My Review: X-men Toad
Basic Profile
Brief History
Beliefs/Ideals
Superpowers Limitations
His Likes
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Toad happens to be one of the first few enemies of the X-men, when he was first featured in March 1964 issue.
As I learned more about him, I actually do feel sorry for the emotional and physical pain he went through during his childhood.
I cannot imagine him growing up being treated like he was a freak and also be abandoned by his family because of his appearance. I guess life can be so cruel and unfair sometimes.
However, I am glad that he managed to toughen and pick himself up when he was betrayed by his master then, Magneto.
That does not mean that I approve with the wrongdoings he has done, but things might have turned out differently if he actually had the family and love he needed. All the "what-ifs" and "what could have been".
But there is something I must give it up to him and it is his unwavering loyalty to someone because not everyone is capable of that.
Did you know that Ray Park played as Toad in the X-men movie franchise? In the first X-men movie, there is a fight scene with X-men Toad and Storm, where Storm struck him with a lightning bolt - that happens to be one of my favourite scenes.
| Code Name: | Toad |
| Real Name: | Mortimer Toynbee |
| Other Alias: | Terrible Toad King |
| First Appearance: | Uncanny X-men #4 - March 1964 |
| Romance Partners: | - |
| Relatives: | - |
| Superpowers: |
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| Team (Past & Current): |
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X-men Toad suffered a very harsh fate. He was born a mutant and abandoned by his parents. Therefore, he knows nothing about his family and past.
He was placed in an orphanage, where he was constantly harassed by other kids because of his freakish looks, leaping ability, and weird physique.
Due to the constant rejection and isolation, it has greatly traumatized him and has made him socially disabled.
It has also prevented him from reaching his full learning potential and this was seen by the teachers as a sign of mental retardation. As he matured into adulthood, he met Magneto who recruited him into his Brotherhood of Mutants.
X-men Toad alias was given by Magneto because of his leaping ability, personality, etc. To gain acceptance, he is willing to obey anyone with no questions asked.
Magneto merely recruited him to use him as a pawn and does not think he can make real contributions to his Brotherhood.
Based on his personality, he devoted himself to Magneto and sort of regarded him as his surrogate father.
Magneto frequently verbally and physically abuses him, but he blocks them all out because he believed Magneto will seek revenge to all those who had humiliated him when he defeats the human race.
He also met Scarlet Witch through the Brotherhood and became greatly infatuated with her. Unfortunately, she did not reciprocate the feelings.
Not long later, both Magneto and Toad was captured and imprisoned by an alien called the Stranger on a distant planet. Magneto managed to escape and he abandoned Toad.
Since then, he realised that he has been betrayed by his master and his attitude towards him has started to change.
After Magneto was captured a second time, this time he escaped with Toad. As Toad has developed a different attitude towards Magneto, he could not tolerate the constant abuse by Magneto. In an encounter with the X-men, he left Magneto to die in the explosion. However, Magneto survived.
Though the years have brought him much depression, he has managed to gain self-confidence and learned how to pull himself together. Once, he even led a part of his own Brotherhood.
X-men Toad only has one goal, and that is to exact his revenge on those who have inflicted emotional and physical pain onto him, which has made him the man he is today. With or without the help of the Brotherhood, he will have his revenge one day.
Most mutants have superhuman strength and so does X-men Toad. The only difference is the extent of the superhuman strength, but it is his leaping ability that makes him special.
The limit of his leaping ability is unknown. Even though, he has does not have any hand-to-hand combat skills, but you might have seen him execute a powerful leaping kick used against his opponents during fights.
His very flexible spine allows him to stay in a crouching position as long as he like without hurting his back.
His tongue has also being used in a few occasions, where you will see him using it to snatch an item.
He enjoys tormenting the people who had abused and made use of him. Not forgetting he is also very obsessed with Scarlet Witch and even had plans to kidnap her once.