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Facts About Baxter Stockman

by Kyle Tobey
written by Kyle Tobey

Baxter Stockman is the definition of a “Mad Scientist.” He can build anything, but anything he builds is used for evil.

Stockman is one of Shredder’s top henchmen and a mainstay of almost every TMNT iteration to date. Unfortunately, he was voted out in the first round of our Favorite Toy vote. His votes were close, so we wanted to send him off the right way. Here are some facts about the mad genius!

Photo property of Mirage Comics

Issue #2.

Baxter Stockman is one of the Ninja Turtles oldest villains.

His first appearance was dates all the way back to the Mirage comic series. He debuted in October 1984 in issue #2.

In his original appearance, he was an African-American. In the 1987 cartoon series, he was changed to a Caucasian. He was changed back in the 2003 series, and has remained African American in all incarnations since.

In the 1987 cartoon, He also had a twin brother named Barney Stockman. Also a mad scientist and with the same voice, who threw fits whenever the Turtles confused him with Baxter. Barney appeared in the episode “Raphael Knocks ‘Em Dead“

Barney Stockman

Throughout the first season of the 2003 series, he is subjected to various punishments by the Shredder involving the mutilation and removal of parts of his body. Later in the series, Stockman returns in various forms as his numerous bodies are continuously replaced.

In the 2014 film, Baxter Stockman appears briefly in a scene as one of Eric Sacks’ scientists. He is played by K. Todd Freeman. The role was recast with Tyler Perry in the 2016 film.

According to Donatello, Baxter graduated from MIT at the age of 15.

One possible approach that Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird had for the second movie was to use some of the elements in TMNT issue #2. The Stockman/mousers tale is pretty straightforward, and would’ve been lifted from the book with little alterations (though they would have to find another assistant for Stockman, as in the movie April already has a different job). Secret of the Ooze was made instead.

Baxter Stockman had a part in the “Coming Out of Their Shells” tour.

The Coming Out of Their Shells tour.

Shredder, with the help of Baxter Stockman, comes forth with his De-Harmonic Convergence Controller. Using this device, they will steal all the music in the world. It also weakens the turtles if they stand in front of it. 

 

In the 2012 series, he grew up to re-develop his brilliance by getting a job as a T.C.R.I. employee, but after being fired for an incident that involved a copier machine breaking down and ejecting ink, he vowed that one day, all his classmates and business partners will pay for the mockery they made of him.

In every incarnation, he is responsible for the mousers.

He appears in 11 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Video games

 The 1989 toy says that he was created in Dimension X, by a malfunctioning disintegrator. Baxter was brought in the 2nd wave of Playmates toys. His card reads as follows.

The bungling, bug-eyed, wickedly winged scientist!

Accessories: Anti-Turtle Swatter, Detachable Fly Wings & Arms

Dimension Where Created: X

Height: 3′

Favorite Sport: Soup Swimming

Favorite Phrase: “Help me!”

Who do you want to know more about? Let us know who you want to see us cover in the comments below!

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Retro Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #8 (Volume 2)

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

The four Turtles are reunited, as Donnie shows up to bring the fight to Baxter Stockman. It’s an action packed installment of Volume 2 that’ll make readers want the next issue in their hands right away.

RETRO REVIEW: TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #7 (VOLUME 2)

(W/A) Jim Lawson, (I) Eric Talbot, (C) Eric Vincent, (CA) Peter Laird & Kevin Eastman

This issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a perfect blend of the animated series’ high jinks and the weirdly dark nature of the Mirage Studios branding. Full of kick-ass action and snappy dialogue, this is arguably the most fun of the “canon” Mirage issues to date. What really ties it together is the creative team’s characterization of Baxter Stockman.

When this issue was originally published in 1994, Stockman’s most prominent appearances had come in the original animated series, which to this point had 7 seasons. And that version of the character was a far cry from this. Whitewashed and then mutated into a fly, animated Stockman was genius, but also a sniveling little coward. The character was popular, yes, but no one ever took him seriously. Writer and artist Jim Lawson does something about that here.

Throughout Volume 2, Baxter Stockman – now a robot – has been a lumbering force of nature with little personality until now. Engaged in battle with the TMNT, he unloads a series of snarky quips that are as brutal as his physical attacks. He also proves to be full self-serving, with respect for no one but himself. These traits that are fully defined here have been a staple of the character ever since (except for, of course, the movie TMNT: Out of the Shadows).

The action itself moves at a brisk pace without sacrificing the sense of high stakes. In fact, the battle ultimately ends with Raphael being thrown from the rooftop battle, leading into the issue’s surprise cliffhanger. It also showcases the full capabilities of Stockman’s upgraded form, as well as some weaknesses. Overall, these are some welcome developments.

