Does Michelangelo Get Dumber and Dumber Each Major Incarnation?

[Konchadunga]

Mirage Michelangelo: Arguably the first TMNT ever drawn, back when it was a stupid joke, but once the series started, he was simply the culturally savvy Turtle with a sense of humor.

Fred Wolf Michelangelo: Party dude way too obsessed with pizza and pop culture oftentimes, but at least reasonably laid back and thoughtful other times.

4Kids Michelagelo: Arguably the worst excesses of the Fred Wold show all stuffed into one character in a vastly alien canon. Not cripplingly obsessed with pizza, but cripplingly obsessed with so many other things it doesn't matter. Also vain, loud, and hyper.

Nickelodeon Michelangelo: Compared to Patrick Star in a commercial for stupidity. That was an exaggeration, but there's a reason exaggerations aren't called lies.

Or so many say. What say you?

[TheBlueTurtle1]

not stupid, but more goofy, and crazy. The OT version always seemed like he was drunk or doing drugs, more so than the current Nick version, just seems childish.

[BubblyShell22]

No, Mikey is never dumb. Sure, he's laid-back at times, but he's always been known to still be smart in his own way. The Nick show also gives him the added trait of compassion and wanting to fit in with society and have friends. I think the worst one for me is the 4Kids Mikey but mostly because of how stuck up he became after his Battle Nexus win.

Now I'm just waiting for Cubed to get here and say, "This thread needs to be locked." Anyone want to take bets on it?

[Whatswiththeheadbands?]

No, Mikey is never dumb. Sure, he's laid-back at times, but he's always been known to still be smart in his own way. The Nick show also gives him the added trait of compassion and wanting to fit in with society and have friends. I think the worst one for me is the 4Kids Mikey but mostly because of how stuck up he became after his Battle Nexus win.

Now I'm just waiting for Cubed to get here and say, "This thread needs to be locked." Anyone want to take bets on it?

I bet $10 It'll happen.

Anyone wanna bet more than $10?

[CyberCubed]

What about movie Michaelangelo? He was a nix mixture of Mirage and OT Mikey and wasn't dumb.

[plastroncafe]

I said yes to this, but there's a nuance as to why.
Mike is the comic relief.
Writing competent comic relief appears to be a challenge to many writers. Why write complexity when a cheap laugh is so much easier.

So that's what's happened to Mikey: With every incarnation he becomes a cheaper and cheaper laugh.

Praise be unto Ciro for having a Mikey Test.

[TMNT_Guy]

So...you're saying Michelangelo is Homer Simpson?

"Professor Lawrence Pierce of the University of Chicago writes, 'I think Homer gets stupider every year.' That's not a question, Professor, but we'll let the viewers judge for themselves."

[BabyTurtles]

well in Nick he's definitely the most immature Mikey ever, and he's not the brightest crayon in the box either XD but he's mostly being a silly goofball~

So I wouldn't say he's getting dumber....since I thought 2003 Mikey was pretty darn smart he was just completely lazy. XD

(maybe he's turning more into a comic relief?)

[LeotheLateBloomer]

So I wouldn't say he's getting dumber....since I thought 2003 Mikey was pretty darn smart he was just completely lazy. XD

(maybe he's turning more into a comic relief?)

Thank you! I'm glad someone understands 2003 Mikey.

Thought I'd share what Peter Laird views Mike as a character:

I always saw Mike as smart but not brilliant, and definitely the goofiest of all of the Turtles. I can't venture an opinion on how he is portrayed in some of the newer stuff because I have not as yet seen or read it.

[Jester]

I'm not sure if I disagree, but at least Nick Mikey is still more tolerable than the 4kids version. Not 100% sure why it is, maybe it's because he's not so insufferably full of himself.

Also...Mikey Test? Must everything have a test?

[Powder]

Surely our patience is being tested too. Zing!

[909 Turtle Fan]

I voted no. He is a party dude, not a dummy. The latest nick version is silly and a bit innocent imo. Sure he can try a little too hard to make a joke, but I don't understand what ppl want Mike to be? Less funny? Not as goofy? What would be the point of that? In worm quake he took the lead when he said "come on bros we need to get to higher ground". That was not very dumb.

[BubblyShell22]

Exactly. He's laid back, but he knows when to be serious when the situation calls for it. I liked how he took the lead in "The Manhattan Project" as it shows that he knows when to get down to business.

[blindturtle02]

Exactly. He's laid back, but he knows when to be serious when the situation calls for it. I liked how he took the lead in "The Manhattan Project" as it shows that he knows when to get down to business.

