Which April is best? Scientist or Reporter?

[BabyTurtles]

So I did this for tumblr and thought I might as well do it here XD I just wanted to know which April do you think fits TMNT best?

The April that is a smart scientist? or the April that's a spunky reporter~?

tell me why!

http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt236/Renkel76/566b5045-7364-4bce-9762-b2639c07c153_zpsd11cacd8.jpg

[Powder]

I don't really think one works better than the other. Scientist April is most helpful to the comic turtles, & newscaster April can bring the "heroes" to the baddies.

[Jester]

Was April ever really a "scientist"? She was mainly a programmer, right?

[BabyTurtles]

but if you had to pick one for April to have that role forever which would it be? O_O

[Prowler]

I don't really think one works better than the other. Scientist April is most helpful to the comic turtles, & newscaster April can bring the "heroes" to the baddies.
Pretty much.

Both well in the universe they're in, at least. And that's what matters.

[ssjup81]

I don't really think one works better than the other. Scientist April is most helpful to the comic turtles, & newscaster April can bring the "heroes" to the baddies.^This. For example, I think scientist April could fit for the Nick series if they'd wanted to go that route.

Depends on the medium, so I can't choose.

[Raptor86]

I really like how April is portrayed in the IDW comics. For me that's the best!

[Commenter 42]

Both are great, but OT April always gets my vote. I like "Scientist/Programmer" April as well. Not really a fan of "Ninja" April or "Psychic mutant" April.
Absolutely hated "ravishing reporter" April.
http://www.tmnttoys.com/92figures/basics/5281.jpg

Looks more like "Married With Children" April.
And...I've used too many quotes.

[Shark_Blade]

Reporter April.

She's the most iconic in the world, people still refer to her OT carnation and her yellow scheme color.

:tlove:

[ticktack]

Plus...
Her scientist-self later leaves the job being in conflict with Baxter, later runs an antique shop which later is destroyed, burned. This April-self and 2007 TMNT movie April master in ninjutsu and have fighting senses with bad guys. 2007 April was an archaeologist, was in the jungles in South America. Teenage or younger than middle-aged April in IDW comics and Nickelodeon cartoon seem to yet only remain as school and student girls. With the looks April in Mirage was an afroamerican but was sometimes changed or Laid didn't agree(?). origin/species: was a drawing, a mutant, just was being mutated. April was brunette, blue-eyed.... I thought your April is furure-self of current teenage April, but she has green eye color in your fanart, so she is your character or it's just a thread with imaginative, experimental fanart.

[Kanon]

I choose the scientist April, cause I think the version of her in 2k3 and IDW is a lot more helpfull to the Turtles and the story is better.

[Darth Knuckles]

I've always preferred Reporter April because it just seemed to make more sense for her to be involved, or better yet continue to be involved, with the turtles. Being a scientist made her smart but we also already have Donnie so I don't see a massive need for another very smart person in most situations. That's why I liked the rare appearances of Fugitoid so Donnie could share ideas with another really smart person.

I just overall consider April as a reporter the reason why she would want to keep in contact with the turtles in most versions or origins of the turtles' story. Needing that big story would be a good reason to seek out the turtles help. Or in going after the story, she would just so happen to keep running into the turtles who are fighting crime where April ends up searching for the big story.

[arkangel]

Plus...
Her scientist-self later leaves the job being in conflict with Baxter, later runs an antique shop which later is destroyed, burned.

This is my favorite, even though it's not the one that most people identify with.

[plastroncafe]

I prefer Grad Student April to New Reporter April.
Though...I think my favorite version is from that fanmade film where she was a blogger, which is an awesome way to combine both.

[pharaohyami5000]

I can't choose one over the other, because I like both versions of April O'Neil as they serve great assistances to the 4 reptiles and the wiserat their own ways. I've yet to decide on Nick's April, as I've still yet to begin that.

Classic April is very attractive, daring, commited and can be pretty funny.

2k3 April is intelligent, cunning and is equipped with some combat experience that can provide defenses allowing her to hold her own ground.

No thoughts on the comic versions or Nick (as mentioned earlier) for the moment until time is available.

[turtlefanforever]

really depends what you're going for.

