A sociopathic and depraved scientist in robotic engineering, Dr. Baxter Stockman, has been a perennial foil for the heroes in a half-shell since its inception. Appearing in nearly every incarnation of the TMNT multimedia franchise, Baxter Stockman ranged from a deranged scientific mastermind to a diminutive and grotesque sycophantic were-fly to a full-on killer cyborg.
Often under the employ of the Turtles’ arch-nemesis Shredder and the extra-dimensional brain-alien Krang/Utroms, it was Baxter who created the recurrent cannon fodder called “mousers,” small bipedal munching drones, that pestered the Ninja Turtles.
One of the few enduring African American supervillains in comics since the 1980s, Baxter’s place in the pantheon of Black comic/animated characters has often been overlooked. While he filled the role of generic “mad scientist” archetype or arch-henchman, his regular appearance as an enemy of the Ninja Turtles in various adaptations throughout the franchise’s nearly 40-year lifespan is another testament to his staying power as a character.
He was voiced by Scott Williams in the highly popular 2003 animated reboot, by Phil LaMarr in the CG 2012 series, and by Ramone Hamilton in the more recent Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2018) show. K Todd Freeman and later Tyler Perry portrayed the character for the chagrined live-action Michael Bay 2014 film and its underwhelming 2016 sequel.
For other black super-powered malefactors, check out our Top 10 Most Powerful Black Characters in Comics.
Hailing from the eastern-most Caribbean island of Barbados, Fabian Wood has long since been fascinated by the power of storytelling to inspire and invoke emotions – whether in film, comics, or videogames. No longer content to be just an avid comic book reader and videogamer, he’s eager to exercise his literary acumen as an aspiring writer and reviewer.
