Toxic Summer is an absolute triumph! Derek Charm has crafted a captivating story that effortlessly balances hilarious moments with genuine mystery, all while delivering a cast of characters that feel both relatable and unique.

The character dynamics are a true highlight. Each character is so well-defined, and the interactions between them are an absolute joy to read. The lgbtq+ repersentation is also perfectly integrated into the narrative making the story even more sweet.

The storyline itself is a wild ride! It's funny, it's mysterious, and it keeps you guessing until the very end. And let me tell you, the ending is just perfect – a comforting and satisfying conclusion that leaves you with a warm feeling.

Toxic Summer is a must-read for anyone who loves a good balance of humor, mystery, and heart. Derek Charm has created something truly special!

Leo convinces his friend Ben to spend the summer in a beach town where there will be tons of hunks, but when they get there the beach is closed due to toxic spill and there's no one in sight! Definitely not the summer of partying that they were expecting.
This is a fun Archie-style comic with lots of scary monsters and an unexpected twist. I liked the bright colour scheme and funny characters.

I really enjoyed Toxic Summer. Derek Charm has always been a great artist, but he proved that his writing is wonderful as well. The art style was bright and clean, exactly what you want for a beachside monster feature. It was less Riverdale and more classic Archie Comics, and I mean that as a high compliment. It's the kind of all ages read where an older person is going to appreciate jokes but nothing is explicit or over the line. I really hope that the character's live on in some form; Give me one full size graphic novel a year of the cast getting into wacky predicaments with other horror standbys. The extra features were a little light, but I really enjoyed the cover gallery. It's always nice to get turned on to newer artists, and a cover gallery is often a mini portfolio. Highly Recommend.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it would be inappropriate for the high school setting when I saw the opening panel but it is absolutely safe for high school. It is an enjoyable scifi/action summer romp. Great addition to high school and public libraries for folks wanting a funny quick story.

A couple of boys want to go have a sexy summer on the beach, however, when they get there they are in for a slimy surprise. Instead of being lifeguards watching hot people on the beach, they get to clean up the beach that has been closed for the summer. There might even be a slimy mystery to solve.

I love this and I believe youngsters will love this too. It reads like a cult movie. It is totally hilarious and the illustration is great too.

this was a fun and slimy read!

🦇 i really enjoyed the characters and their banters, but my personal favourite was ben. he was so sweet!
🦇 the art in this book was also immaculate and grimy looking, that was one of the best parts of this book!
🦇 i did like the plot, but i wish the book was a tad longer and more suspenseful for it to fully pack a punch for me, the struggles didn't really last for the characters. i wanted it to be more explored before the big reveal happened, so it could actually shock the reader afterwards.
🦇 in any case, if you want a quick and summery read, this one's for you! i do recommend reading this.

I really liked this! Very good, although the pacing was a bit fast towards the end. Loved the art style sm and the story was a fun time too! Will def be recommending to my students. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Toxic Summer by by Dereck charm

4/5 Stars. 🌟

Thanks NetGally and ONI Press for the eARC! instagram post scheduled for 10/12/24

This comic was so fun! It was super interesting and Beautifully illustrated and the store was funny and made me giggle! It was definitely one of those silly friends and gullible friend moment.

I loved the characters and the ending had me laughing between Ben and AJ 😂

Honestly not going to say much as it I don’t want to spoil anything at all, but I really suggest reading this asap as it was a light read and gives you a laugh!

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced e-arc! I really enjoyed this. It was giving What's New Scooby Doo coupled with Archie. The mystery with the slight twist was pretty good and I liked the two MCs, especially Ben who was the more sensible and cuter of the two.

Toxic Summer, written and illustrated by Derek Charm (Jughead, PowerPuff Girls, Star Wars), can be seen as a typical summer coming-of-age story but with a toxic twist that gives the series Oni Press a life of its own.

Like most best friends, Ben and Leo had the perfect summer planned after graduation. Head to the idyllic beach town of Port Dorian, where they would act as lifeguards for three months of hot guys, bonfires, and no regrets. This all changed when a toxic spill transforms their dream beach into a waking nightmare. Port Dorian is now flooded with panicked tourists and a horrifying pack of subhuman monstrosities is snatching beachgoers in the night.

