While scum-skulking through the green, slimy depths of a rank Florida swamp, a garden-variety gator swam through a streak of orange mutagen. Faster than snap, crackle and crunch, this grinning gator mutated into Leatherhead, the biggest, meanest reptile ever to hit the amphibious circuit.
Rippling with supermutant strength and swimming ability, Leatherhead enjoys just a pinch of Turtle between his teeth and gum for true chewin' satisfaction.
This garbage can gourmet fills his gullet by trapping Turtles, tenderizing them with a blast of his swamp gun and mixing in a bag of red-hot Cajun spices. Leatherhead is the undisputed king of the swamp and could be the next sultan of the sewer when Shredder drafts him into the dreaded Foot Clan.
LEATHERHEAD- 1987 Cartoon
Role: Villainous Powerhouse
Played By: Jim Cummings
Group Affiliations: None
PL 9 (87)
STRENGTH 8
STAMINA 8
AGILITY 1
FIGHTING 10
DEXTERITY 1
INTELLIGENCE 0
AWARENESS 0
PRESENCE -1
Bodacious Skills:
Athletics 2 (+10)
Expertise (Hunting/Survival) 6 (+6)
Intimidation 9 (+8)
Perception 4 (+4)
Stealth 1 (+2)
Gnarly Advantages:
All-Out Attack, Equipment (Traps, Chains), Fast Grab, Improved Critical (Unarmed), Improved Hold, Prone Fighting, Ranged Attack 7, Startle
Radical Equipment:
"Traps & Chains" (assorted bear-traps, pinching lobsters on his belt, & more) (5)
Tubular Powers:
"Animal Senses" Senses 2 (Low-Light Vision, Acute & Extended Scent) [2]
"Sensory Pits" Senses 3 (Accurate Ranged Touch) (Flaws: Limited to Underwater) [1.5]
"Water-Based Creature"
Swimming 5 (8mph) [5]
Immunity 1 (Drowning) (Flaws: Limited to Half-Effect) [0.5]
Movement 1 (Environmental Adaptation- Underwater) [2]
Righteous Offense:
Unarmed +10 (+8 Damage, DC 23)
Initiative +1
Awesome Defenses:
Dodge +8 (DC 18), Parry +10 (DC 20), Toughness +8, Fortitude +8, Will +4
Bummer Complications:
Enemy (The Turtles)
Motivation (Fighting)- Leatherhead seemingly just likes a good scrap- he often brawls with everyone he meets, even guys like the Rat King.
Obsession (Spouting Cajun-Isms)- "I GAIR-ON-TEEEEEE!!!"
Total: Abilities: 40 / Skills: 22--11 / Advantages: 14 / Powers: 11 / Defenses: 11 (87)
-Like the Rat King, Leatherhead is common to all
TMNT versions, though usually in altered form. In the Mirage & Archie Comics, he was a heroic figure (he even joined the Mighty Mutanimals at Archie!). In the 1987 cartoon, however, Leatherhead was a vicious, Cajun-accented, slang-spoutin' monster (I still remember the way he puncuated every sentence with "I GAH-RON-TEEEEE!"). He debuts in the Florida Everglades, having been mutated by the run-off of the Mutagen that created the Punk Frogs. An enormous Gator-Man, he waltzed in and soon beat the hell out of all four Frogs at once, and made them his personal servants! The Frogs quickly called the Turtles for assistance, at which point the heroes rapidly arrived in Florida (HOW??) and fought the villain. Shredder and his minions soon got involved, and teamed up against the heroes, but were eventually stomped. He would reappear a few other times, once being captured by the Rat King (who threw a Soda Pop Bomb that KO'd the Cajun Crocodilian), and another time allying with him, then teamed with all of the other Rogues.
-Leatherhead's toy was remarkably-tiny, especially considering the character on TV was HUGE. A full head taller than almost any other character, and ridiculously-strong. They gave him a great "you should buy this toy IMMEDIATELY!" push, and I was a huge Leatherhead fan. Unfortunately, the toy was a shrunk-down guy with squat legs, short arms, and a head that was apparently quite notorious for falling off. Another personal
TMNT-related story: My Leatherhead toy actually lost his head while on the school playground one day, and I didn't notice until I got back to class. Despite a search (even showing up in the school's "paper" sent to each class), the head was never uncovered- apparently a GREEN HEAD amidst an entire grassy portion of school property is rather difficult to locate. Oddly, I was never particularly-heartbroken about the loss, but like a lot of
TMNT stuff, I actually remember it fairly well.
-Leatherhead is a vicious PL 9 powerhouse, a bit cheap on points, but a solid hunter with epic grappling skills that put him above any one turtle. His toy version includes a red shotgun, but this is the Cartoon Version. The Archie Version is more or less like this (maybe PL 8)- he was heroic, but prone to going "Ut!" every time he required effort.