Yup, I like 2012 Mikey just fine. Liked 2k3 Mikey too but the Battle Nexus Champion harping did get annoying. Boy I loved Grudge Match! I don't see him getting dumber every incarnation. Didn't Ciro say he's had to fight against someone or another attempting to dumb him down? Seems to have worked, I think. 2012 seems just like an average teen to me. I think he's a bit more of a goofball, but ya have those kids who love to clown around yet know when to be serious. Now, that's just how I see this guy. I'm watching the OT, getting ready to rewatch 2k3, and in the middle of rewatching my s2 eps, so I'll certainly be keeping more of an eye out for stuff like this. I think the only thing in Nick that had me shaking my head was the bit about Cottage Cheese Demon. I wonder if that kid eats pizza right before he goes to bed. Mikey must have an iron stomach!

[BabyTurtles]

Exactly. He's laid back, but he knows when to be serious when the situation calls for it. I liked how he took the lead in "The Manhattan Project" as it shows that he knows when to get down to business.

that's what I appreciate about 2012 Mikey (and really all Mikey's) is that he knows when it's time to get serious.

[turtlefanforever]

essentially though I certainly agree. The Nick version is by far the most idiotic of them all, and his general whimpiness as apposed to his messing around, lets just fight attitude in OT is a step down, and all this booyakasha nonsense is certainly a new low.

[Vicky82]

No, I love Mikey in the Nick show yes he gets distracted because of his ADD but he is a better fighter and knows when to be serious than 2k3 Mikey who was just more annoying and lazy but he did have some good moments though like the christmas episode and Grudge match.

I seemed to remember Ciro saying that Mikey becomes more mature in season 2 and he was more mature in The Manhatten project and he had a plan to get rid of the Squirrelanoids and nearly got himself killed.

[BabyTurtles]

essentially though I certainly agree. The Nick version is by far the most idiotic of them all, and his general whimpiness as apposed to his messing around, lets just fight attitude in OT is a step down, and all this booyakasha nonsense is certainly a new low.

2012 Mikey isn't whimpy

how wimpy can you be when you wanna bring a giant mutant alligator home XD

and when he was taking care of a sick Raph he was just "don't bother me right now" to all guys trying to attack him XD

http://media.tumblr.com/2edca7ee10b28713a7ccdc35b7efa743/tumblr_inline_mm51fjBEGw1qz4rgp.gif

[Shark_Blade]

I gotta admit he got dumbed down as we go on through incarnations.

BUT Nick Mikey is improving in Season 2 lately.

[Technogeek29]

Despite being ok with that version 2k3 Mikey has Mirage's ego cranked up to 11 but has 80's Raphael reluctance to fight. When he isn't being lazy or whiney he's not that much different from OT Mikey.

2012 is fun but the diffrent writers make his intelligence go off the walls sometimes. One episode he's just silly and cracking dumb jokes just to pester his bros. The next he's So random and has moments that would make even Patrick Star say "dude c'mon?"

Current favorite Mikey is IDW.

[Warhorse]

I don't know about the whole dumbness thing, but I just think he was at his best in the 1990 movie, in that he was goofy, and clever, and genuinely funny in a witty type of way.

[CyberCubed]

Depends on the writer. In Nick some writers make Mikey more dumb than others, its not consistent.

A good writer in the Nick show writes Mikey more naive than dumb.

[electric_sheep]

of boy did he ever, 87 mickey was lazy and had the surfer thing going on which reflected the times. 90-ies mickey was just a lighthearted guy who when it comes to the serious stuff is gonna get his **** together and be there for you (that's why he is my favorite version of the character). 2k3 mickey was fun but he went overboard sometimes. Nick Mickey is straight up retarded, there are moments when he's brothers are in mortal danger and he keeps the doing stupid stuff, he never has a character moment , he's just a bunch of jokes thrown together, one of the reasons why i quit the show. I guess each mickey represents the time he's living in, which says a lot about this generation...

[Powder]

Why are you talking about Disney?

[Jester]

Who's the leader of the club
That's made for you and me?
Mickey
Angelo.

[Leofan26]

2003 Mikey may have had a bit of an ego trip later on in the series but he was a heck of a lot smarter in my opinion than he is in the 2012 series. He was a good fighter too, even if his humor felt forced at times I think I'd rather have that Mikey back.

