Toxic Summer, written and illustrated by Derek Charm (Jughead, PowerPuff Girls, Star Wars), is a typical summer coming-of-age story with a toxic twist that gives the new 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.

The double-sized debut issue of Toxic Summer gives us plenty of pages to sink into and a ton of landing space to get the initial plot points in place. The debut issue has plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing, not knowing what will happen next and what will happen in future issues.

Toxic Summer stands out at Oni Press more than we thought it would. We were 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 this debut issue.

Toxic Summer #1 hits local comic shops on May 1, 2024 from Oni Press.