How do you feel about the TMNT "saving the world" when they're not crimefighters?

[CyberCubed]

One of the things I like about the Mirage TMNT is they don't go looking for trouble, the trouble always comes to them. They're not superheroes and they're not crimefighters, although the other mediums of TMNT often times do this.

The TMNT have saved the world in all the other versions however:

- Original cartoon: constantly stopping Shredder/Krang's plans to conquer Earth, as well as Lord Dregg.

- 2k3 series: stopped the Triceraton invasion, Ch'rell's inevitable conquest, and of course the Demon Shredder.

- Archie series: Stopped Malinga's invasion of Earth, as well as Null who tried to sell the planet to aliens. Later on they also stop Armaggon and Shredder.

- Movies: The 4th movie has the Turtles stop the Stone Generals from letting the monsters overtake the world.


Yet to my knowledge I don't think they've ever saved the world in the Mirage universe. Am I forgetting something though?

Do you think the Turtles should not look for trouble, or do you think the whole "saving the Earth" thing goes hand in hand?

[Galactus]

Well the turtles actualy have to live in the world too so I don't really have a problem with them using their skills to help save the it.

Besides in most media they're usualy personaly intertwined with the villians that are threatening to destroy or take over the the world or other crimes.

In the OT I'd say they actualy were crime fighters, it even says so in the theme song but even then the schemes of Krang and Shredder were often meant to get rid of the turtles. Even the schemes that weren't the turtles knew they'd be #1 targets after Shredder conquered Earth.

In the animated movie Leo had been kidnapped to be passed off as the 13 monsters, not to mention April was involved to a degree too and Raph was definitely a crime fighter even if the other turtles weren't.

True in the comics (Mirage as well as Archie) and new toon they're not crime fighters but if it's in front of them they'd pitch in. They may not go on patrol but when they're running round on rooftops it's generaly has the same affect. Not to mention that even in the middle of nowhere crime and other strange activity will unerringly find them. Infact I'd say Raph's line here pretty much sums up the turtles existence...

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e280/klankandorbis/TalesOfTMNT45pg17.jpg

[Scandia]

What's wrong with saving the world or fighting crime? Wouldn't you want to do it if you had the opportunity and power?

[Andrew NDB]

The TMNT being or wanting to be crimefighters is apocryphal. Period.



What's wrong with saving the world or fighting crime? Wouldn't you want to do it if you had the opportunity and power?

To protect a civilization that makes me live in hiding in a sewer? They can go F themselves. Beyond that, they have their own problems and adventures and enemies.

Galactus is correct, though. If they see something bad happening right in front of them like a lady being beaten or robbed or something... yeah, they'll probably jump in and stop what's going on... but as far as actively patrolling cities to stop crime? Apocryphal. Asinine. It only works in the children's cartoon universes where you need to check any kind of good sense at the door.

[Cipher]

The only time the TMNT even discuss active crime-fighting in the comics is during "City at War," and the ultimate conclusion is "It's not worth it. Let's just go live our lives as peacefully as we can."

And that's what I prefer. It sets the Turtles apart from most other comic book characters. However, I can see why a children's series would need to be structured differently.

And I'd just like to point out that while in the 2003 cartoon the Turtles did develop into something of world-saving crime-fighters, when Mikey suggested in "The Unconvincing Turtle Titan" that they'd done the city some good, the other Turtles laughed at him. Which was awesome.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Remember that the Archie TMNT often were more interested in saving the animals on the Earth from man's civilization than saving man's civilization.

[Coola Yagami]

So the TMNT never faced a world-wide menace in the Mirage comics? Didn't they kinda stop the war between the Triceratons and the Federation... or did their intervention only set things back for them?

[CyberCubed]

So the TMNT never faced a world-wide menace in the Mirage comics? Didn't they kinda stop the war between the Triceratons and the Federation... or did their intervention only set things back for them?

Actually, Gizmo and Fugitoid more or less stop the war, the TMNT aren't even in those issues.

[Cipher]

So the TMNT never faced a world-wide menace in the Mirage comics? Didn't they kinda stop the war between the Triceratons and the Federation... or did their intervention only set things back for them?That war never even threatened Earth to begin with.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

That war never even threatened Earth to begin with.

