben and Leo their voice while displaying the gift he has for scripting such wonderful dialogue. For anybody who wants to read a story about the summer that takes creativity up a notch while wanting to get a good scare in the process, all eyes should be on “Toxic Summer” and try not to read this issue at night in front of a bonfire.
Well, that’s it for me this week. Thanks for sticking around and I will see you all next time.
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