Is 4Kid's Michelangelo the worst iteration of the character?

[Jester]

It was brought up in another thread, and as to not get that one too far off track I thought I'd start a thread about it. And to save me the trouble of re-typing what I feel here's that one off post:
Many of us who don't like 4Kids Mikey tend to not like what he became. I think Turtle Titan is a true test of how much poor Mikey got the shaft in the series. in Unconvincing Turtle Titan Mikey realizes he can do as much good from the shadows as Silver Sentry does in the light. It was a character arc in less than a half hour. Mikey felt the Turtles should be superheroes (which his brothers scoff at. Makes me wonder if this was a barb at the Fred Wolf series...but whatever), he goes out and teams with Sentry and has to save him using his ninja training and in the end he learns his lesson...which is totally undone by the subsequent Titan episodes. And they get worse as they go on.

Mikey started out fine in the 4kids universe, but it seems they always wrote him as a goof, and never let him be serious and that all the time goofiness made him irritating, in my opinion. And reading back over some of the Laird production notes, he has a lot to do with that, sadly.
So, do think 4Kids version of Mikey was the weakest, or does he just get a bad rap?

[sdp]

They made him way too annoying but then again they also made Raph too grouchy and Casey jones too stupid. I wish they had struck a better balance in their personalities, however. I still feel that, Mikey brought a certain charm with his annoying ways, I just wish they had been toned down a bit.

[CyberCubed]

The odd thing is 4kids Mike started off GREAT. I loved his character for Seasons 1-2 and most of Season 3. For most of Season 4 he was OK too.

Two terrible things ruined his character:

- The Turtle Titan costume

- Winning the Battle Nexus tournament

Followed by:

- Being dumbed down considerably during Fast Forward and BTTS

[Redeemer]

- Being dumbed down considerably during Fast Forward and BTTS
This I do agree with but other than that I love the character

[Powder]

They made him way too annoying but then again they also made Raph too grouchy and Casey jones too stupid. I wish they had struck a better balance in their personalities.

Definitely this. But yeah, for me he's my least favorite version of Mike. Coming close would be the Next Mutation...

[Samhain]

I don't really have an issue with Mikey in this series. All the turtles in 2k3 are a bit one-dimensional, if you ask me. Sure, he's annoying sometimes but I personally get annoyed more with Raph always being grouchy and Leo acting like a know it all. Leo is definitely more annoying in 2k3 than Mikey is, IMO. And I'm a big Leo fan.

[CyberCubed]

I guess the problem with the 4kids Turtles is none of them could really change all that much without reverting back to their usual personas.

Granted it was the same in the original series as well, but the Turtles all remained likeable and funny so people didn't care.

[Leonardo Mystic]

Mikey has never been my favorite of any version, but he was semi-okay here. Most of the time my reaction towards his antics would be just to roll my eyes. Every once in a while he'd be actually funny and I'd laugh. That is until he won the tournament.

Then it's like his freakin' head blew up. He was arrogant and cocky "I don't have to do anything. I'm the best in the world because I'm BATTLE NEXUS CHAMPION1111!!!!". He constantly pissed me off with his show-boat elitist attitude. 4Kids got carried away with it. It got even worse when he became dumb as ass in FF and BTTS.

[Donnie]

As expected I voted It's a bum rap. 4Kids Mikey is just fine..

4Kids Mikey is one of my favorite Mikey's around. I'm not going to say that he doesn't get annoying at times, but to echo Samhain he's no more annoying than Raph, Leo, and especially Casey.

In fact, I don't think he was that annoying at all. Slightly over the top at times like I've said, but I really just don't understand why people gripe over him so much. In my opinion, OT Mike was more annoying. I know many don't agree cause of his voice actor and nostalgia, but when I watch the OT I sometimes cringe at the 80s slang that poured from him. That's not really my cup of tea concerning Mikey. That OT aspect of Mike was toned down a tremendous amount in the 2k3, which worked great to me.

What Jester mentioned about Laird is perhaps somewhat accurate because Laird wanted to keep the Turtles "pure" while pleasing the masses who took the series simply as a light hearted cartoon. He had to include goofiness, and he certainly wouldn't let any of that fall onto Don and Leo, as seen by his notes. So Mikey bore the brunt of it. But for me, it didn't really make him annoying, and I thought a lot of his goofiness was tasteful and hilarious.

I don't agree that Mikey wanting to be a superhero was a bad thing at all, rather a key element of Mikey's personality and his want to be something more than just a turtle-in-a-sewer. When I asked PL what he wished he would have done more of with Mikey in the 2k3 his answer was:

As far as places I would like to have taken him in the 4Kids show, I think I would have liked to play with the whole "desire to be a Super Hero" thing that Mike was into, and also put him through some darker episodes. I think that one of the things which made "Same As It Never Was" so strong was seeing Mike stripped of his lighthearted side for a bit. Not that I would want to turn him into a grim 'n' gritty character -- just would have been interesting to see how he dealt with those situations. -- PL

So PL clearly wanted to show other sides of Mikey. Like I said, I really just think it was cause he so strongly felt that Don and Leo had to be serious minded and even went as extreme as telling Lloyd not to have Don and Leo say "yeah" but the proper "yes" - so the goofiness had to fall on Mike by default.

Anyways, no, 2k3 Mike isn't the worst interpretation of the character. I think IDW is (besides the constant video game stereotype we see literally almost every issue) doing an excellent job handling Mike's character, taking what will obviously never leave him from the OT and combining it with a balanced marriage between Mirage/2k3. So far he actually reminds me of movie 1 Mike - my favorite version of the character, which blended the OT with Mirage. Add a little 2k3 in there and you have IDW's Mike so far. I'm happy with that.

[Jester]

Now the "Mikey in dark stories" idea I could handle. Part of me wonders what Mikey would have done in the SaiNW universe had he have gone there instead of Donnie, but that's neither here nor there. I think the 2 things that did Mikey in for me were the Turtle Titan (at least in his appearances in >> and BttS. Clash of the Turtle Titans and Super Power Struggle make my brain hurt. And like I said i think the 'desire to be a superhero" was explored very well...in TT's first episode!) and the over blown "BATTLE NEXUS CHAMPION!1!1! stuff (although it did make for a good call back in Grudge Match).

Maybe you're right that the nostalgia blinders are on, but FW Mikey never bugged me, but then again he wasn't the one cracking wise. That was Raph. FW Mikey was just laid back and mellow. Not sure what makes Raph's jokes work and 4Kids Mikey's flop...maybe the show's tone. I dunna. In any case, the humor that was attempted with Mikey never worked for me like Raph's did in the FW series.

[oldmanwinters]

Maybe you're right that the nostalgia blinders are on, but FW Mikey never bugged me, but then again he wasn't the one cracking wise. That was Raph. FW Mikey was just laid back and mellow. Not sure what makes Raph's jokes work and 4Kids Mikey's flop...maybe the show's tone. I dunna. In any case, the humor that was attempted with Mikey never worked for me like Raph's did in the FW series.

FW Mikey had a goof-off habit, but he never said or did anything offensive when somebody else was in trouble. He was always looking out for somebody else or trying to set a good example for kids (admittedly). 4Kids Mikey on the other hand... self-obsessed narcissist. It was all down hill for him after the Battle Nexus.

[The Terror of Death]

FW Mikey had a goof-off habit, but he never said or did anything offensive when somebody else was in trouble. He was always looking out for somebody else or trying to set a good example for kids (admittedly). 4Kids Mikey on the other hand... self-obsessed narcissist. It was all down hill for him after the Battle Nexus.

I somewhat disagree. He was a narcissist sure, but with the exceptions of Clash of the Turtle Titans and Super Power Struggle I don't think his narcissism ever got in the way of stopping villains and saving lives. There could be a moment or two I'm missing but those are the only episodes where I recall his behavior was a major risk to the people around him. His biggest flaw was that he didn't like to train as much as the others and played a lot of videogames. I also don't recall any of his comments or jokes being all that callous and intentionally cold. The worst of his trash talk was probably stuff like "stinky" or "fat" and "I'm better than you" but I don't think he ever really crossed the line into complete douchebaggery.

I think a lot of the criticism for the arrogant comedic type characters who almost never learn their lesson in cartoons is sometimes too harsh. When the character happens to be a grown man, it's a bit more understandable, but when it's a kid or teenager I think it's pretty unrealistic. Immaturity comes with the territory of not being an adult. Mikey displayed a lot of traits of the average youth; whiny, brash, conceited, jokey, and thickheaded slackers. For several youngsters having fun and thinking about your own needs is more of a concern than studying and trying to be more responsible. Well rounded fifteen-year-olds are somewhat of a rarity.

I think what it boils down to is Mikey's goofiness and the writers constantly hitting the reset button on his character development being a necessary evil. If he was shown to be more serious, contemplative, well-mannered, and dedicated he would have probably started to resemble Leo and Don too much as the series progressed. Same goes for Raph and his constant grouchiness. Each turtle has to have distinct personality traits. Too much permanent character development would just lead to more interchangeability among the four.

Another thing people have to keep in mind is that Mikey is probably the most relatable character in the series for the target audience. Some adult viewers find his immature behavior annoying but most kids probably love watching it because they too love junk food, playing videogames, slacking off, being an ass to others etc. It's safe to say that's the reason why stuff like Spongebob and tween coms often get more viewership than more serious fare like action oriented kids programming nowadays.

He's my favorite turtle so this could be personal bias talking but, I almost never had a problem with 4kids Mikey. He adequately fulfilled the role of the lighthearted comic relief character, imo. If they toned down half of Mikey's goofiness most episodes of this series would have probably ended up being 90% serious. While a more serious tone is great for older fans, it' not necessarily great for younger ones (thus the decision to make FF and BttS).

[Hermano Dyvas]

Like others have said he started out great, but as the series went on and especially when FF started he only got worse. At least in FF he has the excuse of being very excited about all the new sorts of entertainment the future offers.

[ToTheNines]

The short answer: yes, he is the the worst iteration of the character.

However, he's got some wicked competition. Movie, FredWolf, Archie, Mirage/Image and IDW Mikey are all great characters.

But still, while TMNT (2007) Mikey was dumbed down and one dimensional... he wasn't half as immature, selfish, whiny, or cowardly as 4kids Mike was capable of being.

He did have a lot of good moments, but they seemed to stick a lot of those tropes I listed above to his character just because he's the primary comic-relief.

Leo is definitely more annoying in 2k3 than Mikey is, IMO. And I'm a big Leo fan.

Lol, thank you. His lamest moment was in "Shredder Strikes" when he kicks the sh*t out of his brothers and Splinter compliments him on being a skilled warrior, and Leo throws a tantrum because "Splinter doesn't know how important these swords are" to him.

[Avatar Yuffie]

Unfortunately yes. :/

My brother is a huge Mikey fan... and he's not impressed with the 2k3 one. As for myself, tried to give him a chance, cringe at how forced the show tries to make him "the funny guy" by being the brother everyone slaps when he said something dumb. Sheesh, even SPLINTER does this.

Just.... *facepalm*

I dunno how OT Mikey pulled it off, really. He's immature, loves his comic books, has that stoned surfer slang and gross his brothers out with his pizzas, but he never, re-watching the series again as an older person, made me annoyed at him.

And comparing 2K3 Mikey with the "immature kid heroes" such as Beast Boy, Ben Tennyson and heck, Aang... he's still at the bottom pile.:/


Not sure what makes Raph's jokes work and 4Kids Mikey's flop

Rob Paulsen? It's his delivery of the line that works so well with the joke.

[BubblyShell22]

I think Mikey was fine in 2K3 until he became the Battle Nexus Champion. After that, he became more arrogant. As for the superhero thing, it was fine at first because I could sympathize with what Mikey's aims were for being a superhero. He just wanted to do good out of the shadows because he generally has a good heart. But after he became BNC, things took a turn for the worst. He became arrogant and selfish instead of being humble. He constantly rubbed it in his brothers' faces, and he was even selfish in the other superhero episodes as well as though he was better than everyone. And every time they had him learn a lesson, they'd make him revert back to his selfish self again as though that particular lesson never happened.

Don't get me wrong, Mikey had a lot of potential. There was just a lot of inconsistency with his character which made me not a fan of him in later seasons.

And as for Leo's tantrum, I think Leo can be a bit arrogant at times, as shown in this episode. But at least he learned his lesson at the end and remained pretty consistent with it instead of constantly acting like he was better than everyone like Mikey did.

[Donnie]

Looks like we're alone, The Terror of Death! I'm biased as well cause he's my favorite, but I seriously have never had a problem with 2k3 Mikey, and like I've said a bunch of times he's one of my favorite versions of the character. It was the 2k3 Mikey that got me back (full swing) into the Turtles when they had a taken a back seat in my life.

I said most of how I feel in my initial post (which I don't think many people read because it's long) but I would like to say that I find it puzzling how any of you could list 2k3 Mikey below 2k7 TMNT Mike. The 2007 adaption of the character was by far the worst - he was like a less mature OT Mike with hardly any character development excluding what we already knew about Michelangelo: he wanted to be integrated in human society, his need for socialization. This spans probably all Michelangelo's throughout the medias, so at least we got that! 2k7 Mike didn't remind me at all of 2k3, except in the fact that he played video games, and he was a fan of the Nightwatcher cause he saw him as a superhero.


And as for Leo's tantrum, I think Leo can be a bit arrogant at times, as shown in this episode. But at least he learned his lesson at the end and remained pretty consistent with it instead of constantly acting like he was better than everyone like Mikey did.

Leo, in my opinion, was the most annoying in 2k3. He was always too butt-kiss and he threw a ton of fits. "City at War", anyone?

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

The "Christmas Aliens" is an episode that totally fit Michelangelo.

[MikeandRaph87]

I can evaluate it fairly without nostalgia except for the Image portrayal as I only read #3 and that was enough for me personally. Of all the other versions out there the 2003 cartoon iteration of Michelangelo made him dumber than he is and an annoyance to the others to the point even Splinter slapped him on the head. My favorite version will probably always be the 1987 cartoon version. With only 16 issues out at its start and Michelangelo the least developed it could be said this series gave more characterization and characteristics that would stick. This is where the pop culture buff so to speak began I admit with his surfer dude lingos and most of those terms meaning the exact same thing. It was not overdone in my opinion. Also, like with any version my favorite turtle can make me embarassed to support him like how he acts in say "The Gang's All Here" and "Nightmare In The Sewers" or being the bait in Beneath The Streets for the alien plant . The pizza obbession was overdone as well. That didn't hurt my appreciation but just enjoy that about him.
He is the laid back heart of the group that was the most like a human teenager. In the movies he was portrayed in a similar vain yet more prone to be serious when it calls for it like in the Mirage Comics. The 2003 cartoon made him make pop culture quips too much and too lazy and arrogant for a time. I don't see Michelangelo overall as a lazy character but laid back. I was glad he won the Battle Nexus tournament even by default of Splinter passing torch and the Ultimate Ninja's interference with Leo's poisioning removing him and Usagi. A season and a half later when they returned for Mike to win it outright he did so and I thought it would be a wake up call after the victory before had made him think he was all that yet it didn't. Graduation Day 2105 shows this.
I felt like Michleangelo was made dumber than he is and overly spouting pop culture while its in his nature its not neccessary every minute of the day. I can see why people will say it was the Battle Nexus "victory" that was a turning point because of the laziness and arrogance that isn't really who he is yet he was over done before in some aspects. The woman's clothing during the Turtles In Space arc and his love of space food left me shaking my head. Not ot mention his screaming like a girl at a lot of things and his ability to become scared very easily such as in Sons of The Silent Age or Notes From The Underground. I like Michelangelo as we see him in both the first three films and the 1987 cartoon. If he can have an episode like Same As It Never Was and shown as he was in those two versions with a touch of a serious attitude that would be the best portrayal. In retrospect I think it was a mistake to place Don in SAINW and it should have been Michleangelo instead. It could have helped his chracter development in that series if allowed to carry over.

