What exactly is their goal?

[The Terror of Death]

Could someone tell what the turtles goal is when fighting enemies? Sometimes they kill or intend to kill the enemy, beat them up and leave, or leave them for the police. How do they decide who gets killed and who doesnt?
Sometimes they try to kill someone like Hun and other times they just beat him up. I have seen them kill some Triceratons and then spare others. It doesnt make any sense. Shredder is a definite on the kill list but almost everyone else is unclear.

[The Shelf]

Well, I'm not sure I understand exactly what you're asking, but it largely depends on which turtles universe we're talking about. I don't think the turtles in the 2k3 cartoon or the Mirage comics would hesitate much in killing an enemy unless they had good reason to doubt that he was evil. If we're talking old toon or the Archie comics, then they would probably never kill an enemy. More likely, they would just crack jokes about his outfit or his name or something equally silly.

[The Terror of Death]

I am only talking about 2k3.

[Courk]

I haven't seen much of the series, so I won't have the most sound opinion and don't have any examples.

Could the specific situations they're in determine the level of violence? Things like where they are (I think if there's an easy escape route in a public place they'd be more likely to not have to kill everyone), who started the fight (did the enemy seek them out or did they run into the enemy), and numbers and strength of the enemy (killing one weaker enemy who's fighting 4 TMNT seems a bit unfair).

If they're being attacked by 100 underlings, then I imagine they'd have to kill some of them just to work their way out or win the fight. If they run into 3 underlings, then maybe they'll just knock them out.

[odupianist]

I think Shredder was the only one they've ever intended to kill and/or actually killed. I think the only way they were able to pull off killing him was because the killing (I'm talking about cutting off the head in Return to New York) was probably only possible with the TV execs (The same that decided Insane in the Membrane was too raunchy or whatever to air). I think they've only severely hurt and/or knocked out most enemies. I can't think of anyone else they've set out to kill and/or actually killed.

[ToTheNines]

I like to believe that they've killed some foot ninja, the way the show does it is they leave it for you to decide, but in a way that won't make the soccer mommies scream.

[Tinuvielsdreams]

That is an interesting question... I always assume they kill if they need to.
In 2K3 Splinter once said he didn't want their training to be tainted with hate after he finally told them of his past in relation to the Shredder.
I don't think he ever intended them to be killing machines but knew they needed to defend themselves in the world.

ToTheNines is right
They are VERY careful how they show the fighting, and it is pretty smart and apparently successful because we never really know if the bad guys live or die

[Coola Yagami]

well... they even had to dive into the ocean to try to rescue Garbageman....

I'm fuzzy on the Mirage comics, but in the old show it was the typical 'tie them up until the police arrives' kinda thing.

[Revan]

I find it hard to believe that trained ninjas wielding deadly weapons could be so non-leathal. I think they must be deliberatly intending to fight non-leathally. Except, of course, when they fight shredder.

I see it like this. If the turtles wanted to kill someone, it would be quite easy. Especially Leo. Great martial arts skill and deadly blades = instant death.

[Herr_Shredder]

I find it hard to believe that trained ninjas wielding deadly weapons could be so non-leathal. I think they must be deliberatly intending to fight non-leathally. Except, of course, when they fight shredder.

I see it like this. If the turtles wanted to kill someone, it would be quite easy. Especially Leo. Great martial arts skill and deadly blades = instant death.

Well that's only in the t.v. show, I haven't read the comics in while but the ones I do have show them killing. The show does have the Turtles act more "heroic" and probably don't kill as much as their comic counter-parts

But Katanas through the body? I doubt it would just knock them out... but then again the 2003 show has to deal with ... restrictions but they do kill in the show even in FF, they tossed Triceratons toward certain death in the cold vacuum of space in "Milk Run"

[Spitfire]

Their goal is simple

Protect their family. Their not heroes.

[ThemanthatwouldbeRaphael]

Aside from the Shredder, I guess they're goal is to imoblize or knock the enemy unconcious. Just enough to eliminate the threat.

They don't kill unless they absolutley have to.

[Sage Ninja]

I think it all depends on the situation. They are warriors after all and I think as such they do what they have too to get the job done. I don;t think the turtles are afraid or have any qualms about useing deadly force if they have to. I don't think any of the turtles actually go into a fight with "i'm going to kill this guy", I very much doubt any killing on the turtles part in casual pitch battles is ever premeditated. If killing occurs on the turtles part in the heat of battle than it happens. If you are ninja that is trained in leathal combat I don't think you would go into any situation with a mind set to hold back in the fear of taking a life. I guess they figure that their opponent is probably not going to hold back and would most likely kill them if they had chance so they act accordingly.

