#barney stockman

[baxterstockmanisthecenterfold]

Random fact. In 1989 the UK release for the playmates Baxter fly toy included a photo of human Baxter in it, only in actuality it's really his brother Barney & even believed to be a redrawn frame from his episode. Closest I could find was this one tho.

[undercoverbisexualfrog]

What are your headcanon backstories and relationships ideas for the Foot clan

*cracks knuckles*

TC: Born as Chouriki Takeshi with a younger sister named Hisayo (Alopex). Everything else in his backstory is basically the same as canon. He’s the dad figure to the rest of the Foot.

Chris: Rich kid with high expectations from his parents. Was pretty much forced into taking movie deals and being a celebrity because of them. He’s the favourite out of him and his siblings but that just means he’s expected to be better than them all the time and he hates it. Anyways he hates most of the other Foot members, enemies to one night stand to lovers with Xever. He hates Anton and Baxter the feeling is mutual.

Xever: Abandoned by parents at the age of 6. Has basically no memory of his parents other than they were abusive. Also doesn’t remember his birth name. Anyways the rest of it is what happens in canon, he meets Vitor then years later goes to prison and so on. Bit of a dick to the rest of the clan (no where near as much as Chris) but has a pretty good relationship with Baxter. Enemies to one night stand to lovers thing with Chris.

Baxter: Grew up in Australia with his twin brother Barney. In school he was the bullied genius and all that. He had to leave the country when he was a teen mainly because of burning down his school gymnasium with real lava. When that happened Barney was pretty badly Since then he’s continued to be neglected and eventually joined the Foot. He treats Xever and Anton as his brothers since he ruined his relationship with his real brother.

Anton: Actually didn’t have too bad of a life. His dad died when he was young but that’s about it. He became a thief to help out his mother and sisters, but eventually it turned into stealing for fun. Eventually he met Ivan and the rest is what happened in canon. He’s dating Ivan ofc and Baxter’s his closest friend. He hates Chris the feeling is mutual.

Ivan: Lived in Russia with his mother and his brother older Boltek. Ivan never met their dad and Boltek doesn’t remember him. They had military training from a young age and have both been to war. As they became adults they split apart and haven’t talked much since. They both think each other are dead. He’s pretty neutral with most of the Foot Clan but is dating Anton.

[pikolswonderland]

For your Baxter and z fic, is Baxter supposed to be like a combo of the 80s Baxter fly and the 2012 Baxter fly? /genq

Yes! My fanfic is meant to be a part of my fanmade TMNT iteration called Urban Conspiracy. Baxter in the iteration is indeed meant to be a combination of his 1987 and 2012 versions. To put it in more detail, his personality and development is more like his 1987 version, his appearance is more like his 2012 version, and has some elements of his Mutant Mayhem version sprinkled in as well. He isn’t necessarily TRULY evil in the story, he’s just deeply misguided, a little unhinged, and around the wrong people, he does truly have good intentions. He’s an antagonist, but not a villain, and ends up getting a redemption arc.

I’ll explain more in detail his character and the storyline of the iteration to give you some more context about the fanfic. Baxter was once a regular scientist working for some random tech company while also trying to start his own business, but ends up getting fired after a massive mishap. He’s soon discovered by the Foot Clan, and is offered a job to build them their machines and tech. Baxter, who is desperate for a job, recognition for his talent, and intimidated by the Foot Clan, takes up the offer.

Baxter works for the Foot Clan for a while, becoming one of the upper-ranking members alongside Bebop, Rocksteady, Leatherhead, Fishface, Dogpound, Wingnut, Z, and Karai. The reason why Baxter wasn’t immediately mutated like his colleagues (except for Karai and Z) was because of his role. You see, the other upper-ranking members were the ones actually physically fighting, so them getting mutated would certainly help with that. Baxter meanwhile was working from behind the scenes or using tech to aid him in fighting, so getting mutated was kinda unnecessary. Baxter was content with his position, being kinda intimidated by the idea of mutation, and everything was okay…

…yeah, like anything was okay. When you’re working for a literal terrorist organisation that is more than willing to turn people into monsters, abuse even their most faithful members, and kill anyone who gets in their way of total worldwide takeover, including children…yeah, it didn’t take long for anyone to start a desire for rebellion. Despite this, Baxter (as well as the other upper-ranking members) tried to suppress these emotions, despite knowing that the money and attention was just not worth the trauma he was enduring by continuing to work for the Foot Clan. Eventually, Baxter would finally decide to call it quits, but at a terrible cost.