[Sage Ninja]

My problem with 2k3 Mikey is that he was forced to be the counter-balance to all the serious and "dark" elements the show was trying to attempt, which succeeded in making him, for the most part, a filler character because he was always the one who had to "lighten" the mood. All it did was make his character inconsistent because it always had to be him doing the dumb and stupid stuff. Plus, his antics were generally unappreciated by the those around him so it came across twice as over-bearing because the other characters had to stay this "serious" mold they were given. What I hated the most was how Mikey would act like serious things didn't effect him at all. Case in point the second episode of BTTS when for all anyone knew Splinter, their father, was dead. And while everyone else was mourning he was having a party and being an ass to Serling. It could be argued that this is his way of lightening the mood or how he copes but that B.S, Mikey often came across like all he cared about was his own sense of enjoyment and pleasure.This was the treatment he recieved from the get-go, it didn't happen gradually like some people on here seem to think. True, it got worse after FF and BTTS, and his cockiness (his worse trait) got worse after his battle Nexus win.

The battle nexus thing could have been a good arc for him because for once he wasn't standing in his brother's shadow; and I thought that was what the writers were building on, with him throwing his win in their faces, but it doesn't develop in that way. It just showed him getting a inflated ego and nothing deeper than that. If the writers were going for that, they dropped the ball. Same thing with his turtle titan persona, I saw it as a way to assert himself as an individual seprete from him brothers and could have been a good character study of his character, but they choose to make it another means to show boat and be immature and bratty.

His cockiness killed him, sometimes you just didn't want to root for him. Thats pretty sad if the general audiance does not want to root for one of the main characters. In Grudge Match his attitude was so bad I think some of the viewers wouldn't have minded if Mikey got pounded and humilated. The writers copped out of this by making Klaw (or what his name was) the blatant bad guy so you'd have to root for him because the his opponent was up to know good. They took the easy way out because they knew they'd made Mikey behave in away the viewers wouldn't readily root for.

Bottom line, 2k3 Mikey was handled poorly. He had alot of hinted depth like his inferority complex to his brothers and his need for recognition, which was probably why he acted the he did at times, but because he had to be "comic relief" and the tension breaker, the writers opted for the cheap laugh than development his character. Shame.

Say what you want about the classic series Michelangelo, but at least his character wasn't a crutch for force light heartedness. He was funny when the it time to be funny and he evolved and became serious when the series became serious in redsky with the rest of the turtles. With the exception of that one HAVOC episode. Which was an ass-handling of his character.

[Zany Orange Dude]

I guess it is all into what kind of things you like about a character, and I personally love 2k3 Mikey. Sure, there were times when he annoyed me, but over all, I enjoyed him. And honestly, he is one of the main reasons I like watching 2k3.

I do, however, think there was more to Mike that should have been explored. I feel as if they just sort of scratched at the surface of his character, like there was something more they could have tapped into.

[Donnie]

Say what you want about the classic series Michelangelo, but at least his character wasn't a crutch for force light heartedness. He was funny when the it time to be funny and he evolved and became serious when the series became serious in redsky with the rest of the turtles. With the exception of that one HAVOC episode. Which was an ass-handling of his character.

Like I said I think Pete slapped most of the goofiness on Mike because he wasn't going to let them slap it on Don, Leo, and in some cases Raph - but most of you make it out like he was never serious. That definitely wasn't the case. I think OT Mike was less serious than 2k3. I'm not going to say 2k3 Mike's comedy never felt forced, cause it did at times, but I think overall it was tasteful and definitely well received by viewers like myself.

Another thing, why was his cockiness such a turn off to most of you? Raphael is cocky too. Just because the funny guy gets cocky it's a problem? I think Mikey's cockiness was cool.

Welp, at the end of the day we all have our opinions. I think 2k3 Mike was one of the strongest parts of the show, and he was my favorite to watch.

[ToTheNines]

Most of the problems with him are debatable, but no one can defend how he was the biggest chicken of a ninja I've ever seen.

Those girly screams got old.

[Donnie]

Most of the problems with him are debatable

Agreed!

Those girly screams got old.

:lol: Honestly, I thought they were hilarious! I really liked how he was a kind of a chicken-of-a-ninja. Reminded me of someone...myself, maybe? :D (minus the ninja part...)

[ABrown]

The 4Kids version of Michelangelo was easily my favorite version of the character. I'm just not that big of a fan of the "surfer" Mikey from the original cartoon. I thought 4Kids Mikey was hilarious.

[The Terror of Death]

Like I said I think Pete slapped most of the goofiness on Mike because he wasn't going to let them slap it on Don, Leo, and in some cases Raph - but most of you make it out like he was never serious. That definitely wasn't the case. I think OT Mike was less serious than 2k3. I'm not going to say 2k3 Mike's comedy never felt forced, cause it did at times, but I think overall it was tasteful and definitely well received by viewers like myself.


I agree. People saying that 2k3 Mikey was never serious is a bit of an exaggeration. He was almost never as serious as he was when fighting Kluh at the end of Grudge Match or in SAINW but he always helped his brothers get the job done on pretty much all their missions. Whenever the turtles were fighting villains or trying to complete some task he wasn’t on the sidelines avoiding conflict or at home playing games. He may have smiled and wisecracked a lot but he was always on the front lines risking his life with everyone else. Even when he complained about his brothers decisions or was afraid to do something he still followed through and helped them out. He wasn't quite as resourceful as Leo or Don but 2k3 Mikey did his fair share of work and saved the day plenty of times.

[Herald7]

I dunno how OT Mikey pulled it off, really. He's immature, loves his comic books, has that stoned surfer slang and gross his brothers out with his pizzas, but he never, re-watching the series again as an older person, made me annoyed at him.

Oh I know, even now he doesn't bother me. I think it's because he's actually a pretty humble, easy going, innocent character and not thrown in your face. They were smart to never let him take over the show, which they could have easily done with how popular he was.

[LeoNerdo]

I liked him. Sure the jokes felt forced at times, but there were also times when his character made me laugh out loud. That's never happened that I can remember in any other incarnation except the first two movies.

[Donnie]

He wasn't quite as resourceful as Leo or Don but 2k3 Mikey did his fair share of work and saved the day plenty of times.

Totally. Notes From the Underground is just one example - I know there are more in which Mikey comes through in the clutch.

[Jester]

Rob Paulsen? It's his delivery of the line that works so well with the joke.
I would have said it myself...but I've gotta keep my bias in check :P

I dunno guys. You can think of times Mikey helped out in a pinch, I can think of times he was totally selfish and left the others to bust their humps. Heck, the first Garbageman episode has Mikey goofing off as the others look for salvageable components for the lair. Raph even asks why Mikey doesn't have to help, to which Donatello answers, "Would you rather Mikey happy, or Mikey bored?" That's pretty obnoxious. Then there's the previously mentioned instance in BttS.

I get that Mikey could be serious. SaiNW is an awesome example of Mikey coming to help when the chips are down. I wish we could have seen more of that, instead we got someone who slacked and joked sometimes when it was inappropriate.

FW Mikey might be less serious than 4Kids Mikey, but that whole show was less serious. And when it got more serious, so did Mikey.

Maybe that's my problem. Not that I dislike 4Kids Mikey, I just feel the poor guy got the short end of the character development stick.

[BubblyShell22]

He helped out in Shredder Strikes Back too when Leo was down. He even reassured Leo that they'd get him out of there. And though the girly screams may have gotten annoying for some people, I did laugh at them as I thought they were funny. The cockiness and selfishness were what made me mad at him.

[Avatar Yuffie]

I also didn't like how Mikey whined the stuff he lost when they're scrounging for stuff after Karai destroyed their lair. The fact that 1) his brothers also lost important things to them too and 2) at least the family is safe and accounted for makes me want to hit him. D:

Guuuh!!!

[Donnie]

Like I said, I love the girly screams, I thought they were hilarious!

I'll ask again - what's so wrong with the funny guy being cocky? I thought it was done well. Raphael's cocky as anything, and the others show cockiness often throughout as well.

[plastroncafe]

Dude!Mikey from the OT is my least favorite iteration of the character, and all of the faults of the 4Kids Mikey I blame on the OT.

[Donnie]

Dude!Mikey from the OT is my least favorite iteration of the character, and all of the faults of the 4Kids Mikey I blame on the OT.

The 2007 CGI Mike is my least favorite iteration, but the OT Mike would follow as my 2nd least favorite. Like I said in one of my first posts in this thread, it is because of the OT that Mike will never be treated fully satisfactory in a television show. And I'm not saying he should be all serious and dark. That's not ever how his character was meant to be. However, I don't dislike OT Mike, and I think it was because of the OT's influence that we got my personal favorite version of the character - movie 1 Mike - a perfect blend of Mirage/OT.

I don't want to spin too off topic here, but since I'm on it already, I'd currently rank my favorite Mikey's as:

1. Movie 1
2. 2k3
3. Mirage
4. Image
5. Movie 3 (I loved his crush on Mitsu, it gave him more of a serious angle too)
6. Movie 2
7. Next Mutation
8. OT
9. 2k7 TMNT

[ToTheNines]

I don't understand how you rank 2k3 Mike so high, and 2007 Mike so low...

[Herald7]

it is because of the OT that Mike will never be treated fully satisfactory in a television show.

Hey don't blame OT Mikey just because the other Mikeys can't get it together. Totally bogus, dude. ;)

[Donnie]

I don't understand how you rank 2k3 Mike so high, and 2007 Mike so low...

I honestly don't see many resemblances between 2k3 Mike and 2k7 Mike aside from the fact that they both play video games. I'm clearly biased towards the 2k3, so maybe it's just me, but I really see them as two different and separate takes on the character.

I was thinking about making a thread about how when the 2k7 movie came out (and the same holds true to this day) I didn't think the characters in that movie were resembling the 2k3 TMNT at all. There are some character traits that are obviously there, but to me the 2k3 Turtles and the 2k7 Turtles are very different. I never felt like I was watching the 2k3 in a movie...that goes for all 4 of the Turtles, not just Mikey. In my opinion, the 2k7 was just a clusterf*ck of bad direction that had some decent moments...but on the whole, it was garbage. I used to think better of it. That time is no more, lol.

[Jester]

Too be fair, the 2k7 flick really shafted both Mikey and Donnie as it almost felt like they didn't know what to do with them. The Leo/Raph stuff took center stage, and Mike and Don were relegated to background characters in their own movie. Granted, the same dynamic was used in the 1st film, but at least there, Mikey and Donnie had each other to goof with.

On the other hand, we got WAY more 4Kids Mikey. I'd rank him lower than the Imagi Mike because, well, there's more of a character there, and more to be bugged by. Where the 2k7 Mikey was underused, the 4Kids Mikey was used much more, and the annoying parts of his persona crept through.

I have no problem with him being cocky, like you say, Raph is some what cocky, the major difference is the frequency. When Mikey won the Battle Nexus Tournament, there was no shutting him up...ever.

[Herald7]

Too be fair, the 2k7 flick really shafted both Mikey and Donnie as it almost felt like they didn't know what to do with them. The Leo/Raph stuff took center stage, and Mike and Don were relegated to background characters in their own movie. Granted, the same dynamic was used in the 1st film, but at least there, Mikey and Donnie had each other to goof with.

Exactly, they were smart in the 1st film; they knew the best chance for drama came from Leo and Raph together, but they also knew they couldn't have two other dead weight characters doing nothing in the background.

[ToTheNines]

I was thinking about making a thread about how when the 2k7 movie came out (and the same holds true to this day) I didn't think the characters in that movie were resembling the 2k3 TMNT at all. There are some character traits that are obviously there, but to me the 2k3 Turtles and the 2k7 Turtles are very different. I never felt like I was watching the 2k3 in a movie...that goes for all 4 of the Turtles, not just Mikey. In my opinion, the 2k7 was just a clusterf*ck of bad direction that had some decent moments...but on the whole, it was garbage. I used to think better of it. That time is no more, lol.

I don't like the 2007 movie either, and Mike was definitely dumbed down in that one... but at least he wasn't constantly intentionally annoying his brothers.

[Cure]

The thing I really liked about Mikey in the movie was that he was ready and willing to check out the noises in that building or whatever, even with a smile on his face, whereas Mikey in the series would have run screaming like a pansy.

I don't get how someone can be so cocky yet so cowardly at the same time. It would have made more sense for Mikey to take on any challenge with a jokey attitude, like when he was in that gauntlet in Shredder's lair.

[ToTheNines]

The thing I really liked about Mikey in the movie was that he was ready and willing to check out the noises in that building or whatever, even with a smile on his face, whereas Mikey in the series would have run screaming like a pansy.

I don't get how someone can be so cocky yet so cowardly at the same time. It would have made more sense for Mikey to take on any challenge with a jokey attitude, like when he was in that gauntlet in Shredder's lair.

Yeah, I don't know why the writers pulled Mikey being a chicken out of their asses... he was never really afraid of anything in Mirage, Image, Archie, the old cartoon, or the movies.

[Donnie]

I don't get how someone can be so cocky yet so cowardly at the same time.

It's being a teenager. Throughout my youth plenty of people (myself included) have acted cocky or confident but were really scared. Why is that cowardly?

Yeah, I don't know why the writers pulled Mikey being a chicken out of their asses... he was never really afraid of anything in Mirage, Image, Archie, the old cartoon, or the movies.

I really liked Mikey being a scaredy-cat, it was a new element to his character that didn't seem out of place to me at all. A welcomed addition to his personality in my opinion!

Oh and I realized I left IDW out of my rankings list - I'm sure it will rank highly when it's fit to judge it. So far so good. :D

[ToTheNines]

I really liked Mikey being a scaredy-cat

Hm.

I'm out.

[Redeemer]

I don't like the 2007 movie either, and Mike was definitely dumbed down in that one... but at least he wasn't constantly intentionally annoying his brothers.

Yeah the movie Mikey was pretty much a stoner....

[ZariusTwo]

I really liked Mikey being a scaredy-cat, it was a new element to his character that didn't seem out of place to me at all. A welcomed addition to his personality in my opinion!

You think being a chickens*it is a welcome personality addition?:roll:

[Donnie]

Hm.

I'm out.

To each his own my dude, I'm not trying to convince anybody, I'm just showing my devoted appreciation for a very unappreciated character, and I knew that wasn't going to go over satisfactory with the general fandom. But I'm not just gonna agree with the consensus when I genuinely like almost everything about 2k3 Mikey. Somebody's gotta stand up for him! I know I'm the extreme minority...it's all good.

Yeah the movie Mikey was pretty much a stoner....

