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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles


Jagwar

An anthropomorphic jaguar. He was a hero character in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) universe.

Trivia

  • Jagwar made his first appearance in the September, 1990 issue of Archie Comics' Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures (#14). Jagwar was created by Mirage Studio artist Michael Dooney.


  • Jaguars have the strongest jaws of all the great cats. In fact, they're so powerful, that they usually kill prey by biting into, and crushing, their skulls, piercing the brain inside. Jaguars can even break turtle shells with their jaws--in that context, it's fortunate for the TMNT that Jaguar is one of the good guys.

  • A Playmates Jagwar toy was planned for release in 2008, as part of a "Global Mutant Missions" assortment of figures, but, much to the disappointment of fans, it was canceled.

  • The Mighty Mutanimals, a group of evil-fighting heroes, of which Jagwar was a member, spun off from the Archie TMNT Adventures comics into their own books. Some mini series and a monthly title were produced. The ongoing Mighty Mutanimals book did not sell particularly well and was cancelled after only nine issues (it ran from April 1992-June 1993).

  • Jaguars are supposed to be obligate carnivores, but, in the comics, Jagwar is usually shown eating fruit. Apparently his taste in food must have come from his human mother, and not his feline father . . .


BACKGROUND:
Jagwar is the mutant offspring of a union between the human woman, Juntarra, and the ancient and powerful Jaguar Spirit. Juntarra raised and taught her son/cub, Jagwar, until he was twelve years old, but, then, restless, she left to continue her personal quest to complete the "Path of The Four Winds", leaving him to fend for himself.

Jagwar first met the TMNT when the giant, other-worldly, disembodied cow's head, Cudley, dumped the four brothers in his Brazilian jungle, having transported them back to Earth after their participation in an intergalactic adventure. Quickly making friends with one another, Jagwar enlists the TMNT's aid in stopping a band of mercenaries who are plotting to cut down his rain forest home--the villains also recently killed a local union leader, Chico Mendes, and kid napped the American reporter who had come to interview Mendes, who just happens to be the Turtle's good friend, April O'Neil. Defeating the villains, and reuniting with April, Jagwar and his new friends enjoyed several other adventures in South America before parting company.

Shortly thereafter, Jagwar joined forces with several other animalistic humanoids (namely Wingnut, Screwloose, Leatherhead, Dreadmon, Man Ray, and Mondo Gecko) to form the super hero team, The Mighty Mutanimals. In the coming months, the group would fight against numerous villains, both on their own, and in collaboration with their allies, the TMNT. Unfortunately, Jagwar, and the other Mighty Mutanimals, came to an untimely, and controversial, end when they were gunned down and murdered by the demon Null's robotic henchmen (TMNT Adventures #55).


ABILITIES:

  • Multi-lingual

  • Jagwar can speak and understand several languages, including English, Spanish, and the "forest language" of the South American Caipacu Natives.

  • Jaguar Attributes

  • In comparison to an average human, Jaguar has excellent night vision, acute hearing, and a superior sense of smell. He also enjoys cat-like reflexes, agility, and speed. His claws and teeth serve as deadly weapons in close quarters combat and allow him to climb any surface in which he can get a grip. Jagwar's appearance, particularly when he bears his teeth and roars, is a frightening sight to behold, and is often more than enough to deter, or at least demoralize, human opponents.



WEAKNESSES:

  • Eco-conscience

  • Jagwar's concern over the environmental welfare of the planet, particularly the South American rain forests he call home, sometimes leads him to take stances that may be unpopular with his comrades. Enemies can also manipulate Jagwar by taking advantage of his protective inclinations towards nature.

  • Appearance

  • Most humans are frightened by the sight of Jagwar's cat-man form, and will behave accordingly. Usually some words from Jagwar can defuse the situation before something unfortunate happens, but not always. From a distance, Jagwar can be mistaken for a normal Jaguar, and, in that context, may be fired upon by hunters (the cats are often slain because they prey on farmer's livestock).


Materials:
Newsprint, Kleenex, white paper, cardboard from a potato chip box, white/hot glue, string from a sleeping bag, wire twist ties, sawdust, gloss nail polish, and acrylic paint.


Dimensions*:
(*The dimensions for this model can vary, depending on how the joints are positioned. The numbers given are for the figure in a 'neutral' standing pose, tail hanging straight down, and without any accessories attached.)
6.9 cm/2.7 in. x 3.3 cm/1.3 in. (highest point x widest point)


Articulation:
Twenty-eight points total: Jaw, Neck (2), shoulders (2), elbows (4), wrists (2), waist, tail (8), hips (2), knees (4), and ankles (2). Every leaf on Jagwar's belt and necklace can also move individually, but I'm not counting them as they just hang freely on the body and aren't permanently attached to the figure.


Time:
Four days; construction ran from 2/21/08-2/24/08.


Jagwar photo collage.




For comparison purposes, below are several images of Jagwar from the TMNT Adventures and Mighty Mutanimals comic books.

TMNT Adventures #14 Jagwar interior art.

TMNT Adventures #14 Jagwar cover art.       Mighty Mutanimals #8 Jagwar interior art.




REFERENCES:
(In no particular order of importance.)




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