One day, during a major fight between the Foot Clan and the Turtles (if this was an actual series, this would be the season 2 finale), Baxter finally had enough of the Foot Clan and decided to betray Shedder, attacking him with a laser gun. Unfortunately, Shedder got the upper hand, proceeding to throw Baxter through a window, out of the warehouse they were in, to fall to his death. Baxter manages to barely survive and lands in a garbage bin, however, the impact of the fall shatters a vile of mutagen that he had in his lab coat pocket. What followed was an extremely painful mutation, before Z managed to slip away from the battle and get Baxter somewhere safe.

Baxter and Z proceeded to live out in hiding for a while, with Baxter assuming the mutant name as Beelzebub. Barney also ends up getting caught in this mess as well, I mean, when your brother gets turned into a giant mutant fly, you’d probably step in to help no matter how insane this situation actually is. Baxter basically goes through a whole arc about learning to not sacrifice his own safety and happiness for the sake of attention and praise.

Eventually they end up joining forces with the Turtles and their allies, alongside the other upper-ranking Foot Clan members who also finally admitted that Shredder is the biggest bastard on the fucking planet.

…okay yeah I may have explained this WAY more than I needed to, but fuck it, I wanna ramble about this pathetic fly man and I have a feeling you want to listen. Thank you!!

(Also take this meme as compensation for how long it took for me to get to this ask, and yes these are their designs (so far) in my iteration)

ALSO THIS ADDITIONALLY APPLIES TO ANYONE ELSE BUT FEEL FREE TO SEND IN ANY ASKS ABOUT URBAN CONSPIRACY, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR THEM!!

[skittlescandy32]

More Baxter and Barney stuff I drew in 2021 and forgot to post.

[baxterstockmanisthecenterfold]

If you want character potential and development of said one off to be put in tuition say no more

Nerd Rage.

And I can’t help but be interested in a one-note joke from a terrible episode of the old cartoon. Dang.

[rayman-25]

Podcast Adventure le film II et l'arc 1 : Teenage Years VO VS VA

Si le film marche, on aurais la possibilité de faire une suite de la fanfiction, ainsi que le premier arc de Podcast Adventure.

Le deuxième film se déroule après l'arc 1 donc en printemps 2014. Comme dans les Simpson, Bob l'éponge ou Pokémon, les âges reste les même. Il se déroule la moitie de la saison 3 d'Amphibia, la saison deux de Luz à Osville et entre la saison 1 et deux de Dead End : le parc des paranormal.

Durant l'arc 1, il se déroule après le premier film et les spin-off. Le premier épisode se déroule après l'Ecosse, tandis que l'épisode 2 et 6 se déroule avant le premier film et comme je l'ai dit : il se déroule à New-York et à Royal Wood

On auras aussi des nouveaux personnages des autres franchise.

Résumé :

Résumé de l'arc 1 :

VO et VA :

Univers TMNT

Léonardo : ? (VA : Nicolas Cantu)

Donatello : ? (VA :Micah Abbey)

Raphaël : ? (VA : Brady Noon)

Michelangelo : ? (VA : Shamon Brown Jr.)

Splinter : ? (VA : Jackie Chan)

April O'neil : ? (VA : Ayo Edebiri)

Bebop : ? (VA : Seth Rogen)

Rocksteady : ? (VA : John Cena)

Baxter Stockman : ? (VA : Giancarlo Esposito)

Univers The Loud House

Lincoln Loud : Nathalie Bienaimé (VA : Ashleigh Ball)

Lori Loud : Caroline Mozzone (VA : Catherine Taber)

Leni Loud : Claire Baradat (VA : Liliana Mumy)

Luna Loud ! Adeliene Chetail (VA : Nika Futterman)

Luan Loud : Leslie Lipkins (VA : Cristina Pucelli)