Totally. He might as well had a doob in his mouth the entire film. Not that I'm anti-marijuana...but he seriously sounded baked that entire movie. At least in the 2k3 Mikey's personality came naturally rather than in some altered state. :lol:

Granted the 2k7 was an hour and a half (was it even that long?) movie, and of course the personality development that each Turtle got couldn't equate to what they got over the course of many seasons, but even with that taken into account the movie still fails terribly, especially with Mike & Don. Leo & Raph were decent, but they were also way too exaggerated - Raph hyped up and wholly confrontational the whole movie...gosh.

You think being a chickens*it is a welcome personality addition?:roll:

Like I said, I liked that Mikey had a scared streak. He's a teenager. Teens are sometimes scared, even if you're a mutant Turtle. It was cool to see one of the Turtles show that side, because it's absent from other TMNT media. Mikey is the obvious choice to give the quality to, in my opinion.

I also think you guys are exagerrating with it - yeah 2k3 Mikey was definitely a scaredy-cat (again, I don't see it necessarily as a negative trait) but he still kicked ass and even if he complained or whined, still won the day alongside his brothers. He never cowered in the corner when the Turtles went up against a major adversary like Shredder. He pulled his weight plenty, who cares if he was initially scared about it? (And as a side note, it wasn't all the time that he was). He saved the day in "Notes from the Underground", regardless of how scared he was to wander through that creepy city alone. Geez, I'd be scared too!

[Powder]

I think you're a cool dude, but sometimes you REEEEEEEEAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYYYY reach for your favorite characters.

[Cure]

It's being a teenager. Throughout my youth plenty of people (myself included) have acted cocky or confident but were really scared. Why is that cowardly?

Uh, what? We're talking about two different things. Suppressing fear is not the same as wearing it on your sleeve and screaming like a bitch.

[Donnie]

Let's just agree to disagree. I love 2k3 Mikey, many of you don't. It's cool!

[Mandi-chan]

I don't get the hate for 2007 Mikey. I thought (with what little we got to see of him) that he was really sweet, brave, skilled, and genuinely funny (except the "your mom" joke...but I never found that joke funny back when it was popular anyway). He wasn't portrayed as an idiot, a coward, a jerk, or a lazy ninja. Sure he was kinda dopey and mildly childish (just like the OT and the original movies had him be), but (like those past examples) I found it endearing.

I used to love 2003 Mikey, but as the seasons went by I grew more disappointed and irritated by his lack of growth. I felt like they went backwards with his character, making him seem dumber and more immature every year. But still, I overlooked his faults and defended him when he had his less-than-flattering moments...up until Season 4, that's when he crossed a line that I couldn't ignore.

In the premier episode of Season 4, when the Hamato clan is getting cozy in Casey's old house in the woods, Mikey did the unforgivable. He sniffs at the air, makes a face, and then makes an obnoxious remark about there being a gross burnt-fur smell in the room...with Splinter (who had, in the Season 3 finale, gotten electrocuted and nearly died saving Mikey's ass...thus, why his fur was singed in the first place) sitting right there next to him as he says it. And instead of apologizing for his insensitive and rude remark, all Mikey does is display a stupidly sheepish grin at the look Splinter shoots at him (I don’t remember him apologizing…at least, not sincerely).
From that point on (aside from a couple of notable episodes) I swear Mikey got increasingly worse and never matured. It was frustrating to watch!

[tmnt transformer]

The 4kids michelangelo is perfect version of him.

[Donnie]

The 4kids michelangelo is perfect version of him.

Along with movie 1 Mike, I agree. Just re-watched Grudge Match - still one of the best episodes in my opinion. Who could doubt that Mikey didn't have his serious moments? He totally owned that last half of the episode. Love the bond it showed with him & Leo, too.

[Avatar Yuffie]

Don't get the 2007 Mikey hate either. I just felt like he's just shoved in the sidelines with Don during Leo and Raph trying to be Alphas again, ohidunno.

[Sage Ninja]

well you see personaly I think old toon treated Michaelangelo better as a character than some of the more "serious" mediums of the franchise does. Because even though the old toon was sillier more light hearted version of the franchise, Michaelangelo actually fit the context of that medium. He may had been silly sometiems and had the lable of "the party dude" slapped on him but he was no more sillier than the other turtles.

I feel as if in the old toon he was just as important to the plots as the other four and wasn't ranks of imporatance on the turtles in the orginal toon, as there seems to be in the serious mediums of the franchise. OT Michaelangelo wasn't detached from what was going on around him and reacted to it and was involved. Often times in the more serious mediums I feel they make Mikey's too detached from the more serious stuff and try too hard to make him the "comic relief" to off set the darker events which makes him seem detached from what is going on by having him cracking jokes, making it seem that is all there is to his character.

I really like OT Michaelangelo, and I think he is some what set apart from the more serious versions of Michaelangelo in the sence that, I don't get the "I'm the baby of the group" vibe off of him in this medium of the turtles. Most mediums seem to try to set Michaelangelo up as the baby of the group by giving him characteristics of the youngest, like annoying your older siblings and being some what vulnerable and helpless which sort of puts him in a less than equal position to the other turtles. In the classic toon he's not exactly immature just more into indulging fun stuff and he never purposely tries to annoy the other turtles.

What I like about OT Mike is that his humourous side wasn't forced. He doesn't try to be the funny guy and his mostly funny momemts are do to his mannerisms. And I don't think Michaelangelo in the old toon was flakey I think his priorites where just diffirent from the other turtles. But what I really appriciated about his character is that the show let him progress with the story. When Red Sky came along and the the plots and turtles became more serious, so did he. The writters didn't try to play him down and or make him more wacky to off set the more serious tone the show had taken to "balance things out". The writters actually treated his character with respect and realized he was just as much apart of the TMNt as the three turtles and let him evolve and and toughen up just like the other turtles. I'm not to found of Red Sky but at least when the show made the turn around they let Michaelangelo progress (with out changing his over all personality) with it instead forceing him to be the clown and comic relief. Which more than more "serious" and "dark" versions of TMNT has given him.

[Donnie]

Don't get the 2007 Mikey hate either. I just felt like he's just shoved in the sidelines with Don during Leo and Raph trying to be Alphas again, ohidunno.

I'm being a little too hard on 2k7 Mike maybe, although he would still be my least favorite version. To be fair, my overall semi-recent (although I was never too happy w/ Mike in it from the get-go) dislike for that movie as a whole probably influences that decision.

making it seem that is all there is to his character.

What I like about OT Mike is that his humourous side wasn't forced.

The writters actually treated his character with respect and realized he was just as much apart of the TMNt as the three turtles and let him evolve and and toughen up just like the other turtles.

I have to clarify that I don't dislike OT Mike, like I said I do like him. Could do without his surfer slang, but you have great points throughout your post, and I agree that he never seemed like the younger brother to me in the OT. Then again, I never minded that Mikey has been recently casted into that role.

What I quoted is all your opinion, and I think the writers of the 2k3 respected Mike just fine, let him evolve, and for the most part kept his humor tasteful. But at this point I feel like I'm beating a dead horse!

[Jester]

This is Mikey:
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y132/Jesterangelo/PracticalJokes01.jpghttp://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y132/Jesterangelo/PracticalJokes02.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y132/Jesterangelo/PracticalJokes03.jpghttp://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y132/Jesterangelo/PracticalJokes04.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y132/Jesterangelo/PracticalJokes05.jpghttp://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y132/Jesterangelo/PracticalJokes06.jpg

[BubblyShell22]

Wow. Now, that's a good explanation as to why Mikey's the way he is sometimes. Thanks for sharing that, Jester.

[MikeandRaph87]

well you see personaly I think old toon treated Michaelangelo better as a character than some of the more "serious" mediums of the franchise does. Because even though the old toon was sillier more light hearted version of the franchise, Michaelangelo actually fit the context of that medium. He may had been silly sometiems and had the lable of "the party dude" slapped on him but he was no more sillier than the other turtles.

I feel as if in the old toon he was just as important to the plots as the other four and wasn't ranks of imporatance on the turtles in the orginal toon, as there seems to be in the serious mediums of the franchise. OT Michaelangelo wasn't detached from what was going on around him and reacted to it and was involved. Often times in the more serious mediums I feel they make Mikey's too detached from the more serious stuff and try too hard to make him the "comic relief" to off set the darker events which makes him seem detached from what is going on by having him cracking jokes, making it seem that is all there is to his character.

I really like OT Michaelangelo, and I think he is some what set apart from the more serious versions of Michaelangelo in the sence that, I don't get the "I'm the baby of the group" vibe off of him in this medium of the turtles. Most mediums seem to try to set Michaelangelo up as the baby of the group by giving him characteristics of the youngest, like annoying your older siblings and being some what vulnerable and helpless which sort of puts him in a less than equal position to the other turtles. In the classic toon he's not exactly immature just more into indulging fun stuff and he never purposely tries to annoy the other turtles.

What I like about OT Mike is that his humourous side wasn't forced. He doesn't try to be the funny guy and his mostly funny momemts are do to his mannerisms. And I don't think Michaelangelo in the old toon was flakey I think his priorites where just diffirent from the other turtles. But what I really appriciated about his character is that the show let him progress with the story. When Red Sky came along and the the plots and turtles became more serious, so did he. The writters didn't try to play him down and or make him more wacky to off set the more serious tone the show had taken to "balance things out". The writters actually treated his character with respect and realized he was just as much apart of the TMNt as the three turtles and let him evolve and and toughen up just like the other turtles. I'm not to found of Red Sky but at least when the show made the turn around they let Michaelangelo progress (with out changing his over all personality) with it instead forceing him to be the clown and comic relief. Which more than more "serious" and "dark" versions of TMNT has given him.

Its like your sharing my brain! That is pretty much why I like the classic cartoon Michelangelo so much. Forget the nostalgia and classic VA that is why. Though I am found of the 8th season Red Sky not the rest unless its the Shredder/ Krang three parter or that Chronos one. Great post,Sage!Great post!:D

[Donnie]

I wish that piece was considered canon, Jester! I guess it could be in our little hearts? :D I loved when Mikey talked history (as I'm a history teacher for hire!) and my favorite Tales v.2 issue was definitely #30, a fine mix of Mikey's historical fiction and fantasy!

[Ulisa]

While 2k3 Mikey is not my favorite version (that belongs to OT Mikey all the way) I do find him to be an intriguing version of the character. I did find some of his tactics annoying but nothing that really made me "hate" his character.

I actually also like the fact they made him fearful at times. I think they overplayed it but in some instances, I think it made a lot of sense. Case in point, "Notes from the Underground" and "Darkness Within." Although a lot of people thought Mikey came across as a chicken in "Notes from the Underground" given his love of comics and monster movies, I think it made a lot of sense for him to fear monsters.

Too often, I think the Turtles come across as these fearless warriors who will charge into anything. As much as I also like that view, I think giving them realistic fears and having them react accordingly, adds more depth to them. Seeing Mikey afraid for 2 episodes straight then harden his backbone in episode 3 to fight against this thing he was afraid of, made him come off as even more courageous to me than if he had charged in without any hesitation.

As corny as it sounds, I am a firm believer in "courage is mastery of fear, not absense of it" when it comes to writing characters. Having them have to "build up" the courage to face something is also something I find very realistic.

That aside, his bragging on the tournament did get monotonous. I think it would have worked better to have him be cocky about it for a bit, maybe have "Grudge Match" knock him out of that state. That would have made sense to me. However, like I said earlier, it doesn't make me HATE him.

As for my personal hated version of Mikey? Well, I really don't have one. I like all versions of him, for different reasons. It's pretty hard to make me HATE a character. However, if I was to pick the version that I like the least, it would be 2k7 Mikey, though only for the reasoning that we didn't see much of him. I would have liked to get more depth on him and Donny in that movie. I really like Mikey with blue eyes, dunno why and the fact that he leapt up to hug Leo when he came back, I thought was pretty sweet, given I view Mikey as the most sensitive and emotional of the turtles.

Just my two cents.
Ulisa

[Donnie]

I actually also like the fact they made him fearful at times. I think they overplayed it but in some instances, I think it made a lot of sense. Case in point, "Notes from the Underground" and "Darkness Within." Although a lot of people thought Mikey came across as a chicken in "Notes from the Underground" given his love of comics and monster movies, I think it made a lot of sense for him to fear monsters.

Too often, I think the Turtles come across as these fearless warriors who will charge into anything. As much as I also like that view, I think giving them realistic fears and having them react accordingly, adds more depth to them. Seeing Mikey afraid for 2 episodes straight then harden his backbone in episode 3 to fight against this thing he was afraid of, made him come off as even more courageous to me than if he had charged in without any hesitation.

As corny as it sounds, I am a firm believer in "courage is mastery of fear, not absense of it" when it comes to writing characters. Having them have to "build up" the courage to face something is also something I find very realistic.


Agreed!
!!!!

[Herald7]

I really like OT Michaelangelo, and I think he is some what set apart from the more serious versions of Michaelangelo in the sence that, I don't get the "I'm the baby of the group" vibe off of him in this medium of the turtles. Most mediums seem to try to set Michaelangelo up as the baby of the group by giving him characteristics of the youngest, like annoying your older siblings and being some what vulnerable and helpless which sort of puts him in a less than equal position to the other turtles.

Yeah I get what you're saying. OT Michelangelo to me isn't really less immature so much as he is more innocent and unassuming. His priorities are just different. Part of the standard "surfer dude" persona is being more concerned about when the next wave is coming, rather than the normal, stress inducing cares of the world.

[CyberCubed]

OT Michaelangelo is one of the best incarnations of his character. Aside from his pizza addiction, he's probably the most laid back version of the character.

You ever notice OT Mikey rarely made jokes, most likely because Raph was the comic relief? So Mike was basically just the laid-back dude.

[Avatar Yuffie]

well you see personaly I think old toon treated Michaelangelo better as a character than some of the more "serious" mediums of the franchise does. Because even though the old toon was sillier more light hearted version of the franchise, Michaelangelo actually fit the context of that medium. He may had been silly sometiems and had the lable of "the party dude" slapped on him but he was no more sillier than the other turtles.

I feel as if in the old toon he was just as important to the plots as the other four and wasn't ranks of imporatance on the turtles in the orginal toon, as there seems to be in the serious mediums of the franchise. OT Michaelangelo wasn't detached from what was going on around him and reacted to it and was involved. Often times in the more serious mediums I feel they make Mikey's too detached from the more serious stuff and try too hard to make him the "comic relief" to off set the darker events which makes him seem detached from what is going on by having him cracking jokes, making it seem that is all there is to his character.

I really like OT Michaelangelo, and I think he is some what set apart from the more serious versions of Michaelangelo in the sence that, I don't get the "I'm the baby of the group" vibe off of him in this medium of the turtles. Most mediums seem to try to set Michaelangelo up as the baby of the group by giving him characteristics of the youngest, like annoying your older siblings and being some what vulnerable and helpless which sort of puts him in a less than equal position to the other turtles. In the classic toon he's not exactly immature just more into indulging fun stuff and he never purposely tries to annoy the other turtles.