Though I think that in the course of a battle if they manage to subdue their enemy withy out killing them I doubt very much that they would take their life if they are are already beaten. Unless the situatuion called for it. Other wise it would just be murder. In the 2k3 series I believe that the turtles killing is mostly implied, but there is definately intent to kill shown. In What a Croc when Leo and Don and Raph where fighting Leatherhead and they managed to get him down Raph attemtped to stab him with his sai and appeared to have every attention of killing, before Mikey stopped him. There are other situation like this as well.

[odupianist]

Raph could have been getting ready to just poke him and annoy him with the pointy sai lol.

[Swany]

I believe they kill/have killed before. In grudge match- Mikey stops himself before killing his opponent.

I dont think they kill everyone and anyone they come against though, they do have honour.

[Sage Ninja]

Well there is alot of implied killing on the turtles part. In Scion of the Shredder when Raphael tries to get out of the lair and goes into that elevator thingy, several foot ninja are seen going in after him before the doors shut, and you see Raphael get into a fighting stance, ready to fight them. In the next scene when the elevator opens at the top of the level in that garage thingy, Raphael is seen comeing out of the elevator and the hand full of ninjas that where in there with him...do not. Now we can only speculate on whether or not Raphael killed them or not, but given the severity and desperation of the situation I think its safe to conclude that Raphael killed them.

And in Touch and Go Michaelangelo intentinally throws Mr. Touch and Mr. Go out of a several story window, which should have killed them if they wheren't...I don't know cyborgs or something. But the point is the intent to kill was there on Mikey's part.

[Swany]

And in Touch and Go Michaelangelo intentinally throws Mr. Touch and Mr. Go out of a several story window, which should have killed them if they wheren't...I don't know cyborgs or something. But the point is the intent to kill was there on Mikey's part.


I watched that episoede just last night and I was thinking of this thread at that bit. You can tell by the look on Splinters face he thought they were dead.

Plus the pavement (sidewalk?) had two big holes in it, so I think I can safely say thay hit the ground hard.

[ZariusTwo]

Could someone tell what the turtles goal is when fighting enemies? Sometimes they kill or intend to kill the enemy, beat them up and leave, or leave them for the police. How do they decide who gets killed and who doesnt?

They ask Chuck Norris.

[johnnyblaze]

I think the turtles' goal is simply survival. If they have to kill in order to make sure they, their family, friends or whoever they are trying to protect make it out of a situation alive then so be it. If its not necessary its not likely that they will.

[Coola Yagami]

Hmm wasn't Bishop thrown into a fishhook or something? Surely they weren't expecting him to jump off it and be ok. And of course, the toon kept the Leo be-heading Shredder scene, without them knowing Shredder was an Ultrom.

[triplexxx]

Well, like johnnyblaze said, these two things were necessary for their survival; they were done in self-defense.

[johnnyblaze]

Well, like johnnyblaze said, these two things were necessary for their survival; they were done in self-defense.
exactly, if it comes down to them or their opponents you can guarantee that they are going to do what it takes to make sure its them walking out of there

that's one of the things I like about the new cartoon, they don't forget the fact that in its simplest form the turtles are trained assassins and while they are nice guys they also happen to be very good at what they do

[Herr_Shredder]

exactly, if it comes down to them or their opponents you can guarantee that they are going to do what it takes to make sure its them walking out of there

that's one of the things I like about the new cartoon, they don't forget the fact that in its simplest form the turtles are trained assassins and while they are nice guys they also happen to be very good at what they do

Very good, most people think the Turtles are super heroes, despite Ninja being in the title. And Leo does have two swords, but Raph does have Sai which aren't really ninja weapons but....

[The Terror of Death]

Their goal is simple

Protect their family. Their not heroes.

Protecting their family will always be their main goal but 2k3 has shown a tremendous amount of evidence that proves that they are superheroes. Mikey is the only one who would like to admit it but its really evident.

[Andrew NDB]

Despite how they are in the comics/source material, for a kids' cartoon there's really no sensible place to go with the Turtles other than to make them at least semi-crimefighting superheroes. Which is fine, and to be expected.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

It depends on version. In the 1987 TMNT cartoon, their goal was originally to find those ho were responsible for Splinters mutation, and force him/her/them to mutate him back to human again. Later, they just try to stop Shredder and other people who were a treat to them and their friends. And if they met some criminals, they tried to stop them. They were never after some revenge or killings in that version. In the 2003 TMNT cartoon, it's more based on revenge on Shredder.