| Mortimer Toynbee Toad | |
|---|---|
.png) | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The X-Men #4 (March 1964)[1] |
| Created by | |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | Mortimer Toynbee |
| Species | Human mutant |
| Team affiliations | Brotherhood of Mutants The 198 Defenders The Misfits Jean Grey School Lethal Legion |
| Notable aliases | Toad, The Terrible Toad-King,Stranger |
| Abilities |
|
Toad (Mortimer Toynbee) is a fictional character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. Created by writerStan Lee and artist/co-writerJack Kirby, he first appeared inThe X-Men #4 (March 1964).
Toad is most often depicted as an enemy of theX-Men and was originally ahunchbackedmutant with superhuman leaping ability. He wasMagneto'ssniveling servant (or "toady") in the 1960s line-up of theBrotherhood of Mutants. He later became the leader of his faction of the Brotherhood, which focused more on criminal activities than mutant liberation.
Since his inception, the character has appeared in numerous media adaptations, such astelevision series,films, andvideo games.Ray Park played a significantly different version of Toad in 2000'sX-Men film, with aspects of his portrayal being incorporated into thecomic book version. A younger Toad appeared in the filmX-Men: Days of Future Past, played byEvan Jonigkeit, and an alternative version of the same character appears inDeadpool & Wolverine, played by Daniel Ramos.
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Created by writerStan Lee and artist/co-writerJack Kirby, he first appeared inX-Men #4 (March 1964).
Mortimer Toynbee was born inYork, England, with his mutation manifesting at birth and giving him a frog-like appearance. He was soon after abandoned by his parents and spent many years in an orphanage, where he was constantly tormented by other children. Mortimer was considered to be mentally inferior due to his extreme shyness and mild learning disabilities during his primary school years, though he was actually quite intelligent. He dropped out at an extremely early age and decided to fend for himself. Following years of abuse, Mortimer developed a severe inferiority complex.
Later, he was recruited intoMagneto's originalBrotherhood of Mutants, becoming Magneto'ssycophantic "toady." Toad believed that Magneto loved him, while Magneto considered him little more than a lackey. Toad also develops a crush on his teammateScarlet Witch, but she does not return his feelings.[2]
Sometime later, Toad uses theStranger's technology to menace theAvengers.[3] He even attempts to killAngel in a castle outfitted with traps byArcade. However, he instead turns the castle into an amusement park and becomes its caretaker.[4] Toad is eventually ejected from the castle byDoctor Doom and becomes suicidal, realizing that he is too dependent on others to work alone. He befriendsSpider-Man and allies withSpider-Kid andFrog-Man as the superhero adventurer team, the Misfits.[5] Toad later leaves the Misfits and returns to villainy. He forms his own version of the Brotherhood of Mutants along withBlob,Pyro, andPhantazia.[6]
Years later, still struggling with depression, Toad is captured byProsh, along withJuggernaut,Iceman,Jean Grey, andMystique as part of a time-hopping plan to stop a global threat. Toad learns that his deformed body was the result of experimentation by Juggernaut's father, Kurt Marko, atAlamogordo, New Mexico, which left him with an unstable genetic structure. The Stranger's equipment corrects his genetic flaws, giving him augmented abilities and a prehensile tongue. Though his change improves his self-esteem, Toad continued to live life without direction. He proceeds to join several short-lived incarnations of the Brotherhood of Mutants.[7]
For reasons unknown, Toad returns to Magneto's side during the "Planet X" storyline. However, he is not as docile and subservient as he had been in the past, even openly questioning Magneto at times. Magneto, in turn, is tyrannical in his treatment of Toad, who had become his second-in-command. After Magneto is apparently killed, it is revealed that he had been an imposter namedXorn and that the real Magneto was still alive.
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Toad is among the 198 estimated mutants who retain their powers following the events of "Decimation", when the Scarlet Witch removes the powers of most mutants on Earth. He,Caliban,Domino,Shatterstar, and a number of other mutants hide in what they believe to be an abandoned nuclear bunker in the Nevada desert. While the X-Men and theOffice of National Emergency battle outside the bunker,Johnny Dee is instructed by General Lazer to cause chaos among the 198. The group of mutants discovers this asOutlaw, controlled by Johnny, attacks Domino.
It is later revealed that the bunker was a blast-containment chamber for experimental weapons. As the auto-destruct sequence is initiated, Toad is trapped inside the chamber with the rest of the 198. The X-Men,Bishop,Iron Man, andMs. Marvel rescue the trapped mutants, who escape unharmed.
