What was the idea behind Groundchuck and Dirtbag?

[CyberCubed]

Was it just to create yet another pair of animal mutant villains, like Bebop/Rocksteady and Rahzar/Tokka?

They appeared twice in the original cartoon and in the TMNT III videogame for the NES. They are of course much less known than some of the other villains as they didn't get much screentime.

I always found them interesting for some reason, but that's probably because I have fond memories of always beating them in the NES game.

[Powder]

I don't quite follow... Are you asking their origin or if there was a purpose to their existence in the franchise?

Just in case its the first, Shredder & the gang go to the zoo in hopes of mutating large & fierce animals (A gorilla & lion I believe) & they broke free. Bebop & Rocksteady set free some other creatures (Moles, A bull, (obvious) etc) & they were then exposed to the ooze. They were to be more henchmen.

As far as inserting them into the franchise goes, they were put in for the same reason as many others I assume; to sell more toys.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

To sel toys, and many kids thought to show was cool with more mutants.

[CyberCubed]

I know their origin, but I meant why were they created in a "pair?"

Most of the new mutant villains were created as "solo" villains, but Groundchuck and Dirtbag were always paired up like Bebop/Rocksteady and Rahzar/Tokka.

[Jephael]

You forgot another pair: Muckman and Joe Eyeball.

[TheCanadiandrome]

As far as inserting them into the franchise goes, they were put in for the same reason as many others I assume; to sell more toys.

sounds about right.

[Shark_Blade]

But I think they're great character designs and enjoyable boss fights in the game nonetheless. ;)

2k3 villains like bishop, purple dragon doesn't really suit my taste though.

[BentonGrey]

Yeah, one of the greatest points of interest about the Turtles, in the cartoon, in the RPG, and in the games that have been made, has always been the mutants. Human villains are cool when they are particularly memorable, like Shredder, but it is much more visually interesting, not to mention generally having more story potential, to use mutant villains and supporting cast. That's one of the reasons I always loved the Punk Frogs. Characters like them and events like their continuing conflict with Leatherhead helped to make the Turtles' world seem larger, more fleshed out. Characters like Walkabout and Sergeant Bananas implied that the world of TMNT possessed the "strangeness" of the role-playing setting and that adventure could break out anywhere.
http://www.ninjaturtles.com/toys/1991/walkabout.htm
http://www.ninjaturtles.com/toys/1991/sgt.htm

In terms of the concept laid out in the two characters action figure descriptions, it doesn't seem like they have much more in common than their origins. I suppose they can both be construed as assassins though.
http://www.ninjaturtles.com/toys/1991/groundchuck.htm
http://www.ninjaturtles.com/toys/1991/dirtbag.htm

[discordiatookie]

You forgot another pair: Muckman and Joe Eyeball.

And another: Wingnut & Screwloose. x

[BentonGrey]

And another: Wingnut & Screwloose. x

I always loved those guys!

[Shred87]

id say for the sole purpose to sell toys

[Redeemer]

It was like turtle mania and all, so they milked what they could.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

I always loved those guys!

I liked them more in the Archie TMNT Adventures comics, where they were good guys. I don't recall how they were in the toyline.

[Venom]

They were bad guys in the toyline, and somewhat misunderstood nuisances in the 'toon. IIRC, Wingnut was the head of a military school and Screwloose was his lackey.

On topic, I freaking LOVE Dirtbag and Walkabout!!! Something about the design of them was always awesome!!!

[BoggleKng]

I thought Walkabout was always a pretty cool idea. Crocodile Dundee was big too at the time.

[BentonGrey]

I thought Walkabout was always a pretty cool idea. Crocodile Dundee was big too at the time.

Yeah, that was probably one of the reasons I liked him so much. I know I LOVED Crocodile Dundee when I was that age. That is one of the things that makes the Turtles so cool, they have really visually engaging character concepts. In a world where you can have a mutant Kangaroo version of Crocodile Dundee, how could you EVER run out of stories to tell?

[gobo]

They were bad guys in the toyline, and somewhat misunderstood nuisances in the 'toon. IIRC, Wingnut was the head of a military school and Screwloose was his lackey.
Other way around... Screwloose was the boss.