What I like about OT Mike is that his humourous side wasn't forced. He doesn't try to be the funny guy and his mostly funny momemts are do to his mannerisms. And I don't think Michaelangelo in the old toon was flakey I think his priorites where just diffirent from the other turtles. But what I really appriciated about his character is that the show let him progress with the story. When Red Sky came along and the the plots and turtles became more serious, so did he. The writters didn't try to play him down and or make him more wacky to off set the more serious tone the show had taken to "balance things out". The writters actually treated his character with respect and realized he was just as much apart of the TMNt as the three turtles and let him evolve and and toughen up just like the other turtles. I'm not to found of Red Sky but at least when the show made the turn around they let Michaelangelo progress (with out changing his over all personality) with it instead forceing him to be the clown and comic relief. Which more than more "serious" and "dark" versions of TMNT has given him.

Wow, Sage, that's Fridge Brilliance, right there.

Also, that comic's awesome, Jester.

[Donnie]

OT Michaelangelo is one of the best incarnations of his character. Aside from his pizza addiction, he's probably the most laid back version of the character.

You ever notice OT Mikey rarely made jokes, most likely because Raph was the comic relief? So Mike was basically just the laid-back dude.

OT Mike is great, but not all of us are into surfer-slang. That's why I would rate him toward the lower end of Mike's, not because he was written badly or anything, he was a great character - the surfer-slang just isn't my bag.

It seems from this poll that more people agree with me than not, I wonder where they all have been hiding? I felt like I was alone in defending 2k3 Mike, and now it's turned into an OT Mike lovefest. Which is still cool, haha.

[Herald7]

It seems from this poll that more people agree with me than not, I wonder where they all have been hiding? I felt like I was alone in defending 2k3 Mike, and now it's turned into an OT Mike lovefest.

Mondo bizarro, dude. ;)

[Donnie]

Mondo bizarro, dude. ;)

:lol:

Exxxactly.

[Konchadunga]

No; he's not. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL3vBfSZDs0)

[Donnie]

No; he's not. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL3vBfSZDs0)

:lol:

Forgot about that horror show. 2k7 CGI Mikey is no longer at the bottom of my list!

[Redeemer]

Watched "Grudge Match" from season 4 of 2k3 series.

Got a whole new appreciation for Mikey. I hated how cowardly he was even when Leo was helping him, but when he realized what was happening he got pissed and went beast mode!!!!!! Favorite Mikey ep of all time now

[BubblyShell22]

Yes, he did redeem himself in Grudge Match at that time. He stepped it up and beat Kluh just as he should have. Too bad he forgets his lessons throughout the series.

[Donnie]

Watched "Grudge Match" from season 4 of 2k3 series.

Got a whole new appreciation for Mikey. I hated how cowardly he was even when Leo was helping him, but when he realized what was happening he got pissed and went beast mode!!!!!! Favorite Mikey ep of all time now

Yep, "Grudge Match" is the best Mikey episode! I love it. He totally owns that dude. It was very violent too, Mikey takes quite the beating at first. It almost hurt to watch!

I don't think he was being cowardly really...he tried to push it off...I don't blame him. It's not like he had a personal vendetta with Kluh, Kluh just randomly provoked violence out of pride - I wouldn't want anything to do with a fight like that either! What matters most is how he truly proved himself in the end by knocking the snot out of that big waste.

Yes, he did redeem himself in Grudge Match at that time. He stepped it up and beat Kluh just as he should have. Too bad he forgets his lessons throughout the series.

What lesson was he supposed to learn? Always be ready for a fight? That's contradictory to Mikey's character in itself, at least in the 2k3. I like how he didn't always learn a "lesson" - he's the most humanized of the four, showing that mistakes sometimes happen, but there are ways to overcome or get around them. Once you overcome that mistake, more will surely follow, regardless if you learned a "lesson" during that exact time or whatever. Nobody's perfect! Or should I say pobody's nerfect?

[Redeemer]

What lesson was he supposed to learn?
Take training seriously and to always practice

[Ninja Tiptup]

So we're just mostly ignoring Next Mutation I take it?

4Kids Mikey had his faults and the writers tried too hard to make him comic relief but I still liked him.

[Spitfire]

You could argue he was the only character in the series that acted close to his OT counter parts, which was actually addressed in Turtles Forever. He seemed even more ridiculous in contrast to everything that was happening. He acted no worse then any of the OT turtles and argue all you want but they weren't very funny either.

The problem with Mikey in this series is they needed a comic relief character and he'd since been branded as the jokester of the group, everyone seems to prefer Raph as the angry one. It was a kids series so when it came to shoe horning in lame jokes Mikey was the one to do them. I can see Laird fought a lot of the Mikey humor but only so much could be done.

[ToTheNines]

The problem with Mikey in this series is they needed a comic relief character and he'd since been branded as the jokester of the group, everyone seems to prefer Raph as the angry one. It was a kids series so when it came to shoe horning in lame jokes Mikey was the one to do them. I can see Laird fought a lot of the Mikey humor but only so much could be done.

Laird might have nipped some bad jokes in the bud, but he never let anyone else share the "comic relief load". If a writer had Leo making a joke, Pete would comment on it and say "that's more of a Mikey line".

Seen it a couple of times.

[Jester]

I've seen it too many times.

Just because Mikey is the MOST lighthearted, doesn't mean he's the only one who can crack a joke.

And one off things really are hard to gauge. All of the Turtles suffer in Turtle Tunes/Christmas. It takes that critical "They're all the same, except their masks and weapons" and runs with it...HARD. I mean, if they had made this "Mirage-esque" could anyone really tell who was who?

[ToTheNines]

Just because Mikey is the MOST lighthearted, doesn't mean he's the only one who can crack a joke.

This is a big reason why the live-action movies and the Image run are probably my favorite universes.

[Jester]

This is a big reason why the live-action movies and the Image run are probably my favorite universes.
Quoted for shared opinion. :D

[Donnie]

While I see why Laird was trying to keep the show serious and therefore Mikey got most of the jokey lines (as his OT character was pigeon-holded by it), I agree with the opinion that the others should have joked a little more as well. It would have been cool seeing Leo and Don lighten up more.

[CrazySquirrel]

One of my favorite parts of 2K3 was how much he teased everyone after winning the Battle Nexsus. I actually tell people about this when explaining how good the show was.

[Redeemer]

This is a big reason why the live-action movies and the Image run are probably my favorite universes.

Yeah gotta say that the first movie is my favorite incarnation of any universe. I love the donny and Mikey combo so funny :lol:

[Donnie]

One of my favorite parts of 2K3 was how much he teased everyone after winning the Battle Nexsus.

Hell yeah. I think the Battle Nexus is one of the best recurring arcs, written so well, love it!

[Donnie]

On a side note, another HELL YEAH for us 62.50% that love 2k3 Mikey! Seems to me like the people who didn't like him just voiced their opinions more loudly, because they are actually the minorty. We should start a club - "Defenders of the TURTLE TITAN"! That's it...new saying-under-my-name-thingy.

[Konchadunga]

He acted no worse then any of the OT turtles and argue all you want but they weren't very funny either.


And your arguements are more valid than ours, because?

Also, you seem to be basing your entire judgment of the OT Turtles on Turtles Forever, which was incorrect. OT Mikey does bear a lot of similarity to his 2003 counterpart, but the other Turtles were much more different in the OT than in Turtles Forever. For example, all of the other Turtles in the OT would typically call him out when he was slacking off or obsessing about pizza.

However, given that OT Mikey was the most popular turtle, his attitude was the one that came to be associated with the whole franchise, so they probably used 2003 Mikey as their repository for OT throwbacks. As has been said, part of the reason he was annoying might be that all the humor came from him. I feel none of the OT Turtles are as annoying because though they all had humorous bits on occasion, the humor was uniquely suited to their personalities. With Mikey being almost the only humorous character in the 2003 show, almost the only type of humor they had was the loud, in-your-face type. Some that is okay. A bunch of it is grating.

[Nintendophile]

I think, as other's have already stated, that in the "Fast Forward" and "Back to the Sewers" seasons, Mikey's character is almost a caricature of himself. As TV Tropes would put it, a "Flanderization", where his most prominent characteristics were magnified and exaggerated. ( http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Flanderization )

But, before FF and BttS, the 2K3 series' interpretation of Mikey is definitely one of my favorites! :tgrin:

[Uki]

I liked him in what I saw, but I stopped watching regularly around the time of the Battle Nexus-life was always getting in the way and I fell behind. By the time I started being able to watch, FF was happening, and I was feeling "meh" about that...

But Mikey is my favorite!

[Konchadunga]

It's worth noting that as annoying as 4Kids Michelangelo was in some other places, he has "The Christmas Aliens" to compensate. It's one of my all-time favorite episodes of that series, the only good Turtles Christmas special, and one of my favorite Christmas specials, period. It has a heart, Klunk is adorable, and it's one of the few Christmas specials to include a car-chase. That's worth a lot.

[This_is_my_username]

It's worth noting that as annoying as 4Kids Michelangelo was in some other places, he has "The Christmas Aliens" to compensate. It's one of my all-time favorite episodes of that series, the only good Turtles Christmas special, and one of my favorite Christmas specials, period. It has a heart, Klunk is adorable, and it's one of the few Christmas specials to include a car-chase. That's worth a lot.

That was the first episode I watched of the 4Kids, and the one that hooked me to the series.

I like all the versions of Mikey, and although at times his 4kids personality wavered on obnoxious, to be fair, all four turtle personalities were exaggerated to obnoxious lengths sometimes during the series. I've always had a sore spot whenever the cartoons /certain movies tried to play up stupidity with the turtles. Despite having four very unique personalities and interests, they are all trained, disciplined, battle savvy, and intelligent creatures. They're still funny when they're allowed to be smart- Mike is clever funny, and Raph is sarcastic/deadpan funny. Noone needs to be dumb funny. That being said, I still liked the series as a whole, and I generally liked all four turtles, just not as much as their first and second movie personalities.

[ToTheNines]

It's worth noting that as annoying as 4Kids Michelangelo was in some other places, he has "The Christmas Aliens" to compensate. It's one of my all-time favorite episodes of that series, the only good Turtles Christmas special, and one of my favorite Christmas specials, period. It has a heart, Klunk is adorable, and it's one of the few Christmas specials to include a car-chase. That's worth a lot.

Good point. I do love that episode, aside from the inclusion of Silver Sentry, Daimyo, Professor and his gang and Angel, but that ain't Mikey's fault.

[Donnie]

Good point. I do love that episode, aside from the inclusion of Silver Sentry, Daimyo, Professor and his gang and Angel, but that ain't Mikey's fault.

Does this mean we've won you over to the 4kids Mikey side, Nines? :D

[ToTheNines]

Does this mean we've won you over to the 4kids Mikey side, Nines? :D

I wouldn't go that far, Christmas specials are my kryptonite lol.

[Konchadunga]

Good point. I do love that episode, aside from the inclusion of Silver Sentry, Daimyo, Professor and his gang and Angel, but that ain't Mikey's fault.

I don't really get why people hate those characters. I would much rather a Christmas special be about getting together with friends and partying and feasting than about a debate whether Santa exists, and a revelation that he does and the people who know better are just fuddy duddies, and showing people who would have trouble belonging to any other crowd doing it is great. Besides, we got to see Genosuke cosplay Rocksteady! That's a big plus!

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

I don't really get why people hate those characters. I would much rather a Christmas special be about getting together with friends and partying and feasting than about a debate whether Santa exists, and a revelation that he does and the people who know better are just fuddy duddies, and showing people who would have trouble belonging to any other crowd doing it is great. Besides, we got to see Genosuke cosplay Rocksteady! That's a big plus!

I like the Christmas Aliens episode. Centered around children, Michelangelo fits best being the most kid-friendly one.

[Jester]

I would much rather a Christmas special be about getting together with friends and partying and feasting than about a debate whether Santa exists, and a revelation that he does and the people who know better are just fuddy duddies, and showing people who would have trouble belonging to any other crowd doing it is great. Besides, we got to see Genosuke cosplay Rocksteady! That's a big plus!
I agree with all of this, but Gen dressed as Rocksteady in Samurai Tourists, not Christmas Aliens.

[ToTheNines]

I don't really get why people hate those characters. I would much rather a Christmas special be about getting together with friends and partying and feasting than about a debate whether Santa exists, and a revelation that he does and the people who know better are just fuddy duddies, and showing people who would have trouble belonging to any other crowd doing it is great. Besides, we got to see Genosuke cosplay Rocksteady! That's a big plus!

I like all those characters (except Silver Sentry), but bringing them all to the lair at the same time was just... dumb.

And, what Jester said.

[Konchadunga]

To be fair, though, there are an abundance of Christmas specials where heroes and villains just forget about their whole feud and party together, so seeing the Turtles reveal the location of their lair to close friends seems pretty sane by comparison.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

To be fair, though, there are an abundance of Christmas specials where heroes and villains just forget about their whole feud and party together, so seeing the Turtles reveal the location of their lair to close friends seems pretty sane by comparison.

They do it in the old show not only to April, but to Irma and April's aunt Aggie, Zach's friend Caitlin.

[Jelly Bean]

I'm sorry but he was a complete joke. I could barely tolerate him after season five. The 4KIDS cartoon was the first version of the turtles I ever watched and I honestly did not understand why so many people were hating on him when I first started watching this series. I even defended him. Then I started watching the old series since so many people praised it so much and the movies. Since there seemed to be so much hate for the Mikey in the 4KIDS series reletively more love for his 80's toon counter-part I actually went into the 80's series with a strong bias against him and was determined not to like him.

But, I don't know I found I couldn't keep that up even when I tried. There is something likable and genuanly enjoyable about 80's Mikey. All the characters in the show call him a dummy but I found that you the viewer are told he's stupid more often than you actually see him being stupid. At least not any more often than the other turtles believe it or not. Not that he never did anything stupid I just felt it wasn't as excessive as 80's Raphael or the other turtles made him out to be. I can't break it down like others on here have done but I was impressed that 80's Mikey seemed nice. All Mikey's are really nice, and if I had only watched the 4KIDS show I would have thought that Mikey's character is just to be a cocky and boastful, when actually Miket in every other version is a sweet heart to some degree. 80's Mikey also seems to have a natural toughness to him, I rarely saw him run away from anything. He actually has a temper, it is not often you see it but seeing an easy going party guy occassionally get pissed and show it is a good counter-balance to an otherwise wacky personality. One thing that pissed me off to no end was how Mikey in the 4KIDS cartoon never got angry when his brothers talked down to him or smacked him in the head. I always wanted him to do something about it even if he did deserve it, he came across as such a push over and it ticked me off. The only thing I don't like about 80's Mikey is his laughable dated surfer slang.

But I have to say the muppet version of Mikey is even better than his 80's cartoon one. To me he's got it all. This is how 4KIDS Mikey should have been like. I even like 2007 Movie Mikey better and I don't get why so many hate him. Yeah he fell over alot and but at least he was cute and lovable. I rarely wanted to punch him when he was on screen. Compared to all the other Mikey's out there I think 4KIDS Mikey is easily a joke comapared to all of them. I also laugh when I read people say that everything annoying with 4KIDS Mikey is because of 80's Mikey.

No. Sorry, but the annoying things that people hate about 4KIDS Mikey, i.e: cocky, deleberatly annoying, hyper active, annoying little borther stereotype, started with him and has gone on from there.

[Hermano Dyvas]

The only thing I don't like about 80's Mikey is his laughable dated surfer slang.

I love his surfer slang and my first language isn't even English... maybe that's why :D

I even like 2007 Movie Mikey better and I don't get why so many hate him. Yeah he fell over alot and but at least he was cute and lovable.

