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Baxter Stockman
A former-human inventor who was transformed into a monstrous man-fly during a botched disintegration attempt by the alien warlord Krang. He is a villain character in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (TMNT) universe.
Trivia
1. The 'original' Baxter Stockman, as he appeared in the Kevin Eastman/Peter Laird Mirage TMNT comic books, was an African American male (the human Stockman depicted in the original 1987 cartoon series, whom my figure is based on, was Caucasian). The comic book Stockman eventually became a cyborg, not a fly. The newer, 2003 animated series is more accurate to the original source material, giving Baxter the correct ethnicity and also depicting him becoming a cyborg.
2. The man-fly Baxter Stockman character obviously draws its inspiration from the classic, lab-experiment-gone-awry story found in the 1958 The Fly horror movie (and its sequel/remakes). This is particularly apparent in the Bye Bye Fly episode of the original animation where Baxter ends up in a mutant spider's web and screams "Help me! Help me!", which is a reference to the climatic final scene in said movie.
3. Baxter Stockman appears as a 'boss' or 'sub-boss' character in most TMNT video games.
4. In the original animated series, the TMNT's Turtle Van was made from a vehicle that belonged to Baxter. The TMNT appropriated this van after tracing Baxter to the Mouser incident that targeted their master, Splinter.
5. Some TMNT fans like to refer to the man-fly version of Stockman as 'Baxter Stockbug'.
6. The 'clip & collect' file card on the back of the Playmates Baxter Stockman toy package lists the following information:
Accessories: Anti-Turtle Swatter, Detachable Fly Wings & Arms
Dimension Where Created: X
Height: 3 ft.
Favorite Sport: Soup Swimming
Favorite Phrase: "Help me!"
Baxter Stockman, a man with the mind of a scientist and the body of a common housefly, buzzes around town, annoying the Turtles and other decent reptiles. Created accidentally in Dimension X by a malfunctioning disintegrator unit, Baxter flurried himself into an avenging frenzy, ready to fly up anyone's nose. Finally convinced by Shredder that the Turtles were solely responsible for his rebirth as an insect, Baxter now vents his hostilities towards our half-shelled heroes. Armed and winged with the Anti-Turtle Swatter, Baxter swats the shell out of the Turtles. His scientific experiments may break a few beakers, but Shredder can always use a fly with evil ingenuity.
7. Baxter was voiced by Pat Fraley in the original TMNT cartoon show, and by Scott Williams in the newer TMNT animation.
8. In the original cartoon series, Baxter has a redhead, twin brother, Barney Stockman, who is also a scientist. Barney gets quite upset when people confuse him with Baxter.
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BACKGROUND:
Baxter Stockman was an inventor whose skill in mechanical engineering and robotics attracted the interest of the TMNT's arch-enemy, the ninja master Shredder. Stockman's most recent creations were the snapping, rodent-catching, bipedal constructs known as 'Mousers'. Shredder used these mechanoids to target the turtles' mentor, the mutant rat Splinter. This plan ultimately failed, but Shredder continued to bully/employ Baxter as one of his lackeys, using Stockman and his inventions against the TMNT and their allies, time-and-time again. However, on one particular escapade, Baxter turned on The Shredder, taking a powerful artifact, 'The Eye of Sarnath' for himself, forcing Shredder to grudgingly join forces with the TMNT against Baxter. After that betrayal, and realizing that he had underestimated the man and could no longer trust him, Shredder offered his cohort, the alien warlord Krang, Stockman in exchange for his two mutant henchmen, the warthog Bebop and the rhinoceros Rocksteady. However, Krang had no use for Baxter and upon receipt of the timid human, promptly decided to disintegrate him. Fortunately(?) for Stockman, a common housefly had made the trip to Dimension X with him, perched on his clothing. Instead of being killed by the disintegrator, the device combined Baxter and the fly into a mutant amalgam of both. Stockman escaped Krang's clutches, but the incident changed him mentally as well as physically--no more was he willing to play the fool in other's schemes. Baxter soon embarked on a solo career as a super villain, targeting both the TMNT and Shredder as his enemies.
ABILITIES:
Baxter's mutation, aside from giving him an insect-like appearance, grants him a number of superhuman abilities. He can fly; under optimal conditions he has a top flight speed of 20 mph and can range for about 15 miles at a time before he needs to stop and rest. In addition to moving from point-to-point, Baxter can also hover in mid-air. He can effortlessly scale sheer walls and/or ceilings. His multi-faceted, compound eyes give him a very wide and detailed field of vision. Chemical sensory organs in his hands and feet allow him to 'taste' and 'smell' things simply by touching them. Both in his previous, human form, and now in his man-fly shape, Baxter Stockman has genius-level intelligence. He is knowledgeable in many branches of science and is particularly adept when it comes to operating and engineering mechanical devices.