[Ninjinister]

They were bad guys in the toyline

Survey (http://www.ninjaturtles.com/toys/1990/wingnut.htm) says NO.

[discordiatookie]

Survey (http://www.ninjaturtles.com/toys/1990/wingnut.htm) says NO.

Heh. I always had them as baddies when I was wee, probably because Wingnut looks frickin' evil.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

They were bad guys in the toyline, and somewhat misunderstood nuisances in the 'toon. IIRC, Wingnut was the head of a military school and Screwloose was his lackey.



Wasn't it many more other characters who were bad guys in the toyline, but good in the 1987 cartoon and Archie Comics?

[Powder]

Wasn't it many more other characters who were bad guys in the toyline, but good in the 1987 cartoon and Archie Comics?

There were alot of "vice versa's"

For instance, Hothead was a good guy in the toyline but a villain through posession in the archie series. Ray Fillet (well, his doppleganger at least) was a villain in the show but not the toyline/comics.

[Venom]

Other way around... Screwloose was the boss.

Ah, very well then.

Survey (http://www.ninjaturtles.com/toys/1990/wingnut.htm) says NO.

Oh well, guess I'm showing my age...trying to remember stuff from 20 years ago! :P

[Jester]

Don't forget Leatherhead, who was a villain in the OT and toys but a hero after his first appearance in the Archie books.

[BentonGrey]

There were alot of "vice versa's"

For instance, Hothead was a good guy in the toyline but a villain through posession in the archie series. Ray Fillet (well, his doppleganger at least) was a villain in the show but not the toyline/comics.

Well, Hothead WAS a hero in his first appearance. He fought a giant Foot supersoldier.

Yeah, that episode with Ray Fillet really made me unhappy. 'Ol Ray was one of my favorite characters, and I hated that they completely changed everything about the guy.

[Jester]

I still hold to the line that's not Man Ray or Ray Fillet since the only thing it has in common with the toy or Archie character is part of a name.

[Venom]

Yeah, that episode with Ray Fillet really made me unhappy. 'Ol Ray was one of my favorite characters, and I hated that they completely changed everything about the guy.

Just like Slash :/

[BentonGrey]

Just like Slash :/

I only barely remember the episode with Slash...but I do remember it not standing up to the comics version.

[Powder]

There were alot of "vice versa's"

For instance, Hothead was a good guy in the toyline but a villain through posession in the archie series. Ray Fillet (well, his doppleganger at least) was a villain in the show but not the toyline/comics.

Well, Hothead WAS a hero in his first appearance. He fought a giant Foot supersoldier.



I know that. He was made into a villain through chinese wizardry (or as I referred to it earlier, possession). He was also a villain in the first Tournament Fighters game for NES, if I'm not mistaken.

[oldmanwinters]

I know that. He was made into a villain through chinese wizardry (or as I referred to it earlier, possession). He was also a villain in the first Tournament Fighters game for NES, if I'm not mistaken.

Nah, I don't think he was evil in the NES game, just wildly unpredictable and dangerous. You might even say his dragon spirit made him a real hot head.:lol:

[BentonGrey]

I know that. He was made into a villain through chinese wizardry (or as I referred to it earlier, possession). He was also a villain in the first Tournament Fighters game for NES, if I'm not mistaken.

Right, I remember that issue. Pretty cool with him fighting the demon and everything.

[CyberCubed]

Nick should really re-imagine a lot of these old mutant characters for the new show.

[gobo]

I still hold to the line that's not Man Ray or Ray Fillet since the only thing it has in common with the toy or Archie character is part of a name.
Thank you. It frustrates me so much when people act like "well, that's obviously supposed to be him". Other than the name, Ray, and the fact that he's an aquatic creature, there are no similarities between the two.
I only barely remember the episode with Slash...but I do remember it not standing up to the comics version.
I believe the 'toon version showed up first.

[Venom]

I thought the toy showed up first? I remember having my figure while the ep was airing and being utterly disappointed by the retard on screen not measuring up to the badass I was holding in my hand.

[gobo]

Maybe so. I'm not too sure.