An Interview With ‘Toxic Summer’ Creator Derek Charm

When a toxic spill forces Port Dorian to close its beaches for the summer, Ben and Leo aren’t just out of a job (no beaches, no lifeguarding). They’re also out of a means to meet cute guys over the break. To learn more about whether (and how) they’ll persevere, check out this interview with Toxic Summer creator Derek Charm below:

Rachel Bellwoar: While Ben and Leo are preoccupied with how the spill is going to effect their summer plans, it’s not exactly clear what caused the spill or why more isn’t being done to clean it up (outside of hiring two teenage boys). Do you think Port Dorian is being too lax about the situation?

Derek Charm: We’re seeing the story mainly from Ben and Leo’s perspectives in the first issue, so they’re not particularly interested in the mounting mysteries. All they care about is getting their summer plans back on track. I thought it would be funny if the main characters were avoiding the plot at all costs, until finally it builds to a point where they can’t ignore it anymore. It’s a good observation though, Port Dorian is meant to be a very small town, and the people who live there are just doing the best they can until a more official response comes their way.

Bellwoar: Have you ever had a vacation completely derailed the way that Ben and Leo’s is?

Charm: Not to the same extent, but a lot of what happens here are extreme versions of things me and my friends have encountered in real life. There’s been a toxic algae build up that kept us out of the ocean, a seal that was half eaten by a shark that washed up on the only open spot on the beach (and also kept us out of the water), I was definitely thinking about all this stuff as I was coming up with the story.

Bellwoar: For every overcomplicated plan Leo tries to cook up to preserve their summer, Ben keeps pushing for a more direct approach. In real life would you say you’re more of a Ben or a Leo?

Charm: I’m very much of the “easiest path forward” mindset, so I definitely favor the direct approach. Leo is very closely based on one of my best friends, and I’m much closer to the Ben in that relationship, too.

Bellwoar: Was it always the plan to release Toxic Summer as double-sized issues and how has that format benefited the series?

Charm: I originally had pitched it as a graphic novel, and then we discussed a mini-series. My editor Bess Pallares had mentioned that they’d had some success in the format of a giant first issue, followed by regular-sized issues for the rest, which I thought was really interesting. I think it was super beneficial remixing it that way as we got to get a lot more story and character moments into that first issue.

Bellwoar: From the posters in Leo’s bedroom it’s clear he’s a sci-fi fan. Were there any sci-fi stories or films that helped inspire your artwork for this series?

Charm: Oh totally. Tons. I was specifically thinking of movies like Weird Science, Jaws, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and Mars Attacks. The HP Lovecraft story Dagon was also something that I was thinking of during the writing of this, with the fish-people slowly infiltrating a small town.

Bellwoar: Nothing says summer like neon colors. They’re also the colors used for warning labels. How did you come up with such a vibrant color scheme?

Charm: For sure, the connection between “toxic” colors and warning labels was definitely something I was thinking of, those kind of unsettling colors. I was really interested in doing atmospheric coloring too, the colors get corrupted under different light, so everyone’s a little green when they’re outside, and much warmer colors indoors. The shadows all have a green tint. This is something that’s used a lot in animation that I was really excited to try out here.

Bellwoar: The Shark Bite Diner is exactly the kind of beach kitsch I gravitate towards in beach towns. Was it fun getting to revel in all that shark décor?

Charm: Definitely, and it’s always my favorite part about any beach trip. I knew I wanted somewhere interesting for them to hang out, and it’s kind of a combination of a few kitschy beach restaurants I’ve been to.

Bellwoar: Conspiracy theory time: eyes seem to indicate when something’s off in this series and one of AJ’s friend’s eyes are hidden beneath his hair. Should readers be wary?

Charm: My lips are sealed!

Bellwoar: Thanks for agreeing to this interview, Derek!

With letters by Frank Cvetkovic, Toxic Waste #1 goes on sale May 1st from Oni Press.