Lynn Loud : Marie Facundo (VA : Magali Rosenzweig)

Lucy Loud : Magali Rosenzweig (VA : Jessica DiCicco)

Lola Loud : Jessica Barrier (VA : Grey DeLisle)

Lana Loud : Frédérique Marlot (VA : Grey DeLisle)

Lisa Loud : Caroline Combes (VA : Lara Jill Miller)

Lily Loud : Caroline Combes (VA : Grey DeLisle)

Clyde McBride : Audrey Sablé (VA : Brandon Mychal Smith)

Charles : Antoine Schoumsky (VA : Dee Bradley Baker)

Cliff : Dee Bradley Baker

Walt : Dee Bradley Baker

Géo : Dee Bradley Baker

Lynn sr Loud : Philippe Roullier (VA : Kyle Hebert)

Rita Loud : Emma Clave (VA : Cristina Valenzuela)

Ronnie Anne Santiago : Leslie Lipkins (VA : Cassie Glow)

Bobby Santiago : François Creton (VA : Carlos PenaVega)

Sid Cheng : ? (VA : Marissa Lenti)

Carlotta Casagrande : Kelly Marot (VA : ?)

Carlos Casagrande : Frédérique Marlot (VA : ?)

Univers Gravity Falls

Dipper Pines : ? (VA : Justin Roiland)

Mabel Pines : Caroline Combes (VA : Kristen Schaal)

Jesus « Mousse » Ramirez : ? (VA : Alex Hirsch)

Wendy Corduroy : Prunelle Rulens (VA : Erica Lindbeck)

Stanley "Stan" Pines : Alain Eloy (VA : Alex Hirsch)

Stanford "Ford" Pines : ? (VA : ?)

Robbie Stacy Valentino : Sébastien Hébrant (VA : Brooks Wheelan)

Dandinou (Waddles VA) : Dee Bradley Baker

Univers Podcast

Marc Christivoirien : Dipper Crypte (VA : Mekai Curtis)

Jean Christivoirien : Dipper Crypte (VA : Deven Mack)

Alice : Diane Dassigny (VA : Shannon Chan-Kent)

Univers Kirbendo

Thomas « Kirb » Kirbendoworld : Kirbendo (VA : ?)

Manu : Emmanuel Gandon (VA : ?)

Wistone : Emmanuel Gandon (VA : ?)

Farod Games : Farod (VA : ?)

Jacksepticeye : Alexandre Nguyen (VA : Jacksepticeye)

Univers Amphibia

Anne Boonchuy : Julia Khaye (VA : Brenda Song)

Hopediah "Hop Pop" Plantar : Patrick Waleffe (VA : Bill Farmer)

Sprig Plantar : Maxime Donnay (VA : Justin Felbinger)

Polly Plantar : Nancy Philippot (VA : Amanda Leighton)

Mrs. Boonchuy : Micheline Goethals (VA : On Braly)

Mr. Boonchuy : Frédéric Clou (VA : Bradley Cooper)

Univers The Owl house

Luz Noceda : ? (VA : Sarah-Nicole Robles)

Edalyn "Eda" Clawthorne : ? (VA : Wendie Malick)

King Clawthorne : ? (VA : Alex Hirsch)

Bobou (Hooty VA) : ? (VA : Alex Hirsch)

Camila Noceda : ? (VA : Elizabeth Grullon)

Vee / Number 5 : ? (VA : Michaela Dietz)

Hunter dit le garde dorée : ? (VA : Zeno Robinson)

Raine Whispers : ? (VA : Avi Roque)

Darius Deamonne : ? (VA : Keston John)

Eberwolf : Kari Wahlgren

Univers Dead End

Barney Guttman :? (VA : Zach Barack)

Pugsley : ? (VA : Alex Brightman)

Patrick Gutttman : ? (VA : Kate Higgins)

Saul Guttman : ? (VA : ?)

Univers Legend Quest

Teodora Villavicencio : ? (VA : Annemarie Blanco)

Univers Super Mario Bros le film

Univers Miraculous le film

[turtlethon]

How do you think the mad Scientists episode should've been used, maybe Baxter Stockman episodes?