"scientist" April is always the badass one. usually fearless, will fight and help however she can. Whereas Reporter April is usually scared of most things and is the damsel in distress. They each work out great to their own effect. Can't chose one or the other. But if I was going into a rumble with Shredder and the foot I'd probably recruit "scientist" April to back me up.

[ssjup81]

really depends what you're going for.

"scientist" April is always the badass one. usually fearless, will fight and help however she can. Whereas Reporter April is usually scared of most things and is the damsel in distress. They each work out great to their own effect. Can't chose one or the other. But if I was going into a rumble with Shredder and the foot I'd probably recruit "scientist" April to back me up.OT April was very fearless. She usually got in trouble because she was doing her job and was willing to face danger to get it at any cost. She also didn't take any mess and would talk back to the villains.

I still don't feel OT April fits the role as damsel in distress. It was usually wrong place at the wrong time and stubbornness.

[Refractive Reflections]

OT April was very fearless. She usually got in trouble because she was doing her job and was willing to face danger to get it at any cost. She also didn't take any mess and would talk back to the villains.

I still don't feel OT April fits the role as damsel in distress. It was usually wrong place at the wrong time and stubbornness.

Agree with this, OT April was more or less getting herself in trouble for her stubbornness rather than being weak and helpless.

Anyways though, I feel the "scientist" role is already filled out with Donatello and she would be remain nothing more than a student or protege compared to Donatello's intelligence/knowledge. With reporter April, she brings something new (the human societal aspect) to the Turtles that they would be unfamiliar with.

So I choose reporter April.

[CyberCubed]

4kids April was good but the writers couldn't find a way to involve her in a lot of the Turtles adventures. You never notice how little episodes 4kids April was in until you stop to think about it.

[BabyTurtles]

Okay guys..how bout April as a cop??

that way she could defend herself AND be involved with the turtles and help stop crime.

[Andrew NDB]

News reporter April is rubbish. It's just there to create contrivances for the silly plots and because David Wise was too lazy to try and make an everywoman character work with the Turtles.

Every time I see the new TMNT universes trying to put her in yellow everything I just have to roll my eyes.

[Leo656]

Okay guys..how bout April as a cop??

that way she could defend herself AND be involved with the turtles and help stop crime.


Nah, that'd put her in a huge "conflict of interest" situation where her superiors harangued her for more information on her "friends" who mysteriously keep beating up all these bad guys before the cops show up, as well as how she could know more about the bad guys than all the other cops do. She'd get kicked off the force in about five minutes for withholding information from her superiors.

I go for Reporter April, as others have noted Donnie's already the Techie and there's little point in having two of those. April is by definition a Bystander, not the Star. I understand why some people like the idea of her getting more involved with the Turtles' adventures but I'm not a huge fan of that. It's their world/story, at most April is a plot device that moves things forward, as well as being the Audience Avatar, through whose eyes we are to see/react to these bizarre events which are mundane in this fictional reality. It's like whenever writers get bored and decide to give Jimmy Olsen super-powers, and everyone unanimously screams, "We Don't Give A Sh*t", because Jimmy Olsen is not the Star of the Story, his role is to get caught up in the hero's adventures, not have his own adventures.

Because whether you're reading about a bulletproof alien in a cape or a group of mutant reptiles who know martial arts, I don't think it's wise to give valuable story real estate to arguably the least-interesting character(s).

Don't get me wrong, I like April; I just think April's role in the fiction is more to react to events, rather than instigating them. She's a bridge between the Turtles and the rest of the world; that's really all she needs to be. I think that's why her occupation is seemingly up for grabs across different media; what she does for a living is kind of irrelevant to her greater role as a plot device.

[arkangel]

I guess it depends on what medium you're referring to. In the Mirage Comics, April was definitely more than a plot device as her character was fleshed out well and most certainly an intregal part of that universe. Some of the later cartoons, not as much.
I also like the "my after-school tutor" April, for those years that I really needed extra help with my um.. math homework.

[BabyTurtles]

Nah, that'd put her in a huge "conflict of interest" situation where her superiors harangued her for more information on her "friends" who mysteriously keep beating up all these bad guys before the cops show up, as well as how she could know more about the bad guys than all the other cops do. She'd get kicked off the force in about five minutes for withholding information from her superiors.


