Metalhead is the robotic turtle in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In the 1987 cartoon, Krang builds him to defeat the Turtles and Donatello reprograms him to help them. In Nickelodeon’s 2012 series, Donatello builds Metalhead himself using Kraang technology. In IDW’s comics, the robot briefly houses Donatello’s mind.
Metalhead in the 1987 cartoon: Krang’s creation
Metalhead makes his debut in the third-season episode “The Making of Metalhead.” Krang sends a mechanical turtle after the team. Donatello figures out how to change its programming and sends it back against the villains. If you remember seeing Metalhead fight both against and alongside the Turtles, those scenes belong to the same episode.
Metalhead in the 2012 series: Donatello’s invention
In “Metalhead” (season 1, episode 6), Donatello doubts that his wooden bō staff can compete with the Kraang’s weapons. He salvages parts from one of their androids and uses them to build a compact, heavily armed turtle he can pilot remotely. The Kraang recognize their own technology and seize control in the field, forcing Donatello to step in himself.
In “Metalhead Rewired” (season 2, episode 11), the robot can make more decisions on his own. His teammates worry about what he might do, then rely on him to escape a Kraang facility holding mutant prisoners. Metalhead stays behind to keep the escape route open. The follow-up makes that choice his own, giving the robot a role beyond being Donatello’s remote-controlled stand-in.
Metalhead in the IDW comics: what happened to Donatello?
Bebop and Rocksteady leave Donatello critically injured in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #44. With help from the Fugitoid and Harold Lillja, his mind moves into Metalhead in #45 while his own body recovers. Donatello returns to his body in #50. Those three issues cover the attack, the transfer and the return.
For the robot’s next chapter, read TMNT Universe #7 and #8. In “Metalhead 2.0,” Donatello starts up an upgraded Metalhead and discovers that the machine is making decisions of its own. IDW collects that story in The IDW Collection, Volume 8.
The name can also refer to Metal Head, a member of the Justice Force who appears in Mirage’s original issue #15 and the 2003 cartoon. That superhero manipulates his metallic hair. The turtle-shaped robot in the other versions goes by Metalhead.
Where to find Metalhead in Shredder’s Revenge
In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge (2022), Metalhead is the boss of episode 10, “A Few Screws Loose.” His appearance recalls the classic cartoon, and the fight takes place in the episode’s laboratory. The stage title is the quickest way to find the encounter when replaying the game.
Metalhead action figures: classic and 2012 designs
The Super7 ULTIMATES! Metalhead revisits the vintage Playmates look with gray and gold armor and green accessories. The Playmates figure based on the 2012 series has a more compact body and a rectangular face, matching the robot Donatello builds on the show. The head and shell shapes are the easiest details to compare when identifying a loose figure.
