Why is Mikey always in drag?

[DonnieTello]

Whenever one of the turtles has to dress up as a woman or imagine themselves as one, it always seems to be Mikey. Even before he was the shortest turtle. I guess because in franchises there is usually that one character who is the go-to for drag, but why him? Is there any reason for it, or am I just going crazy? Because he's the most innocent one, maybe? I am genuinely curious.

[Powder]

Mikey is the comic relief, and emasculation is often played for laughs.

[DonnieTello]

Originally Posted by Powder

Mikey is the comic relief, and emasculation is often played for laughs.

Good point! I didn't think of that, it makes sense how he usually fills the role then. But in that case I feel like it would also be logical to provide the same treatment to the typically more masculine turtles like Raph or Leo.

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by Powder

Mikey is the comic relief, and emasculation is often played for laughs.

Pretty much.

[neatoman]

Because he's the cutest Turtle.

[IndigoErth]

Question of the day award.


The dressing in drag trope has been around for ages and if played humorously as part of the plot it's inevitably going to need a good natured character with a sense of humor who is comfortable with himself enough to deal with it in humor and, in a case like the Turtles, succeed in pulling it off for whatever part of the plot it was needed for. Mikey just tends to have the kind of personality who can deal with it and play it for jokes. He's also kind of the only one who possesses any potential believable acting skills.

Though I'm not sure I'd count that instance from 2012 among it since it was a "worst nightmare" thought in his head and an Easter egg for Venus, rather than a thing he was actually forced to dress up and do.


I hate to say it, but if any TMNT series actually did it with the intent of emasculation being done for a joke, and less so for an important part of the plot, it might be 'Rise.' I'd rather no series went there. The Turtles are not ones to express any insecurities about their masculinity or stupid human gender conformity nonsense and best to leave them well enough alone.

[DonnieTello]

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

Question of the day award.


The dressing in drag trope has been around for ages and if played humorously as part of the plot it's inevitably going to need a good natured character with a sense of humor who is comfortable with himself enough to deal with it in humor and, in a case like the Turtles, succeed in pulling it off for whatever part of the plot it was needed for. Mikey just tends to have the kind of personality who can deal with it and play it for jokes. He's also kind of the only one who possesses any potential believable acting skills.

Though I'm not sure I'd count that instance from 2012 among it since it was a "worst nightmare" thought in his head and an Easter egg for Venus, rather than a thing he was actually forced to dress up and do.


I hate to say it, but if any TMNT series actually did it with the intent of emasculation being done for a joke, and less so for an important part of the plot, it might be 'Rise.' I'd rather no series went there. The Turtles are not ones to express any insecurities about their masculinity or stupid human gender conformity nonsense and best to leave them well enough alone.

That's true, I guess Mikey would be the best actor, and so most suitable for the job. I do agree though that TMNT should stay away from doing it if it's to enforce gender morals or something. Turtles is really not the property that should be used for that. But I am cool with it being for the sake of comedy or to further the plot.

[Candy Kappa]

Maybe he just enjoys it.

[Dejablue]

Lol. Because he likes it. Clearly. Drag has always been done for humor. Something to laugh at. And traditionally being fun and funny is Mikey's role.

Also obvious running gag is obvious.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by Candy Kappa

Maybe he just enjoys it.

He says he doesn't enjoy it in It Came from Beneath the Sewers.

[oldmanwinters]

Don't forget it happened at least once in Mirage Comics too!
The elusive untitled Nobody story from the first TPB collection of "Tales of the TMNT":
http://tmntentity.blogspot.com/2009/...ody-story.html

[CyberCubed]

Did you guys just assume his gender?

[IndigoErth]

Well, they're mutant Turtles, that would kind of be super awkward to ask or try to look... Hopefully they're names, and esp their preferred nicknames, are telling enough.

[The Great Saiyaman]

Well there is a storyline in "New animated adventures" called "triple date disaster"in which Mikey drags somebody else into it (Pun intended)

[pferreira]

Mikey always does the craziest things. Not sure if him dressing up today in female clothing wouldn't be considered offensive by the PC brigade. It's just a bit of harmless fun really.

[IndigoErth]

Hah, Raph looks kind of adorable. Makin' it work.

[Dejablue]

Its just typical Bugs Bunny shenanigans.

[Leo656]

Boy... am I glad I don't buy TMNT comics.

I know it's the cartoon-based spin-off book and not the "real" one, but still. Great googly-moogly.

[Hamato Yoshi]

Mikes favorite films :

Tootsie
Mrs Doubtfire

[Powder]

This thread came to mind earlier when my partner & I were watching Secret Of The Ooze. Mikey's wearing a pretty feminine apron as he cleans April's apartment.