Toad (Marvel Comics)

Toad (Mortimer Toynbee) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in The X-Men #4 (March 1964).

Toad is most often depicted as an enemy of the X-Men and was originally a hunchbacked mutant with superhuman leaping ability. He was Magneto's sniveling servant (or "toady") in the 1960s line-up of the Brotherhood of Mutants. He later became the leader of his faction of the Brotherhood, which focused more on criminal activities than mutant liberation.

Since his inception, the character has appeared in numerous media adaptations, such as television series, films, and video games. Ray Park played a significantly different version of Toad in 2000's X-Men film, with aspects of his portrayal being incorporated into the comic book version. A younger Toad appeared in the film X-Men: Days of Future Past, played by Evan Jonigkeit, and an alternative version of the same character appears in Deadpool & Wolverine, played by Daniel Ramos.

Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in X-Men #4 (March 1964).

Mortimer Toynbee was born in York, England, with his mutation manifesting at birth and giving him a frog-like appearance. He was soon after abandoned by his parents and spent many years in an orphanage, where he was constantly tormented by other children. Mortimer was considered to be mentally inferior due to his extreme shyness and mild learning disabilities during his primary school years, though he was actually quite intelligent. He dropped out at an extremely early age and decided to fend for himself. Following years of abuse, Mortimer developed a severe inferiority complex.

Later, he was recruited into Magneto's original Brotherhood of Mutants, becoming Magneto's sycophantic "toady." Toad believed that Magneto loved him, while Magneto considered him little more than a lackey. Toad also develops a crush on his teammate Scarlet Witch, but she does not return his feelings.

Sometime later, Toad uses the Stranger's technology to menace the Avengers. He even attempts to kill Angel in a castle outfitted with traps by Arcade. However, he instead turns the castle into an amusement park and becomes its caretaker. Toad is eventually ejected from the castle by Doctor Doom and becomes suicidal, realizing that he is too dependent on others to work alone. He befriends Spider-Man and allies with Spider-Kid and Frog-Man as the superhero adventurer team, the Misfits. Toad later leaves the Misfits and returns to villainy. He forms his own version of the Brotherhood of Mutants along with Blob, Pyro, and Phantazia.

Years later, still struggling with depression, Toad is captured by Prosh, along with Juggernaut, Iceman, Jean Grey, and Mystique as part of a time-hopping plan to stop a global threat. Toad learns that his deformed body was the result of experimentation by Juggernaut's father, Kurt Marko, at Alamogordo, New Mexico, which left him with an unstable genetic structure. The Stranger's equipment corrects his genetic flaws, giving him augmented abilities and a prehensile tongue. Though his change improves his self-esteem, Toad continued to live life without direction. He proceeds to join several short-lived incarnations of the Brotherhood of Mutants.