Oni Press has announced the next title in its ONI 2024 lineup and it’s a super-poisonous, mutant beach party from none other than writer/artist Derek Charm. Debuting in May, Toxic Summer is a deluxe, bi-monthly, three-part series that puts a gruesome twist on teenage summer fantasies.
Toxic Summer is set in the early aughts and follows besties Ben and Leo in the summer after their high school graduation. They’re both lifeguards in the idyllic beach town port Dorian and they have the perfect summer planned: late-night bonfires, lots of hot guys, and absolutely no regrets. Neither of them factors in a toxic spill that transforms the town into the worst summer ever. Tourists are terrified, zombie-like creatures keep snatching beachgoers after the sun goes down, and a local researcher who might be able to sort things is paralyzed while investigating the spill.
Check out a preview of Toxic Summer #1, below.
“Derek expertly captures the thrilling, romantic, and sometimes horrifying twists of madcap teen summers before cell phones ruined all the mystery,” said denior editor Bess Pallares. “Return to the simpler but spookier time of the early ’00s with Toxic Summer! The idyllic beach town of Port Dorian and the townsfolk who live (and clean up slime) there will become fast favorites for readers looking for a fun tale to spice up their summer. Glitter body spray optional but encouraged.”
In addition to main cover art by Charm and two variants by Francesco Francavilla, seen above, the first issue will also have variant covers by Scott Forbes and Skylar Patridge.
Toxic Summer #1 will be available at your local comic shop on May 1, just in time for Free Comic Book Day. The 48-page, deluxe issue will retail for $6.99.
