This is a wild and crazy romp of 100% fun living adolescents vibes. This was my dream life fantasies as a kid growing up in the 80s . I ran out and bought physical copies of this comic immediately after reading . I will read and reread this fantastic adventure for years to come.

This had a very “if Archie and Jughead were gay and looking for a summer beach fun” vibe. It was quick and fun with an almost Scooby-esque mystery. The bright psychedelic coloring lent to story as a whole and I enjoyed it.

I will say it feels a little unfinished and short. It could have used another 50 pages to really make the story that much better.

Thank you, Netgalley, the author, and Oni Press for the gifted e-book! ❤️ #gifted. My review is comprised of my honest thoughts.

This was so fun and entertaining. I loved that the two main characters are gay. This is very Archie style and so bright. I am obsessed with the look. I did want more at the end of it, but I highly recommend it.

Hilarious! Queer! Horror! Graphic Novel! All the things I love in a book. The art style is giving Archie Comic vibes, but with a modern twist. Only complaint is it needs to be longer. Ended too quickly.

Very, very cute Archie-style gay lovecraftian beach pulp comic. Really fun! I think it could have used a bit more space to develop character relationships (AJ and Ben exchanged like three sentences before being declared boyfriends), and I'm always a bit sad to see a <spoiler>"nobody remembers it" ending</spoiler>, but it's the dumb gay teen supernatural hijinks I crave.

I landed on a 3.5⭐

It was a fun summer romp with a cute cast of characters, and fun wacky plot. Would broadly recommend and I could see people giving it a 5. It's about two boys that go off to a town for summer break to flirt with boys. Find out that the water is filled with toxic waste.

Toxic Summer is a fun comic book about two guys who just want to kick back and enjoy their summer. They get a job as a lifeguard, but upon arriving their first day they discover the beach is closed due to a toxic spill, and they'll be in charge of cleanup. Hijinks ensue as the boys try to make friends and come across what seems to be a person swimming in the toxic sludge. This was a highly entertaining and quick read. Thanks to Oni Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Derek Charm's "Toxic Summer" is a fun and lighthearted graphic novel about two best friends, Ben and Leo, who are looking forward to a summer of sun, beaches, and parties in the idyllic seaside town of Port Dorian. Their dreams of lifeguarding and mingling with hunky beachgoers are quickly dashed when a mysterious toxic spill makes the water unswimmable and leaves the shore littered with rotting fish.

Leo, the protagonist, is a bit of a drama queen, but ultimately likable despite his constant complaining. Ben, his best friend, provides the perfect counterpoint with his warm, friendly, and easygoing personality. Together they form a fun duo as they face the challenges of a toxic summer and some unexpected tentacled monsters.

With its neon colors and dynamic artwork reminiscent of the 90s, "Toxic Summer" is a delightful read. The fast-paced plot and humorous dialogue make it a perfect choice for some lighthearted summer entertainment. Overall, it's an enjoyable and easy read that's sure to keep you entertained.

Rating: 4/5 stars

This was a super fun graphic novel! I loved the Beach Blanket Bingo/Creature Feature mashup, I loved all the characters and it was great to see openly queer characters just existing without being remarked on. I especially loved the art style. Definitely recommended.

A silly, campy, creepy tale! It’s like Scooby Doo but gayer and hornier. The story is silly enough that middle grade could enjoy it, but with a touch of maturity so that they don’t feel like they’re reading a “kids book”.

Toxic Summer made me laugh from the very first pages.

Thank you #NetGalley and Oni Press for providing me with an Advance copy in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.

This book is a fun time - no really, they're here for a fun time. I cannot express enough how much this reminds me of the games Monster Prom and Monster Camp, or the table top role playing game Monster Hearts (lots of monsters going around). It's campy, it's gay, it's got the right amount of ridiculous circumstance and isn't afraid to make a buttplug joke when we're all staring it in the face.

If you want something fun and colorful that you can get through in one sitting, definitely give Toxic Summer a read. You won't regret it (that is unless you don't like fun).

3.5 Stars

So cute. So fun.

This is a bright and colorful summer story of hijinks and hormones. We are following a best friend duo hell Bent on having the summer of their lives who find themselves tasked with cleaning up a toxic spill on a beach. Their sexy summer plans start reeking of rotting sea life and possessed towns people. The ending of this was pretty cheesy and this reads like a modern Scooby Doo but I think it was a really silly time.

So this was a bit of fun! Two recent high school graduates get jobs as lifeguards in hope of having a fun summer where they will meet many boys. Instead they find a toxic waste closure and a strange mystery to solve. Oh, and maybe some monsters....

This book was a hoot! It's silly, funny, and fun. It's like a teen beack/monster movie in all of the best ways. The story wraps up a little quickly, and it's not the deepest book ever, but it is a great afternoon read!

"Toxic Summer" is so much fun! It's a nice quick read and really has the vibe of a summer monster movie. This would be a great choice for anyone (but especially teens) who want something bright and a little weird to read, especially once the weather starts warming up.

Ben and Leo can't wait to have the best summer ever as lifeguards at the never-ending beach party. But when they arrive and the beach is full of toxic sludge, they get roped into cleaning it up before any fun can happen. The longer they stay in the town, the more mysterious things occur.

This was a beautifully illustrated graphic novel with a mediocre story. It felt like a YA graphic novel that made references to more college-aged content. Not a great fit for high school, and not a story that many will find engaging.

Derek Charm's art, writing, and colors really make Toxic Summer pop! I loved our two main characters wanting a typical make out kind of summer and getting much more than they bargained for. Toxic waste has taken over the beach and the supernatural elements that come of it are so fun. This reminded me of a fun Scooby Doo romp. I loved it!

This one was a really fun, colorful, quick read! Typical teenage summer story + some weird creatures to up the stakes. The characters served their purpose, the art style was very fitting for the story and there was just the right amount of text to get the story told. I would love to see a slice-of-life kind of story of what the rest of the summer looks like for the main characters.

Every summer, I love picking up a kinda goofy horror comic from my local comic shop. This year's pick was Toxic Summer. I haven't been able to swing by and grab the last issue yet, so it was neat being able to complete it on here.

The artwork is fantastic. The coloring? Some of the best I've seen all year! It was vibrant without feeling like I was looking at a highlighter.

The story is fun, a bit spooky, and I loved seeing the queer representation. It's done casually and didn't feel the need to educate you on something, which I've really enjoyed seeing the past few years!

A neon explosion of gay best friends, summer vacation, mystery, and monsters.

I loved the art style and coloring in this graphic novel. The story was reminiscent of a Scooby Doo adventure mixed with those old creature/monster movies with unique villains and a self contained plot/mystery.

Two gay protagonists is incredible and I love the representation. Bonus points that the characters being gay was not a point of contention within the story and did not require a big resolve or explanation.

I'd love to see this as a series with a new monster/creature/mystery each issue as we learn more about our main characters, their friendship, and their love interests.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for an advance copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

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!