He had another voice, I don't see the difference between him and 2K3 Mikey otherwise to be honest.

Like others have said, 2K3 Mike was fine in the beginning, but as the series progressed he became more and more of a joke. He had his moments but mostly he was too silly.

[Donnie]

I'm sorry but he was a complete joke.

Coming from a dude with a 2k7 Mikey icon, by far the worst take on the character. That's not to say I hate him, I don't "hate" any version of any of the Turtles. He was just forgettable and pushed to the side. He had some decent moments, but mainly it was bad. Mikey's character can be showed in so many better ways than what we received. I guess an easy counter-argument for that would be "oh yeah, well, same can be said to the 2k3!" which of course would be an okay retort, I just don't see how people can say Mikey of the 2k3 was so one-dimensional. In my opinion he was a very well rounded character.

All Mikey's are really nice, and if I had only watched the 4KIDS show I would have thought that Mikey's character is just to be a cocky and boastful, when actually Miket in every other version is a sweet heart to some degree.

Oh gimme a break. Like 2k3 Mikey didn't have heart? Such an exaggeration. Man, I'm finding that people that hardcore dis 2k3 Mikey like this are huge exaggerators.

80's Mikey also seems to have a natural toughness to him, I rarely saw him run away from anything. He actually has a temper, it is not often you see it but seeing an easy going party guy occassionally get pissed and show it is a good counter-balance to an otherwise wacky personality.

So you're suggesting that the 2k3 Mikey didn't get pissed or display toughness over the course of the series? That's just blatantly not true. Have you ever seen Notes from the Underground? How about when he gets pissed at Raphael for doubting him as they walk through the town (before they meet Kluh) during The Battle Nexus? And please tell me you've seen the almighty Grudge Match? Your assumption falls flat on it's face in light of those episodes and more. Just because Mikey was (funnily) a scaredy cat doesn't mean he couldn't pack a punch. Geeez.

One thing that pissed me off to no end was how Mikey in the 4KIDS cartoon never got angry when his brothers talked down to him or smacked him in the head. I always wanted him to do something about it even if he did deserve it, he came across as such a push over and it ticked me off.

See above.

The only thing I don't like about 80's Mikey is his laughable dated surfer slang.

This I do agree with. It's my least favorite part of OT Mike, and like many have said there isn't much that can be said bad of him. It's really my only gripe with the portrayal. The normal lingo like "dude" etc is key to Mikey's character in all different portrayals, and that word isn't limited to surfers - myself and others still use it today. The "mondo bizarro" etc. should have stayed home, because that's certainly dated, haha.

But I have to say the muppet version of Mikey is even better than his 80's cartoon one. To me he's got it all. This is how 4KIDS Mikey should have been like.

Totally agree that movie 1 Mike is the best version. I made a thread about it in the Movies section, you should check it out! I still like 2k3 Mikey as is, but movie 1 Mike holds the crown.

I also laugh when I read people say that everything annoying with 4KIDS Mikey is because of 80's Mikey.

Maybe not so literally, but you can't deny that the reason PL shifted all of the jokes/sillier stuff of the show onto Mikey in the 2k3 was because of the reputation given to him from his OT counterpart. The reason I say maybe not so literally is because even as I watch the OT as an adult I see how his reputation kinda evolved into what it has become, but I don't necessarily think that's a fair and accurate assumption about OT Mike as a whole...as we know he had a lot of different layers, and wasn't just a "party dude". Know what I'm sayin? Hard to explain.

[Avatar Yuffie]

The only thing I don't like about 80's Mikey is his laughable dated surfer slang.

Aw, don't say that. Crush and his kid Squirt in Finding Nemo shows surfer talking Turtles can be awesome.

See? (http://crycry.deviantart.com/gallery/774107?offset=24#/d16n83t) Like to think someone from Pixar remembered Mikey, or maybe it's a coincidence, who knows. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbkQ4EMYfww)

Then again, the OT VAs are very stellar. Watch how Townsend's Mikey voiced over the comic he's reading in "Michelangelo Meets Bugman". It's mind boggling. Mikey can get away with the surfer voice, and still be treated seriously.

[Herald7]

This I do agree with. It's my least favorite part of OT Mike, and like many have said there isn't much that can be said bad of him. It's really my only gripe with the portrayal. The normal lingo like "dude" etc is key to Mikey's character in all different portrayals, and that word isn't limited to surfers - myself and others still use it today. The "mondo bizarro" etc. should have stayed home, because that's certainly dated, haha.

See for me it's not a big crime if dialogue is a bit dated. It's nearly impossible to avoid and sometimes seeming "dated" can contribute to the charm of the character because they're unusual and not conforming to what's currently popular.

[pannoni1]

Well from the comments I'm getting on the Nick forum, it could very well be the Nick Mikey that's the worst, given the mention of the sillyness. At least in 4kids, Mikey was still a legitimate Ninja when he wanted to, and wasn't as obsessed with Pizza or other things like he was in the OT, and the Mikey of the first three seasons was one of the best ever. even if So, I went with the Battle Nexus option, but even that is questionable given the upcoming Nick Mikey.

[Jester]

I was about to say they cranked Mikey's goofiness to "11" in the Nick series...I may be making a new thread by this time next year. Oye.

[Avatar Yuffie]

Really a huge shame Mikey never got an alien girlfriend in FF. Maybe having a serious relationship would have added a dimension to his character too...

[Redeemer]

Everyone is bashing the 2k3 Mikey which I love to death, but this new Mikey terrifies me.....

[Donnie]

Everyone is bashing the 2k3 Mikey which I love to death, but this new Mikey terrifies me.....

Have you not seen my 10,000 replies defending 2k3 Mikey? :roll:

I think people are really jumping the gun with Nick's Mikey. We haven't even received a pilot yet!

[Jester]

When you see how far 4Kids Mikey fell, you worry for the next iteration.

[ToTheNines]

Really a huge shame Mikey never got an alien girlfriend in FF.

I wouldn't say "huge".

I think people are really jumping the gun with Nick's Mikey. We haven't even received a pilot yet!

We've received bad news from a fellow geek though... that's enough to rattle the cage.

[Jester]

I hope eventually they release it for public consumption, then we can better judge.

[ToTheNines]

I hope eventually they release it for public consumption, then we can better judge.

I really don't see why they don't. I can't wait until the KCA... which I'm not gonna watch no matter what you dangle in front me, Nickelodeon! (except a full episode, that is :D)

[Jester]

I wish there was a way Nick could make the clips viewable by members of this forum or something... I mean we are on of the premiere TMNT fan forums on the interwebz.

[CyberCubed]

Makes me wish the days when Mike's most "annoying" trait would simply be his addiction to pizza. :/

God I love 80's Michaelangelo so much. He was such a laid-back dude.

[Donnie]

When you see how far 4Kids Mikey fell, you worry for the next iteration.

That be an opinion good sir!

[Avatar Yuffie]

I wouldn't say "huge".




Why not? OT Mikey has an alien gf, Image Mikey had an alien gf, even the Mirage version Mikey gets one eventually. In a futuristic setting where aliens are commonplace and the Turtles get to walk around outside, it's again a huge waste.

[Herald7]

The pizza addiction wasn't annoying to me. It just made me into a pizza addict myself. :)

Same here! Lol

[Jelly Bean]

Coming from a dude with a 2k7 Mikey icon, by far the worst take on the character. That's not to say I hate him, I don't "hate" any version of any of the Turtles. He was just forgettable and pushed to the side. He had some decent moments, but mainly it was bad. Mikey's character can be showed in so many better ways than what we received. I guess an easy counter-argument for that would be "oh yeah, well, same can be said to the 2k3!" which of course would be an okay retort, I just don't see how people can say Mikey of the 2k3 was so one-dimensional. In my opinion he was a very well rounded character.



Oh gimme a break. Like 2k3 Mikey didn't have heart? Such an exaggeration. Man, I'm finding that people that hardcore dis 2k3 Mikey like this are huge exaggerators.



So you're suggesting that the 2k3 Mikey didn't get pissed or display toughness over the course of the series? That's just blatantly not true. Have you ever seen Notes from the Underground? How about when he gets pissed at Raphael for doubting him as they walk through the town (before they meet Kluh) during The Battle Nexus? And please tell me you've seen the almighty Grudge Match? Your assumption falls flat on it's face in light of those episodes and more. Just because Mikey was (funnily) a scaredy cat doesn't mean he couldn't pack a punch. Geeez.



See above.



This I do agree with. It's my least favorite part of OT Mike, and like many have said there isn't much that can be said bad of him. It's really my only gripe with the portrayal. The normal lingo like "dude" etc is key to Mikey's character in all different portrayals, and that word isn't limited to surfers - myself and others still use it today. The "mondo bizarro" etc. should have stayed home, because that's certainly dated, haha.



Totally agree that movie 1 Mike is the best version. I made a thread about it in the Movies section, you should check it out! I still like 2k3 Mikey as is, but movie 1 Mike holds the crown.



Maybe not so literally, but you can't deny that the reason PL shifted all of the jokes/sillier stuff of the show onto Mikey in the 2k3 was because of the reputation given to him from his OT counterpart. The reason I say maybe not so literally is because even as I watch the OT as an adult I see how his reputation kinda evolved into what it has become, but I don't necessarily think that's a fair and accurate assumption about OT Mike as a whole...as we know he had a lot of different layers, and wasn't just a "party dude". Know what I'm sayin? Hard to explain.

I think that this is just a case of agree to disagree. True he showed compassion sometimes but he came off as too self absorbed most the time. Yes he was nice to Klunk, and in the Christmas episode, but he would fall back on heing annoying to much. I loved how Mikey was sweet and concerned for Leatherhead in his first episode but it quickly became apparent that Leatherhead and Don would hit it off, and in "Touch and Go" you see Mikey annoying Leatherhead and setting him off by insulting him, and then looking pleased about it after Don says driving people crazy is his mutant power. This is something I noticed about 4KIDS Mikey everytime he would make a connection with someone it was ignored or given to someone else later on. Why couldn't Mikey have a rapport with someone without some thinkiong he was the most obnoxious thing alive.

I hope OldManWinters doesn't mind but I'm gonna quote him on something he says that I feel sums up how I feel about 4KIDS Mikey:

My problem with 2k3 Mikey in later seasons was not that he was simply a goofball, it was that he was entirely self-absorbed whenever a situation called for compassion or sobriety.

Leatherhead crushed to death by a sewer cave-in? No big deal, Mikey's just happy the turtles got out in time. Forget trying to dig that poor gator out of the rubble.

The other Acolytes (and the whole Ninja Tribunal) got axed by the Foot Mystics? "Oh well, at least I got this cool amulet! Let's go join the Justice Force!"

Master Splinter's data bits scattered across cyber-space? "Bummer, but where are my video games? I hope Casey didn't throw them out while we were off in the 2105."

But I will say that inspite of his other faults he was at least a formiddable combatant when he wasn't busy show-boating or being an ass monkey. Actually the fact that he is shown (or talked about) as being the best "natural fighter/athelete/ninja" of the group was pretty cool, since 80's Mikey, for all my respect for him, is considered (at least among the other turtles) as being the weakest fighter/ninja of the group (which is sad). I just never liked how they had a cool aspect about Mikey, the least serious of the turtles, as potentcially being better than even Leo if he wanted to be, but was played up as being show-off brash and cocky instead. So much could have been done with him but wasn't. So I'm pissed. But I will say he is probably the strongest and most badass fighter of all the Mikey's in the multi-verse. I just wanted to see more of that.

[Hermano Dyvas]

But I will say he is probably the strongest and most badass fighter of all the Mikey's in the multi-verse. I just wanted to see more of that.

I don't know, the 2k3 team was pretty much owned by the mirage turtles in turtles forever. Quite badly... just like the OT team for that matter.

[Donnie]

But I will say he is probably the strongest and most badass fighter of all the Mikey's in the multi-verse.

Quoted for truth my friend!

I don't know, the 2k3 team was pretty much owned by the mirage turtles in turtles forever. Quite badly... just like the OT team for that matter.

Well they were owned because the writers had to show that these were the source Turtles...it wouldn't make much sense if the 2k3 kicked their shells when they're not the source Turtles.

[Genesis]

They made him way too annoying but then again they also made Raph too grouchy and Casey Jones too stupid. I wish they had struck a better balance in their personalities.I actually liked that take on Casey being a complete idiot. They made up for it by making him capable of taking on the Shredder Elite, so there's that.

[Jelly Bean]

I don't know, the 2k3 team was pretty much owned by the mirage turtles in turtles forever. Quite badly... just like the OT team for that matter.

I'm talking about the versions I've seen, and that is just the movies and cartoons.

actually liked that take on Casey being a complete idiot. They made up for it by making him capable of taking on the Shredder Elite, so there's that.

how the hell does that help? More often than not he was getting owned by anyone that had the slightest bit of training.

[Hermano Dyvas]

I actually liked that take on Casey being a complete idiot. They made up for it by making him capable of taking on the Shredder Elite, so there's that.

I think he got lucky because the elite probably underestimated him, just like mirage Shredder did at that time. Still an awesome scene though.

[Plasticplayhouse]

I don't really have an issue with Mikey in this series. All the turtles in 2k3 are a bit one-dimensional, if you ask me. Sure, he's annoying sometimes but I personally get annoyed more with Raph always being grouchy and Leo acting like a know it all. Leo is definitely more annoying in 2k3 than Mikey is, IMO. And I'm a big Leo fan.

Yes, all of their personalities are over exaggerated to the point of annoyance. Though Mikey does seem to get stupified in the toons. A little goofy is one thing, but sometimes he's made to look like an idiot.

[Genesis]

I think he got lucky because the elite probably underestimated him, just like mirage Shredder did at that time.That's probably true. Truth be told, I don't like that part, either. They should have at least waited until the Turtles weren't getting their asses kicked, but then, Casey's greatest strength is his wild unpredictability.

Back to Casey being a simpleton, though, I think it might have helped to take some of the pressure on Michelangelo to be the only silly goofball hanging around.

[Hermano Dyvas]

That's probably true. Truth be told, I don't like that part, either. They should have at least waited until the Turtles weren't getting their asses kicked.

If they did do that Casey's scene wouldn't have been half as sweet, it's all about sense of drama. ;)

[ToTheNines]

I've been watching through the series and I just got finished with Worlds Collide part 3. So far in season 3, he's been very annoying with the Battle Nexus champ stuff, but he's been quite useful. He actually killed a couple of Triceratons.

It really sucks that they got away from how he was in season 1 though. He actually really funny, doing impressions, making fun of Splinter, etc.

[CyberCubed]

Watch the Christmas episode, Mike is pretty awesome in that one. He's down to earth, isn't making ridiculous jokes and is an awesome fighter.

I guess cause none of the other Turtles were with him.

[sdp]

I found him as annoying in S1 as he was in the whole series, they did go over the top in FF and BTTS but he was still almost as annoying in the earlier seasons. However the character still had plenty of redeeming episodes, and I loved the battle nexus stuff with Mikey, very funny. Now Raph barely had any redeeming episodes and his tough guy persona was way more annoying than Mikey.

