Brain Dead x Toxic Avenger
CONCEPT: How cult cinema, streetwear, and collectibles intersect, and how collectibles can extend the ritual of moviegoing beyond the theater.
Collaborating directly with Brain Dead and its founders, I created a Toxic Avenger figure and packaging system designed to live not just on a shelf, but within a broader cultural experience. The vision was to create a unique collectible tied to Brain Dead Studios’ movie theater programming: a ReAction figure functioning as a souvenir.
The first figure was developed as a glow-in-the-dark reinterpretation of Toxic Avenger. The packaging was a key piece of storytelling; a custom cardback shaped to Brain Dead’s iconic logo was a flexible system that could adapt across different films and events rather than a single, static release.
An additional ULTIMATES! figure and apparel capsule were also designed, with the idea that each movie release would contain not just an action figure souvenir, but additional apparel and accessories to accent the experience.
CONCLUSION:
Although the project ultimately launched at a much smaller scale than originally envisioned, it represents how I approach concept-driven design: building objects inspired by culture, shaped by community, environment, and ritual, and realized through precise, production-ready execution.
Become the Toxic Avenger!
No special treatment was left unexplored for this project: neon spot colors, silver foil accents, and a unique slime-shaped blister completed the release. The back of the card featured a cutout Toxie mask for additional novelty.
Toxic World Tour
Front, back, and mop accessory for the ReAction figure. Special attention was applied to the graphics on the front and back of the figure, as well as the “flag” sticker placed on the mop. The tee worn by this figure (front graphic, with collaborative logo on the back) was also intended to be released as an adult-sized tee.
Display Technology
Spot illustrations of the unique logohead cardback. This project was envisioned to be part of a bigger partnership with Brain Dead and Brain Dead Studios, where each ReAction figure collaboration would be packaged on the special cardback shape.
ULTIMATES! Toxic Avenger x Brain Dead
Pre-Production Packaging sample for the unreleased ULTIMATES! figure. Front and back shown here with a die-cut, drip sleeve.
Mini-Artifacts Included
Pre-Production Packaging sample for the unreleased ULTIMATES! figure. Front and back shown here with the sleeve off, revealing a logohead window.
Created to coincide with the ReAction Figure release, this ULTIMATES! figure was designed to wear a miniature, soft-goods tee shirt; one that would mimic a human-sized tee that would be a part of the capsule collection.
Save the Earth
Marketing shot of unreleased ULTIMATES! figure. The tee and flag graphics were not finalized here and eventually changed in the final version of the released ReAction figure.
Capsule Collection Concepts
To round out the figure offerings, apparel and accessories were designed, some of which feature the unique logo-shaped cardback as well as the aforementioned tee that the figures are wearing.
A Different Kind of Hero!
Apparel concept taking inspiration from a vintage movie poster. There are playful flips to the Brain Dead logo on the front and the sign on the back print.
Pin Concepts
Lapel pin concepts designed to partner with Brain Dead’s existing collection of Logo Head pins.
The A24 collaboration pin is shown for thematic reference.