WEAKNESSES:
Baxter Stockman is an unsettling sight to say the least. Most humans will react negatively, and even violently, when encountering him--often branding him a monster regardless of his actions. His hatred for Shredder and Krang, and the desire to exact revenge upon them for his transformation, will often blind him to more immediate needs and threats. The beating of Baxter's wings, while flying, creates a characteristic 'buzzing' sound; this noise can alert enemies to his presence/position.
Materials:
(Baxter Stockman) Tissue paper, newsprint, cardboard, synthetic hair, plastic broom bristles, white glue, hot glue, wire twist ties, plastic, a toothpick, and acrylic paint.
(Anti-Turtle Swatter & Arm Brace) Newsprint, a toothpick, cardboard, white glue, hot glue, and acrylic paint.
(Cannister of Mutagen Ooze) Newsprint, cardboard, pen casing, white glue, hot glue, and acrylic paint.
(Communicator) Newsprint, cardboard, wire twist ties, white glue, hot glue, a photo from a Playmates TMNT toy package, and acrylic paint.
(Syringe) Newsprint, wire twist ties, ink tube from a pen, white glue, hot glue, and acrylic paint.
(Bag of Sugar Cubes) Newsprint, cardboard, white glue, hot glue, plastic clingwrap, and acrylic paint.
(Kung-Fu Cannon & Hand/Foot Beam Attachments) Newsprint, cardboard, white glue, hot glue, acrylic paint, and latex paint.
Dimensions*:
(*The numbers given are approximations, as the dimensions of this figure can vary, depending on how the articulated limbs are positioned.)
20.4 cm/8.0 in. x 17.0 cm/6.7 in. (highest point x widest point)
Articulation:
Thirty-seven points. The neck is jointed where it connects to the base of the head and can move in any direction. The bowtie rotates. The waist rotates, but the coat tails restrict its range of motion somewhat. The human arms rotate at the shoulders, move in any direction at the wrists, and each finger is jointed where it joins its respective hand. The insect arms can move at the shoulders, elbows, wrists, and each finger is articulated at the base where it joins the hand. The wings can move in any direction at the point where they connect to the back. The legs move at the hips, knees, and ankles.
Time:
Approximately eight days. Construction ran from 4/7/07 to 4/15/07. I began the figure on the afternoon of the 7th, building and painting the head; I also attached most of the hair to it on that date. I completed and painted the upper body, including the suit jacket, on the 8th. Additionally, I touched up the head's paint a bit, added some more hair to the thin spots, and attached Baxter's bug-faced noggin to his body. On the 9th, I made the left insect arm and applied the first coat of paint to it. The 10th saw me completing, painting, and attaching both insect arms, both wings, and both human arms. On the 11th, I made and painted the right leg and waist but they remained seperate from each other and the body. The left leg was completed on the 12th and both legs and the waist were joined to the upper body, completing the figure proper. I also made the mutagen cannister accessory. I took a break on Friday the 13th and didn't do any work (but not because I'm superstitious). I constructed the Anti-Turtle Swatter (and the splatted turtle attached to it), the Kung-Fu Cannon, and the Hand/Foot Beam Attachments for said gun, on the 14th. The final day of work, the 15th, consisted of making the Communicator, Syringe, Bag of Sugar Cubes, and Anti-Turtle Swatter Arm Brace. Additionally, I put a loop on the right lapel of Baxter's coat to hold the syringe and applied a second coat of paint to the two gun attachments.
For comparison purposes, below are three visual representations of Baxter Stockman from different mediums. (A) This is a stillshot of Baxter from the original 1987 TMNT cartoon series. (B) This is a screenshot of Baxter from the Super Entertainment System video game 'TMNT: Turtles In Time'. (C) This is a photo of the Playmates TMNT Baxter Stockman toy. My figure design isn't based solely on any particular interpretation of the character--I took elements that I liked from different versions, with a few of my own touches sprinkled in, to create my vision of Baxter Stockman.
REFERENCES:
1. Wikipedia 'Baxter Stockman' and 'The Fly' articles.
2. Playmates TMNT Baxter Stockman toy package.
3. Google Baxter Stockman image search.
4. Various TMNT video games.
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