Need an Answer

[DonatelloDomeHead31]

I remember way back when in the old ninja turtles comics, the story of Mary Bones creating Leatherhead.

For the record, this comic was my favorite because of how Leatherhead is portrayed and also the scene where he falls after the bridge collapses.

But here's my question that has been bugging me: Who was Leatherhead before he was transformed and why did he get transformed by Mary Bones?

thanks to whoever can answer this and keep it up with the Comics haha

[DrSpengler]

Here's the story summary from the Official Site.

TMNT Adventures #6

Cover: Ryan Brown
Plot: Ryan Brown and Dean Clarrain
Writer: Dean Clarrain
Pencils: Ken Mitchroney
Inks: Dave Garcia
Colors: Barry Grossman
Letters: Gary Fields
First Printing: November, 1989
Number of story pages: 28



"Of Turtles and Stones and Mary Bones"
Down in bayou, a Cajun man named Jess Harley sneaks into the hut of the local witch, named Mary Bones. Harley wants to steal something valuable enough from the old woman that he'll be able to sell it and escape his life of poverty in the swamps. Jess quickly discovers a large crystal ball, which he takes to New York City in hopes of finding his fortune.

While walking the streets of the metropolis, Jess gets distracted by all the sights and bumps into a stranger... who happens to be one of the TMNT in disguise. The force of the collision causes Harley to drop the crystal ball, and it rolls down a drain and falls into the sewers! Jess finds access to the underground sewage system via the subway, and as Fate would have it, he quickly recovers the crystal... but no sooner does he pick up the treasure when he is interrupted by Mary Bones herself!

Harley falls to his knees in fright as the old witch explains that what he has stolen is no mere gem, but a powerful magical item capable of transmogrification. Mary Bones then uses the crystal's powers to change Jess Harley into a mutated aligator man... a Leatherhead!

Leatherhead chases after the witch, but she vanishes into thin air. The mutant gator then crashes through a wall and falls through several layers of brittle sewer flooring and winds up on a table in Shredder's hide-out. Shredder lies to Jess and tells him that the TMNT and Mary Bones are working together for evil purpose and that they hold the key to how Harley can be returned to human form. Completely fooled, Leatherhead agrees to help Shredder capture the Turtles!

Eventually the TMNT end up fighting Bebop, Rocksteady and Leatherhead on a bridge located in the sewers. Leatherhead, confused by conflicting stories from Shredder and the Turtles, throws a fit. The frustrated gator man thumps his massive tail onto the aged structure, causing a huge section of it to collapse... taking Leatherhead with it!

As the TMNT make their exit, they run into Mary Bones, who gives them an strange message and vanishes. Just then, Raph notices something shocking...

Continued in TMNT Adventures #7.

[DonatelloDomeHead31]

thanks; now i remember the name. i also appreciate the summary. that picture of leatherhead falling from the bridge is my only visual i remember.

[Andrew NDB]

Was one of the very, very first TMNT comics I ever read (if not the first). It was either this one or the Wingnut & Screwloose issue, I can't remember.

[VaughnMichael]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

Was one of the very, very first TMNT comics I ever read (if not the first). It was either this one or the Wingnut & Screwloose issue, I can't remember.

Wow crazy same with me!

[DonatelloDomeHead31]

If my childhood memory serves me correctly, I had a cassette tape (yep you heard me right ) that came with the comic so i could listen to voice-overs of the comic as I read through it.

I'll never forget hearing the Leatherhead scream on the cassette tape as the bridge collapses underneath him.

[Mr._Mutant_Man]

I have a trade that collects the Leatherhead issue, as well as the wrestling ones. I got it on eBay as part of this set, thinking that just maybe by "volume 1" they meant Mirage. Still, as someone that read Archie TMNT as a kid I enjoyed it, and now that I have a lot of the main Mirage comics I might look into Archie.

My first TMNT comic...is this one where April went into this town, and there were these mutants on the loose I think. I remember she was wearing blue boots instead of her usual white, and she ends up ordering a shake that someone drugged I think.

[Jon]

Originally Posted by Mr._Mutant_Man

I have a trade that collects the Leatherhead issue, as well as the wrestling ones. I got it on eBay as part of this set, thinking that just maybe by "volume 1" they meant Mirage. Still, as someone that read Archie TMNT as a kid I enjoyed it, and now that I have a lot of the main Mirage comics I might look into Archie.

My first TMNT comic...is this one where April went into this town, and there were these mutants on the loose I think. I remember she was wearing blue boots instead of her usual white, and she ends up ordering a shake that someone drugged I think.

Yeah, definately should. Archie's TMNT is a great series.

The one you describe is Archie's TMNT Issue 27.