I'm reluctant to change anything about Baxter's arc because (with the exception of "Landlord of the Flies") his run of misfortune throughout the series is so well-handled, and his appearances being kept at maybe one or two each year makes them feel that much more important. With that said...

...Right around the time the show started leaning into the mad scientist bit, we also learned that Baxter had a brother named Barney who only got used in a single episode. He's kind of one-joke villain but if you wanted to, there's no reason you couldn't begin to build him up into a legitimate character in his own right, and have a lot of the scientist villain stories from that era reworked to revolve around him instead. The added bonus is that if you develop him enough, there's gonna be a huge payoff for the viewers down the line should the two brothers finally get to have some on-screen interaction.

[es05l2k5sl]

Some Stockman month stuff from devianart.

[catbowserauthor]

A little TMNT and LOTR

So @lucky-ladybugs-lovelies and @brightlotusmoon know I love the idea of Mikey being a Tolkien nut. I write this piece picturing both my and LuckyLadybug’s reformed Stockmans and now I wanna write more!!

Stay with me."

Baxter took a shuddery breath. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I know it's foolish but—"

"Foolish and a phobia is running from a small spider. Running from one that big is smart." Barney reassured him. Looking around, he asked, "Have you all come up with anything?"

It sounded lovely...a world where all imaginable things could become real and solid. How Donatello had come up with an entrance to such a place, he wasn't sure but as always, Shredder had followed.

That man never ceased to miss an opportunity to torture his brother.

The giant spider had sent them all running. While Leonardo and Raphael could do some damage with their blades, it wasn't enough. They needed something else.

Michelangelo had sat on the ground, rocking back and forth since they'd stumbled into what resembled an old 1800s sitting room for shelter.

They could still hear the creeping of Shredder outside. The scratches of the large spider legs.

"What is there?" Raphael asked to Barney. "Our blades aren't working."

"Course not," Baxter replied. "The creatures here have all the powers of their origin. That..,is Shelob."

Raphael scratched his head "okay..."

Michelangelo answered. "Means she's not just a spider dude. She's the child of Ungoliant, a creature made of darkness since before the First Age. You need no-regular blades..,you need..,"

He stood, started pacing and waved his arms about. The odd mist that appeared when they called on the power of this land began to shine.

Leonardo and Donatello exchanged glances. They'd found you couldn't just say 'magic sword' or 'strong bo' You had to be more specific than that!

But there was nothing but confidence in Michelangelo's eyes as he spoke and something like a smile took Baxter's face as they watched and listened.

"Very bright was that sword when it was made whole again; the light of the sun shone redly in it, and the light of the moon shone cold, and its edge was hard and keen. And Aragorn gave it a new name and called it Andúril, Flame of the West."

Within Michelangelo's hands, there appeared a sword, at least a good three feet in length with a black hilt and an otherworldly gleam to it. Taking it on his hands, an almost childlike glee took the turtle's eyes. "A blade of the First Age, forged by dwarves and reforged by elves and made for the hands of Kings." He held it out to his brother Leonardo. "Try that on her hide."

Raphael spoke out. "Hey! Give me one too. Maybe not quite as long though. I work better with short blades."

Nodding, Michelangelo again went silent, thinking before speaking.

" Maegnas aen estar nin dagnir in yngyl im."

A short blade, with reddish hilt and a humming blue blade appeared in his hands which he handed over to Raphael.

Baxter smiled again, deeper. "My name is Sting, I am the Spider's Bane."

Donatello joined the group. "Think we're ready to take on Shred-Head's pet now?"

"Almost," Michelangelo said. He cupped his hands and spoke again. He did not struggle. It was clear this passage was clear as pizza recipes in his mind.

" For a moment it glimmered, faint as a rising star struggling in heavy earthwards mists, and then as its power waxed, and hope grew in Frodo's mind, it began to burn, and kindled to a silver flame, a minute heart of dazzling light, as though Eärendil had himself come down from the high sunset paths with the last Silmaril upon his brow. The darlness receded from it, until it seemed to shine in the centre of a globe of airy crystal and the hand that held it sparkled with white fire.'

