Wingnut is the bat character from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In the Archie comics, he is an alien who joins the Mighty Mutanimals with his mosquito partner, Screwloose. In the 2023 film Mutant Mayhem, Wingnut is a female mutant bat voiced by Natasia Demetriou. If you met the character through the movie, that is the version you saw.
Who is Wingnut? Watch the video
Wingnut and Screwloose in the Archie comics
Archie’s Wingnut and Screwloose are survivors of Dexion V in the Huanu system. Krang destroyed their home, and the pair end up on Earth. Their first encounter with the Turtles turns into a fight, but they eventually fight on the same side as members of the Mighty Mutanimals.
The bat with mechanical wings and his tiny sidekick bring Batman and Robin to mind. In Archie’s stories, Screwloose also helps calm Wingnut down. Their partnership gives each of them something they need, which is part of what makes the pair work.
Start with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures #8, cover-dated February 1990, and follow the pair into the 1991 Mighty Mutanimals special. To learn about another member of the team, read this guide to Jagwar.
Wingnut in the 1987 cartoon: an alien invader
In “Zach and the Alien Invaders”, a 1991 episode of the cartoon that debuted in 1987, Wingnut and Screwloose come from Flagenon. They pose as officers at a military academy and brainwash cadets to build an army. Zach discovers their plan and helps stop them.
Both the cartoon and Archie use the alien duo. Their goals tell the versions apart: the comic-book pair are after Krang for destroying their home, while the cartoon pair are out to conquer Earth.
Wingnut in the 2012 series: Mikey’s comic-book hero
In “Bat in the Belfry”, Wingnut and Screwloose come to life from Michelangelo’s favorite comic book. Mikey gets to meet two of his heroes. The trouble starts when the characters he knows from the page behave differently in the real world.
Wingnut in Mutant Mayhem and Tales of the TMNT
The film reimagines Wingnut as a mutant bat in Superfly’s family. Once Superfly’s plan puts New York in danger, she sides with the Turtles alongside other mutants, including Mondo Gecko and Leatherhead. Screwloose does not appear in the film.
Natasia Demetriou returns as Wingnut in Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The series makes her the Mutanimals’ mechanical expert. She bonds with Donatello over anime, comics, and science fiction, a different dynamic from the one the classic Wingnut had with Screwloose.
Which version is the classic Wingnut action figure?
If you remember a bat with mechanical wings, a yellow belt, and a little mosquito, you are probably thinking of the classic Playmates design. The original figure was released in 1990. The Playmates reissue retains Screwloose as an accessory and describes Wingnut as a Turtle ally, even though the classic cartoon made the pair invaders.
Wingnut’s versions at a glance
| Version | Who is Wingnut? | Does Screwloose appear? |
|---|---|---|
| Archie Comics | Alien survivor from Dexion V and Mighty Mutanimal | Yes |
| 1987 cartoon | Alien invader from Flagenon | Yes |
| 2012 series | Comic-book superhero brought to life | Yes |
| Mutant Mayhem and Tales | Mutant bat and ally of the Turtles | Not in the film |