If there is a flaw, it’s that the issue goes by too fast. You can read this at a casual pace and be done in about 5 minutes. This is in part because of the clunky rush to the cliffhanger ending. Also, the colors by Eric Vincent and inks by Eric Talbot make this issue very dark. It’s difficult to figure out what’s going on at times, but that is more likely and issue with paper aging over time.

TMNT #8 is a highly entertaining installment in Volume 2. It’s worth the (very short) time investment to check it out.

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Retro Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6 (Volume 2)

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

This is it! After 5 issues of setup, Baxter Stockman finally makes his move, and it’s April in the crosshairs! What does he have in store for her, and our titular heroes? One thing’s for certain: nothing good!

RETRO REVIEW: TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #6 (VOLUME 2)

(W/A) Jim Lawson, (I) Eric Talbot, (C) Eric Vincent

If you’re still reading these retrospective reviews of TMNT Volume 2 and asking yourself why it is taking so long for me to review a 13-issue series, it’s to simulate the snail’s pace at which the story has progressed thus far. Even in this current age of decompressed storytelling, current comic books contain more content in their thinly-stretched issues than Volume 2. Despite the great artwork and compelling overarching plot, the scripting makes each issue feel like a non-event. Even when something notable does happen, as is the case here, there is very little buildup or fallout within the issue itself.

Given that she is Baxter Stockman’s target, the issue uses April as its focal point we follow her as she says goodbye to her family and friends before running a few errands. We see her attacked by Stockman, and the fallout as the Turtles [attempt to] give chase. Unfortunately, April herself lacks any agency, instead only existing as a plot device rather than the full-fledged character she was in the original series. Instead, Lawson appears to be taking a cue from the 1980s animated series in making her only a damsel in distress. This type of storytelling may cause no qualms from the young audience of the cartoon, but for older readers of the comics, it is a head-scratching decision – especially with her history as a strong character.

Because of how decompressed the plot is at this point, most of the enjoyment comes from the artwork. Lawson’s writing may leave readers wanting more, but his artwork continues to be top notch. At this point, his style is well established, so if you like or dislike his character renderings there will be nothing to change your outlook. However, his action is more refined. Rather than forcing readers to suspend their disbelief, they are immersed. As readers, Lawson places us on the ground, right in the middle of the action. However, due to the script, this action sequence is extended too long, dulling any sense of excitement.

A bravo is due to the duo of Erics, as Talbot (inks) and Vincent (colors) help make Lawson’s art pop. Talbot’s thick lines provides definition and depth to Lawson’s pencils. The flat coloring by Vincent works exceptionally well with the linework, walking the line between cartoonish and realistic. For a contrast, look at the recolored version that can be found in IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Classics Vol.8-10.  The modern coloring techniques employed there make the images – especially the characters – look plasticky and unnatural.

As hollow a criticism as it sounds, TMNT #6 is an exercise in style over substance. While the issue itself looks good, there is very little meat for readers to sink their teeth into. It’s only when Peter Laird returned to the book in Volume 4 that this issue garners any major significance, but that is a discussion for a later day. I’d say this issue may not be worth your time, but with little story content it makes for a quick read.

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RETRO REVIEW: TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #3 (Volume 2)

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

What the hell is Baxter Stockman up to? And what’s going on at the Northampton farmhouse? These questions and more are answered in this latest installment of Jim Lawson’s story.

RETRO REVIEW: TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #3 (VOL.2)

(W/A) Jim Lawson, (I) Jason Minor, (C) Eric Vincent

Anyone looking the Mirage incarnation of Baxter Stockman to resemble the popular insectoid quickly has their hopes dashed within the opening pages of TMNT #3. Picking up on the previous issue’s cliffhanger, readers are presented with the aftermath of an apparent self-performed surgery. The brain has been removed from his body, and an unseen force plows through the investigating DARPA agents as if they were tissue paper. This is arguably the best sequence in the entirety of Volume 2. Jim Lawson stages it well and builds tension from panel-to-panel, as each agent is picked off. In many respects, resembles a classic, well-done slasher film. Jason Minor’s inking gives the sequence the appropriate shading to evoke the unseen horrors, while Eric Vincent’s uses the occasional splashes of yellow amidst his darker hues to complete the look of the poorly-lit laboratory.

While the remainder of the issue is a bit of a let-down in comparison to the opening sequence, it is still well-executed and further fleshes out the Turtles’ journey into adulthood. For Donatello, it turns out that living on the farm is not as peaceful as he thought it would be, as he gets an unexpected visit from the local police. This is probably the weakest moment of the issue, if only because it breaks the reader’s understanding of the farm. Upon first glimpse, the idea of a police officer coming by due to concerns by neighbors makes sense, that is until you remember how secluded the Jones’ family farm is. Throughout TMNT Vol.1, the Turtles came and went from the farm for years without incident, and Lawson’s big, sweeping landscape at the end of “City at War” indicated that there were no other residences within miles of the farmhouse. Perhaps this is nitpicking, but if it is a fault so egregious that it pulls the reader out of the story, it should be worth noting.

