TOAD: The Terrible

"Do you know what happens to a TOAD when it gets struck by lightning? ... The same thing that happens to everything else."
--Storm

Who is TOAD?
TOAD is Mortimer Toynbee a Marvel Comics super villain. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in X-Men #4 (March 1964). TOAD originally appeared as a weak, hunchbacked mutant, with a superhuman leaping ability.
First Appearance

TOAD was thought to be mentally inferior due to his extreme shyness and mild learning, though he was actually quite intelligent. Based on years of abuse and knowing he was a freak, Mortimer developed a severe inferiority complex, becoming servile to anyone that showed him the slightest bit of affection.

This is the reason why he joined Magneto's original Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. TOAD believed that Magneto loved him, while the mutant mastermind considered this henchman little more than a human shield.

TOAD later happened upon the advance technology of the being known as the Stranger. He studied the Stranger's equipments in an effort to become more powerful. He uses this newfound technology to strike at the superhero team the AVENGERS, but even with all the advance equipments, he was still defeated. (Avengers #137-139)

Later he met and was befriended by Spider-Man, and teamed with Spider-Kid and Frog-Man as the superhero adventurer team, the Misfits. (Amazing Spider-Man #266)

However, TOAD's dabble into superheroic was short lived and returned to villainy. Forming his own Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. (X-Force #5-7)

Years later, TOAD learned that his deformed body was the result of experimentation by Juggernaut's father, Kurt Marko, at Alamogordo, New Mexico, which left TOAD with an unstable genetic structure. The Stranger's equipment corrected his genetic flaws, resulting in an almost complete metamorphosis: TOAD had a taller and slimmer appearance and had his powers augmented. Among the most notable changes was a prehensile tongue. This new look was to actually coincide with his movie appearance. (X-Men Forever 1-6)

TOAD has not been involve much in big storylines, appearing shortly here and there. However, this gives him time to hatch his plan and jump at you. To show you how serious you should take this funny looking mutant, here's him fighting Wolverine in a one-on-one cage match. (Wolverine Vol. 2 #167-168)

ANIMATED APPEARANCES
Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends
TOAD was in a short scene in Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, when Magneto is demanding for The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants to be freed from prison in the episode "The Prison Plot". Magneto describes him as "obedient and super-agile".

X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men
Frank Welker lent his voice for TOAD in the pilot episode X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men.

X-Men: Evolution
The TOAD who appears in the X-Men: Evolution cartoon is an American teen named Todd Tolansky instead of Mortimer Toynbee. In the series, he speaks with a heavy Brooklyn accent and is a member of the Brotherhood and a former classmate of the X-Men. He was voiced by Noel Fisher.

Wolverine and the X-Men
TOAD also appeared in Wolverine and the X-Men animated series voiced by A.J. Buckley. TOAD here sports dreadlocks.

The Super Hero Squad
A.J. Buckley reprises his role of TOAD in The Super Hero Squad Show .

LIVE APPEARANCES
Ray Park
TOAD appeared as a character in the 2000 movie X-Men, played by Ray Park. He is a member of Magneto's Brotherhood and possesses enhanced leaping capability and acrobatic speed, agility, dexterity, reflexes, coordination, balance, a sticky prehensile 13-foot (4.0 m) tongue, and the ability to spit acidic mucus that hardens almost instantly.

Cameo in X-Men Origins : Wolverine
TOAD made a short cameo as one of Stryker's prisoners in X-Men Origins : Wolverine

POWERS & ABILITIES
Note: Due to the nature of comic books being an on-going tale, the character's powers along with his appearance, is in a constant state of flux.

Superhuman Leaping: The TOAD's primary mutant power is the ability to leap to heights and distances far greater than that of an ordinary human. He possesses a degree of superhuman strength, particularly in his back and legs, which grants him his superior leaping abilities. He has a vertical leap of 25 feet and a horizontal jump of approximately 37 feet in a single leap. Although the TOAD usually stands in a crouching position, he can stand erect if he wishes. His unusually flexible spine enables him to crouch continually without strain. The TOAD has no knowledge of hand-to-hand combat. However, his powers enable him to execute a leaping kick with superhuman force at an opponent.

Flexible Bone Structure: The TOAD's bone structure enables him great flexibility. He can remain in a crouching position for long periods and perform contortionist type feats without causing any damage to his spine.

Superhuman Stamina: The TOAD's muscles produce a significantly lower amount of fatigue toxins during physical activity than the muscles of an ordinary human. He can exert himself at peak capacity for several hours before fatigue begins to impair him.

Superhuman Agility: The TOAD's overall equilibrium application is enhanced to some degree and his bodily coordination and balance are enhanced to levels that are beyond the human body's natural limits.

Superhuman Reflexes: The TOAD's reflexes are enhanced to levels that are beyond the human body's natural limits.

Superhuman Durability: The TOAD's body is tougher and more resistant to physical injury than an ordinary human is. He can withstand major impacts and physical trauma that would severely injure or kill an ordinary human with moderate discomfort.

Regenerative Healing Factor: The TOAD has a limited healing factor that allows him to recover from injuries and ailments at an accelerated rate. He can recover from minor ailments, such as a cold, within a few hours. Larger, more damaging injuries, such as broken bones, heal within a matter of days.

UV/Infrared Vision: The TOAD's enhanced vision allows him to see into the ultraviolet and infrared spectrum, granting him a degree of heightened night vision. However, his eyes are also sensitive to certain types of lighting, forcing him to wear light-filtering goggles that allow him to operate in strong daylight that would otherwise blind him.

Prehensile Tongue: The TOAD has the ability to extend his tongue up to 30 feet in distance to ensnare objects and people.

Pheromone Secretion: The TOAD's tongue secretes odorless, pheremonous venom that seeps through the skin directly into the bloodstream. This venom allows him to control minds of any exposed to it to a limited extent..

Acidic Saliva: The TOAD's saliva is highly acidic and can adhere to most surfaces and quickly dissolve most materials with ease.

Paralytic Resin: The TOAD's pores secrete an adhesive resin that allows him to stick to any surface and paralyzes the nervous systems of any living organism that is exposed to it.

Superhuman Respiratory System: The TOAD's lungs can expand and compress large quantities of air that can be expelled with enough force to knock a fully grown human off their feet.

Amphibian Control: The TOAD the ability to psionically communicates with and control amphibian life, such as frogs, TOADs, newts, and salamanders, which he often uses as spies.

Abilities Experienced Combatant: The TOAD has no knowledge of hand-to-hand combat. However, his powers enable him to execute a leaping kick with superhuman force at an opponent. The TOAD's superhuman agility combined with his powerful legs makes him a highly formidable opponent in kick-boxing, despite a lack of any formal training.

Expert Machinist: The TOAD has a great knowledge of most forms of conventional and advanced technology, thanks to his studies of machinery in the possession of Arcade, Arkon, Magneto, and the Stranger. He once developed a robotic battle suit containing an exoskeleton that amplifies his strength and emits a pulse ball of lightning when it hits a target. It was also equipped with thermoblasters, poison gas projectors, and a self teleportation device. The TOAD has also used a strength amplifying exoskeleton composed of pure energy.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toad_(comics) : http://www.comicvine.com/toad/29-1470/earth-616-toad/108-691/?page=2 : http://www.comicvine.com/toad/29-1470/ : http://marvel.wikia.com/Mortimer_Toynbee_(Earth-616) : http://marvel.wikia.com/X-Men_Vol_1_4 : http://marvel.wikia.com/Mortimer_Toynbee_(Earth-616)/Gallery

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6/6/2011
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