[Donnie]

I've been watching through the series and I just got finished with Worlds Collide part 3. So far in season 3, he's been very annoying with the Battle Nexus champ stuff, but he's been quite useful. He actually killed a couple of Triceratons.


Now you're starting to see the light! :D

[Jester]

Now you're starting to see the light! :D
And I thought my obsession with Rob Paulsen was bad...

[Donnie]

And I thought my obsession with Rob Paulsen was bad...

To quote you yourself in the Nick thread, "Am I that obvious? :P"

[Cowabunga Carl]

This version of Mike doesn't annoy me as much as he seems to annoy other people. Maybe because I think all the guys have very different personalities. Mikey comes off as childlike, yet at times you can see the ninja shinning through. For being teenagers I think he acts the most like one.

[ngroove]

Definitely NOT!!!! In my opinion, the most laugh-out-loud HILARIOUS version of the character.

Hello there, Ngroove here, lifetime fan of Michaelangelo. Whether it's the pizza-loving, sewer-skating Michaelangelo, or the video game playing, cheesy horror movie watching, comic book reading, mint condition action figure collecting, as well as junk food eating ( hot dogs with worms included) Michaelangelo.

Hey, or anybody remembers, on the first 2003 Turtles videogame, how everytime you pull off that mid-air kicking move, he would go "Eat Feet!", and you could do that for the longest time, while you're stomping them down. Thought it was the awesomest; however it annoyed my brother. Apparently, it annoyed enough of the players, and the production team, that there was no "eat feet" on the following games; just silent air-kicking:tcry:

[Andrew NDB]

Hello there, Ngroove here, lifetime fan of Michaelangelo. Whether it's the pizza-loving, sewer-skating Michaelangelo, or the video game playing, cheesy horror movie watching, comic book reading, mint condition action figure collecting, as well as junk food eating ( hot dogs with worms included) Michaelangelo.

In other words, every single Michelangelo except the one from the source material.

[k_lala]

He's fine, actually this version of Mickey is the strongest and most talented Mickey in all of TMNT toon universe.

[CyberCubed]

He's fine, actually this version of Mickey is the strongest and most talented Mickey in all of TMNT toon universe.

Mickey is the worst nickname for the character and thank god he was never actually called this in any of the episodes.

[Konchadunga]

I think 4Kids Michelangelo would have been a better character had they just played him as an antihero more often and comic relief less often. I always saw him as the turtle who as most fallably human, but the flipside of that making him obnoxious and naive is that it makes him care about humanity and its values. It would be better if more of the episodes centered around him dealt with his enthusiastic works of heroism in human affairs the other turtles are disconnected from (ie, The Christmas Aliens, The Turtle Titan), instead of so many where he has to suffer for his stupidity/laziness/egotism, and learns his lesson, but never permanently.

[Donnie]

Definitely NOT!!!! In my opinion, the most laugh-out-loud HILARIOUS version of the character.

Amen, brotha! "Eat feet, eat feet!" :D

[Jelly Bean]

I think 4Kids Michelangelo would have been a better character had they just played him as an antihero more often and comic relief less often. I always saw him as the turtle who as most fallably human, but the flipside of that making him obnoxious and naive is that it makes him care about humanity and its values. It would be better if more of the episodes centered around him dealt with his enthusiastic works of heroism in human affairs the other turtles are disconnected from (ie, The Christmas Aliens, The Turtle Titan

I wish they had played up these qualites more instead of the others. There was so much that could have been done with these humanitarian side, but they didn't in favor of making him coky and self centered on occasion. :tgrumble:

Though what do you mean he should have been more of the anti-hero? I thought and anti-hero was some one who did evil or bad things to do good. Is that what you meant?

), instead of so many where he has to suffer for his stupidity/laziness/egotism, and learns his lesson, but never permanently.

this was really my problem with him. ugh!!!!!:flaming:

[Jester]

Amen, brotha! "Eat feet, eat feet!" :D
Not the best place to argue from, my friend.

[NameGoesHere1066]

he was joke. Every Mike outside of Mirage and Image is a joke to some degree or another. it just too bad writers have made Mike their butt monkey bitch.

He is worth so much more than what he gets.

that's Fridge Brilliance, right there.


what is Fridge Brilliance?

[TurtleTitan97]

Aw come on people, 2k3 Mikey has had loads of good moments! Like, when Leo was hurt after the Shredder return, Mike told him that story of when they were kids, that was hilarious! It shows he cares for his bros, not himself.

[Jephael]

I wasn't gonna touch on this but I have to say I've always been on the fence about how I feel towards 4Kids Mikey. Deep down he really is a good character but certain traits did bother me. I really didn't care for the moments where he would boast about how great a warrior he was then 2 seconds later be whimpering like a wuss because monsters gave him the willies. It made him too inconsistant.

[CyberCubed]

To be honest I think we're being too hard on him. I don't like him as much as Mirage, original cartoon, or movie Mikey but he is still entertaining.

He did get worse in FF and BTTS though, which is odd because the other 3 Turtles remained almost the same.

[TobTurn]

To quote you yourself in the Nick thread, "Am I that obvious? :P"

Pfff please. Your obsessions are not even close to my obsession with Ch'rell :lol:

[Donnie]

Not the best place to argue from, my friend.

You mean the place from above as I'm kickin' my ninja feet your way?! :P

Aw come on people, 2k3 Mikey has had loads of good moments! Like, when Leo was hurt after the Shredder return, Mike told him that story of when they were kids, that was hilarious! It shows he cares for his bros, not himself.

There's no doubt (and it's clearly obvious - but the blind will be blind) that 4Kids Mikey totally cared for his brothers, there are numerous episodes/moments one could talk about that display this.

4Kids Mikey is the best (and throughout each page of this thread I have cited a ton of specific examples as to why I think so), so when will you all bow down to the Battle Nexus Champion?! :)

To be honest I think we're being too hard on him. I don't like him as much as Mirage, original cartoon, or movie Mikey but he is still entertaining.

Take a look at the poll results, the majority is way more in favor of 2k3 Mike than against. It just seems like some people listen more to the debbie-downers. Myself and TurtleTitan will never stop stop defending one of the best versions of Mikey to date!

[TurtleTitan97]

If there is one episode that I liked with Mikey as the main turtle, it has to be where he first became the Turtle Titan. He didn't do it to get famous, he did because he said he wanted to help people more instead of hiding in the shadows. It shows he has a heart of a hero, the best kind of superpower.

[Donnie]

If there is one episode that I liked with Mikey as the main turtle, it has to be where he first became the Turtle Titan. He didn't do it to get famous, he did because he said he wanted to help people more instead of hiding in the shadows. It shows he has a heart of a hero, the best kind of superpower.

Yep, Mikey clearly demonstrated a humanitarian mentality during the 2k3 show, there's no doubt about it.

[Master Splinter]

I enjoyed 4Kid's Mikey... Not sure what else I can say...

-ms

[Donnie]

I enjoyed 4Kid's Mikey... Not sure what else I can say...

-ms

Your words are highly valued, Master. :D

[FearlessLeader]

I for the most part like 4Kids Mikey. He can at times be annoying, but in a way it's almost charming at the same time it's aggravating. I think at one point it's Raphael that says annoying people is Mike's "secret mutant power" and he actually did help the guys defeat quite a few enemies by distracting them so much his brothers were able to beat the snot out of them.

Do I tend to find myself rolling my eyes at him at points, yeah... but that's just Mike to me. I find I do that with pretty much every version of the character and that doesn't effect my affection for him.

[shezcrafti]

I certainly don't think 4Kids Mikey is the worst; that honor goes to movie #3. He can certainly be annoying at times, but that has always been part of Mikey's, er, charm, I guess? But I don't mind it when he's annoying because it usually sets up some pretty hysterical one-liners for Raphael, like:

"Jesus, where's your OFF switch??" :tlol:

I like how he acts like a little kid, but at the same time can kick ass with the best of them. It's a fun dynamic. The only thing that kinda bothers about Mikey me are the frequent belching & fart jokes; just a little too lowbrow for my taste.

[akp]

This is one of the more balanced responses about Mikey in 2k3.

I get the feeling that the character was written a lot more deeply that one may perceive from the surface.

Mikey represented a certained childishness, yes, but it was more of a child, who wants to be happy. He and Don seemed as two turtles who had a vocation/hobby/interest other than just being crime fighters.

Also, he seemed like the warrior who did not want to fight, but would fight when he had to. Case in point how he went against Kluh when it came down to his family.

He knew he was annoying but to be fair he also knew how to use it to his advantage. Eg. how he wore down and defeated Raph without even taking out his Chucks.

Maybe he was a bit distracted to be ninja. But of the four he seemed to be the least comfortable with the whole living in the shadows phenomena.

He wanted a life. And something larger than life to look forward to.

He was the dreamer in gang. If you notice he was the one who coaxed don to rig up the battle shell the first time. He was not an engineer but he was a dreamer.

One has to look at him slightly deeper than just the surface antics.


As expected I voted It's a bum rap. 4Kids Mikey is just fine..

4Kids Mikey is one of my favorite Mikey's around. I'm not going to say that he doesn't get annoying at times, but to echo Samhain he's no more annoying than Raph, Leo, and especially Casey.

In fact, I don't think he was that annoying at all. Slightly over the top at times like I've said, but I really just don't understand why people gripe over him so much. In my opinion, OT Mike was more annoying. I know many don't agree cause of his voice actor and nostalgia, but when I watch the OT I sometimes cringe at the 80s slang that poured from him. That's not really my cup of tea concerning Mikey. That OT aspect of Mike was toned down a tremendous amount in the 2k3, which worked great to me.

What Jester mentioned about Laird is perhaps somewhat accurate because Laird wanted to keep the Turtles "pure" while pleasing the masses who took the series simply as a light hearted cartoon. He had to include goofiness, and he certainly wouldn't let any of that fall onto Don and Leo, as seen by his notes. So Mikey bore the brunt of it. But for me, it didn't really make him annoying, and I thought a lot of his goofiness was tasteful and hilarious.

I don't agree that Mikey wanting to be a superhero was a bad thing at all, rather a key element of Mikey's personality and his want to be something more than just a turtle-in-a-sewer. When I asked PL what he wished he would have done more of with Mikey in the 2k3 his answer was:



So PL clearly wanted to show other sides of Mikey. Like I said, I really just think it was cause he so strongly felt that Don and Leo had to be serious minded and even went as extreme as telling Lloyd not to have Don and Leo say "yeah" but the proper "yes" - so the goofiness had to fall on Mike by default.

Anyways, no, 2k3 Mike isn't the worst interpretation of the character. I think IDW is (besides the constant video game stereotype we see literally almost every issue) doing an excellent job handling Mike's character, taking what will obviously never leave him from the OT and combining it with a balanced marriage between Mirage/2k3. So far he actually reminds me of movie 1 Mike - my favorite version of the character, which blended the OT with Mirage. Add a little 2k3 in there and you have IDW's Mike so far. I'm happy with that.

[Donnie]

Hell yeah akp, you the man! Oh and welcome to the Drome! :D

[ToTheNines]

I'm watching "Clash of the Turtle Titans" right now and loling at you people.

[CyberCubed]

That was one of the worst outbursts of the character.

Odd that the episode was written by Marty Isenberg who wrote many episodes in the first few seasons.

[akp]

Thanks.

I think the comment which offers the most insight into mikey is how he says to splinter at the battle nexus that it was great that they could fight in the open and have people love them for it. It revealed a lot for his desire to be accepted as a sentient being. Also its nice how he always connected great with other animals, be it klunk, or zog or zog the second.

Hell yeah akp, you the man! Oh and welcome to the Drome! :D

[TurtleTitan97]

Thanks.

I think the comment which offers the most insight into mikey is how he says to splinter at the battle nexus that it was great that they could fight in the open and have people love them for it. It revealed a lot for his desire to be accepted as a sentient being. Also its nice how he always connected great with other animals, be it klunk, or zog or zog the second.

Totally agree with everything you said dude.:tcool: Also, welcome to the Drome, my friend!

[akp]

Actually the episode same as it never was, shows the logical extension of a happy go lucky character who gets disillusioned by the events around him, leaving a dark brooding character who still fights without giving up.

It may seem conflicting at first look, but in reality is a proper extension of a happy go lucky chap who faced a lot and had his brothers fight amongst each other (raph and leo), but who refuses to let go. He keeps fighting, even with one arm.

p.s

The dialogue heard over the public address system. "There is no hope, there is only the Shredder" has to be the creepiest most depressing dialogue I have ever heard on TMNT. The dialogue, the voice and the background music kind of make you feel it is the end of the world.

[Donnie]

Thanks.

I think the comment which offers the most insight into mikey is how he says to splinter at the battle nexus that it was great that they could fight in the open and have people love them for it. It revealed a lot for his desire to be accepted as a sentient being. Also its nice how he always connected great with other animals, be it klunk, or zog or zog the second.

Totally dude! Those essential Mikey traits (wanting to be accepted by society, love for animals) were definitely shown in the 4Kids show in a number of different episodes.

Actually the episode same as it never was, shows the logical extension of a happy go lucky character who gets disillusioned by the events around him, leaving a dark brooding character who still fights without giving up.

It may seem conflicting at first look, but in reality is a proper extension of a happy go lucky chap who faced a lot and had his brothers fight amongst each other (raph and leo), but who refuses to let go. He keeps fighting, even with one arm.

p.s

The dialogue heard over the public address system. "There is no hope, there is only the Shredder" has to be the creepiest most depressing dialogue I have ever heard on TMNT. The dialogue, the voice and the background music kind of make you feel it is the end of the world.

I agree, and it's funny you mention Same As It Never Was, I started a whole thread about that after I saw the episode and was totally blown away. A completely creepy episode that shows Mikey hardened by his dark past. He didn't crack ONE joke. I wish we had more "future" doomsday episodes like that, especially because SAINW was left so open-ended.

[Rooish]

I gotta say that the Archie TMNT Adventures series Mikey was the worst version of the character. Steve Murphy can't write Mikey for crap and he usually doesn't even try. He makes him an idiot.

[Jephael]

I gotta say that the Archie TMNT Adventures series Mikey was the worst version of the character. Steve Murphy can't write Mikey for crap and he usually doesn't even try. He makes him an idiot.

WTF were you reading?! I thought the Archie adaptation of Michaelangelo was one of the best! He was poetic, thoughtful, considerate... I can go on!

[ToTheNines]

WTF were you reading?! I thought the Archie adaptation of Michaelangelo was one of the best! He was poetic, thoughtful, considerate... I can go on!

Ditto. He was quirky without being idiot, and did well in fights.

Leo was the one he couldn't write.

[Jephael]

Yea, Leo kinda got the short end of the stick in the Archie comics. I remember that one special they did where he got kidnapped by those pirates and I'm thinking to myself "Come on, the Leo I know could easily kick those dude's butts without breaking a sweat!"

[Rooish]

Mike didn't contribute many ideas or skills to the team, although he did have the poetry stuff going for him. He also was pretty dumb and pizza-obsessed at times. He and Leo were both overshadowed seriously by Don and Raph.

[Donnie]

Mike didn't contribute many ideas or skills to the team, although he did have the poetry stuff going for him. He also was pretty dumb and pizza-obsessed at times. He and Leo were both overshadowed seriously by Don and Raph.

I can't honestly say for sure because I haven't read the Archie comics in awhile, but I do remember a lot of Donnie and Raph centered stories. But then Mikey had Blind Sight, which I remember being really good. I gotta read that series again!

