Throughout history, we've seen some truly iconic team-ups: peanut butter and jelly, Ren and Stimpy, Batman and Robin. But one partnership you might not immediately think of—yet one that's just as important—is the bond between Troma and comic books.

Troma co-founder and Toxie's cinematic dad, Lloyd Kaufman, was close friends with Marvel's legendary Stan Lee—the father of Spider-Man himself. So it only made sense that in the 1990s, Marvel Comics brought Tromaville into the four-color world, publishing eleven issues of The Toxic Avenger and eight issues of The Toxic Crusaders. Both titles were canceled around the same time as the Toxic Crusaders animated series was not picked up for a second season.

Which brings us to today's special guest: Matt Bors. Matt is a Pulitzer Prize finalist, the founder of the comics site The Nib, and an award-winning writer and cartoonist known for his sharp wit and social commentary. Now, he's turned his talents toward Tromaville, writing The Toxic Avenger and Toxic Crusaders for AHOY Comics, which are both out now in comic shops and bookstores everywhere.

Enjoy our exclusive interview with Matt Bors, recorded live at San Diego Comic-Con!

Mentioned in this episode:

• Get The Toxic Avenger Trade Paperback
• Get Toxic Crusaders #1
• Matt Bors
• AHOY Comics

Hosted by Zack Beins. Produced by Chris Lanphear for Loudspeaker Studios. Talkin' Troma Theme Music by J57 and Bald Halfwit. Special thanks to Matt Bors and AHOY Comics.

Featured Music:

• "Marching Crusaders" by Dennis C. Brown and Larry Brown, from Toxic Crusaders: Original Television Soundtrack

Connect with Zack:

• https://twitter.com/legolarry
• https://www.instagram.com/legolarry/

Connect with Talkin' Troma:

• https://www.talkintroma.com
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkintroma/
• https://twitter.com/talkintroma
• https://www.youtube.com/@talkintroma

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• https://twitter.com/heyloudspeaker
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Talkin' Troma is a listener-supported production of Loudspeaker Studios. Hear more great shows and commercial-free independent public radio at https://www.loudspeaker.org.

Macon Blair is a multi-hyphenate entertainer. You've seen him as an actor in films like Blue Ruin, Green Room, and a little small micro-budget film called Oppenheimer. His 2017 directorial debut, I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore, won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, and he wrote and directed the film we are here to talk about today, 2025's The Toxic Avenger, which is finally in theaters now around the world. On this very special episode of Talkin' Troma with Zack Beins, we have Macon Blair himself to guide us through his wild and wonderful new reinterpretation of Toxie. Join us as we explore the ins and outs of casting, working with Peter Dinklage and Elijah Wood, tales of shooting in Bulgaria, special FX shots, Lloyd Kaufman, and so much more! There are spoilers ahead, so make sure you see the film first!

Mentioned in this episode:

• Get tickets for The Toxic Avenger
• THE TOXIC AVENGER To Mop Up Medical Debt With Non-Profit Partnership

Hosted by Zack Beins. Produced by Chris Lanphear for Loudspeaker Studios. Talkin' Troma Theme Music by J57 and Bald Halfwit. Special thanks to Macon Blair, Cineverse, Legendary, and Katrina Wan PR.

Featured Music:

• "Nothing At All" by The Giraffes, originally written and performed by Marc Hoffman and Dean Simmons from The Toxic Avenger
• "The Look of Love (Part 1)" by ABC from The Toxic Avenger

Connect with Zack:

• https://twitter.com/legolarry
• https://www.instagram.com/legolarry/

Connect with Talkin' Troma:

• https://www.talkintroma.com
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkintroma/
• https://twitter.com/talkintroma
• https://www.youtube.com/@talkintroma

Connect with Loudspeaker:

• https://twitter.com/heyloudspeaker
• https://www.facebook.com/heyloudspeaker
• https://www.instagram.com/heyloudspeaker

Talkin' Troma is a listener-supported production of Loudspeaker Studios. Hear more great shows and commercial-free independent public radio at https://www.loudspeaker.org.

Zack and Chris return from San Diego Comic-Con with a full breakdown of Troma's biggest showing yet! From the long-awaited reimagining of The Toxic Avenger premiering with Peter Dinklage, Elijah Wood, Taylour Paige, and Jacob Tremblay, to an electrifying Hall H panel, exclusive screenings, and Troma's jam-packed booth, it was a landmark year for Lloyd Kaufman and the Troma family.

The guys dive into convention exclusives, collectibles, and comics, including the Toxic Crusaders series, new action figures, and even the long-rumored "Mr. Melvin" cut of Toxic Avenger II & III. Plus, behind-the-scenes stories from celebrity encounters, afterparties, and the surreal moment when Troma officially arrived on the Comic-Con main stage. Afterward, stay tuned for the entire Toxic Avenger panel live from Hall H with writer-director Macon Blair, Lloyd Kaufman, and the cast

If you couldn't make it to San Diego, this is your all-access pass to the chaos, creativity, and toxic love that defined Comic-Con 2025.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Get tickets for The Toxic Avenger
• Yesterdays SDCC Exclusive Toxie Pin
• Mother's Day VHS and Toxic Avenger VHS by Nerds Nest Collectibles
• Toxie 2025 Mask by Trick or Treat Studios
• Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. 4K Ultra HD
• The Toxic Avenger: Kickstarter Deluxe Edition
• Mr. Melvin

Hosted by Zack Beins. Produced by Chris Lanphear for Loudspeaker Studios. Talkin' Troma Theme Music by J57 and Bald Halfwit. Special thanks to Cineverse, Legendary, and Katrina Wan PR.

Featured Music:

• "Nothing At All" by The Giraffes, originally written and performed by Marc Hoffman and Dean Simmons

Connect with Zack:

• https://twitter.com/legolarry
• https://www.instagram.com/legolarry/

Connect with Talkin' Troma:

• https://www.talkintroma.com
• https://twitter.com/talkintroma
• https://www.youtube.com/@talkintroma

Connect with Loudspeaker:

• https://twitter.com/heyloudspeaker
• https://www.facebook.com/heyloudspeaker
• https://www.instagram.com/heyloudspeaker

Talkin' Troma is a listener-supported production of Loudspeaker Studios. Hear more...