2012 Mikey just doesn't sit we'll with me, some times the writers make him act so stupid that it's painful to watch, maybe it is cuz of ADD, either way I wish they'd cool it with that :ohwell:

[Lisardo]

of boy did he ever, 87 mickey was lazy and had the surfer thing going on which reflected the times. 90-ies mickey was just a lighthearted guy who when it comes to the serious stuff is gonna get his **** together and be there for you (that's why he is my favorite version of the character). 2k3 mickey was fun but he went overboard sometimes. Nick Mickey is straight up retarded, there are moments when he's brothers are in mortal danger and he keeps the doing stupid stuff, he never has a character moment , he's just a bunch of jokes thrown together, one of the reasons why i quit the show. I guess each mickey represents the time he's living in, which says a lot about this generation...

Kind of have to agree here. I do like the 2k12 Mikey, his goofiness/naiveness is funny, but it's gets a bit ridiculous esp. when they are in an emergency. The 2k3 Mikey was funny at first but easily got annoying as time went on. OT Mikey and movie Mikey were probably my favorite versions of the character cuz as you just said, he was more versatile there and not too over the top. The only annoying thing with OT Mikey is his surfer/stoner type attitude, but at least he's more sensible and more laid back over the other versions.

[Donatello19]

2012 Mikey isn't whimpy

how wimpy can you be when you wanna bring a giant mutant alligator home XD

and when he was taking care of a sick Raph he was just "don't bother me right now" to all guys trying to attack him XD


Dude, don't bother arguing with him. He hates everything and anything to do with the Nick series.

[kolaida]

I love 2K12 Mikey so far! Yeah, sometime he says some really off the wall things or seems to be need to told things multiple times or irritates his brothers (and we all have that ONE sibling- at least my siblings did and she knew it, but we still love her!). And this Mikey can be really hilarious at times and it's pretty refreshing because honestly if you take life too seriously, it takes all the fun out of it and what's the point of it then? So, I like this Mikey a lot and it seems his maturity is slowly but steadily improving with the episodes but he's not losing his sense of humor in the meantime.

Like others have said, I thought 2K3 Mikey was pretty smart, he was just lazy and didn't want to do things.

I don't know, I've always had an appreciation for Mikey, being so fun and happy with life despite the cards he's been dealt. I think that makes for a pretty special being.

[madyankees]

Nah... he's more than meets the eye:D

[MsMarvelDuckie]

I'm kind of leaning toward yes, but not completely. Each version seems just a bit dumber (2K3 mostly just lazy and apathetic) especially the 07 movie and Nick version. Thankfully, IDW seems to have saved him a bit in the new comics. Nick's version is just so utterly clueless most of the time- in SPITE of having had the same experiences, training, influences, and knowledge as his brothers(Donatello the exception since he knows stuff none of the others do- being a geek)- that he seems unaware of even basic knowledge most of the time. And having ADD doesn't help, either. It's no wonder he comes off as dumb, when he not only has a short attention span, but apparently hasn't even learned basic skills or knowledge that the other three all seem to have acquired long ago!

Overall, I'd agree that the 90's movie Mike is the "smartest" and most well-rounded one. He's funny, and laid-back, but still smarter than most other versions. His humor is clever and fun, not just cheap jokes.

[BabyTurtles]

I'm kind of leaning toward yes, but not completely. Each version seems just a bit dumber (2K3 mostly just lazy and apathetic) especially the 07 movie and Nick version. Thankfully, IDW seems to have saved him a bit in the new comics. Nick's version is just so utterly clueless most of the time- in SPITE of having had the same experiences, training, influences, and knowledge as his brothers(Donatello the exception since he knows stuff none of the others do- being a geek)- that he seems unaware of even basic knowledge most of the time. And having ADD doesn't help, either. It's no wonder he comes off as dumb, when he not only has a short attention span, but apparently hasn't even learned basic skills or knowledge that the other three all seem to have acquired long ago!

Overall, I'd agree that the 90's movie Mike is the "smartest" and most well-rounded one. He's funny, and laid-back, but still smarter than most other versions. His humor is clever and fun, not just cheap jokes.

obviously Nick Mikey is playing dumb :P just when you least expect it... he strikes! it's a fighting strategy!

[Anton Chigurh]

I think more and more he is being shown as the "Little Brother" especially in the NIck series, which Im fine with as long as they show him growing older as the series continues.

[pannoni1]

IMO Maybe and Not Sure mean the same thing to me, and that's what I consider, thanks to IDW giving it a bounce after the later 4kids and 2007 movie goofiness. The early part of the Nick series clearly had Michelangelo dumber than any incarnation, though currently he's more or less almost up to par with the others. In 4kids it was the opposite, becoming more annoying as the series went on that led me to believe that he wasn't as smart has he was. Often times during down time I tend to get the Michelangelo personality, though when stuff matters, critical thinking can save the day as we've seen numerous times. Now want to see getting dumber and dumber? Rocksteady and Bebop between Seasons 1, 2, and 3 of the OT.