Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows nailed it. Turtles fans have been wanting to see Bebop, Rocksteady and Kraang on the big screen for years, and we can now confirm that this new movie did the bad guys justice. Out of the Shadows is a fun and entertaining return to what made the Ninja Turtles the phenomenon that swept the world and the obsession of every early ’90s kid.
In the new TMNT movie, Shredder is back and looking to get even. With the help of mad scientist Baxter Stockman and the mysterious Karai, Shredder escapes NYPD custody and finds himself in Dimension X. The way each of the villains are handled in this movie is perfect for the story, but soon it will be time to decide who will face off against our heroes in the next sequel. Here are a few prime choices of the best villains we want to see in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3.
Slash
In Out of the Shadows, Kraang gives Shredder the mutagen that turns Bebop and Rocksteady into the hulking rhino and warthog we all know and love. The mutagen is a very important substance that has been present in every incarnation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles since the property debuted in 1984. Mutagen is what turned the transformed the turtles to begin with, as well as many of their enemies.
Slash started off as a pet turtle that got mutated into one of the toughest villains the TMNT gang ever had to face. In the original cartoon from 1987, Slash is raised by Rocksteady and becomes a regular antagonist who at one point tries to transform the world into turtles so he can be the ruler of the planet. He is normally very vicious and dangerous but was also an ally at one point in the 2012 TV version.
Rat King
The Rat King is a dangerous and formidable foe that has not only made life in the sewers of New York City tough for the heroes in a half-shell, he has also made many attempts at defeating Master Splinter. Similar to characters like Willard and Doctor Dolittle, the Rat King has the ability to communicate with animals, and his powers have been rumored to possibly be telepathic in nature.
This character is very mysterious and has been featured in almost every version of TMNT to date. The Rat King usually appears mentally unstable and covered in rags, and one of his main goals is to overthrow humankind with the help of his rat army. Whether he is depicted as a homeless madman, a cyborg or an immortal telepath, the Rat King will always be a threat to the turtles and Splinter.
Leatherhead
Leatherhead was a pet alligator from the Florida Everglades that was raised by a little boy in New York City. When the kid’s parents felt like the alligator needed to be disposed of, they flushed the baby gator down the toilet. When Leatherhead was found by aliens similar to Kraang, he was exposed to mutagen and developed into an intelligent creature stronger than the turtles and just as smart as Donatello.
This version of Leatherhead comes from the 2012 Nickelodeon series and has been both an ally and foe of the turtles, but in the original cartoon and Nintendo games he was a mean and ornery character that gave the turtles plenty of trouble. Leatherhead is super strong, very dangerous and has been known to gang up with Shredder, Bebop and Rocksteady to fight and defeat the turtles on many occasions.
Mutagen Man
Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael are no stranger to tagalongs and wannabe sidekicks. In Out of the Shadows, Vernon “The Falcon” Fenwick played by Will Arnett certainly falls into this category and in TMNT II: The Secret of the Ooze, Keno is a perfect example of the comic relief character that wants desperately to be part of the action. Sadly, it doesn’t always work out that way for some characters.
In the old-school animated series, Mutagen Man started off as a bumbling mail clerk who fell into a vat of mutagen. Shredder put what remained of the delivery man into a glass container on legs. The 2012 series was very different, and the origin story of Mutagen Man in this show is very similar to Syndrome from The Incredibles. Just think of the turtles’ biggest fan being reduced to a brain in a jar with a grudge.
Lord Dregg
Lord Dregg is an intergalactic warlord and the most powerful adversary ever to go up against the Ninja Turtles. He is a hyper-intelligent being with deadly superpowers. In the original television series he makes many attempts to conquer the Earth and his efforts to defeat the turtles nearly cost them all their lives. At one point he even managed to drain the turtles of their powers and abilities.
Dregg appears in the 2012 show as the leader of a bug planet and his role in the TMNT storyline is far less important than before. He holds a grudge due to being dishonored by the turtles and Casey Jones, but in the end he is ejected through an airlock into space and presumed dead. Lord Dregg from the 90s cartoon is a villain that could not only destroy the turtles but the entire world as well.
TMNT: Out of the Shadows presents us with a fantastic conflict that old-school fans will absolutely love. Seeing the Technodrome on the big screen along with Kraang, Bebop, Rocksteady and Shredder is a major win for Ninja Turtles fandom. The attitude and style of this movie is perfect for the property, and we can’t wait to see where things will lead in the next film. Hopefully Tyler Perry will return as Baxter Stockman and become the human-fly hybrid he was meant to be.
