Something I've always wondered about the Turtle vehicles...

[TurtleGuy]

Something that I've always wondered since the battle shell on 2K3...

What would happen if the cops tried to pull them over? I always found it weird how the streets would either be convenient empty or something like that and that they've never gotten attention from the police when speeding(at least not to my knowledge).

I'm probably just thinking to hard, but that's what makes these kinds of questions fun. :tlol:

[Shreddhead]

Just off the top of my head, the mirage comics storyline is the only time I remember seeing the turtles having to deal with traffic. It is pretty convenient that everyone in ny goes to sleep when the sun goes down. NY, the city that always sleeps.

[Coola Yagami]

Not sure how often the Turtles would just be cruisin'. Usually they're chasing or being chased by another strange vehicle that's destroying everything in its path.

[Galactus]

Not sure how often the Turtles would just be cruisin'. Usually they're chasing or being chased by another strange vehicle that's destroying everything in its path.

"Beneath These Streets" had the turtles patrolling in the turtle van and I think a few other episodes did too. "Donatello's Badd Time" also had him taking the van for a test drive.

In the 4Kids shows "Hun on the Run" had the turtles simply just cruising listening to the radio.

Honestly its a suspension of disbelief thing in every canon that people don't notice giant turtles driving these vans, taxis and subway cars etc. It has only ever been touched upon in the deleted scene in the Imagi movie. I assume if the police ever tried to get them to pull over they'd simply try to outrun them like the did in Mirage Vol.1 #3.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Kazou Saki tells the turtles not to drive agains red light in "My Brother, the Bad Guy", even if Shredder gets away.

[Ninj]

I've thought about this too. Some police chase scenes would probably be pretty cool. Batman style.

[Andrew NDB]

It's utter nonsense. Which is why the Turtles shouldn't have vehicles.

[Toby Barrett]

It's utter nonsense.

http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/7806/anecuw.gif

[oldmanwinters]

It's utter nonsense. Which is why the Turtles shouldn't have vehicles.

heh... I can't really argue with the logic. Granted, however, I think the FW series at least justified itself on account of the fact that the TMNT's existence pretty much public knowledge by the end of the 5th episode, and most people were content to tolerate it.

http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/7806/anecuw.gif

Never seen this gift before. But I like it. :-D

[Icebot]

In Michaelangelo Toys Around, Leonardo told Raphael to drive faster and then Raphael told Leonardo if we get pulled over for speeding, he has to explain to the officer how turtles don't have driver licenses.

The turtles did get involved in a police chase in The Great Boldini.

[Kunoichi_Haruko]

It's been bugging me with the Nick series as well. Seriously, the Shellraiser is a subway car with giant monster truck wheels on the side, garish graffiti paint job, and the first time we see it in action, Leo's doing donuts in the middle of the street with it- And NOBODY sees this?!

http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/7806/anecuw.gif

This is both scary and hilarious. Scilarious.

[Galactus]

It's utter nonsense. Which is why the Turtles shouldn't have vehicles.

Indeed...

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e280/klankandorbis/vehicle1_zpscbc4e52b.png

[Andrew NDB]

Indeed...

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e280/klankandorbis/vehicle1_zpscbc4e52b.png

A time in the future when Aliens land and mutants and aliens can freely walk the streets (volume 4) is probably not the best example to support the case.

[Jester]

You didn't qualify it with "...until Volume 4." It's valid.

[Coola Yagami]

You didn't qualify it with "...until Volume 4." It's valid.

I kinda think Andrew was more talking about Turtle-themed vehicles, be it something flat-out TMNT related like the Turtle Van that yells out 'Ninja Turtles coming through' or something extremely outlandish like the Shell Raiser, which is a subway car on the open road.

[Galactus]

A time in the future when Aliens land and mutants and aliens can freely walk the streets (volume 4) is probably not the best example to support the case.

Those panels were during the Utroms landing and Don, Raph and Case fixed up the armored car prior to any knowledge that the world was going to change so drasticaly. There's also the motorbike that I assume belongs to the turtles, the garage seemed to belong to them.

