Ok, if you are a LeatherHead fan I encourage you to write and draw him, but for the love of gawd EDUCATE yourself on Crocodilian anatomy! I have read too many horrible fanfictions that seem to try to compare him to the turtles; The are both reptiles yes, but their anatomy is completely different- You can't compare a cat to a human just because they are both mammals, or apples to oranges because they are both fruit!
Here are my 10 pet peeves that I have noticed are common and make for truly awful fanfics/fanart that I can't even read/look at because they make me cringe, along with tips and suggestions to improve.
1.) LeatherHead does NOT have a "beak". Turtles have beaks, lizards and crocodilians (gators and crocs) do NOT. He has a snout and jaws and teeth. A "Beak" is the lack of teeth, and instead a horny projecting jaws like a squid or a turtle or a bird. LeatherHead has TEETH not a beak. I know you read a lot of turtle fanfics and want to be the pioneer that includes more LH, but if you do, you have to do your research 'cuz his body is not the same.
2.) LeatherHead does NOT have a "plastron" he has a "chest". The turtles have plastrons because they have SHELLS! LeatherHead has thick scales, but not a shell, so you would refer to that part of his anatomy as his chest.
3.) That "Slit" that holds his genitalia is called a "Cloaca" or a "vent".
4.) LeatherHead would NOT have a ginormous penis. The turtles would all be well endowed because turtles have naturally large phallic organs to compensate for needing to maneuver around the female's shell. Crocodiles and Alligators have very small genitalia, even in comparison to humans. It does not matter that the 2012 LH is 8ft tall or the 2003 is closer to 10ft tall, his dick is tiny. Don't believe me? Feel free to google Crocodile Penis.
If you want to write/draw LH and one of the turtles copulating that is all well and good, but at least make it believable; Do not give him a 16 inch shaft with a 5 inch diameter that, btw would KILL the turtles if he tried to anally penetrate any of them. (the body does NOT stretch that much and you CAN die from a perforated rectum/colon, I don't care HOW much "prep" or "lube" you use, it's not gonna happen.) If you prefer to write the turtles as having their organs in their tails like real turtles, if anything, LH would be too small to be effective because he would not be long enough to reach their anus (same if you are writing genderbent turtles, he wouldn't be long enough to reach the good stuff and please his partner) and the turtles would be much too big to "top" LH. Yes, the turtle's junk would be bigger than his. Google turtle penis, they are HUGE.
Based on his size, I wouldn't give him any longer than 6 inches, 6.5 tops.
Also, his testicles MAY be internal, but when the penis is fully erect, the testicles start to protrude out from the cloaca and sometimes they emerge half way or fully (this is NOT the case with turtles, their testicles are located deep inside their body near the bladder.)
5.) LeatherHead does NOT "churr". Churring is a turtle thing. Gators and crocs make a deep rumbling/growling sound called "bellowing" and once again, if you are reading this you DO have the powers of the internet and guess what? You can find a gator and croc's mating calls on youtube.
6.) LetherHead would not "mate" the same way the turtles do. The whole touching the face/cheeks thing, that is a turtle behavior, and if you are going to write the turtles using their instinctual turtle traits during coitus, then it is only fair you do the same justice to LeatherHead, in fact it would make even MORE sense since LeatherHead has the most difficult time keeping his "animal" side and "rage" in check.
Gators make the bellowing noise and wait for their mate to make a similar noise in response to show mutual interest and arousal because female crocodillians are VERY picky and they will fight off any male they don't feel is "worthy" so most males don't bother to fight it they just move on to a female that shows interest (they also blow bubbles and slap the water with their snouts but unless you are doing a water sex scene that prob doesn't apply for you) and adopt certain arched postures and release an oily musk. Courtship and foreplay is very important and can last for hours, and it involves rubbing snouts/noses together and using their snouts to rub each other's backs (LH would not use his hands/claws very much, and btw, using those clawed fingers to "prep" his partner? OUCH! Bloody anus!) Their heads and noses are what is most sensitive to them and so nuzzling would be very sensual for LH. So go with THAT. LH would also rub his body against his mate's to see if the mate returns the affection and wait for vocal confirmation- despite their usually aggressive behavior, crocodillians are very slow and cautious when it comes to mating and it is actually quite gentle and affectionate. That being said- Please STOP and desist any attempts at writing/depicting a hormon crazed LH that is driven to frustration by "mating season" and becomes a violent RAPIST. A human would not do that and neither would a croc/gator- He may fight off other males in order to impress or protect his own mate, but he would not try to mate with the ones he is fighting- aggression is for threats not intimacy, and his crocodilian nature would urge him to try to "woo" his potential mate. LeatherHead would be a romantic, both in his rational state of mind and his animalistic state of being. Aggressive mating can be seen in turtles though (more often in land turtles because aquatic turtle females are just as strong as males, sometimes bigger, and just as aggressive and will give a bloody fight so there is very little chance of a female being forced, plus being in water means it's easy to swim away. It is likely that the turtles in a mating season might attack LH, but not for the purpose of mating so much as the purpose of driving away a predator from their potential mates.
