| “ | I guarantee! | „ |
| ~ Leatherhead's catchphrase in the original cartoon. |
Leatherhead is an alligator and a minor character from the 1987, 2003, and 2012 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoons, comic books, and video games. In the former series, he was a villain. In the latter two series, however, he is an antihero. In the Mirage Comics and Archie Comics, he was an anti-hero, and in the IDW Comics, he was a villain.
He was voiced by Peter Lurie.
Biography
Mirage Comics
Leatherhead appears as a supporting character in the original mirage comcis as an anti-hero.
1987
In the 1987 cartoon, he is a mutated villain who made slaves out of the Punk Frogs until he was captured by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles who came to save the frogs. He escaped thanks to Shredder, Rocksteady, and Bebop. Then, he went to New York City to get revenge on the turtles, but got captured by the Rat King, and later freed himself and tried to wrestle him down until they made an alliance to capture the turtles and send robot-rats and android alligators to kill them. However, this failed. But they later worked together again, along with some other villains one time with Shredder to capture them.
Leatherhead also kidnapped April O'Neil and her coworker/frenemy, Vernon, numerous times throughout the series, sometimes separately and sometimes together. His main method of capture was simply shackling someone's neck into a neck chain and dragging them along behind him.
Archine Comics
Leatherhead appears in the Archie comcis as a former villain turned into a member of the Mighty Mutanimals.
2003
In the 2003 animated series, Leatherhead has a different backstory: He was once a baby alligator that got mutated. He was found by an alien race called the Utroms and became their top scientist. Later, he went wild and escaped. He was then found by the Turtles to be an ally. There are two sides of his personality, a brilliant being and a wild monster.
IDW Comics
Leatherhead appears in the IDW comcis with his character being a mix of the 1987,2003,adn 2012 incarnations but far more vicoius than previous versions.
2012
Leatherhead started life as a baby alligator who had been secretly raised by a child. But the child's parents found him, and flushed him down the toilet. He ended up being banished to the sewer drains, where he was found by the Kraangs. The Kraang, upon discovering him, took him in and subjected him to several tests. But he escaped and revolted against the Kraangs. The turtles saved him, but the damage had already been done. His hatred runs so deep that even hearing the word 'Kraang' sends him into an uncontrollable rage. Later, he became a valuable ally to the Turtles.
