One of the most iconic brands of the 90s remains an icon in the modern day, but every adaptation adds a little bit to the mythos. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have taken on countless new forms over the years, but there are still some elements of the franchise that haven't made it into the big spotlights.
The Ninja Turtles will be blowing up in the next few years. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg are producing an animated film called Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem! that's set to release next year. Though the end of Michael Bay's planned trilogy was canceled, Paramount has stated its plans to reboot the live-action Turtles in the coming years. In addition, the studio has announced its intention to put out villain-centric solo projects for some of the Turtles' rogues gallery. TMNT fans will be having a good couple of years at the theater and on streaming.
Old Hob
Starting in 2011 and ongoing to this day, the IDW series is the longest-running TMNT comic book dynasty to date. It introduced a new backstory for the Turtles, heavily tying them in with many of their classic foes. It also introduced plenty of new ones. Old Hob was introduced in the first IDW Turtles comic, where he swiftly became a fan-favorite villain. Old Hob was a house cat who was thrown out by his owner's mom, only to find himself coincidentally next to the four turtles and their fateful ooze. In the confusion of mutation, Splinter attacked and took out Old Hob's eye, leaving him with a vengeance quest.
Old Hob works for Baxter Stockman as a bounty hunter, dragging in other mutants to drag the mutagen from their blood. He's a gifted combatant with a small army of thugs and an immense threat in every encounter. Hob is later betrayed by Stockman, which leads him to form the "Mutanimals" team of heroes in vengeance. Old Hob is a fantastic villain and a great ally, so he'd make a great addition to the film outings of the Turtles.
Hun
Hun and his Purple Dragon gang were created for the 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles TV series, and he's barely carried on beyond it. Many fans consider that classic series the finest hour for the franchise, and Hun is part of that praise. He's a hulking physical presence, an overwhelmingly cruel person, and a deadly threat in combat. Hun is human, but he's more monster than most of the cast. Whether the films want to cast him as Shredder's right-hand man or bring him and the Purple Dragon as the main event, Hun's a fantastic TMNT villain.
Metalhead
This mechanical turtle typically shifts in motivation throughout his appearances. He's typically either built or reprogrammed by Donatello, turning him into a powerful ally when things get rough. Some o the comics go above and beyond this concept by having Donatello continue his life from within the machine. Metalhead could serve as a primary antagonist or the most powerful henchman of a film's villain. He's armed with a variety of high-tech weapons and tools that make him unique amongst the cast. While ninja skills and mutated biology make up the majority of the franchise's action, robots have always been a huge part of the cast as well. One of the few machines with a recognizable look and an identifiable personality could be an important piece of the mythos.
Armaggon
They can't all be complex characters who shine a light on less well-represented parts of the fandom. Some TMNT icons are just a great design and a killer premise. Armaggon is a shark and that's the only thing that's remained consistent. In the Archie Comics continuity, he's a time-traveling mutant shark who works alongside Shredder to slay the turtles. In the 2012 cartoon, he's an alien great white who pilots a massive bipedal shark mech hired to take them down. His presence in the hit Tournament Fighters game made him an icon amongst fighting game fans. Given the advancements in practical and CGI effects over the years, it would be a treat to see what a modern team could do with this awesome design.
Rat King
In 35 years of Ninja Turtle history, there may be no character less consistent than the elusive and powerful Rat King. He's either a homeless man with Pied Piper flute powers, a former scientist with a telepathic bond with rodents, a ghostly apparition haunting Splinter's conscious, or an ancient god of chaos. The 2012 Nickelodeon series and the IDW comic grant the character the most menacing presence of any villain in the franchise. The Rat King almost always wields his power over rats to take command of Splinter and to wreak havoc on New York City from the sewers. Whether it's for profit, to send a message, or for fun, Rat King is a fascinating antagonist. If there's any villain besides Shredder that can support a solo project, the Rat King is a strong contender. He's already been in almost every other medium, it's about time for Rat King to take to the big screen.