There is NO MOUNTING, at least, not in the sense that you see with Turtles or dogs; the male taking the female from behind. If you see a croc "riding" another, that is just courtship/cuddling. The long tails make it impossible do mate from behind or on top like that.
There is NO MISSIONARY position; a crocodillian's belly is where the scales are softest and thus the are most vulnerable, plus, with the way they are built, laying on their back is NOT comfortable. They DO need to angle their bodies to somewhat face each other in order to line up their cloacas, and this is done more from a sideways position- it usually happens underwater, but for the sake of your fic/art, whatever, facing each other while laying on their sides would be most appropriate since that would be what is most comfortable for LH.
7.) Depending if you want to write them as more "human" or more "reptillian", LH would NOT be jealous if his "mate" showed interest in others since crocodillians are by no means exclusive, and female egg clutches often contain DNA from several fathers at a time. If you want to explore the character from his more "animal" side, this means that LH would not be offended by OT4, all the turtles being together- Of course, I imagine that 2 or 3 of the turtles might have a problem because Turtles in the wild form social groups called "bales" with Hierarchies similar to a wolf pack, and they are very protective of both the males AND females in their group even OUTSIDE of mating season, which means they don't like outsiders coming in to try and steal a mate, and also, instincts would say that crocs EAT turtles and they need to be wary. However, if you want to write about a more monogamous relationship, that is fine too, but in that case it would probably make more sense to write the copulation as having more "human" traits and less less reptilian (so less churring on the turtle's part as well.)
8.) Please take into account the Pros AND Cons of copulation between LH and the turtles or any OC; On the one hand, crocodilians are unique because unlike other reptiles, they DO have a 4 chambered heart- what does that mean? No they are not warm blooded, they are still exothermic, however they are able to retain a slightly warmer than usual body temperature than other reptiles and for longer periods of time, so if you are writing/drawing the character with the interpretation that he has maintained more reptile qualities, you could have his mate compare him to the turtles in regards to body heat and how his is comforting. There are cons that should NOT be ignored though- LeatherHead's skin is not just hard, it is also ROUGH, which means the texture is very course and rocky, it would not have the smooth, soft leathery feel of the turtle's skin, so if LH were to try to rub against the turtles anywhere other than the plastron or carapace of their shell, they would get scraped "road rash" so to speak, the same goes for any non-turtle OCs or other characters you may with to pair him with. This means that Intercrural intercourse (placing the penis between the partners squeezed thighs so they can get off without any actual anal or vaginal penetration) would be very much one-sides- that is, LH could make use of the Turtle's smooth thighs, but LH's thighs would be painful (like humping sandpaper) Those claws, even if trimmed down to the quick (where nail meets blood vessel) are still long and sharp, so any "prep" or "fingering" by LH is OUT OF THE QUESTION. His fingers have rough, scratchy skin with tiny knifes at the end, you DON'T want that inside of you. I imagine an handjob from him would be equally unpleasant. LH can receive Oral but cannot give it. His snout is elongated into an awkward shape and it is lined all around with sharp pointy teeth. He can't give a blow job, he can only bite it OFF.