Maybe you're right....but Elisa from Gargoyles seemed to pull it off and be awesome

http://gargwiki.net/images/thumb/a/a2/Elisa_Maza.png/360px-Elisa_Maza.png

[Whatswiththeheadbands?]

Scientist. Never been keen on Reporter April.

[Technogeek29]

Nah, that'd put her in a huge "conflict of interest" situation where her superiors harangued her for more information on her "friends" who mysteriously keep beating up all these bad guys before the cops show up, as well as how she could know more about the bad guys than all the other cops do. She'd get kicked off the force in about five minutes for withholding information from her superiors.

I go for Reporter April, as others have noted Donnie's already the Techie and there's little point in having two of those. April is by definition a Bystander, not the Star. I understand why some people like the idea of her getting more involved with the Turtles' adventures but I'm not a huge fan of that. It's their world/story, at most April is a plot device that moves things forward, as well as being the Audience Avatar, through whose eyes we are to see/react to these bizarre events which are mundane in this fictional reality. It's like whenever writers get bored and decide to give Jimmy Olsen super-powers, and everyone unanimously screams, "We Don't Give A Sh*t", because Jimmy Olsen is not the Star of the Story, his role is to get caught up in the hero's adventures, not have his own adventures.

Because whether you're reading about a bulletproof alien in a cape or a group of mutant reptiles who know martial arts, I don't think it's wise to give valuable story real estate to arguably the least-interesting character(s).

Don't get me wrong, I like April; I just think April's role in the fiction is more to react to events, rather than instigating them. She's a bridge between the Turtles and the rest of the world; that's really all she needs to be. I think that's why her occupation is seemingly up for grabs across different media; what she does for a living is kind of irrelevant to her greater role as a plot device.

To fix that issue you would have to make April in an atagonist role for a period before she started becoming friends with them. Of course once she does then the above situation you mentioned could be a result of her getting mixed up with the Turtles.

[neatoman]

Ok, I'm just going to say this straight, having the Turtles hang out with a news reporter is a bad idea.

"We must always keep ourselves hidden from the world that won't understand us, so let's constantly hang out with a public figure who's job it is to make unusual things relevant in the eyes of the masses!"

There is a reason why the reporter thing may be the most recognisable aspect that also ends up being ignored for most versions. The only reason she's a reporter in the latest movie is because the producers thought it was more marketable that way.

[Leo656]

They could always tweak it and make her a struggling tabloid reporter looking for a break, rather than an established big shot Lois Lane type. Then it didn't matter how much she knew or didn't know, nobody'd believe her anyway.

I'unno, it just seems like TMNT hang out with entirely too many scientists. There's just way too many scientist-type characters in the fiction when one of them is already a main character.

Just have her fold sweaters at the Gap. Problem solved. :tgrin:

[Netkeeper]

How about April O'Neil: Paranormal Investigator.

Eh? Ehhh??? I like it!

Bah, tough crowd, I'll just go with scientist because I like the way she looks in a lab coat. I like the way Stockman looks in one, too. And Leatherhead. And okay I'll shut up now I just really like lab coats.

[I have legit reasons for picking scientist April but I'm too lazy to type them.]

[ssjup81]

Just have her fold sweaters at the Gap. Problem solved. :tgrin:Nick April? :P

[Leo656]

Bah, tough crowd, I'll just go with scientist because I like the way she looks in a lab coat.

If we're talkin' OT April, I wouldn't mind seein' her in JUST a lab coat! HI-OHHHHH! :tcool::tgrin:

Man, you're right, this is a tough room....

[Gunpowder]

I just found her more fitting as a scientist; I don't have a particular reason. She seemed more independent, I guess.

[smitbro2]

I like both but I'm gonna have to lean towards programmer April since I'm in the same field :D

[Luckyday]

To fix that issue you would have to make April in an atagonist role for a period before she started becoming friends with them. Of course once she does then the above situation you mentioned could be a result of her getting mixed up with the Turtles.

That's actually a really novel idea. It can be like J. Jonah Jameson situation or have working her along Baxter Stockman's side for a while.