They at least saved an entire civilization.

[Spitfire]

Saving the world and being a crime fighter are different. Crime fighters are the guys who beat up thugs and deal with the little problems that the big heroes can't get to.

Like Batman, though he switches roles, is often time a crime fighter. He takes care of the little issues and protects his city, his turf. Superman on the other hand can save the whole world. Sure he might stop a purse snatcher here and there but he spends most of his time stopping the world from being destroyed.

The turtles don't really fight crime. They stop muggers on very very rare occasions. They spend the rest of their time wanting to be left alone or taking action only when their family or people they care about are in extreme danger.

[Candy Kappa]

the turtles do what what most people would do seeing others in danger

[Sage Ninja]

as far as the classic toon is concerned, I think it made sense that the turtles were crime fighters and occassionaly saved the world. Because in that continuity Master Splinter was really hamoto yoshi, and his idea of the foot clan (before Shredder corrupted it) was sort of protection force for people, with the foot ninjas going out on patrol and saving the little guys from petty crimes. So I thought it made sense that the turtles did it, since Yoshi/Splinter made them as his own little foot clan.

Also, the turtles in the OT had more social presence with the people, so I think them trying to show people they where the good guys by fighting crime was understandable.

[Andrew NDB]

as far as the classic toon is concerned, I think it made sense that the turtles were crime fighters and occassionaly saved the world.

As long as we're clear that's what we're talking about. The cartoon TMNT vs. the original/Mirage TMNT is day and night.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Like Batman, though he switches roles, is often time a crime fighter. He takes care of the little issues and protects his city, his turf. Superman on the other hand can save the whole world. Sure he might stop a purse snatcher here and there but he spends most of his time stopping the world from being destroyed.


I agree. And with the "Justice League" stories, crimefighting and saving the Earth was combined.

[Spike Spiegel]

Even though I saw the cartoons before the comics, I never really saw the Turtles as "world-saving" or "superheroes." They always stuck me a sci-fi style adventurers who randomly ended up having to fight battles, etc...I always thought it set them apart and made the idea of their existence even more original and cool.

Besides, whenever I would envision them with Batman, Superman, or Spider-Man, it never really fit.

[Andrew NDB]

The TMNT are neither super-powered or heroes/vigilantes. Their only "power" is their ninjitsu and other martial arts... and that's one anyone could learn given the time and discipline.

It's like... if Joseph Merrick (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Merrick) knew kung fu, would he have an obligation to go around in dark alleys stopping muggings in the community and sh*t? No, that's insane and the idea of such would only come from a mentality that isn't in touch with anything resembling reality.

[Newton Gimmick]

I've never viewed them as either actually. The turtles were trained specifically to seek out revenge against the Shredder. Since Splinter is overall a good person and Shredder isn't, you can see them as good and evil, but honestly the turtles were trained assassains. With one single mission. Nothing more, nothing less.

From that point, they've been completely directionless and luckily or not so luckily as it were, have found themselves getting into trouble since.

One of the more profound things I've always found about the turtles is their lack of knowledge about their purpose. Because once Shredder was dead, they didn't have much to do. Other than that whole blood war thing with the Foot. The rest has just come along. Sometimes they've actively sought out stuff like TCRI and sometimes it just plows into their living room.


I think the toons have followed a similar storyline, except that in the original Toon it became more about world saving, but largely because SHREDDER was the one taking over the world. Shredder's plots always revolve around him versus the turtles, so they were more about stopping him than saving the world. Other villains got in the way, much like Mirage, but I rarely recall them actively seeking out other villains.

In the new Toon it was basically they same. War with Shredder and the Foot, they encounter many of the other Mirage villains the same way they did in the comics, happenstance and most of the other villains they end up battling off are because of circumstance, not them really "patrolling the streets", although they did do that on occasion.

[Sage Ninja]

The TMNT are neither super-powered or heroes/vigilantes. Their only "power" is their ninjitsu and other martial arts... and that's one anyone could learn given the time and discipline.

Exactly. The turtles have ninjitsu skills, not "powers", this is why the OT episode The Gangs All Here drives me nuts, because Splinter was going on about how if the turtles became human they wouldn't be able to be ninjas anymore "becuase they would lose their powers"? :-? WTH?