[Jester]

I gotta say that the Archie TMNT Adventures series Mikey was the worst version of the character. Steve Murphy can't write Mikey for crap and he usually doesn't even try. He makes him an idiot.
I find this all very ironic, considering your avatar. :P

[Rooish]

Right. In the future they made him cool. Kinda like how Same as it Never Was made Mikey cool. Anyway I admit I haven't read the entire Archie run so maybe I've missed something.

[Jephael]

I liked the Archie comics version of the future a lot more than the future they showed in Same As It Never Was. Both were distopian, but for different reasons.

[Mr.Turtle]

mikey was doing fine in 4kids. in fact he represents most of the teens these days.

[Candy Kappa]

mikey was doing fine in 4kids. in fact he represents most of the teens these days.

hyper and annoying, only met a couple of those. hardly representing most teens.

[Mr.Turtle]

ok some of the teens these days

[magidkaiser]

i like 2k Mikey he was cooooooooooooooooool :tgrin:

[corvus]

No, they over did him a little. That's all. They did the same thing with Raph.

[Cipher]

It's hard to say anything that hasn't already been said, but, yes, 4Kids Michelangelo is handily the worst version of the character.

Even Michelangelo from the 2007 movie, who shares many of the 4Kids' version's grating elements, blends them with a bit more compassion and vulnerability.

[Coola Yagami]

I think Mike's problem is they try to cram everything 'teens are into nowadays' into him. Which is stupid. I can agree with the skateboarding and comics, but things like video games and listening to music are things most everyone does. I see nothing wrong with Leo or Don being occassional gamers, without it all falling on Mike's shoulders.

I do like how the IDW comics make everyone go online, even if it is just to watch silly youtube videos, instead of making it strictly a Don thing.

[Vivi]

I enjoyed watching Michelangelo in 4kids and didn't find him annoying. Hyper, yes, but if anything, I think his behaviour is a coping mechanism for living with such intense brothers.

Witness any moment Michelangelo is on his own and he is much more subdued eg. Christmas Aliens (which incidentally has one of the best fighting scenes in the series).

[MoreCowbell5263]

Mike only bothered me in the episodes that were particularly corny like Turtle Titan. Even the first TT episode was endearing in a way. His Battle Nexus gloating was annoying at times, but at the same time, I thought it was something in-character. Sure, Splinter let him beat him, and he got lucky the first time against the big purple guy, but he legitimately beat Raph, AND after Raph was smirking and cracking his knuckles, confident that he was gonna beat Mike.

Considering he's a TEENAGE Mutant Ninja Turtle, him being a little cocky and rubbing it in their faces (Raph's particularly) makes sense. It did make him less likeable sometimes, but other times I felt it was in-character. If I won something as big as Battle Nexus, I'd brag to my brothers (especially if I beat one of them one-on-one). Sure, he should've matured a bit after Grudge Match, but eh, I didn't hate the character.

It was actually nice to see Mike win the tournament because anyone goes into that episode expecting Leo to win. It was a nice surprise for Mike to be the one competing in the end, rather than it being the obvious Leonardo proving to be the best fighter.

[Victorsaurus]

4Kids Mikey is just fine, I have nothing against him.

[Guitar_Raph]

4Kids Mikey rocked! He had a pet kitten & became Turtle Titan!

[Jephael]

4Kids Mikey rocked! He had a pet kitten & became Turtle Titan!

You do know Klunk originated from the Mirage comics LONG before the show, right?

[zkarlette]

Being Turtle Titan it's nothing to really brag about.

[CyberCubed]

4kids Mike was only really irritating in the eps that heavily focused on his superhero or videogame related personality.

In all the other eps 4kids Mikey is fine, beside some lame jokes here and there.

[zkarlette]

You forgot to mention the his battle nexus title..

[NameGoesHere1066]

he was irritating to me when they made him particularly cowardly or cocky, or mixed the two together.

Particularly when they made him both cocky and a cowardly little chicken-shat at the same time. It made you want to see him lose or get beat-up. I recently watched Grudge Match, and his attitude at the start of the episode was just horriable. Yeah, its a great Mikey episode I never understood why they had to write him in such an unlikable way to begin with.

[Heather Breckel]

I have no problems with 4Kid's Mikey, even though it's not my favorite version of the character. (I lean more towards Mirage and late Archie Mikey) I could see how people might be annoyed by him, but they really amped up the personality traits of all the turtles too. I'm probably biased as he's my favorite turtle. But I found Raph, who's my second favorite, to be more off-putting in this version. Even then, I don't dislike 4Kid's Raph, dude just needed to tone down the "WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?! I'M SO ANGRY!" business every now and then.

[Jephael]

I could see how people might be annoyed by him, but they really amped up the personality traits of all the turtles too.

Now that you mention it, I couldn't help but find Donatello's snarkiness at some moments a little off-putting.

[Sage Ninja]

actually yeah, Don could a little snotty at times. Especially when he said it with that voice of his. Everyone says what a sweetheart Donny was but not infrequently he could be a little smart mouth.

[Bossa Nova]

I'm not sure what it seems a lot of people's beef is with this Mikey. I kept reading how he never shut up about the Battle Nexus after he won and all, so I was expecting it after finally getting around to watching it. But honestly, I only saw him bring it up for only a handful of episodes after, and even then he was shot down pretty quickly. I don't see him as cowardly either, sometimes it's nice to see a Turtle freak out or have the jitters like a normal person would in some of their death-facing situations. Sure, he's not my favorite of the four, but then he's never been, and I like him a far cry more than this version of Leo (who really WAS unbearable for nearly all of Season 4).

Haven't caught on to this alleged Don's snottiness either, but I think I'd be rather amused if I do since this fits him pretty well imo and I like him better that way. Still have yet to get around to Season's 6 & 7 though.

[Tomoshibi Amatsu]

I've always liked 4kids Mikey the best. OT Mikey was too much of a pizza obsessed surfer dude and well the new one is too much like Beast Boy. 4kids Mikey just seemed perfect to me.

[zkarlette]

Even after battle nexus?.?Or just before?..:-? I really liked 4 kids Mike, but this new version is incredibly cute, a much younger Mike of course.

[Tomoshibi Amatsu]

Even after battle nexus?.?Or just before?..:-? I really liked 4 kids Mike, but this new version is incredibly cute, a much younger Mike of course.

I don't think he boasted as much as people say he did and if he did he very well deserved too since no one thought he was good enough to win in the first place. I mean if people thought that of you wouldn't you shove that victory in their faces every chance you got? I know some people are going to say something like "well no because I got morals and such." Yeah and then you'll be the first one yelling out "in your face!" When you win.

[zkarlette]

I don't think he boasted as much as people say he did and if he did he very well deserved too since no one thought he was good enough to win in the first place. I mean if people thought that of you wouldn't you shove that victory in their faces every chance you got? I know some people are going to say something like "well no because I got morals and such." Yeah and then you'll be the first one yelling out "in your face!" When you win.

Well, after all the flack Mike usually get's probably it would make some sense for him to finally get some respect.

So I guess this means that if any of us gets some sort of recognition we can shove it in your face and you'll be ok with it..I'm taking you up on this..:P

[Tomoshibi Amatsu]

Well, after all the flack Mike usually get's probably it would make some sense for him to finally get some respect.

So I guess this means that if any of us gets some sort of recognition we can shove it in your face and you'll be ok with it..I'm taking you up on this..:P

People already do that to me online and in real life all the time anyways so what would it matter if a few more people did too?

[zkarlette]

People already do that to me online and in real life all the time anyways so what would it matter if a few more people did too?

I hope you understand I meant it as a joke..8)

[Tomoshibi Amatsu]

I hope you understand I meant it as a joke..8)

I didn't. I thought you were trying to make a point, but thanks for clearing that up.

[NameGoesHere1066]

OMG, you again! :P You and donatello should start a club called the 4kids Mikey vindicators.

maybe I've been a little harsh on 4kids Mike, there is some truth to what Tomoshibi Amatsu says here:

no one thought he was good enough to win in the first place

actually I've been re-watching the 4kids series to get me in the mood for the Nick series and it's kind of true that no one thought that Mikey deserved to win, and it's kind of clear that everyone thinks he's just a screw-up. He is a screw-up unfortunatly and he's an attention whore but rewatching the first turtle titan episode made me see a thing a two I was too annoyed to see the first few times around. He desperately wants to be validated. Not in the background, where unfortuantely, thats where he's been his whole life. I was rather shocked by this when I watched the turtle titan episode this time around. It's almost sad. And a rare subtle character insight on Mikey you don't normally see. I still think he's an annoying little putz and I still dislike this version of Mike. Thing is the writers introduced this, but didn't capitalize on it, and it was too subtle for most people to see without getting annoyed by Mikey's stupid attention whore antics.

[Tomoshibi Amatsu]

OMG, you again! :P You and donatello should start a club called the 4kids Mikey vindicators.

maybe I've been a little harsh on 4kids Mike, there is some truth to what Tomoshibi Amatsu says here:



actually I've been re-watching the 4kids series to get me in the mood for the Nick series and it's kind of true that no one thought that Mikey deserved to win, and it's kind of clear that everyone thinks he's just a screw-up. He is a screw-up unfortunatly and he's an attention whore but rewatching the first turtle titan episode made me see a thing a two I was too annoyed to see the first few times around. He desperately wants to be validated. Not in the background, where unfortuantely, thats where he's been his whole life. I was rather shocked by this when I watched the turtle titan episode this time around. It's almost sad. And a rare subtle character insight on Mikey you don't normally see. I still think he's an annoying little putz and I still dislike this version of Mike. Thing is the writers introduced this, but didn't capitalize on it, and it was too subtle for most people to see without getting annoyed by Mikey's stupid attention whore antics.

Exactly. I mean if people thought I wasn't worthy or good enough to win in the first place and then I won I'd be smug too. I can imagine most people in that situation being all "Who did you think didn't deserve to win? Who's the battle nexus champ? Oh that's right it's ME! what cha gonna do huh?" So in my view Mikey's attitude for winning was perfectly valid especially because he wanted to be acknowledged and accepted. It wasn't that he was trying to be annoying about it. It's just that being battle nexus champ was really the only thing he had going for him. He wasn't Splinter's favorite son like Leo, he wasn't the techno geek like Don, and he wasn't the angry muscle like Raph. I'm not saying it wasn't immature at the same time but again he had every right.

He just wants people to think he's worth something and not just a goof off and a screw up.

[Jester]

Ok, fine good, we've worked out "BATTLE NEXUS CHAMPION!!!!" Mikey, but what about the Mikey who got jealous of Future Turtle Titan?

[Tomoshibi Amatsu]

Ok, fine good, we've worked out "BATTLE NEXUS CHAMPION!!!!" Mikey, but what about the Mikey who got jealous of Future Turtle Titan?

It feeds into his wanting to be recognized. Think about it you're Mikey and Turtle Titan and in the future some fraud comes along and not only takes your spot light but also the fame with it that should have been yours in the first place. After all you are the original. How dare some knock off come along and steal your thunder and do it better than you? It wasn't until the Future Turtle Titan told Mikey that it WAS Mikey who inspired him to become Turtle Titan that Mikey let go. Just knowing that he was the one who brought Turtle Titan into the future was enough to quench that thirst of wanting to be something great and being recognized for it. He was no longer the background and that's why he accepted Future Turtle Titan by the end of the episode.

[Jester]

It feeds into his wanting to be recognized. Think about it you're Mikey and Turtle Titan and in the future some fraud comes along and not only takes your spot light but also the fame with it that should have been yours in the first place. After all you are the original. How dare some knock off come along and steal your thunder and do it better than you? It wasn't until the Future Turtle Titan told Mikey that it WAS Mikey who inspired him to become Turtle Titan that Mikey let go. Just knowing that he was the one who brought Turtle Titan into the future was enough to quench that thirst of wanting to be something great and being recognized for it. He was no longer the background and that's why he accepted Future Turtle Titan by the end of the episode.
This...totally doesn't make Mikey a good character. It makes him seem shallow and petty. "What!? He's famous and I wasn't. WHAT A JYPE!" comes of as a whole bushel of sour grapes.

[Loudo]

I don't know about you guys, but I believe flaws are one of the main things that make a character good. :P
I prefer a childish and attention-whore Michelangelo over a retarded kid (but only when the show requires it to make you laugh) Michelangelo any day.

I was very happy when Mikey started to brag about being the Battle Nexus champion.
Firstly, because it is a sign of continuity. I was afraid that the whole Battle Nexus tournament would have been forgotten as soon as the story arc was over. Fortunally, the 4kids cartoon never disappointed me in this respect, the past is always referenced.
Secondly, because it is consistent with Mikey's personality. I was expecting him to brag about his title and he did. This means he has a coherent and consistent personality and I got to know him well enough in two seasons.

[Candy Kappa]

4Kids Mikey had a terrible personality

[Tomoshibi Amatsu]

This...totally doesn't make Mikey a good character. It makes him seem shallow and petty. "What!? He's famous and I wasn't. WHAT A JYPE!" comes of as a whole bushel of sour grapes.

He reacted in a childish way as the Future Turtle Titan pointed out to him, but that still fed into Mikey's character trait of wanting to be famous because that would mean everyone recognizes and accepts him.

[Time Mistress]

I really liked this Mike until FF came along.

[Tomoshibi Amatsu]

Well besides. One episode where Mikey looks like a total tool does not a bad character make. So even if you can argue that the future turtle titan episode made Mikey a horrible person in the wider sense of things it still fit well with his character traits. It's just that they decided to make the bad ones overblown for that particular episode. There are inconsistencies like that in cartoons all the time.

[Bossa Nova]

I just finished watching that episode with the other Turtle Titan, fully expecting the worst from what I've read here, and I honestly don't see it. None of his brothers took him seriously in his Turtle Titan endeavors despite how much he really worked toward his goal. I don't see why it makes him petty because someone else stripped him from what he worked so hard to create, and then acted like HE was the imposter. Maybe he didn't react in the most mature way about it, but I don't see why his getting upset makes him into a douchebag. Maybe this says something about me, but I like this Mikey because I think of the four of them he seems to react like how most normal people would. Sure, if he'd harbored this jealousy for episodes on end I could see how that would turn into some petty, whiny brat, but he didn't. He learned his lesson, and I don't see why it's a bad thing that he be given respect where due. I mean, he DID create that identity, why shouldn't he be given any credit for it?

[Tomoshibi Amatsu]

I just finished watching that episode with the other Turtle Titan, fully expecting the worst from what I've read here, and I honestly don't see it. None of his brothers took him seriously in his Turtle Titan endeavors despite how much he really worked toward his goal. I don't see why it makes him petty because someone else stripped him from what he worked so hard to create, and then acted like HE was the imposter. Maybe he didn't react in the most mature way about it, but I don't see why his getting upset makes him into a douchebag. Maybe this says something about me, but I like this Mikey because I think of the four of them he seems to react like how most normal people would. Sure, if he'd harbored this jealousy for episodes on end I could see how that would turn into some petty, whiny brat, but he didn't. He learned his lesson, and I don't see why it's a bad thing that he be given respect where due. I mean, he DID create that identity, why shouldn't he be given any credit for it?

