Match 21164 Leatherneck vs. Leatherhead

[JohnnyChany]

 

The roar of the G.I. Joe transport chopper's blades filled the humid Florida air as it descended into a clearing within the Everglades. Leatherneck stood at the open hatch. His rugged face was set in a determined scowl as he addressed the three recruits seated behind him, Patrick, Alonzo, and Hakeem.

“Alright, listen up!” Leatherneck’s gravelly voice rose above the sound of the engine. “You greenhorns might’ve impressed Duke enough to get this far, but now it’s time to see if you’re worth keepin’ around. I’m not just a Gunnery Sergeant I’ll have you know, I’m a drill instructor. And Duke’s put me in charge of testin’ you in the most unforgiving terrain I could think of.”

One of the recruits, Patrick, raised his hand nervously. “Uh, Gunnery Sergeant, sir? What exactly are we being tested on?”

Leatherneck grinned. “Survival, combat readiness, and whether you’ve got the guts to keep your head in the fight. Out here, the swamp’s your worst enemy… until of course the fight begins.”

The recruits exchanged uneasy glances as the chopper touched down.

Leatherneck wasted no time. “Off the bird! Let’s go!”

Leatherneck and the three Joe hopefuls piled out onto the soft, wet ground. Leatherneck herded them into a line and held out a duffel bag. “Hand over your rifles, grenades, and anything heavier than a sidearm. You’ll keep your knives and pistols, but that’s it. This is about improvisation and guts, not firepower.”

“Sir, who exactly are we fighting?” asked Hakeem.

Leatherneck’s grin widened. “Me.”

Leatherneck slung the bag of confiscated weapons over his shoulder. 

“I’ll give you a head start. You’ve got one hour to move out, get your bearings, and prepare. When the time’s up, I’m gonna come find you. If you can last until sundown, you pass. I’ll use the same equipment that you have now, so there will be no excuses.”

Without another word, he turned and disappeared into the swamp, leaving the recruits to stare after him.

“I think that guy may be nuts,” Alonzo observed.

The recruits moved out, each choosing a different direction to maximize their chances. 

Patrick stumbled through the muck. “This is crazy,” he mumbled. “Who does this guy think he is?”

Unbeknownst to Patrick, something far more dangerous than Leatherneck was watching from the shadows. Hidden among the reeds, a pair of glowing red eyes tracked his every move. Leatherhead, the hulking mutant crocodile, licked his jagged teeth.

“Trespassers in mah swamp?” he growled in his thick Cajun accent. “Oh, y’all made a big mistake, I guarantee.”

The first recruit to fall was Alonzo. He’d barely started setting up a makeshift shelter for cover when Leatherhead emerged from the water behind him. The massive reptilian creature in the blue rubber waders swung his tail and knocked Alonzo’s pistol from his hand before pinning him to the ground with a clawed hand.

“What’s dis?” Leatherhead sneered. He lifted Alonzo up by his vest. “Y’all come here wit’ knives an’ pea-shooters? Dat’s jus’ insultin’.”

Alonzo struggled, but Leatherhead tossed him like a ragdoll into a cluster of mangroves. The recruit groaned in pIN.

“How many of yo’ friends came with you, little man?” Leatherhead asked. “Do dey not know that I’m the king of dis here swamp.”

Patrick was the next to fall after Leatherhead captured him in a bear trap and net spring.

By the time Leatherneck returned to the swamp to start his test, unaware of what had transpired, only one recruit remained uncaptured. He spotted the last one, Hakeem, as he crept along a muddy bank. Leatherneck smirked, ready to pounce, but froze when he heard a laugh emerge from an opposing tree.

“What in the…?” Leatherneck muttered to himself.

Before Hakeem could react, Leatherhead revealed himself and the mutant crocodile’s powerful jaws snapped shut inches from the recruit, who stumbled back and fell into the muck.

“Gotcha now, lil’ trespasser,” Leatherhead taunted. “Dis here’s mah swamp, an’ you don’t belong.”

Leatherneck was startled by the sight of Leatherhead, but a look of determination soon returned to his grizzled face. He stepped into the open, his hand resting on his holstered pistol. 

“Hey, ugly! Pick on someone your own size.”

Leatherhead turned toward him. “Well, well, what we got here? Another fool come ta challenge ol’ Leatherhead?”

“Name’s Leatherneck,” the Marine declared. “And you’re messin’ with my recruits. I’ve got a problem with that.”

“Is this not part of the test, sir?” asked Hakeem as he tried to return to his feet.

“Absolutely not, soldier. This is too dangerous for a young’un like you. Go find the others,” Leatherneck ordered.

“Yes, sir.”

Leatherhead chuckled. It was a deep, menacing sound. “Don’t go too far. I’ll be done here soon, I guarantee.”

Leatherhead then squared off with the G.I. Joe veteran, Leatherneck.

“Ain’t nobody challenge ol’ Leatherhead and live to brag ‘bout it. You wanna dance? Let’s see if you got de moves.”

[Callisto]

Learn More About
Leatherneck
Read more about Leatherneck at Wikipedia
Official Site: Hasbro Links: Wikipedia

Leatherhead
Read more about Leatherhead at Wikipedia
Official Site: Nickelodeon Links: Wikipedia TMNTPedia Comic Vine

[leroypowell3]

Leatherneck is a pretty tough Joe but on his own I don't see him taking even 80's Leatherhead.

[Macklemore]

6 hours ago, leroypowell3 said:

Leatherneck is a pretty tough Joe but on his own I don't see him taking even 80's Leatherhead.

Agreed. Leatherhead should have this in the bag.

[Culwych1]

9 hours ago, Macklemore said:

Agreed. Leatherhead should have this in the bag.

[JohnnyChany]

On 1/6/2025 at 5:09 AM, Culwych1 said:

Ah, Leatherface would have been perfect for the 3-way battle.

[Callisto]

Match Final Results

Member Ratings:
4.00 - Macklemore
5.00 - Culwych1
5.00 - Boratz

FPA Calculation:
3 Total Votes cast
14.00 Total Combined Score
14.00 / 3 = 4.67 Final Rating on the match

MATCH SCORE
Leatherneck: 2
Leatherhead: 4

[DSkillz]

Ack, just missed this one. 

A good debut for both Leatherneck and Leatherhead with them both very much in-character, but the Cajun 'gator rightfully won this one.