A small glass globe shimmered light in his hands and he reached out, taking Baxter's shaking hand as he pressed it into his as the liquid within jostled.

"May it be a light for you in dark places, when all other lights go out."

Together, the turtle and human recited " aiya Eärendil elenion ancalima!"

The light that filled the room was warm and comforting, like a warm fire with friends.

"Let's go."

[baxterstockmanisthecenterfold]

Old Barney doodle I did years ago cus I felt bad for him

[undercoverbisexualfrog]

if baxter's brother visit him how would you think baxter would react

He’s ecstatic. It’s been so long since they’ve seen each other, and here he is, right in front of him. But then again…

Why would Barney be here, willingly seeing him again, after everything? Maybe he just needed a favour. No way he’d actually want to see him.

But he is, isn’t he? And Baxter goes back to being happy again. Now he can finally fix things.

[baxterstockmanisthecenterfold]

Thinking about them

(my Stockman Megabloks figures that are currently in storage)

[zenlesszonezero]

[skittlescandy32]

Here are some Baxter and Barney stuff I drew in 2021 and forgot to post.

[turtlethon]

“Raphael Knocks ‘Em Dead”

Season 4, Episode 15 First US Airdate: September 8, 1990

A visit to a comedy club leads to Raphael being kidnapped.

The second episode of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to air as part of the Saturday morning line-up on CBS is “Raphael Knocks ‘Em Dead”. This is the second half of a double bill with David Wise’s “Son of Return of the Fly II”, and is the first episode credited to the other Executive Story Editor for this season, Jack Mendelsohn.

In the Lair, Donatello is hooking up a huge (at least by 1990 standards) new TV that will allow the team to choose from 112 channels. Trying it out for the first time, we briefly see what appears to be a pre-mutation Baxter Stockman show up on-screen. Put a pin in this, because what feels like a minor Easter egg for keen viewers will actually have a pay-off later.

The team argue about what to watch first, and eventually decide to draw straws, with whoever gets the short one being declared the winner. Raphael is victorious, and the others leave him to enjoy his show on his own, opting to head out for pizza instead.

Raph is in hysterics as he watches a stand-up routine by a hacky comedian, and muses to himself that he could be a great entertainer if he wasn’t weighed down by the responsibilities of being a crime-fighter. On-screen, the comic, Joey, suddenly vanishes. The club’s proprietor, Mr. Bigelow, rushes on-stage to quell the boos of the audience.

April calls in to confirm what Raphael has just seen unfold – that the club, the House of Ha-Ha, has reportedly seen a number of comedians mysteriously disappearing while performing. Raph agrees to visit the establishment and investigate.

Sneaking into the building from below via a sewer entrance, Raphael is mistaken by a customer for a waiter. The man demands to know where his order is, leading to Raph dropping a manhole cover on his table and destroying it. Remember when the Turtles used to go out of their way to wear disguises and try to not attract attention? It seems like they don’t bother anymore, although I can’t blame them when somehow people continually just assume they’re “guys in funny green costumes”.

From the sidelines Raphael watches as another corny comedian, Shecky, takes pot-shots at members of the audience. As with Joey before him, the lights go out and when they come back, Shecky is gone. Mr. Bigelow tries to drag the next comedian on-stage, but after seeing this unfold, he runs for the exit instead. With no other options to hand, he spots Raphael and sends him out to perform next.

Back in the Lair, the other Turtles return to find the TV left on. To their astonishment, Raphael is performing live, doling out turtle-related jokes that get a warm reception from the patrons. Across town at Channel 6, April and Vernon also watch the act. As you might expect, April is a big fan, with Vernon much more critical, insisting that he can make people laugh too. He goes on to do so inadvertently by falling backwards in his chair, much to April’s amusement.

As the act continues, Mr. Bigelow talks to a gangster type called Pinky McFingers, begging him not to kidnap any more of the performers. McFingers is unrepentant, and as if to rub it in Bigelow’s face, makes a point of having the lights go out and Raphael vanish as the first act ends.

April contacts the Turtles to alert them to Raphael’s disappearance. As per her suggestion, they head to the House of Ha-Ha to investigate what happened. Meanwhile, Raph is tied in a sack and tossed into the trunk of a limo, which drives off to the hideout of Pinky McFingers.