Anyhoo...
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e280/klankandorbis/vehicle2_zpsfa06eaf9.png

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e280/klankandorbis/6f331804-2cd1-4b1f-b686-229dcb325cd7_zps7a0932bf.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e280/klankandorbis/04930c28-9f90-4fb8-98d9-6f1325c2c1c7_zps279b0e7d.jpg

[Cipher]

Okay, look.

It's always stupid when the Turtles are driving, even in Mirage (although they acknowledged how dangerous it would be if they got pulled over in #3).

It's extra, super-duper stupid when they're driving green, shell-themed, weaponized armored cars. The Fred-Wolf series gets a pass because even before becoming public figures, they don't particularly care about being seen.

Also, this is where I point out that in the 4Kids series, Donatello flies a green f***ing helicopter through whatever the hell airspace he wants without a care in the world.

[gobo]

Ninja Turtles have the right of way... always.

[Coola Yagami]

Okay, look.

It's always stupid when the Turtles are driving, even in Mirage (although they acknowledged how dangerous it would be if they got pulled over in #3).

It's extra, super-duper stupid when they're driving green, shell-themed, weaponized armored cars. The Fred-Wolf series gets a pass because even before becoming public figures, they don't particularly care about being seen.

Also, this is where I point out that in the 4Kids series, Donatello flies a green f***ing helicopter through whatever the hell airspace he wants without a care in the world.

Not to mention the big-ass blimp that actually says TURTLES on it.

[Galactus]

I've never had much of a problem with the turtles having a vehicle or two in any canon including Mirage. It makes sense that given the lives they lead being at war with another clan and routinely getting involved in weird adventures they'd use a car or van to get them somplace they need to be in a hurry.

Hell, as long as it's not overdone I don't object to them having weapons or other gadgets attached that Donatello could feasibly build either. Again given the lives they lead with Foot Clan using robots and the like it makes sense. I actualy found it odd that Peter never used the armored truck after he had the characters get it in working condition. He's said a few times in his blog he had plans for the dead bodies found with it, that would've been cool. I actualy thought Raph finding them was a pretty cool moment in that volume.

The Fred Wolf and to some degree the Nickleodeon show were lucky in that that could go overboard with the various vehicles and their designs and functions.

The 4Kids show being a bit more serious had the unenviable task of trying to come up with a distinctive enough looking vehicles that could sell a toys and stand out to any joe just tuning in to the show as being a turtle vehicle without looking too unrealistic or wacky. I tend to think they more or less suceeded. The armored truck was fairly realistic, even painting it green wasn't outlandish as you as a quick google image search there's plenty of non military armored trucks to carry jewels, money, police etc. Some of the weirder design choices were obviously to keep it from seeming ultra generic.

[Gwydion]

Honestly their first joyride out in the Shell Raiser in the Nick series was the only time where I seriously hoped cops would try to pull them over - they were doing donuts in the middle of the street! XD I mean, really? I imagine they would have tried to lose them, hopefully learning that speeding and doing crazy stunts isn't exactly keeping a low profile, lol.

But as far as this sort of thing is concerned, it's not too hard for me to suspend my disbelief because it is, after all, still a cartoon. And maybe it's because I was first introduced to TMNT through the OT - with the cool but super obvious Turtle Van and Blimp - but I think I'd be more disappointed if they didn't have some sort of transportation. Maybe it doesn't exactly fit with them being ninjas, but I guess that just doesn't bother me.

[6mark9]

Ninja Turtles have the right of way... always.

Haha, true! If you see Ninja Turtles come, ya might want to get out of the way---there's gonna be trouble!

Mark L.

[Kunoichi_Haruko]

Haha, true! If you see Ninja Turtles come, ya might want to get out of the way---there's gonna be trouble!

Mark L.

You know, I actually wouldn't mind if they introduced a new character this way- some person riding down the street, minding their own business, nearly run off of the road by the Shellraiser. They try to catch up to the vehicle to get the license plate, only to realize there IS no license plate, and by that point, they've followed the Turtles right into some massive fight with the Kraang or something.

[liugeaux]

Its simple, the Turtles have vehicles, so Playmates can sell vehicles. It doesn't matter how dumb it seems in the shows.