[Coola Yagami]

News reporter. I don't see why being a scientist is even an issue. She was a scientist for what... A week before the Baxter deal went south.

[Coola Yagami]

If we're talkin' OT April, I wouldn't mind seein' her in JUST a lab coat! HI-OHHHHH! :tcool::tgrin:


That got my attention kind sir.

[Bry]

Scientist/programmer. Though either one works fine, I always enjoyed the Mirage version the best. I think her friendship with the Turtles makes a bit more "sense" if she's not a prominent public figure, and I like her having some technical smarts.

[IndigoErth]

Gonna go with reporter since that's what I've always been most familiar with, though after watching the 2003 series the 'scientist' version is an interesting take. (Man, at the point you have her, Donnie, and Leatherhead... lots of brains in that series. :))

[Warhorse]

Okay guys..how bout April as a cop??

that way she could defend herself AND be involved with the turtles and help stop crime.

This! I prefer the April as a reporter, but I would have much preferred her being a cop or detetective of some sorts, or maybe even an FBI agent. (Back then, my ideal April would have been something like The X-Files Dana Scully)
Not too much a fan of the scientist April though.

However, I have seen fanfics where April was also a vet, and I liked that scenario as well.

[Slade]

Honest answer, I don't care either way. Not fond of April.

[Garfield]

I don't much prefer either. The profession that I like her most in is the Second Time Around Antique shop keeper. It represents a humble April ; kind of un extravagant but what makes her special is subtle as there is something personal about her kinship with the turtles, her connection with the turtles and story is one that full of heart as she's a beacon of comfort and avenue of sanctuary and a benefactor of the turtles.

I know that this can still be when April is a reporter or working in a lab, its just what that the Second Time Around Antique shop and April means to me.

[Commenter 42]

I guess I always assumed that Reporter April was contrived to cover up, or obfuscate the turtles involvement in news stories. She served as an their inside man, the antithetical J Jonah Jameson of sorts.

It carries with it the grey morality of Mirage, while remaining a clear parody of the reporter trope.

A cop would be too on the nose.

[Shark_Blade]

Okay guys..how bout April as a cop??

that way she could defend herself AND be involved with the turtles and help stop crime.

Cop is blue, so no. I want my April in yellow.

[Gunpowder]

Gotta give some credit to the Nick show for making her neither. I could be wrong but I think it's the first rendition of her that's attempted that.

Also, I'm not sure the cop thing would work. There's less chemistry between April and the Turtles if both spend their time fighting crime. Makes things less interesting after a while.

[LeotheLateBloomer]

Wasn't she only a scientist in issue #2? After that, she just became an antique shop owner with a knowledge for computers.

My preference is an antique shop owner but if I had to choose between the two, I'd say scientist. April looks ridiculous in yellow.

[Warhorse]

Gotta give some credit to the Nick show for making her neither. I could be wrong but I think it's the first rendition of her that's attempted that.

Also, I'm not sure the cop thing would work. There's less chemistry between April and the Turtles if both spend their time fighting crime. Makes things less interesting after a while.

Well, she's also a kid in the nick toon, so she wouldn't exactly be thinking about a career quite yet. But, her dad is a scientist in the show, and with her tutoring Casey on math, she's clearly smart, so she might be going towards the scientist part. Plus with her connection to Donnie and Irma seems to be a bit of a nerd herself, it's totally possible that she is heading down that road.

[BabyTurtles]

Gotta give some credit to the Nick show for making her neither. I could be wrong but I think it's the first rendition of her that's attempted that.


yea instead they made her a Psychic/alien/mutant/ninja.

:)

[arkangel]

If we're talkin' OT April, I wouldn't mind seein' her in JUST a lab coat! HI-OHHHHH! :tcool::tgrin:


Dude... shame on you..

It should be JUST a labcoat AND glasses. Get it straight.

[Leo656]

Good call Garth. :tcool:

[Gunpowder]

Well, she's also a kid in the nick toon, so she wouldn't exactly be thinking about a career quite yet. But, her dad is a scientist in the show, and with her tutoring Casey on math, she's clearly smart, so she might be going towards the scientist part. Plus with her connection to Donnie and Irma seems to be a bit of a nerd herself, it's totally possible that she is heading down that road.