Toxic Summer is a fun summer romp with a toxic spin. The comic features fantastic artwork that perfectly complements the storyline, which makes perfect sense when the artist and writer are the same person. The vibrant colors and outstanding character designs add a level of depth to each panel which makes the comic visually engaging. The plot of two teenagers looking for excitement and fun during the summer months on a perfect beach but it all going to hell after the toxic spill is much more up our alley than the original plan.

The dialogue between Ben and Leo feels natural and relatable, capturing a peek into a teenage friendship and relationship. The banter between the two friends adda a level of humor to what is actually a dark and ominous storyline. Charm does a wonderful job at balancing the seriousness of the disaster with moments of levity. A great blend of humor and suspense to keep us turning each page.

Toxic Summer has plenty of twists and turns to keep us guessing, not knowing what will happen next kept me glued to each and every panel from start to finish. The comic stands out at Oni Press more than I thought it would. I was pleasantly surprised. 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 the collected edition.

Toxic Summer is a goopy and gooey good time!

Toxic Summer follows friends Ben & Leo attempting to enjoy a delicious beach summer. However, they are instead recruited to assist with the beach cleanup when toxic goop seems to take over the beach. Mysteries abound as well as things keep happening that they can't immediately explain and when creatures from the sea start trying to move inland they have to figure out what to do.

This is perfect for Scooby-Doo fans! It is cute and goofy and it doesn't take itself too seriously. It makes for a quick and easy read. Additionally, the extras in this edition are so much fun. The variant covers at the end are always an added bonus and I loved getting to see those. I know readers are going to relate and enjoy this story and it's a Scooby-Doo Mystery for your 2025!

With an exuberantly kinetic art style, solid characterization, and a plot line reminiscent of 1950’s Beach Movies / Creature Features with a delightfully queer update, “Toxic Summer” is a powerhouse of a comic that oozes quality from every panel.

A jaunty and altogether pleasant comic, the kind of thing that makes you think “Is this a series? I really hope this is a series, this should definitely be a whole series” because it’s just that good.

Two best friends’ plans for a fun-filled summer go awry when a toxic spill fills their days with shoveling dead fish and battling mutant merpeople instead of partying on the beach and kissing boys.

The rapport between Leo and AJ, our dual protagonists, is compelling and fun. It’s the emotional core of the story. They annoy each other to no end, they know each other better than anyone and use that knowledge for evil, they’re best friends, in short. It’s so refreshing and neat to read a story like this about two gay friends. Usually readers would be fortunate to get even a single gay sidekick character. The plot is well paced and has big “You Meddling Kids” vibes with a couple of appropriately meta twists. Wit and humor help the narrative along but are used sparingly enough to avoid saturation.

The art style is phenomenal and I really can’t say enough positive things about it. The shading and color choices are tinged with emotion and really propel the story along in the best possible way. I especially liked the way the night scenes were rendered. The character design is top notch throughout. Our main characters look compelling and distinctive but so do the townspeople. Aunt Judy is an icon and I want to be her when I grow up, obviously. The mutants themselves are also visually amazing, squamous and vaguely menacing with a mysterious, shadowy cast.

Overall this was such a joy to read that I really can’t think of anything that would improve it. I really hope to see more of these characters and will also look into other projects the artist and author have worked on based on the strength of this comic alone.

My attempts at seasonal reading take an early stumble – but Netgalley comics files don't last long enough to hold this until summer, and besides, it has basically eaten all the other seasons now anyway. Derek Charm managed the almost impossible task of following Erica Henderson on Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, and his nominative determinism art was a perfect fit for Zdarsky's Jughead, so I was keen to see what he could do solo (everything but the lettering on Toxic Summer is him), and the results are mostly good. Ben and Leo have gone to Port Dorian, wide-eyed with visions of "unsupervised perverted beach maniacs", and they've got summer jobs as lifeguards lined up to get them right to the heart of the hunk action. Except when they get there, the beach is closed by a toxic spill, and instead they're clearing up malodorous corpses of marine life. Now, that's a classic comedy in the British mode, hope followed by disillusionment – but this is America, so instead we get problem followed by resolution, helped by the fact that this is not regular toxic waste but the comics sort, more zombies and monsters than lingering environmental consequences. Which, gods know I don't like to play the finger-wagger, but I did struggle with this a little when my own last attempt at a beach holiday was kyboshed by a sea full of sewage. Even so, I can't deny there's some solid comedy-horror skills on display here, the dialogue sparks, and the colours in particular are just the right sort of 1990s lurid.