Also please take into consideration LH's anger issues and PTSD. This is a huge part of who LeatherHead is as a character- his constant struggle with his animal side and the rage that threatens his control over his rational mind, and dealing with the nightmares and flashbacks to being captured, tortured and experimented on by either Agent Bishop from the 2003 series or the Kraang from the 2012 series. IDK how many of you are familiar with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, but let me assure you episodes can occur at ANY time and only need the tiniest of triggers depending on the severity, and LH was VERY severely traumatized. His animal side can come out not only during moments of anger or fear, but anything that gets his heart rate going, including sex. How do you apply this? I imagine that, given the more affectionate nature of natural crocodillian mating, as the "topping" or "dominant" partner, LH would feel most comfortable, most in control, since, as a male, that is the most natural position for him to be in and that's what his reptillian brain would tell him- He would be calm in that instance and gentle and careful not to weigh down too heavily on his smaller mate, and since mating for crocs is slow anyway, there is no need for him to fear going too fast or rushing his partner into something he/she is not comfortable with. BUT! If you were to try to experiment with LH as the "bottom" or "submissive" partner, there in would lay the difficulties- the unnatural position would leave him nervous and vulnerable despite his partner's reassurances and that anxiety at something so new could trigger an instinct to protect himself. The key would be to both partners experimenting to find a position that is comfortable and pleasing to both- this means that sex is something they would have to work at to get right, a slow and steady process of learning each others likes, dislikes and comfort levels. A rushed, heat of the moment first time would probably not end well. Also take into consideration the "after glow" when they are both asleep and cuddling after- there is so much to work with and explore there, having LH have constant nightmares about being captured and tortured, only to wake up in a panic and violent blind rage- you could add angst by having his partner startled and accidentally injured by LH while he's in this feral state, but still try to calm him down and let him know he is safe, only to have LH feel horribly guilty about having harmed someone he loves even after a night of intimacy, which could lead to interesting drama about LH being reluctant to sleep with his partner after intimacy for fear of hurting them and their partner determined to help LH through this, no matter how long it takes (and it would take a VERY long time, we are talking YEARS, and many never recover) Also, if you are focusing on 2003 LH, remember his goal is to build the transmat and be reunited with his beloved Utrom Family- which brings the struggle of eventually having to LEAVE his mate. (at the end of the Back to the Sewers Season, it would seem he has accomplished this goal).
Does that seem like a lot of cons? Yes. Because being with LH intimately would NOT be easy at all! It would be a very difficult relationship both physically and emotionally, but if you are truly dedicated to pairing him with someone, then wouldn't writing or drawing out all those difficulties only prove his partners loyalty and devotion? Does not true love overcome all things? Relationships are hard, they are never smooth or perfect and they take work, and those that you put the most effort into are the ones that actually LAST. If you want to write something decent Romance wise with LH that will really hook your readers, please take this into consideration- the best happy endings are the ones that the heroes really have to work hard to achieve, sometimes they nearly fail, but those failures only make your want to root for them even more, don't they?
9.) LeatherHead's potential mates are not limited to OCs, Donatello or Mikey, and please take into consideration what series you are writing/drawing from. Think of this; in the 2003 series, it was MIKEY who first discovered and befriended LH, and all the turtles enjoyed his company and got along with him, so either Mikey or Donatello would be logical mates. In the original Mirage comics though, LeatherHead DOES NOT LIKE OR EVEN TRUST DONATELLO- he even attacks Raph in a rage thinking he is Donatello until Raph speaks and clarifies who he is. In the 2012 series, LH and Mikey have a VERY close relationship that none of the other turtles share- in this instance, Donatello is NOT a suitable mate AT ALL. 2012 shares none of the scientific brilliance that brought him and Don close in the 2003 series, and Donatello has a great fear of LH. Mikey however is the only turtle able to calm LH down. However, Mikey is not the ONLY turtle in the 2012 series compatible with LH. Consider SLASH. Think about it, not only are they closer in size, but they both have memories of being pets (the turtles were babies and only pets for like, 5 to 10 minutes tops before they were mutated, gained human sentience and became sons, so they don't really have experience with the pet mentality) They are both "alone" in their species (Slash is more of a tortoise than a turtle, you can clearly see that Spike is a land terrapin, where the bowl of water Yoshi carred the baby turtles in was filled with water making them aquatic turtles, and unlike the 4 turtles who mutated after being touched by a human last, Spike mutated after being touched by another mutant turtle, making him less human and more turtle mutant-y, no other mutant turtle like him, he doesn't share the 4 turtles bond, which means he is alone just as LH is the only croc. They both have issues where their animalistic rage has taken control and made them feral and wild, and they have both been captured and suffered at the hands of the Kraang, and are all older than the turtles. (Raph found Spike as a young adult turtle, and we know Slash was held in Dimension X where time runs faster than in our world, so just as LH aged, so would Slash). Plus, in the comics where Slash forms the Mighty Mutanimals, he and Leatherhead are close, LeatherHead being the only one strong enough to restrain him when he goes into one of his violent episodes, as well as the only one to calm him down- we can see that paralleled in the 2012 series where LH is very reassuring to Slash whenever Slash doubts himself, LH telling the turtles he trusts Slash with his life, and at the end of season 3 during the destruction of earth, LH and Slash are reaching for one another in their final moments. Basically, don't limit LH's romantic options and please consider Slash as a romantic partner as well (also in the new comic series, as well as the old Archie comics series, Slash and Raph are NOT friends, and in fact, Mikey is the turtle Slash feels closest to- they even have a special bond in the new IDW series, with Slash aspiring to be a hero like Michelangelo and being very protective of the turtle in orange and Mikey convincing his bros to give Slash a second chance and even inviting Slash to move in with him in his new bachelor pad, assuring him it would be JUST THE 2 OF THEM- so much potential there!)