They could have easily made her an adult with a career though. And I agree - she's leaning more towards scientist, which is fine with me.

I love this version of Irma, by the way. Nerdy, but not "nerdy."

[MsMarvelDuckie]

I've always preferred Reporter April because it just seemed to make more sense for her to be involved, or better yet continue to be involved, with the turtles. Being a scientist made her smart but we also already have Donnie so I don't see a massive need for another very smart person in most situations. That's why I liked the rare appearances of Fugitoid so Donnie could share ideas with another really smart person.

I just overall consider April as a reporter the reason why she would want to keep in contact with the turtles in most versions or origins of the turtles' story. Needing that big story would be a good reason to seek out the turtles help. Or in going after the story, she would just so happen to keep running into the turtles who are fighting crime where April ends up searching for the big story.


Absolutely. She has more reason to be involved with them over the long haul as a reporter keeping up with their escapades. (And trying to keep their part out of the news at the same time....)


OT April was very fearless. She usually got in trouble because she was doing her job and was willing to face danger to get it at any cost. She also didn't take any mess and would talk back to the villains.

I still don't feel OT April fits the role as damsel in distress. It was usually wrong place at the wrong time and stubbornness.


Agreed. She was NEVER a "damsel in distress"- more like a "girl out LOOKING for trouble- and FINDING it."


Okay guys..how bout April as a cop??

that way she could defend herself AND be involved with the turtles and help stop crime.


That would be interesting. I could see this working in some version eventually.


I go for Reporter April, as others have noted Donnie's already the Techie and there's little point in having two of those. April is by definition a Bystander, not the Star. I understand why some people like the idea of her getting more involved with the Turtles' adventures but I'm not a huge fan of that. It's their world/story, at most April is a plot device that moves things forward, as well as being the Audience Avatar, through whose eyes we are to see/react to these bizarre events which are mundane in this fictional reality.

Don't get me wrong, I like April; I just think April's role in the fiction is more to react to events, rather than instigating them. She's a bridge between the Turtles and the rest of the world; that's really all she needs to be. I think that's why her occupation is seemingly up for grabs across different media; what she does for a living is kind of irrelevant to her greater role as a plot device.


This is true. She's not meant to be the most important character in the story, so what she does doesn't matter as much as why she is hanging with them.


Elisa from Gargoyles seemed to pull it off and be awesome

http://gargwiki.net/images/thumb/a/a2/Elisa_Maza.png/360px-Elisa_Maza.png


True, and this is why I could see it working with April, too. She could actually help the TMNT find leads to deal with their enemies, and let them know if someone is getting suspicious about them.


This! I prefer the April as a reporter, but I would have much preferred her being a cop or detetective of some sorts, or maybe even an FBI agent. (Back then, my ideal April would have been something like The X-Files Dana Scully) .


This is a great idea! I actually did this with Kurtzman from the Nick show, turning him into a police investigator instead of a private/paranormal investigator.


[QUOTE=Commenter 42;1347392]I guess I always assumed that Reporter April was contrived to cover up, or obfuscate the turtles involvement in news stories. She served as an their inside man, the antithetical J Jonah Jameson of sorts. [QUOTE]

I agree. In fact, in the beginning, that was exactly what she did- and it was especially evident in the movies, where she only told the part of the story that she felt was "safe" to reveal- leaving the most important part out.

[nuno]

Reporter.

Never knew her as a Scientist.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Depends on which version it is.

[Sleepingseeker]

I think a half-way between both is cool...my head canon is a blend of both worlds....she majored in biomedical sciences and minored within the field of engineering but eventually turned her interests to investigative reporting because she loved getting out on the field and digging for the 'truth' more than being cooped up in a lab.

That way she's smart and daring. :)

[Warhorse]

Cop is blue, so no. I want my April in yellow.

False! Cops in my area are dressed in green! Squad cars and choppers as well!

[Commenter 42]

I guess I always assumed that Reporter April was contrived to cover up, or obfuscate the turtles involvement in news stories. She served as an their inside man, the antithetical J Jonah Jameson of sorts.

