Man Ray, also known as Ray Fillet, was introduced in TMNTA as part of an all-new story line. He was the first of the Mighty Mutanimals to make his Archie debut. The first few issues of the comic series featured plots that were established earlier in the cartoon series. Archie decided to evolve the characters and stories, so as not to stagnate among the heap of Ninja Turtle hype of the time. The result was the introduction of all new mutants... friends and foes.

Issue #5: Something Fishy Goes Down

The comic opens with the Turtles visiting Burroughs Aquarium. The aquatic museum features a magnificent Manta Ray, that because of its head fins, people call a "Devil Ray" explains Jack Finney. Jack Finney, the aquarium's curator and part-time coastal pollution activist, adores the graceful sea beast. The nerdy guy closes up for the evening, and after giving his favorite sea animal a pat on the fins heads out to a nearby beach where he suspects illegal dumping. At Bayview Beach, he investigates the sewer pipe in question. Simultaneously, we learn that Shredder and his dolts Bebop and Rocksteady are nearby, and Krang is giving them a good scolding. "What do you mean you spilled a barrel of mutagen down the sewer!?"

The inevitable happens: the pipe Jack Finney is in overflows with water, muck, and mutagen. The nerdy guy is no more. He sinks underwater, too far out and too weak to swim back to shore.

The Turtles are enjoying a night on a deserted beach in New Jersey when Shredder and his minions spot them on the periscope of their submarine. The evildoers shoot a torpedo at the green team, but something in the water stops it and throws it back to the submarine. Shredder retreats, with the turtles in hot pursuit. They find themselves in the sewers, and after following a dark sillouhette beneath the water, they come across Shredder's sub. They stow away in order to ambush the crew. Shredder and the bumbling beasts return to the sub and take it out into the harbor. Shredder has plans to ruin the Fourth of July celebration by destroying Lady Liberty. Of course the Turtles take out Bebop and Rocksteady, but the cowardly Shredder escapes in his submersible. Evil is not to go unpunished. Shredder is attacked by something big. Obviously, Jack Finney has been mutated into a large Manta man who calls himself Man Ray. After ripping out Shredder's oxygen supply, he takes old tin grin up to the surface. But Man Ray is tired from the excitement and must return to the water. His new body isn't used to a lot of oxygen. Shredder takes advantage of the situation and kicks sand into his face, allowing for his escape.

The Turtles find Man Ray wetting his face on the shore and give him their thanks. But he is so weak that he returns to the water quickly, and bids adieu to the turtles. For now....