If you don't want to write an OC, remember LH doesn't have to be limited to the Turtles or Slash- 2003 LH would have LOTS in common with Professor HoneyCutt AKA the Fugitoid, it would be a purely romantic and spiritual relationship, but that doesn't make the love any less real. Mona Lisa would be much better suited for LH than Raphael, considering that prior to her mutation she was a college student who majored in SCIENCE and was interning for a SCIENTIST, So LeatherHead's brains as well as his physiology which would more closely resemble a lizard would be attractive to her- Hey, if you can expect me to believe that Mona Lisa, a HUMAN mutated into a reptile, could ever POSSIBLY be attracted to a turtle and not normal human men and want to find a cure, then she should find LH MORE attractive since his anatomy would be more similar to hers and they would have more to talk about. Heck, if you REALLY want to be creative and out there, why not April?
10.) Consider LeatherHead's AGE. He is older than the turtles in every incarnation. Which means there is a level of phyiscal and emotional maturity that he has that the turtles do NOT. He has more life experiences and they are vastly different from anything the turtles grew up with, so his mentallity would be very different than theirs. They may be more mature than human teenagers given their situation, but they are STILL teenagers which makes it difficult for an adult to relate to on a romantic level. Even if the setting in your story/comic has the turtles as adults, LH will always be an older adult- There is a huge difference in the behavior and mentality between a 25 year old and a 45 year old. Even Donatello has teenager quirks and antics and can be just as silly as his brothers, and that "childish" behavior, that youthful energy, would grow exasperating to LeatherHead. So please, take into consideration that, even though this is fiction and they are MUTANTS, not human, you are still describing a relationship between an adult and a minor or a young adult and a much older adult, there is an age difference and it DOES affect personality and how we relate to others. I'm not saying DON'T do it, I'm saying if you DO, please take into consideration all the little details, because that effects how the characters respond and react in any situation, and it can be the difference between a fan saying "wow, this is amazing! It's thought out and well written and I'm totally addicted I could read this over and over until 3am!" and "wow, this is crap, did they get high on sugar and just barf this out in under 10 minutes on a dare?" LH should have more deeper thought of introspection and personal reflection, enjoy more quiet time whereas all the turtles with the exclusion of Leonardo dislike meditation and prefer to be always doing SOMETHING, all of them like running around and video games (yes, even Donny) and lets face it, LH does not have that much in common with them. (2003 LH and Don love science, but that's it, LH doesn't appreciate mechanics and vehicles or explosions or sports like Don does, and while LH was able to assist Don in finding the cure, genetics is vastly out of his range of expertise, he relied heavily on Donatello's theories and research but was at a loss for how to continue, only by combining Donatello's work with Baxter Stockman's research and Bishop's advanced equipment was LH able to cure Don's secondary mutation, he said it himself. LH's specialty is Utrom Technology and electronics, which means he was much more compatible with Professor HoneyCutt aka the Fugitoid.)
Your OTP is your own, and your interpretation of a character is unique and should be expressed, however, when you go too Out of Character, you are no longer writing about that character and unless you admit that and then state that this is an original character, it is painful to read/see. You can add your own interpretations and twists without diverging completely from WHO that character is- and isn't WHO that character is why you love them and want to write/draw them?