A weird bit of footage follows of the other Turtles searching the sewers to find a way in to the House of Ha-Ha. It seems to have been slowed down, and the sound effects coupled with the dialogue suggest there was supposed to be some animation here of Leonardo doing something that causes him to lose his footing. Not sure if this scene got mangled due to a network note necessitating a change or the footage was unusable; given the flakiness of the animation in places during this episode, I’m going to guess the latter.

April pleads her case to Burne, asking him to grant her permission to report on the strange goings on at the House of Ha-Ha. Channel 6’s boss insists she file a report on the botanical gardens instead, much to her chagrin. Also present is Vernon, who rats April out, explaining that her interest in the comedy club is due to her “weird Turtle friends” being involved. Burne is furious upon learning this, pointing out that he’s “still paying off bills from the last story involving those green menaces”. (This actually tracks, given that they had to destroy some of the computer systems he bought during the previous episode.) He insists she head to the gardens instead, tossing her a giant can of insect repellent just in case.

Later, April and Vernon head out in the news van. When Vernon points out they’re not even heading towards the botanical gardens, April exits the van, leaving her co-worker to cover that story himself, with the explanation that “in my book, Turtles a lot more important than a bunch of moths”.

Still in transit, Raphael uses his sai blades to slice through the sack holding him. When the underlings working for McFingers open the trunk, they’re greeted with a kick to the face. Raph ties up the goons before giving their boss the same treatment. Heading upstairs, he finds a laboratory where Schecky and Joey are being held in hi-tech chairs connected to a large machine.

McFingers and his men are able to free themselves and confront Raphael, capturing him with a large net. Meanwhile, April arrives at the House of Ha-Ha and tries to get information about what occurred from a very defensive Mr. Bigelow. Arriving at the same time are the Turtles, with Michaelangelo chewing the club owner out for his rudeness. When pressed further about what happened, Bigelow uses his remote to make himself vanish.

At the old house serving as his hideout, Pinky McFingers has Raphael placed in a chair connected to the same machine as the two comedians. He explains that they’re going to be used in an experiment before revealing his partner in this project. A pre-mutation Baxter Stockman – albeit with redder hair than his usual sandy blond – emerges from behind a door.  

Raphael is understandably astonished by this development, as I’m sure are all the regular viewers watching at home. It turns out that this is actually Baxter’s identical brother Barney Stockman, who begins hopping up and down in a rage upon being mistaken for his sibling. Barney goes on to explain – for the benefit of the comedians and for any uninitiated viewers – that his brother “botched an experiment and turned himself into a fly”, which is a little unfair given that Krang did that to Baxter entirely against his will. I’m not sure how Barney knows any of this as there’s been no obvious point in the timeline where the Stockman family would have learned of Baxter’s fate, or the circumstances leading to it; my best guess is they pieced it together after the last episode, during the takeover of Channel 6.

After Pinky intervenes to calm his associate down, Barney goes on to reveal his invention, the Gag-A-Magnifer. (“It increases the comedy power of jokes by six thousand percent!”) When a funny comedian is hooked up to the machine, the magnified jokes will be transmitted throughout the city, rendering everyone helpless via excessive laughter. With the populace incapacitated, McFingers and his men will go on a crime spree, stealing anything and everything they want.

Joey and Scheckles bicker over whose jokes would be more effective when hooked up to the machine. McFingers forces both to perform their best material, but neither is able to come up with anything that boosts the system to maximum capacity. Finally, Raphael is put on the spot. He serves up another Turtle-themed gag that performs well on the Gag-A-Magnifier. Raphael is selected for the project, but refuses to co-operate any further. McFingers and Stockman demonstrate what will happen if he doesn’t comply, using the machine to psychically throttle Joey and Sheckie in their seats, and Raph reluctantly agrees.

Raphael begins reciting a rapid-fire series of turtle gags, and the citizens of New York are seen falling to the ground, paralysed with laughter. The criminals head out on the town, all wearing some faintly ridiculous looking “joke masks” to protect them from the waves. They raid a series of banks, emerging carrying sacks with dollar signs on them in classic cartoon fashion. In a particularly stupid visual gag, one of Pinky’s goons somehow steals the Mona Lisa, but is confused as to why it’s now laughing instead of smiling.

