Why exactly is Slash so popular?

[Krutch]

He was a pretty insignificant character from the old toon (he was in, what, 3 episodes? I dont remember). His storyline wasn't all that exciting in any incarnation(a slave turtle who goes nuts after they throw out his favorite plastic palm tree?) He was in a small handful of videogames with pretty much no personality....

So, I gotta ask, what makes this guy so much cooler than the rest? Because dammit, I love him too. And I dont know why.

[Jester]

Read the Archie comics issues with Slash. He's a cool action figure...and he's just awesome in the later issues of the Archie run.

[oldmanwinters]

He was a pretty insignificant character from the old toon

It's funny, I don't think I've ever seen a piece of Slash fan art based off of the Old Toon design. I think most fans tried to forget about his portrayal in those episodes and focus more on his appearance in the video games and Archie comics.

[Powder]

Read the Archie comics issues with Slash. He's a cool action figure...and he's just awesome in the later issues of the Archie run.

This + just f*cking look at him.

[CyberCubed]

He's basically an evil ninja Turtle. That's why people like him.

There are evil versions of any superhero out there, look at how many times Superman has gone bad, or Spiderman, etc.

Instead of one of the Turtles becoming evil for no reason, we instead have an evil turtle. Also the black bandana was awesome.

[Krutch]

Honestly I never really followed the Archie series :S But from what I understand hes a survivor of a snapping turtle race and Krang enlists him to kill the turtles? That doesnt seem too interesting (though actually reading might show how good of a character he is).

[Powder]

I dont think anyone (casual fans) gives a sh*t what his backstory is. He's popular because of his appearance (not counting the OT).

[oldmanwinters]

Honestly I never really followed the Archie series :S But from what I understand hes a survivor of a snapping turtle race and Krang enlists him to kill the turtles? That doesnt seem too interesting (though actually reading might show how good of a character he is).

Any character who sacrifices himself by plunging into the sun becomes an instant legend of coolness.

[CyberCubed]

Honestly I never really followed the Archie series :S But from what I understand hes a survivor of a snapping turtle race and Krang enlists him to kill the turtles? That doesnt seem too interesting (though actually reading might show how good of a character he is).

Slash really didn't have a backstory in Archie. Krang was abandoned on a toxic waste planet, and Slash just happened to be on the planet and comes across him. They then escape in a ship and go back to Earth.

In the cartoon, Bebop kept a turtle as a pet, and mutated Slash himself.

[Ninjinister]

The dark doppelgänger is a very popular trope. The story has to almost be purposely terrible in order to turn off the audience.

[Andrew NDB]

I guess I would answer with, "He's not popular."

Though he does have a small cult following. But then even rubbish characters like Irma have small cult followings.

[oldmanwinters]

I guess I would answer with, "He's not popular."

Though he does have a small cult following. But then even rubbish characters like Irma have small cult followings.

Andrew strikes again with a drive-by shot against Fred Wolf-era characters. In his wake, Slash lies in a gutter drowning in his own blood.:twink:

[Redeemer]

I love Slash's character design. I love him in the video games he is an awesome boss in the video games.

[Krutch]

I guess I would answer with, "He's not popular."

I guess you'd be, "wrong."

[Andrew NDB]

I think the idea of Slash is more endearing than the actual character of him. Though it's hard not to love the Archie version of Slash, in kind of a Frankenstein's Monster sort of way.

A sort of anti-Turtle Turtle killing machine would be pretty cool to see, even in Mirage. But he's never been that yet.

[CyberCubed]

Maybe Nick will use Slash's character and turn him into a violent killing machine. Although given the nature of the cartoon, it probably won't be like that.

[Andrew NDB]

Maybe Nick will use Slash's character and turn him into a violent killing machine. Although given the nature of the cartoon, it probably won't be like that.

Maybe his wrists will shoot bees at his victims? ;)

[Powder]

I think the idea of Slash is more endearing than the actual character of him. Though it's hard not to love the Archie version of Slash, in kind of a Frankenstein's Monster sort of way.

A sort of anti-Turtle Turtle killing machine would be pretty cool to see, even in Mirage. But he's never been that yet.

