Time travel back to the days of the original Mirage Publication of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In this popular series, there was a character who was born of the same extraterrestrial goop that created the Turtles. The Mighty Leatherhead was this character who found himself trapped on Earth with no means back to his home with the Utroms.

Described as an ally of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Leatherhead was a complex, careful character ... but one thing was for certain -- the readers liked this character... a lot.

He made his Archie Adventure Series debut in issue #6 of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures, just after the debut of fellow Mutanimal Man Ray in issue #5. Except this time, Leatherhead's story was changed drastically.

Issue #6: Of Turtles and Stones and Mary Bones

"I was born Jess Harley. Born and raised in the Bayou... Born into this hidden world of natural beauty... and human squalor... The hut belongs to Mary Bones, long whispered to be some kind of swamp witch. My childhood fears have always kept me from this part of the swamp. I've come here tonight because I tire of living in poverty. I want out so bad..."

He was looking for something of value. Something he could sell for a lot of money, and make a good life for himself in the big city. So after he took the large crystal ball that lay on Mary Bones's table, he vanished. He left the swamp and entered the jungle... of New York City that is.

The story of Leatherhead according to the Archie Universe is one that parallels the popular cult film of the 80s Pumpkinhead. In this story, Mary Bones the swamp witch transforms the thieving Jess Harley into a Leatherhead -- an alligator with a small brain and big brawn. It was his punishment for stealing the Turnstone. The Turnstone, she explains, has the power to transanimate anything through the holder's thoughts. Thus she mutated him.

Leatherhead chased her through a dark sewer tunnel, but she vanished as he lunged toward her. He slammed into the wall, crashed through, then slammed through the floor, then another floor, then another floor, then landed on the fourth subterranean level. Where had he landed? How convenient that it happened to be in the dredges of Shredder's secret lair. He lay on a cot unconscious.

When he came to, Leatherhead explained to Shredder everything that had happened. Shredder in turn told him that Rocksteady and Bebop were also victims of Mary Bones, and how the Ninja Turtles were the ones who them to her... and that they should pay. They located the turtles in he tunnels beneath Bleecker Street, and Shredder sent the three animal men to destroy them. Of course, the plan didn't go as well as Shredder hoped.

Amidst the scuffle Raphael told Jess the truth about Shredder and how he was the one to mutate Rocksteady and Bebop for the sole purpose of destroying them. Leatherhead made the wise decision of trusting them, but when he refused to be a part of Shredder's group or to ally himself with the turtles, the enraged Leatherhead lashed out with his brawn. He threw a huge temper tantrum in the middle of the bridge, which collapsed beneath his feet. Both sides, good and evil, figure that Jess Harley was gone for good, and they left their separate ways.

"Yikes! Mary B-B-B-Bones!"

"Indeed, warriors of good, mourn not for Leatherhead, for while it appears that you may have lost this confrontation, take heart in the knowledge that in the Final Conflict victory shall be yours."

The turtles were approached by the witch, but didn't know how to take the news when she disappeared. Then darkness....

Issue #7: Stump Comics Presents: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures

The turtles arrived on Stump Arena by way of Cudley the Cowlick -- a giant, flying cow head with interdimensional/space traveling capabilities. There they met Stump and Sling -- two alien money trees reminiscent of two men named Don of American fame. The two business partners owned Stump Arena off of which was played Intergalactic Wrestling the sport of choice among citizens of Dimension X.

Leatherhead had been transported as well. He was given the chance to use his brute strength in battles which won him fame and fortune. He was comfortable with who he was. He no longer yearned to be Jess Harley again. As the Turtles were forced to wrestle a four armed hulk named Cryin' Houn', Leatherhead was matched with the notorious and vain champion Ace Duck. The winners of each match were the ones we all rooted for: the TMNT and Leatherhead. As per agreement with Stump and Sling, the turtles prepared to return to Earth after their victory, but Leatherhead wished to stay.

Meanwhile, Krang sat in his Technodrome obsessing over what Shredder had told him. Shredder mentioned the Turnstone in the story of Leatherhead, and Krang knew all about it. He wanted it; he needed it all for himself!

Cudley returned the Turtles to Earth, but made a mistake. He had taken them to the wrong time - the future where global warming was showing effects on the streets, or rivers rather, of New York. Cudley explained that even though that was about a hundred years into the future, it did not HAVE to be the future, it was only one of infinite possibilities. Nevertheless, Michaelangelo was bummed as Cudley returned them to their correct time.

For more info on Leatherhead visit "The Many Faces of Leatherhead."
For more info on Stump visit SIWF.
Read my fanfic "Croaker."