Melvin Ferd III

Melvin Ferd III is the main character in the 1984 Troma Entertainment film The Toxic Avenger, played by Mark Torgl.

Melvin is a stereotypical 98-pound weakling; he works as a janitor at a health club in fictional Tromaville, New Jersey. There, he is tormented by his customers, particularly Bozo (Gary Schneider), Slug (Robert Prichard), Wanda (Jennifer Babtist), and Julie (Cindy Manion), who harass and tease him constantly. The Mayor of Tromaville is Mayor Peter Belgoody (Pat Ryan Jr.) who, unknown to the citizens of the town, is also the leader of a massive Tromaville crime ring, but hides this fact by promoting good will and proposed justice to the town as a cover-up. As days go by Melvin's tormentors grow more and more violent, to the point of killing a young boy on a bike by running him over with their car and taking photos of the carnage afterwards.

Finally, they trick Melvin into wearing a pink tutu and kissing a sheep. He is chased around the health club by other customers and out a second story window. He lands in a drum of toxic waste, which immediately causes severe burns and disfigurement. Despite the burning chemicals having caused him to burst into flames, Melvin survives and stumbles home. Drawing a bath in an attempt to scrub some of the chemical residue from his horribly scarred flesh, Melvin begins his transformation into a hideously deformed creature of superhuman size and strength — "The Toxic Avenger".

As "The Toxic Avenger" ("Toxie"), the character reappears in the sequel films The Toxic Avenger Part II (1989) and The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie (also 1989).

References

• Bruce G. Hallenbeck (2009). Comedy-horror films: a chronological history, 1914-2008. McFarland. p. 146. ISBN 0786433329.