Would you have approved of a Mirage slash done "right"? I'd be down.

[Andrew NDB]

Would you have approved of a Mirage slash done "right"? I'd be down.

Sure I would.

[sdp]

Slash is an evil mutant turtle, what is not to like? Also I doubt people are fan of Slash because of Archie, I mean I'm sure theres plenty of fans from the comic but most of the general public that knows Slash is because of the Toyline and videogames that got far more exposure. As far as animated Slash, god I'm happy I never saw him as a little kid.

[gobo]

The first Slash ep was really cool. The others were pathetic.

[sdp]

From what I read of Archie I really did not like him there, it was kinda like taking the OT version and trying to make him slightly more edgy and doesn't he eventually turn good? ugh.

http://i.imgur.com/UMMPd.jpg

[Cowabunga Carl]

The only thing I've ever really seen him in is the OT and I loved his first episode. I guess I like him because he is so inocent and only cares about his "binky". I think that's what he called his tree. He only does what he does because he is told the turtles stold it. To me it made him such a tragic character.

[Eiko]

Slash is awsome just read the Archie Comics and you will see.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

He's basically an evil ninja Turtle. That's why people like him.

There are evil versions of any superhero out there, look at how many times Superman has gone bad, or Spiderman, etc.

Instead of one of the Turtles becoming evil for no reason, we instead have an evil turtle. Also the black bandana was awesome.

I agree. Forget that stupid palmtree, and take a look on the deadly guy in the "Turtles in Time" video game.

Actually, a UK Hero Turtles comics of the early 1990 had an issue with Krang and Shredder using Krang's Technodrome dimensional portal to discover an alternate history version of the Universe, with the TMNT being evil criminals, robbing banks.

[ToTheNines]

I kinda wish the 4kids cartoon would have given Slash a try. Closest thing we got to that was Dark Leo in Fast Forward.

[Jester]

Maybe his wrists will shoot bees at his victims? ;)
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bdVR-JIDi2g/RoNIISPEXzI/AAAAAAAACE8/QEw3pvgCl5E/s400/beeweapon.jpg
Seriously liked Slash for the action figure and Turtles in Time, LOVED him for his character in the later issues of Archie, where he did "turn good" for lack of a better term and sacrificed himself so the others could escape Maligna's planetoid.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y132/Jesterangelo/ArchieSlash.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y132/Jesterangelo/ArchieSlash2.jpg
Like Winters said:
Any character who sacrifices himself by plunging into the sun becomes an instant legend of coolness.

[oldmanwinters]

Actually, a UK Hero Turtles comics of the early 1990 had an issue with Krang and Shredder using Krang's Technodrome dimensional portal to discover an alternate history version of the Universe, with the TMNT being evil criminals, robbing banks.

Yep, issue #27
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/slimer2erasmus/TMNT/turtlesofterrorcover.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/slimer2erasmus/TMNT/turtlesofterrorp11.jpg

[Jester]

Wow...was their Splinter evil too?

[oldmanwinters]

Wow...was there Splinter evil too?

Never showed up in that story. I doubt the plot thread was ever revisited, since continuity wasn't acknowledged in those original UK stories.

[Krutch]

HAHAHA!

Donnie: Meditate your way out of THAT!

LMAO

[ssjup81]

I don't remember seeing the Slash eps originally as a kid. I just saw them when going back to the series recently. I liked the couple of eps he was in, but I liked his debut ep more, for the whole innocence thing that was mentioned, and how he was, technically, a tragic character. I liked the Archie comic version of him okay, not a fav of those Mutanimals, though. He was awesome though, when he sacrificed himself to save the others, but the fates of the Mutanimals was sad in a general sense.

That aside, I never knew that he was a popular character.

[Donnie]

HAHAHA!

Donnie: Meditate your way out of THAT!

LMAO

:lol: That had me going!

[Bjarni]

I first saw the Slash action figure. I was amazed that there were actually FIVE turtles and the fifth one was evil... and had a BLACK bandanna... This was crazy! I met a kid on a train who had the Technodrome and Slash, his yellow eyes, his teeth... his purple weapons! The design was great.

