Leatherhead Figure Review: Celebrating NECA's TMNT Legacy

It is not usual that I feel morose on a #TurtleTuesday, but here we are. The NECA Toys TMNT lines are winding to an indefinite pause for now, and after all these years of incredible collections, it makes me sad. However, if the TMNT Adventures line was going to finish with anyone, it is a joy to get Leatherhead to complete the classic line-up of the Mighty Mutanimals.

Packaging for a toy figure of 'Leatherhead' from the Mighty Mutanimals series, featuring colorful comic-style illustrations of the character and other animal mutants against a bright purple background.

A colorful toy packaging featuring various animated characters from the TMNT series, including Leatherhead, with vibrant illustrations on a purple background.

The the TMNTA/Archie Comics Turtles line started, the one thing I wanted more than anything was to complete the Mutanimals. Well friends, it has taken us to the final figure, but with Leatherhead, NECA did it. This is pretty amazing seeing how no one has ever even whiffed this, and while some got figures for the first time, others instantly became my all-time favorite versions. I am spending my time celebrating the joys of what we have gotten, and not focus on what has not yet come, and Leatherhead is something to be celebrated.

A green action figure resembling a reptilian creature, wearing a red hat and a brown fur vest, standing against a purple background. The figure is accompanied by various accessories including a yellow weapon, a white futuristic gun, and interchangeable hands.

Looking back over all the years, NECA has done right by Leatherhead, exceeding just about every expectation I had for him. With the 1987 cartoon, “Turtles in Time” video game, Mirage Comics, and Stump Wrestling all in tow, this marks the ol’ gator’s fifth spot in the NECA lines, and that is pretty incredible. All of these appearances helped bolster his popularity across fandoms over the years, but now that all is said and done, this really is my favorite Leatherhead NECA has done. He builds on what has come before, while holding to the Mutanimals design, but also becoming the most iconic version of him yet.

Close-up of a green alligator character with a red hat and yellow eyebrows, wearing a brown fur vest, against a purple background.

Close-up of a green crocodile figure with yellow eyelashes and a brown fur collar against a purple background.

NECA has made some really solid strides over the past couple of years in upping their articulation game. This counts for not only the number of points, but also improved fluidity, and the updated pinless construction. This figure really is the culmination of all of those things, so if you were getting impatient waiting on this version, it really is worth the wait. Leatherhead poses great, but the joints are strong, and the plastic choices for the swappable hands helps further his posing.

A green crocodile-like action figure wearing a red cap, a furry vest, and blue pants, standing on a purple background.

A colorful action figure of a green humanoid creature with reptilian features, wearing a brown fur vest, blue pants, and a red hat, standing against a purple background.

The figure includes a ton of various hands, his iconic hat (removable, and this becomes important in a bit), pole knife, Ftoom rifle, Thoom blaster, and the TURN STONE! It is exciting to get that last one, and a hand posed expressly to hold it is included. The blasters are gigantic, to that takes some posing to get into position, but that just means that this cajun gator is packed out very nicely with a lot of value for the release. Oh, like the Stump version, his tail is also fit with a bendy wire, and it removable.

A colorful toy figure of a green crocodile character with a red and yellow hat, holding a white ball in one hand. The figure is detailed with a scaly texture and a furry brown vest, set against a purple background.

A colorful action figure of a crocodile character wearing a brown fur vest, blue pants with rips, and holding a white spear against a purple background.

However, UNLIKE the Stump figure, this figure does not include a hinged and posable jaw. I was kind of surprised by this, even though I really like the expression. HOWEVER, you CAN swap heads between this one and the Stump version, and the hat fits on both. So, if you want this figure to have an open maw, just borrow from your wrasslin’ gator. This is a pretty great feature.

A detailed action figure of a green alligator character wearing a red hat, a brown fur vest, and blue ripped pants, holding a spear, set against a purple background.

Action figure of a green reptilian character wearing a red hat and brown furry vest, holding a white spear, against a purple background.

The packaging also celebrates the final Mutanimal entrant with some really great art by the awesome and venerable Ken Mitchroney, and color assists by Aaron Hazouri. Both of these cool dudes have been such forces behind this line, I love that they got to do a little bit more for this release. The front flap also folds out with a splash photo celebrating the Mighty Mutanimals team finally coming together in plastic.

Two colorful reptilian action figures standing side by side, with one in blue shorts and the other in a green striped shirt and brown vest, against a purple background.

A colorful action figure of a green crocodile character wearing a red beret and a furry vest, posed with an enthusiastic expression against a purple background.

I am so very happy, and little sad, too. Finishing the MM team is nothing short of a plastic triumph, and Leatherhead is probably the best of the entire group, so he is a great exclamation point. But I am also sad. Looking at my collection, there is so little to still ask from NECA when it comes to TMNT. We have gotten so much and the most of the gaps are very small, so I will be eternally grateful for this plastic adventure. However, if I would want to see any of the sub-lines continue, it would be the Adventures/Archie – this is still so much fun stuff to do. Maybe someday. Keep the faith, Turtle Fans.