TMNT: Shredder's Real Life Origin Story Is Even Weirder Than The Comics
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' archrival, Shredder is almost as iconic as his reptilian nemeses. Whether it's from the comics, the countless cartoons, or the numerous movies, the villain is instantly recognizable. A skilled ninja and crime lord sporting armor covered in razor-sharp blades, Shredder is one of the most lethal foes the Turtles have ever faced over the decades. His name strikes fear in the hearts of his enemies and his rivals tremble before him. However, he'd probably lose a lot of that intimidation factor if his adversaries knew he was inspired by dirty dishes.
Born Oroku Saki, Shredder made his first appearance in Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird's 1984 debut issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. However, despite the character eventually becoming an integral figure in TMNT lore, Shredder was actually killed off at the end of the first book after being stabbed by Leonardo and thrown off a rooftop. But, of course, he would later be retconned back to life and has spent the last few decades tormenting the Heroes in a Halfshell. Shredder's comic book origin story involves Saki seeking vengeance against the pet rat of the ninja who killed his older brother - and the four mutated turtles that rat raised to be fierce warriors - but somehow his real-life inspiration is even weirder.
"Shredder came from doing dishes," Eastman told Collider in a 2019 interview. When he and Laird were first starting on TMNT, the pair were spitballing ideas for their new series. Working out of Mirage Studios HQ, which, at the time, was a living room they shared, Laird's wife would often cook for the studio's founders. "To try to pay her back in some small fashion, Pete and I would wash and dry the dishes," Eastman recalled.
It was during one of these mundane chores that Shredder came to life. Drying dishes, Eastman put his hand inside a cheese grater from underneath, wearing it almost like a gauntlet. The idea of a villain with blades protruding from his armor instantly sparked inspiration. "Can you imagine a bad guy with one of these on his arm," Laird asked. "He would shred your skin off." Laird responded, "That's it! The Shredder!" And thus, a comic book cornerstone was born. One of the most iconic villains in pop culture history was the result of a post-dinner clean up.
This would hardly be the first time Eastman and Laird thought outside of the box when conceptualizing TMNT. The pair famously drew inspiration from Marvel's Daredevil, with the first issue hinting that the accident that blinded Matt Murdock was the same accident that led to radioactive ooze leaking into the sewer, creating the Ninja Turtles. But the parallels didn't stop there. Daredevil would battle the Hand in his comic while the Turtles would battle the Foot Clan. Daredevil was trained by Stick, the Turtles had Splinter. The nods weren't terribly subtle.
Whether drawing inspiration from Marvel's Man Without Fear or a simple kitchen appliance, a willingness to embrace unorthodox thinking when approaching their characters has obviously paid off. More than three decades later, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - along with Shredder - remain pop culture mainstays. It's funny to think that the heroes' signature villain may never have even existed had Eastman and Laird used a dishwasher instead.
Source: Collider
Source: Screenrant
Post a Comment