Then I saw his introduction to the Archie books (never saw his episode until I was in my teens) and he was such a badass. I loved when he joined the good guys (Sweden never got the Mighty Mutanimals series so it was a very pleasant surprise) and I was not happy that he was killed off in Terracide. Looking back, the character seems to be based on Wolverine if he was a little bit more feral, his weapon of choice also reminds me of Logan's blades.

Still, this was the first time I was seeing the anti-hero character type, so it was super original to me. I finally got the action figure after searching for it for 11 years, being my first Internet purchase.

[ABrown]

What I liked about Slash is that I could add him to Shredder's "army." I had the turtles, Master Spliner, and Casey Jones. And who did they fight against normally in the cartoons? Shredder, Rocksteady, Bebop, and foot soldiers. And since I doubt I was going to be able to convince my mom to buy me a dozen foot soldier toys, it was great to add on General Tragg, Baxter Stockman, and Slash so that Shredder actually had a decent sized army for me to have fight against the turtles.

[Koi]

HAHAHA!

Donnie: Meditate your way out of THAT!

LMAO

I laughed a little too...

Anyway, I don't really think Slash is popular as well. I would have seriously never heard of him if it wasn't for this forum.

[Punix]

Slash is awesome, he's so bad and you should not forget the turtles (in any incarnation except the Mirage comics) are extremely good. So if you like 5 years old, and you see the back of the action figure card a superbad turtle and you read it in the Archie comic books, your head just explode.:o

[Bjarni]

Yep, issue #27
How many issues did they make? I saw some stories in the Swedish TMNT Comic book which had mostly Archie stories. Also, was it just comic stories?

Slash is awesome, he's so bad and you should not forget the turtles (in any incarnation except the Mirage comics) are extremely good. So if you like 5 years old, and you see the back of the action figure card a superbad turtle and you read it in the Archie comic books, your head just explode.:o

Agreed!

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Yep, issue #27
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/slimer2erasmus/TMNT/turtlesofterrorcover.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/slimer2erasmus/TMNT/turtlesofterrorp11.jpg

I have that comic. The good TMNT also helped some homeless guys in that issue.

[Coola Yagami]

I don't know why they just didn't give him at least the black bandana in the OT? I mean... did they think it would be too evil? That was the entire point!!!

[ToTheNines]

I don't know why they just didn't give him at least the black bandana in the OT? I mean... did they think it would be too evil? That was the entire point!!!

That used to drive me nuts. Still kinda bugs me.

[CyberCubed]

I wish Slash was used in a more mature medium, like leaving the corpses of dead humans in his wake, wandering the streets of New York, etc.

[ssjup81]

I wish Slash was used in a more mature medium, like leaving the corpses of dead humans in his wake, wandering the streets of New York, etc.Sounds like Archie comic Slash...before being redeemed. He was actually a threat there, unlike the OT series.

[ABrown]

I just got done watching the episode where Slash was introduced, and it made me want to reopen this discussion. That episode always was one of my favorite episodes. It is interesting that a character like Slash who did not appear in very many episodes at all was as popular as he was. I really wish that him, as well as Baxter Stockman, would've appeared in more episodes. It got so old watching it always be just Shredder, Rocksteady, and Bebop taking on the turtles. Having additional characters like Baxter and Slash would've at least given an impression that Shredder and company could put up a fight against the turtles.

[***First of Two Latin Kings***]

The point of that cartoon was just to sell toys/other merchandise.

[Jester]

The point of that cartoon was just to sell toys/other merchandise.
And how better to sell such items than to have those characters be more frequent?

[EvilStarLegacy]

And how better to sell such items than to have those characters be more frequent?

They were more about putting as many characters as possible to make as much toys as possible. I guess that's why all the interesting characters disappeared nearly instantly.

[***First of Two Latin Kings***]

And how better to sell such items than to have those characters be more frequent?

Actually, a lot of the characters who never showed up AT ALL or only made cameo appearances still sell the best.