Toad is later seen rioting in San Francisco, angry about the fact that mutants have been forbidden to have children. Toad is faced byCyclops and defeated.[8] He is later seen being carried byTrance andDragoness, who are being pursued by H.A.M.M.E.R. agents.[9] After the battle is over, Toad is seen together with Dragoness andAvalanche living on the X-Men's newUtopia homebase.[10]
After a fight between Cyclops and Wolverine, the X-Men are divided between Utopia andWestchester. Toad decided to go to Westchester with Wolverine who accepts him as the school's janitor.[11]
During the events of "Avengers vs. X-Men," Toad andHusk develop a sentimental relationship.[12] The relationship leads to Toad quitting the Grey Academy to join Husk at the Hellfire Academy, where she had become a teacher. However, he is relegated to the position of janitor and witnesses Husk undergo a mental breakdown, quickly regretting that he joined.[13]
During the "Secret Empire" storyline, Toad joins New Tian's strike force followingHydra's takeover of the United States. He gains a secondary mutation that enables him to light his tongue on fire.[14]
During the storyline "The Trial of Magneto", the Scarlet Witch convinces Magneto to strangle her to death a part of her plan to resurrect deceased mutants whose minds were not backed up byCerebro. After being resurrected, Scarlet Witch implicates Toad for her murder. Toad pleads guilty and is banished to the Pit of Exile.[15] Toad is eventually freed byCypher along with the other inmates of the Pit in exchange for leavingKrakoa and hunting down the recently escaped Sabretooth so he can be punished for his crimes.[16]
Toad's intellect and physical abilities have gone through some changes over the years. In the character's inception, he possessed superhuman leg strength, endurance, agility, reflexes, coordination, and balance, as well as a superhuman ability to leap great distances. However, over the years, Toad's original powers have increased, and he has gained additional powers through further mutation, including adhesive saliva, the ability to stick to and climb walls, and an elongated prehensile tongue.[volume & issue needed]. As a result of further mutation, he now has mottled green skin and pointed ears.[volume & issue needed]
Toad's primarymutant ability is a superhuman leaping ability that allows him to leap many times higher and farther than an ordinary human. He possesses some degree ofsuperhuman strength and endurance, primarily concentrated in his lower torso and legs, which grants him superior leaping abilities. His vertebral column and skeletal structure are unusually flexible, enabling him to remain in a constant crouching position and contort his body into an unusual position without injury or strain. In his first appearances, Toad had very little knowledge of hand-to-hand combat, fighting mainly by kicking wildly and by leaping about and attempting to land on his opponents. In later appearances, he has demonstrated a better sense of combat and a leaner physique, using both his leaping ability and his tongue to his advantage.
As a result of having his genetic structure restored (thus stabilizing and augmenting his mutation), Toad gained an elastic, prehensile tongue that he can extend up to 25 feet in length and use to ensnare and constrict others.[volume & issue needed] He can also secrete odorlesspheromonevenom andpsychoactive chemicals from his tongue and fingertips that allow him to control minds to a limited extent.[volume & issue needed] Thanks to special pads on his hands and feet, Toad can stick to and climb most surfaces with ease, even if they are vertical, inverted, or slick. He can also secrete a highly adhesive resin from his pores that paralyzes thenervous system of anybody who touches it. Toad has also demonstrated the ability to telepathically communicate with amphibian life (which he often uses as spies),[volume & issue needed] and to expel powerful gusts of wind from his lungs.[17]
Toad's intellect has increased beyond his original levels, and he has considerable knowledge of advanced technology and access to vast technological and scientific knowledge, which he gained as a lackey toMagneto and while he was held captive by theStranger, as well as his studies of machinery in the possession ofArcade andArkon. He once possessed alien technology that he stole from the Stranger's world, and could utilize it to create synthezoid robots, among other uses. He has demonstrated the ability to apply this advanced technology but lacks the creativity to make progress beyond his existing knowledge. For example, while he could construct and utilize a powerful exoskeletal armor, he would be unable to improve on its base design.
Toad later underwent a secondary mutation, gaining the ability to light his tongue on fire.[14]
An alternate universe version of Toad from Earth-311 appears inMarvel 1602. This version is a servant ofEnrique in theVatican.[18][19]
An alternate universe version of Toad from Earth-295 appears inAge of Apocalypse. This version is a member ofForge's resistance group, the Outcasts, before being killed byGrizzly.[20]
An alternate universe version of Toad from Earth-18119 appears inAmazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows. This version is a member of the Brotherhood of Mutants.[21]
An alternate universe version of Toad from Earth-9997 appears inEarth X. This version obtained Magneto's powers following a polar shift and usurped him as leader of the Brotherhood of Mutants.[22]
An alternate universe version of Toad from Earth-58163 appears inHouse of M. This version is a member ofWolverine's Red Guard.[23]
An alternate universe version of Toad from Earth-90214 appears inMarvel Noir. This version is a corrupt police officer and partner of homicide detectiveFred Dukes.[24]
A zombified alternate universe version of Toad from Earth-2149 appears inMarvel Zombies/Army of Darkness #2.[volume & issue needed]
An alternate universe version of Toad from Earth-40081 appears inPowerless #4.[25]
An alternate universe version of Toad appears inX-Men Ronin.[volume & issue needed]
An alternate universe version of Toad from Earth-1610 appears in theUltimate Marvel universe. This version possesses a more frog-like appearance and is a member of the X-Men.[26]
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