Why does Baxter get mutilated/abused in every version he's in?

*CyberCubed* · 06-05-2007, 10:04 PM

Good ol' Baxter Stockman, whether he's a wimpy white scientist with blonde hair, or an arrogant african american...he's always cowered under the wrath of the Shredder.

Not only does Shredder make use of Baxter's brilliance in both the original cartoon and 2k3 series, but he's also clearly his whipping boy. Shredder mutilates Baxter in the 2k3 series until he's nothing but a brain, whereas in the old toon Shredder basically sentences Baxter to death but he transforms into a mutant fly instead. It also seems clear that Shredder favored Bebop/Rocksteady over Baxter at that point, since he never tries to do anything as harsh to them.

The Mirage Comics never really depicted Baxter this way, and I don't think Baxter had anything to do with Shredder at all in the comics.

While I do really like how Baxter was handled in the new toon, I've always had a soft spot for mutant fly Baxter, and you would always feel sorry for him and the way Shredder constantly takes advantage of him in the series. I liked that he had that alien computer who became his only friend in Season 3/4, it was a nice way to showcase how he wanted a return to his humanity. (something the 2k3 series also touches upon with Baxter's Season 4 episode that wasn't aired on TV).

So, what do you think of Baxter and how he's depicted in the TMNT universes? Do you like cyborg Baxter or mutant fly Baxter better?

06-05-2007, 10:04 PM	#1
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,798	Why does Baxter get mutilated/abused in every version he's in? Good ol' Baxter Stockman, whether he's a wimpy white scientist with blonde hair, or an arrogant african american...he's always cowered under the wrath of the Shredder. Not only does Shredder make use of Baxter's brilliance in both the original cartoon and 2k3 series, but he's also clearly his whipping boy. Shredder mutilates Baxter in the 2k3 series until he's nothing but a brain, whereas in the old toon Shredder basically sentences Baxter to death but he transforms into a mutant fly instead. It also seems clear that Shredder favored Bebop/Rocksteady over Baxter at that point, since he never tries to do anything as harsh to them. The Mirage Comics never really depicted Baxter this way, and I don't think Baxter had anything to do with Shredder at all in the comics. While I do really like how Baxter was handled in the new toon, I've always had a soft spot for mutant fly Baxter, and you would always feel sorry for him and the way Shredder constantly takes advantage of him in the series. I liked that he had that alien computer who became his only friend in Season 3/4, it was a nice way to showcase how he wanted a return to his humanity. (something the 2k3 series also touches upon with Baxter's Season 4 episode that wasn't aired on TV). So, what do you think of Baxter and how he's depicted in the TMNT universes? Do you like cyborg Baxter or mutant fly Baxter better?