I agree. In fact, in the beginning, that was exactly what she did- and it was especially evident in the movies, where she only told the part of the story that she felt was "safe" to reveal- leaving the most important part out.

Yes!

Sure, she was too often played up as a damsel in distress, which can be boring, and although i love a "brainy girl" -(notice I didn't say nerdy, or geeky...everyone's a nerd or geek these days...But to be actually brainy...yum :) ) I feel that April really works best as that sweet, all american girl, bright, but not "genius"; She's tough, but not a "Ninja". She should be a regular girl/woman, with regular girl/woman problems, desires and wants for her life.
It's great to have that in contrast to the lives of the turtles.

[Agent 86]

Hmmmmmm. An investigative reporter/journalist/presenter for a weekly TV series showcasing developments and inventions in science and technology?

Or a blogger who investigates criminal and vigilante activity in New York, but who also works as a programmer or lab assistant to pay the bills?

[Netkeeper]

Gotta give some credit to the Nick show for making her neither. I could be wrong but I think it's the first rendition of her that's attempted that.
It's because it's the first rendition that's been a teenager and below employment age. Not necessarily a decision I think was best, but it was an interesting route to take and I don't berate the 2012 show for it.

April looks ridiculous in yellow.
:lol: I kinda like yellow as April's representative colour, but all yellow does look pretty silly. [Somehow, it worked on 87 April, but it didn't work on 2k3 April by a long shot].

Dude... shame on you..

It should be JUST a labcoat AND glasses. Get it straight.
This guy has good taste.

[Shiro Kame]

I prefer scientist April. She had a lot more common sense and knew how not to piss off the bad guys and nearly get herself killed in the process.

[Luckyday]

I think a half-way between both is cool...my head canon is a blend of both worlds....she majored in biomedical sciences and minored within the field of engineering but eventually turned her interests to investigative reporting because she loved getting out on the field and digging for the 'truth' more than being cooped up in a lab.

That way she's smart and daring. :)

Maybe she can be a cryptozoologist and that's searching for other mutants.

[LadyTMNT]

Gotta go with her original, REPORTER!!!

[Powder]

Gotta go with her original, REPORTER!!!

That's not her original. The comics came first, & in them, she was a scientist. Do your homework. :trazz:

[ctt4lfecw]

I still think OT April is hot, so reporter for me.

[shuriken]

Both work for their different interpretations. I prefer the college grad from IDW though.

[BabyTurtles]

I still think cop April would be amazing.

[CyberCubed]

I'm just amazed at how April went from being brunette to a red head as her definitive hair color in all incarnations.

In the 80's and 90's April was always a brunette or had dark hair no matter which series (Mirage, original cartoon, Archie, movies), but ever since the 2000's she became a red head (4kids, Nick, IDW, new movie)

[BabyTurtles]

I'm just amazed at how April went from being brunette to a red head as her definitive hair color in all incarnations.

In the 80's and 90's April was always a brunette or had dark hair no matter which series (Mirage, original cartoon, Archie, movies), but ever since the 2000's she became a red head (4kids, Nick, IDW, new movie)

Hey she was pretty close to becoming a blonde XD maybe next April.

[Xav]

In the 80's and 90's April was always a brunette or had dark hair no matter which series (Mirage, original cartoon, Archie, movies), but ever since the 2000's she became a red head (4kids, Nick, IDW, new movie)She was a redhead in Archie.

[Shark_Blade]

I still think cop April would be amazing.

Ooh, arrest me officer. I've been a bad boy..

[/2k14 Mikey or 2k12 Donnie, whoever has crush on her]

[LadyTMNT]

That's not her original. The comics came first, & in them, she was a scientist. Do your homework. :trazz:


Wow, don't need to be rude about it... First of all, I never have followed the comics so technically when it comes to the tv & movie series, its REPORTER...

[Powder]

Who's being rude? Smiley face. Nudge nudge. Internet.

There's nothing "technical" about that. Perception is reality, but that doesn't change facts. She was originally a scientist.

[hypnock]

April's always a scientist in all my favorite versions of TMNT.

So I'll go with scientist.

[Richard Levine]

The original series had her as a reporter, and the original movie had her as a reporter. So i vote April O' Neil, reporter for Channel Six. :P