[Iroh]

Slash is popular because of his weapons set, style, and look!:D

[gobo]

I would assume he's more popular amongst the fetishists.

[Xav]

Seriously liked Slash for the action figure and Turtles in Time, LOVED him for his character in the later issues of Archie, where he did "turn good" for lack of a better term and sacrificed himself so the others could escape Maligna's planetoid.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y132/Jesterangelo/ArchieSlash.jpg Uh what is he covered in!?

[EvilStarLegacy]

Personally, I think he's mostly popular because of Turtles in Times, just like the Rat King and Baxter as a fly. Hell, I don't remember much from the cartoon and I was under the impression these guys were recurring characters simply because they appeared all the time in the games. And now I learn they barely showed up? Few episodes each? It's kind of mind blowing.

[Powder]

Uh what is he covered in!?

What do you think? Semen.

[Xav]

Personally, I think he's mostly popular because of Turtles in Times, just like the Rat King and Baxter as a fly. Hell, I don't remember much from the cartoon and I was under the impression these guys were recurring characters simply because they appeared all the time in the games. And now I learn they barely showed up? Few episodes each? It's kind of mind blowing.


Well the Rat King and fly Baxter were two of the more recurring villains. And the Rat King only appeared in two game the SNES versions of Turtles in Time and Tournment Fighters. Slash only appeared in the Manhattan Project and the SNES version of Turtles in Time

[EvilStarLegacy]

Well the Rat King and fly Baxter were two of the more recurring villains. And the Rat King only appeared in two game the SNES versions of Turtles in Time and Tournment Fighters. Slash only appeared in the Manhattan Project and the SNES version of Turtles in Time

I know, but they were in, what, 10 episodes for Rat King and 7 for Baxter? Hardly recurring for a 198 episode series, even if they were the most recurring.

I still believe a lot of villlains gained popularity because of the games. I personally don't remember a lot of villains but I know damn well that those from the gaz will get a nostalgia reaction from me, unlike the others.

[Jester]

I know, but they were in, what, 10 episodes for Rat King and 7 for Baxter? Hardly recurring for a 198 episode series, even if they were the most recurring.

I still believe a lot of villlains gained popularity because of the games. I personally don't remember a lot of villains but I know damn well that those from the gaz will get a nostalgia reaction from me, unlike the others.
Nah...Baxter and Rat King were some of the most recurring villains, considering how many 1 shot villains, mobsters, and that most episodes had Shredder and Krang. 10 and 7 appearances is substantial. I forgot they were even in video games. I think it's because they're interesting characters, both in design and personality. And there's probably where Slash's popularity come in. He's interesting to look at (in anything but the Fred Wolf series) and the character is fun. Not because he's a random video game boss.

[mysterycolor]

What do you think? Semen.
that certainly shows that he is popular :)
but seriously- i can say that as an seller his figure almost always sells-and many times to people i know are very very casual fans- i assume it is because he looks so much different than the other turtles and he is the first bad dude toy that is actually a turtle- so they are like- "yay! badass turtle!!" not knowing any back story.

[CrazySquirrel]

I love him because of the Archie comics, the palm tree thing always makes me happy whenever I see a palm tree in real life. His action figure is SOOOO awesome too! The video games don't hurt I'm sure... Turtles in Time is by far the most popular Turtles game ever. Every kid in the early 90's has played it.

http://ronsrescuedtreasures.com/TMNT-Slash-action-figure-1990-Playmates-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-P1921173.aspx&docid=2LMaiK834auNpM&w=483&h=500&ei=YzJuTqLKMufn0QH-1PBi&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=272&vpy=272&dur=2104&hovh=228&hovw=221&tx=58&ty=245&page=3&tbnh=137&tbnw=111&start=28&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:28

[DonatelloDomeHead31]

My only word on Slash is just his difficulty in the Video games in "Prehistoric Turtlesaurus"

I didn't see many of the episodes with him in it; and I'll admit, I did have the action figure of him.

So, my say on his popularity was his difficulty in the video games.

[Powder]

So, my say on his popularity was his difficulty in the video games.

I think you have sheer hatred mixed up with popularity.