Because people expect him to be selfless and not care if someone pretty much stole HIS creation and everything HE built up. Personally I think Future Turtle Titan was effectively screwing Mikey over until he admitted that it was Mikey who made him who he was. Even Mikey realized that the imposter wasn't really stealing his identity and ideas, and that the fact that it was Mikey who helped create the new Turtle Titan helped him to accept his replacement. The end of the episode proves this when he pretty much passes the torch.

[Jelly Bean]

I don't know some how I feel that his actions were out of character. I would think that Mikey would feel honored that someone was trying to carry on the identity he created, not feel threatened. WHat better recogition can you get than someone carrying on the legacy you created instead of letting it die with you. The way I would accpet Mikey's behavior in that FF episode was if the new guy was tarnishing it in some way and using his Turtle Titan do do bad things, but he wasn't, he was doing noble things. And thats what got me. Mikey was not mad that he took his identity so much as he was mad that he was getting the credit and glory he felt she should have always gotten. In other words it rubbed him the wrong way that he was the turtle titan better than he was. And that makes him petty. Twist it any way you want but that seemed to be the driving reason he got all jealous of the future turtle titan.

[STORMSHADOW__210]

I love every iteration of all the characters, 4kids Mikey was great,love that solo xmas episode

[STORMSHADOW__210]

Also love his "check it out, they got lil initials on their belts" line from tmnt forever

[Tomoshibi Amatsu]

I don't know some how I feel that his actions were out of character. I would think that Mikey would feel honored that someone was trying to carry on the identity he created, not feel threatened. WHat better recogition can you get than someone carrying on the legacy you created instead of letting it die with you. The way I would accpet Mikey's behavior in that FF episode was if the new guy was tarnishing it in some way and using his Turtle Titan do do bad things, but he wasn't, he was doing noble things. And thats what got me. Mikey was not mad that he took his identity so much as he was mad that he was getting the credit and glory he felt she should have always gotten. In other words it rubbed him the wrong way that he was the turtle titan better than he was. And that makes him petty. Twist it any way you want but that seemed to be the driving reason he got all jealous of the future turtle titan.

Well technically he did at the end of the episode. So I mean it still kinda lived up to what you would call in character right?

[Icegaze]

Unlike what seems to be the popular opinion around here, 4Kids Mikey was by far my favourite version of the character. I didn't care much for the Mirage version, the 1987 and 2k7 Mikey's were so uninteresting to me.

4Kids Mikey even gave Leo a run for his money in terms of who would be my favourite turtle of the show. It was like 1. Leo, 2. Mikey then the rest.

So, I obviously don't agree with people saying that the Mikey of the first 5 seasons of the 4Kids incarnation was bad.

[odupianist]

At this point, the 4Kids version is better than Nick version in my book (so far).

[CyberCubed]

At this point, the 4Kids version is better than Nick version in my book (so far).

The Nick version is funny and playful.

[TheSkeletonMan939]

The Nick version is funny and playful.

The Nick version is also made out to be a complete idiot, just for the sake of some cheap jokes. 4Kids made their Mikey funny (albeit rarely) and smart.

[Allio]

Mike is okay, I think he just suffered from the "4kids can't do funny right" most of the time

[Spitfire]

If they didn't make an episode addressing him not taking things seriously I'd maybe agree but they played it right. I agree he got annoying during FF and BTTS but that was part of the format change. All the turtles got sillier Mikey was silly to begin with.

[odupianist]

The Nick version is funny and playful.

Eh he is somewhat; I understand he's the baby brother and a kid. However, it is also at the sake of being the butt of jokes or getting hit for no reason. I'm all for slapstick but having it focus around one character (like it always does with Mikey) gets old real quick. I keep waiting for him to make burp jokes or your mom jokes :trolleye:

The Nick version is also made out to be a complete idiot, just for the sake of some cheap jokes. 4Kids made their Mikey funny (albeit rarely) and smart.

Agreed. 4Kids Mikey got more aggravating as time went on, but seasons 1-4 Mikey were pretty spot on in my opinion. I am waiting for them to develop the Nick Mikey more. I HOPE they do.

[Lisardo]

Between the 4Kids Mikey and the new Nick Mikey, I kind of think they both are annoying and overplay the cheesiness factor. Sofar the Nick Mikey is a bit too dumb, but as other have said he may develop more as time goes on so I don't wanna judge too harshly yet.

[zkarlette]

OT Mike is pretty laid back compared to those two...

[Coola Yagami]

OT Mike was just laid back. Between the surfer dialogue and pizza jokes (which were twice as much as the other 3) he was alright. His problem was RAPH kept calling him dumb and he was usually the kidnapped Turtle.

[Garfield]

Oh yeah. 4Kids Mike was just too obnoxious to me. He had some lousy personality traits. His worst offense to me was the episode FF episode when he met the Turtle Titan of the future, his ego damn near got the guy killed if I recall.

[Vivi]

I'm going to have to stick up for 4kids Mikey , and defend him (again). Out of all the turtles, I think Michelangelo is more like the average internet/forum user than any other turtle: from the show we see he is into pop culture, movies, gaming, comics, and is not always willing to run blindly into a dangerous situation (I can recall him saying "for once I'd like to run AWAY from the loud explosions"), but will throw down everything when needed, and still manages to remain light- hearted.

That, and it is said the thing you don't like in others are the things you don't like about yourself.

Anyway, disagree away.

[tmntpower1988]

I like 2K3 Mikey better than the '87 Mikey.

As expected I voted It's a bum rap. 4Kids Mikey is just fine..

4Kids Mikey is one of my favorite Mikey's around. I'm not going to say that he doesn't get annoying at times, but to echo Samhain he's no more annoying than Raph, Leo, and especially Casey.

In fact, I don't think he was that annoying at all. Slightly over the top at times like I've said, but I really just don't understand why people gripe over him so much. In my opinion, OT Mike was more annoying. I know many don't agree cause of his voice actor and nostalgia, but when I watch the OT I sometimes cringe at the 80s slang that poured from him. That's not really my cup of tea concerning Mikey. That OT aspect of Mike was toned down a tremendous amount in the 2k3, which worked great to me.

I agree with all this.:tthumbsu:

[Icebot]

There were definitely a lot of embarrassing moments about 4kids Mikey throughout the entire show. Especially with that extreme burp he did in The Shredder Strikes Back. And in later seasons, I remember one time Donatello was telling him stop whining grown ups have work to do and Raphael said quiet Mikey, adults are talking.

[Lameonardo]

4Kids Mikey is my favorite Mikey. I usually consider Mike "the other one"; the one I don't have much interest in, but the 2003 version actually kept my attention drifting towards him. He was fun and amusing, and didn't give off the stoner vibe. Yes, he was kind of a jerkass and insensitive at times, but I liked that and didn't find him irritating.

[Theli]

I like this Version of Mike, and i like the situations that results when he became battle nexus champion. I think he is the impulse that adds comedy to the show, because overall the show is kinda sinister.

[CyberCubed]

87 Mikey is the only one where he wasn't portrayed as either stupid or an attention seeker.

[Bossa Nova]

I'm really curious, where did this idea that Mikey ever gives off a "stoner vibe" ever come into play in any of his portrayals? Cause he's sometimes a little distracted? Um, the accent? Never got that idea until I read it around here, and I have to say it does amuse me even if I personally don't see it.

[Lameonardo]

It's the accent for me, and perhaps his vocabulary a little. "Stoner vibe" can be replaced with "surfer dude" in that case and might have been a better word choice. Only referring to 80's cartoon Mike with this, btw.

[Orisue]

The Nick version is also made out to be a complete idiot, just for the sake of some cheap jokes. 4Kids made their Mikey funny (albeit rarely) and smart.

I agree. In my opinion the battle nexus champion thing was over used but I liked 2k3 mikey. The new Nick series makes him look ridiculous. There are certain points where they go beyond making him goofy and just make him seem plain stupid. Not to say he's not lovable its just those points where you're like really?! Then again no four brothers are equally intelligent, its just not realistic.

[Theli]

You would be surprised if you could watch the 80's show in german. They use different dialouges and words.. It is more funnier than the original (I have the dvds with both versions). Like for example in the first Episode of the show, Beebop and his gang members went to a car to destroy it...in the original version they say nothing. In german version they babble funny nonsense as they do it.. something like .. " Look again, such a capitalistic sled"..(tryied to translate it the right way) ..
In german michelangelo says even more funnier stuff because the german lenguage has outdated words we not use anymore. Like for example... Instead of "Dude" michelangelo say "Keule".. It is funny, nobody says that in real life.

[tmntfan4ever]

Compared to Nick's version of Mikey, I prefer all of the obnoxious antics of 2K3 Mikey even after becoming the Battle Nexus Champion. Sure during the FF & BTTS seasons his annoyingness got pushed overboard it doesn't go overboard to Nick Mikey's stupidity but I'm hoping they develop his character more throughout the rest of the season and hopefully in the 2nd season.

[Coola Yagami]

You would be surprised if you could watch the 80's show in german. They use different dialouges and words.. It is more funnier than the original (I have the dvds with both versions). Like for example in the first Episode of the show, Beebop and his gang members went to a car to destroy it...in the original version they say nothing. In german version they babble funny nonsense as they do it.. something like .. " Look again, such a capitalistic sled"..(tryied to translate it the right way) ..
In german michelangelo says even more funnier stuff because the german lenguage has outdated words we not use anymore. Like for example... Instead of "Dude" michelangelo say "Keule".. It is funny, nobody says that in real life.

yeah, alot of Mexican cartoons also did that... add extra dialogue where there was none and sometimes toss in a Mexican expression here and there. I was in the US when Turtlemania hit, so I missed out on the Mexican version of the 80's show, but I did hear alot of Mexican-isms in their take of the 2K3 show. Mostly Mikey shouting out copyright character names. Like the episode that said 'we should leave the climbing to the guy in the red and blue tights', in the Mexican version, Mike flat out says Spiderman.

[TMNachoT]

yeah, alot of Mexican cartoons also did that... add extra dialogue where there was none and sometimes toss in a Mexican expression here and there. I was in the US when Turtlemania hit, so I missed out on the Mexican version of the 80's show, but I did hear alot of Mexican-isms in their take of the 2K3 show. Mostly Mikey shouting out copyright character names. Like the episode that said 'we should leave the climbing to the guy in the red and blue tights', in the Mexican version, Mike flat out says Spiderman.

I watched the 2k3 show in venezuela, so i am familiar with the mexican dubbing which i must say, at least with mike, it is better than the original american voice, IMO, this helped to make mike less annoying. He kinda is the worst version of all the michelangelos

[Tomoshibi Amatsu]

I'm really curious, where did this idea that Mikey ever gives off a "stoner vibe" ever come into play in any of his portrayals? Cause he's sometimes a little distracted? Um, the accent? Never got that idea until I read it around here, and I have to say it does amuse me even if I personally don't see it.

Oh you know OT Mikey was smokin' that fat slice. He was always on a pizza high for a reason after all.

Great now I'm imagining OT Mikey trying to shove a pizza in a bong... Or snorting it. People in the 80s did do a lot of cocaine after all.

[Keroscene]

87 Mikey is the only one where he wasn't portrayed as either stupid or an attention seeker.

87 Mikey is the ultimate attention seeker. He's always doing things designed to get people to look at him. Performing magic shows despite not being able to do any magic, dancing Irish jigs for no reason, turning the conversational topic to pizza at any opportunity, talking with a California accent for no reason and oh yeah, when it's his birthday he tells everyone "let's throw a humungous party for someone we know." And whilst I don't think he was particularly stupid, Raphael certainly did.

But y'know, this kind of comment just underlines the problem with discussing different iterations of these characters - people ignore the stuff that doesn't fit with their argument and over-emphasise the stuff that does. Truth is, there's very little difference between 2k3 Mikey and 2k12 Mikey. The only real difference is that all the characters are more coherent and consistent in 2k3 and 2k12 because those cartoons weren't thrown together in the same way as the OT.

[Coola Yagami]

87 Mikey is the ultimate attention seeker. He's always doing things designed to get people to look at him. Performing magic shows despite not being able to do any magic, dancing Irish jigs for no reason, turning the conversational topic to pizza at any opportunity, talking with a California accent for no reason and oh yeah, when it's his birthday he tells everyone "let's throw a humungous party for someone we know." And whilst I don't think he was particularly stupid, Raphael certainly did.

But y'know, this kind of comment just underlines the problem with discussing different iterations of these characters - people ignore the stuff that doesn't fit with their argument and over-emphasise the stuff that does. Truth is, there's very little difference between 2k3 Mikey and 2k12 Mikey. The only real difference is that all the characters are more coherent and consistent in 2k3 and 2k12 because those cartoons weren't thrown together in the same way as the OT.

It was kinda different. The others didn't treat Mikey like an annoying attention-seeker in the 80's cartoon. In fact.. most of the time the others were complaining about Leo being too serious or Donnie being locked in his lab all the time, but not so much about Mikey. The 2K3 Mikey got to the point that it seemed noone wanted to hang with him. The Nick2012 Mikey isn't that bad... yet.... but they're already acting like noone likes to partner off with him on missions. And the ep where they split into A and B teams... Leo and Raph admitted they needed Don, but never once mentioned they needed Mikey.

[CyberCubed]

87 Mikey is the ultimate attention seeker. He's always doing things designed to get people to look at him. Performing magic shows despite not being able to do any magic, dancing Irish jigs for no reason, turning the conversational topic to pizza at any opportunity, talking with a California accent for no reason and oh yeah, when it's his birthday he tells everyone "let's throw a humungous party for someone we know." And whilst I don't think he was particularly stupid, Raphael certainly did.

But he was never annoying about it. In fact OT Mikey kinda sulked to himself the few times the Turtles did make fun of him.

[Vegeta]

I like mikey in this series so far, granted I'm not very far but the first turtle titans episode was trash. The ending was dumb and I had a hard time getting through it.I think the nick version of mikey is much more amusing but I like mikey's voice better in the 2k3.

[miru]

IMO, the Mirage version is the worst.

[neatoman]

I can't help but notice the last post here was a year before the PD movie came out.

[IndigoErth]

Guess clips/trailers of that one hit and everyone was speechless. lol


I like 2003 Mikey. A little obnoxious, but he's largely pretty tolerable.

2012 Mikey is the one who'd probably lead me to ingesting vast quantities of poison if forced to be trapped in a room with him for a long period of time with no guaranteed escape.

[Zachatello00]

As one of the 108 people who voted that Mikey is "just fine", I will reassert that Mike was my favorite of the 2003 turtles.

That said, it might be worth re-considering who the worst iteration of Mikey's character is, seeing as how this thread was released 12 years ago, before the NICK cartoon even started.

I would say Rise Mike is most "off" from what we expect Mikey to be, but even as I do, it's all art, which is welcomely subjective. So, best I can do is say that Rise Mike is my personal least favorite.

[Zulithe]

I like MM but I'd have to say MM Mikey is one of the worst versions of Mikey. He's just very bland, doesn't have the stand-out personality that most versions of Mikey have. I'm not sure what the casting agents saw in that voice actor cause he doesn't bring much to the table for the character.

[Andrew NDB]

IMO, the Mirage version is the worst.

It's the only one worth bothering with. He is the most "human" of all of the Turtles. He is contemplative, he has multiple girlfriends, he writes, etc..