[Dirty Blond]

It's utter nonsense. Which is why the Turtles shouldn't have vehicles.

Is that what you were thinking when you wrote this?

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b586/BoyCartoonist/ScreenShot2013-03-24at101302AM_zpsaf0ce25c.png

:tlol:

[Coola Yagami]

The OT has vehicles to sell toys, but also because they were more like crimefighting superheroes that needed some kind of turtlemobile to fight crime with. They never really went with the 'stick to the shadows, jumping across rootftops, vanish with smoke bombs' deal in the OT. They were hardly ninjas.

[plasticturtle]

I think once you save the city a few times you pretty much get the right of way. In some cases stopping the Turtles from going where ever they happened to be going or even delaying them could be disastrous.

[DVD]

I agree that the vehicles are needed, to sell more toys. It's that kind of franchise.
I'm ok with that. I like vehicles. They may drive the shell kicker through town with no lisence to speak off, but I love the lil go carts they use that break up and join together. That is a neat idea and a great lil toy.
The OT had loads of underground vehicles, but the overground vehicle, in the shape of the blimp..genius !

[Coola Yagami]

I think once you save the city a few times you pretty much get the right of way. In some cases stopping the Turtles from going where ever they happened to be going or even delaying them could be disastrous.
Except noone knows who they are or that they saved the city. They would stop them because 'OMG GIANT TURTLES!!!'. They're not like Batman where everyone knows he's driving the Batmobile and probably off to stop the Joker from killing people.

[BubblyShell22]

Yeah, I've always wondered about them not getting pulled over by cops, too. And now I have a bit of a plot bunny. Thanks, guys.

[plasticturtle]

Except noone knows who they are or that they saved the city. They would stop them because 'OMG GIANT TURTLES!!!'. They're not like Batman where everyone knows he's driving the Batmobile and probably off to stop the Joker from killing people.


I guess that's true. I wonder if the Turtle Van or the Shellraiser or any other TMNT vehicle they've used have tinted windows in order to avoid this very thing. If not they probably should. Considering what they are there's probably more at stake than a speeding ticket. They could very easily find themselves in a lab being vivisected if they got caught.

[Jephael]

Back in the day I didn't think much of it, but I've often wondered what would happen if the TMNT got pulled over. It also begs the question as to what would happen if they were in an accident.

[cartoonistaaron]

I love that the Turtles have vehicles - I mean, they're freakin' humanoid turtles that talk, practice martial arts, and wear colored masks. Why WOULDN'T they drive around in a custom van?

"I'm fine with giant turtles that walk on two legs, know how to fight, are versed in ancient Japanese teachings, speak English, and have lived in the sewers of the most crowded city in the USA for 15+ years without ever once being noticed. But DRIVING A CAR?! Now you've gone too far!!!"

If they were chased by the cops they'd outrun them. Or if it was the Fred Wolf show, they'd get a ticket and the cop would probably say "you might wanna see a doctor about whatever's makin' your skin turn bright green."

[Coola Yagami]

I love that the Turtles have vehicles - I mean, they're freakin' humanoid turtles that talk, practice martial arts, and wear colored masks. Why WOULDN'T they drive around in a custom van?

"I'm fine with giant turtles that walk on two legs, know how to fight, are versed in ancient Japanese teachings, speak English, and have lived in the sewers of the most crowded city in the USA for 15+ years without ever once being noticed. But DRIVING A CAR?! Now you've gone too far!!!"

If they were chased by the cops they'd outrun them. Or if it was the Fred Wolf show, they'd get a ticket and the cop would probably say "you might wanna see a doctor about whatever's makin' your skin turn bright green."

Again, the point isn't them using vehicles in general. It's using TURTLE-THEMED vehicles when they're supposed to stay hidden. You don't 'hide in the shadows' by driving around a car that basically screams 'HEY LOOK AT US!!! WE GOT A TURTLESHELL MOTIF AND TEETH AS OUR BUMPER!!!'

[ryukenden]

If the Turtles were to cruise around on a van. Don ought to tint the windows so that nobody could see who is driving. Certainly not make the van stand out but it would be rather dull to sell the toy though. I'm not sure if anybody has the sudden urge to look at the driver of another vehicle during a red light.