The rest of the issue is spent focusing on Leo, Mikey, and Raph as they figure out their next stations in life. For Raphael, he finds sanctuary in an old abandoned church at the edge of the city. This is of particular note as the IDW series sees the Ninja Turtles living out a church too, possibly as a tribute to this. But unlike the IDW series, Raphael is alone. The church is an interesting decision as it is a physical representation of his attempts to find an inner peace. But this is not a self-serious moment thanks to the levity injected into the sequence, which happens to reference the crossovers at the time between the Turtles and Image Comics’ Savage Dragon.

Elsewhere, Mikey and Leo are exploring the sewers of New York looking for a new place to live, only for the former to mention that he has no intention of moving out of the apartment. This is a pivotal moment, as it marks the severing of the remaining bond between the brothers. With each of them off in their own place, the storytelling dynamic for the Mirage Turtles becomes instantly different from any other incarnation of these characters. Rather than the joint unit they always are portrayed as, each is free to have their own adventures. It is a remarkable and bold direction.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #3 is another solid issue in Volume 2. As has been the case in the previous issues, this is a character study that also works to set up the big-bad of the series in “Robo-Stockman.” If you’re looking for a Turtles fix due to the light release schedule from IDW this month, definitely give this a try and experience these heroes in a manner that we will likely never see again.

 

 

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RETROSPECTIVE: TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Vol. 2

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

Of all the comics to bear the title “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” the second volume is the one most often overlooked. The first series is revered by fans for not only introducing the world to the TMNT, but for containing memorable story arcs including “Return to New York” and “City at War.” The third volume, published by Image Comics, is notorious for the extreme changes made to the core characters. The fourth volume, which as of this writing remains unfinished, has garnered a cult following, while it’s completion has become the Half Life 3 of the TMNT fan community (Please Mr. Laird, finish volume four). But when it comes to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Vol 2, reaction tends to range from “Oh yeah, I forgot about that” to “What are you talking about?”

Until the current series from IDW Publishing, TMNT Vol.2 was the only core series to be published in full color. Yes, there was the Archie Comics series based on the 1987 cartoon, but for fans of the Mirage continuity, this was the only chance to see the Turtles’ adventures in full color. It is also the only series in the Mirage continuity to not involve either Kevin Eastman or Peter Laird (the Image series has been explicitly excluded from the Mirage continuity by Mr. Laird himself). Set after the events of “City at War”, TMNT Vol.2 sees the brothers separated and the return of an old nemesis.

With neither of the TMNT’s co-creators involved, Jim Lawson took on full writing duties, having cut his teeth co-scripting “City at War” with Laird. Inking and coloring Lawson’s pencils fell on the shoulders of Eric Talbot and Eric Vincent, respectively, for the bulk of the series. But as a result of the goodwill they had built up during their work in Volume 1, they were given carte blanche to tell the story they wanted to, resulting in a solid, but sadly truncated story which saw the Turtles (and their allies) take on Baxter Stockman.

By the time this volume of TMNT was being published, the popular animated series was in full swing, and “Turtlemania” was at full swing. It would have been easy, and no one would fault the creators, to make Stockman into the man-fly hybrid of the cartoon. But, in true Mirage fashion, the creators rejected this idea, instead opting for a different, darker incarnation. This version of Stockman, as well as retaining his African-American heritage, is a murderous, self-mutilating cyborg. Retaining his genius mind, he plans a nefarious scheme with aims beyond the traditional villainous grudges.

As for the Turtles themselves, they’re more or less were they were at the end of “City at War”. Donnie is off living with Splinter in Northampton, while his three brothers are crashing in the basement apartment of April and Casey’s building. But very quickly, they decide that their current living situation isn’t going to work. In a coming of age moment for the team, they determine it’s best if they moved out and found their own places.

Of course, there is a big showdown and freaky creatures, but that does not take away from the character-focused narrative. In a way, TMNT Vol.2 is as much a continuation of the Turtles’ story as it is a celebration of their wacky and weird heritage. Despite its low sales, this volume has been embraced by both fans as well as Peter Laird, who would pick up on these plot threads in Volume Four, choosing to completely ignore the Image Comics published Volume Three. While lacking any notable or iconic moments, this remains an important, transition story in the greater TMNT canon that should not be overlooked.

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR OUR UPCOMING SERIES OF RETROSPECTIVE REVIEWS FOR TMNT VOL.2!

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