More nonsense follows. The Turtles and April drive through town in the Turtle Van (which, we’re told, has had a “soundwave modifier” installed to render everyone inside immune to the magnifier’s rays). Everyone speculates about the location of Pinky McFingers before Burne calls April on... the Turtle Van’s car phone?! 

Burne is his usual apoplectic self and only becomes angrier upon learning that April bailed on the story she was assigned to do. At that exact moment the rays from the Gag-A-Magnifier hit his office, leaving him too busy laughing to punish her. Meanwhile Donatello matches an old voice clip of Raph to the transmissions; somehow this allows the Turtle Van’s computer to trace the location of the criminal hideout.

McFingers and his men return to home base, carelessly dumping all the valuables they acquired in a nearby corner. Raph asks to be let go now that they have what they wanted, but it’s explained to him that this is just the start: tomorrow he’ll be tasked with performing new material so the crooks can rob the National Mint. At this point the Turtles barge in, brandishing their weapons and declaring that they’ll have the last laugh; notably, Mikey is whirling his nunchucks around rather than the grappling hook for the first time in a while, although he never goes so far as to do anything useful with them.

The Turtles stop dead in their tracks upon seeing what appears to be a de-mutated Baxter Stockman. Barney fumes some more about being mistaken for his brother before activating a ray to paralyse our heroes in what makes for a very cool-looking sequence.

In what’s maybe only the third most ridiculous thing to occur in the final act of this episode, Raphael is able to knock one of the machine’s levers to adjust its settings by kicking two of the coins scattered on the ground across the room. He encourages Shecky to begin telling some of his awful jokes, which causes the bad guys to fall around laughing. April then arrives with a team of police officers, who are finally able to apprehend the elusive crime boss.

We wrap things up in the Lair, where Raph performs some of his gags to the other Turtles, who remain less than impressed. He warns that he might purchase Barney Stockman’s machine, but Donatello counters that if he does, they’ll buy the House of Ha-Ha's trap door.

Eighty episodes into the show’s run, I think my general disdain for non-Shredder outings is no secret at this point. It must be said though that if every story was a frantic adventure with the fate of the world at stake, TMNT would quickly become exhausting. Episodes like “Raphael Knocks ‘Em Dead” are valuable in allowing us to catch our collective breath, particularly given that this aired on the same morning as the action-packed “Son of Return of the Fly II”. These single character spotlight episodes will become a regular fixture moving forward, perhaps in order to maintain that variety. If nothing else, this is a much more effective stab at that concept than “Michelangelo Toys Around” was during the syndicated run.

The reveal of Baxter’s brother Barney is by far the most entertaining aspect of this episode, although for once I fully understand why he doesn’t appear again beyond this episode: outlining to casual viewers how the guy that got mutated into a fly is somehow back but actually isn’t each time would truly be more trouble than it’s worth. Just trying to keep track of the real Baxter’s many misfortunes across his irregular appearances is enough work as it is.

Pinky McFingers is your typical TMNT mob boss character, effectively a less entertaining variant on Don Turtelli as he doesn’t even have the feather tickling gimmick. Peter Renaday provides the voice which is largely identical to the one he used for Turtelli, which if enough to make me wonder why they didn’t use that character instead; even his henchmen are poor imitations of Bruce and Rodney, this time not even worthy of being assigned actual names. This guy has absolutely nothing going for him, and yet... he comes back, repeatedly. There are FOUR more Pinky McFingers appearances to come. I am continually baffled by the decisions made by the showrunners that see great characters with future storytelling potential used once, while the absolute worst assortment of losers and nobodies return multiple times (Zach, Howie, Fripp, the Neutrinos and now this guy). I guess the continued success of the series despite these terrible choices is part of what makes it interesting.

NEXT TIME: The Boys are back in town as Bebop and Rocksteady Conquer the Universe!

[skittlescandy32]

My Miitopia Team

[skittlescandy32]

More baxter and barney