It was certainly interesting in the Mirage comic that the van the Turtles and April were in got mistaken for another van that the police were chasing.

[cartoonistaaron]

Again, the point isn't them using vehicles in general. It's using TURTLE-THEMED vehicles when they're supposed to stay hidden. You don't 'hide in the shadows' by driving around a car that basically screams 'HEY LOOK AT US!!! WE GOT A TURTLESHELL MOTIF AND TEETH AS OUR BUMPER!!!'

If I was a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, I'd customize the hell out of my van or convertible or whatever I was driving at the time.

What bugs me much more than the Turtles driving Turtle-themes vehicles is things like, in the original OT miniseries, when they're fighting a gigantic Krang - NOBODY else is out there? No cops, military, anything?!

But if you're the Ninja Turtles and you gotta get around, you might as well do it in style!

[Candy Kappa]

Everyone and their mother knows that there is mutant turtles living in NY in the Fred Wolf series, they don't need stealth.

[Jephael]

Everyone and their mother knows that there is mutant turtles living in NY in the Fred Wolf series, they don't need stealth.

What they needed was a PR coach.

[Candy Kappa]

Wouldn't April fill that role, it seemed she was the only one covering the Turtles hero antics and doing it in a positive light.

[Andrew NDB]

Is that what you were thinking when you wrote this?

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b586/BoyCartoonist/ScreenShot2013-03-24at101302AM_zpsaf0ce25c.png

:tlol:

You mean when I had it crash and be destroyed on page 2?

[Avatar Yuffie]

Eh, these are four humanoid reptiles that knew ninjitsu from a giant Japanese rat living in the sewers who then had adventures fighting rival ninja clans, magical creatures and aliens.

Driving a car is the least of a person's suspension of disbelief.

Or maybe I'm just laid back.

[Candy Kappa]

I think it is more about having themed cars when trying to stay away from the publics knowledge.

The 4Kids did it a bit more subtler and the Shellraiser isn't as glorified as the Part Wagon.

[Andrew NDB]

Eh, these are four humanoid reptiles that knew ninjitsu from a giant Japanese rat living in the sewers who then had adventures fighting rival ninja clans, magical creatures and aliens.

Driving a car is the least of a person's suspension of disbelief.

Or maybe I'm just laid back.

Ah, Crisler's Law (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=crisler%27s+law) once again...

[Toby Barrett]

Who's Crisler?

[Jephael]

Eh, these are four humanoid reptiles that knew ninjitsu from a giant Japanese rat living in the sewers who then had adventures fighting rival ninja clans, magical creatures and aliens.

Driving a car is the least of a person's suspension of disbelief.

Ah, Crisler's Law (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=crisler%27s+law) once again...

Be honest with us, Andrew. Haven't you ever taken a step back and realized just how bizarre the concept of the Ninja Turtles really is? Hell, even the Ninja Turtles themselves have acknowledged the absurdity of their own existance!

[Donatello19]

Well, at least the new Stealth Shell vehicle has somewhat addressed this problem.

[Avatar Yuffie]

Be honest with us, Andrew. Haven't you ever taken a step back and realized just how bizarre the concept of the Ninja Turtles really is? Hell, even the Ninja Turtles themselves have acknowledged the absurdity of their own existance!

Even Nostalgia Critic thinks the people who made this were high.

[Andrew NDB]

Be honest with us, Andrew. Haven't you ever taken a step back and realized just how bizarre the concept of the Ninja Turtles really is? Hell, even the Ninja Turtles themselves have acknowledged the absurdity of their own existance!

Of course. But that doesn't change the fact that it's always interesting and puzzling to me how so many people seem to step back from discussions on this board with "B-b-b-ut we're talking about four mutant Turtles in a sewer!" as some kind of Safe Word/trump card to get them out of whatever discussion happens to be taking place.

[Andrew NDB]

Who's Crisler?

If memory serves, Alex Crisler, who responded on Erik Larsen's board once, wayyy back.

[Toby Barrett]

I see. Was just curious, for the longest time, I thought it was just some random name.