CyberCubed
07-03-2016, 05:12 PM
What are some of the most re-used story arcs in every TMNT incarnation? I know these aren't in all of them, but almost every TMNT cartoon and comic series covers the same beats:
- Year One story where the Turtles/April meet for the first time. First confrontation with Shredder and the Foot Clan. The origin and backstory is revealed with Splinter and the Turtles with just slight changes every series
- Baxter and the Mousers story
- Baxter eventually changing from a human to either mutant fly or cyborg. Eventually he becomes sympathetic figure due to all the horrors he endures
- TCRI being discovered with the origin of the mutagen/ooze to the Turtles backstory. The reveal of the Utroms or Kraang, or Krang himself.
- The Turtles lair being destroyed/invaded
- Splinter being kidnapped/captured/lost and the Turtles not knowing where he is or how to save him
- Shredder eventually being defeated and "gone" for a while even if he eventually comes back. In Mirage Shredder is killed off, in IDW he's currently dead, in the 2k3 series Ch'rell is defeated at the end of Season 3, in the original cartoon he's replaced by Lord Dregg, in Archie he's absent most of the series, etc. Hasn't happened in Nick yet but its bound to
- Karai being introduced usually taking over the Foot Clan after Shredder is gone. Karai also usually goes through the same arc of being an ally to the Turtles and sometimes going against Shredder if he's still around.
- The Rat King being introduced and taking over Splinter's mind or having some influence on him. Rat King coming up with schemes in general
- Leatherhead always originally fights the Turtles at first even if he eventually becomes an ally. Loses his mind/temper and goes feral several time.
- Turtles in Space arc. Usually involving the Triceratons, the Turtles always travel to outer space for a while and meet various alien races.
- A new Turtle is introduced. Either Slash, Tokka, some alien Turtle, or so forth.
- Time travel. Featuring either Renet or without her, the Turtles always travel through time in every series. They always visit the prehistoric with dinosaurs, ancient Japan, the future, alternate universes, etc.
- An intergalactic tournament like the Battle Nexus, Stump Asteroid, or the Triceraton arena
- Meeting Usagi Yojimbo (which might very well also happen in Nick and IDW)
- Bishop, Darpa, the EPF, or the U.S. government capture the Turtles for experiments/dissection and protect the world from aliens. Originally introduced in Mirage Volume 2, Archie had their take on it, then 2k3 introduced Bishop, and now IDW/Nick is doing the story.
- Earth alien invasion story. Triceratons invaded the Earth in 2k3 and Nick, the Kraang invade the Earth, Shredder/Krang try to take over the Earth from Dimension X usually Traag and the Rock Soldiers.
- Purple Dragons or other street punks deal with Casey. Usually involving Hun.
- Mutanimals. A bunch of rogue mutants band together. Or the Turtles having mutant allies.
- Humans against mutants arc. Similar to above, an arc where mutants are actively hunted by prejudice humans and usually involves the Turtles and their mutant allies getting into trouble.
- Turtles traveling to alternate dimensions
- Turtles gaining new mutations or going into their gamera forms. Raph in Volume 4, Don in 2k3, Turtles Season 9 mutations, etc.
- An arc involving monsters/creatures from the dead.
- One of the Turtles is beaten up badly. Leo/Raph usually.
- Turtle tots story. Showing the Turtles as little kids.
- Turtles meeting other superheroes. Happened in Mirage, 2k3, original cartoon, 4th movie, etc.
- Second time Around shop is destroyed and the Turtles move to the Northampton Farmhouse.
- Gang war arc usually involving the Foot Clan, mobsters/gansters, Purple Dragons, etc.
- An arc involving mystical beings or gods. 2k3's Ninja Tribunal arc, IDW's Pantheton, various Mirage deities like the 4 armed monkey, Archie had a lot of stuff like this too.
And then there is the character-centric stuff. Raph always losing his temper, Don dealing with robots/machines/technology and sometimes taking over, Leonardo feeling he can no longer lead the Turtles, Mike trying to be the heart of the team or not being taken seriously.
Damn, this was longer than I thought. The TMNT universe really does re-use the same concepts in almost every incarnation. We've now seen so many takes on the same stories.
- Year One story where the Turtles/April meet for the first time. First confrontation with Shredder and the Foot Clan. The origin and backstory is revealed with Splinter and the Turtles with just slight changes every series
- Baxter and the Mousers story
- Baxter eventually changing from a human to either mutant fly or cyborg. Eventually he becomes sympathetic figure due to all the horrors he endures
- TCRI being discovered with the origin of the mutagen/ooze to the Turtles backstory. The reveal of the Utroms or Kraang, or Krang himself.
- The Turtles lair being destroyed/invaded
- Splinter being kidnapped/captured/lost and the Turtles not knowing where he is or how to save him
- Shredder eventually being defeated and "gone" for a while even if he eventually comes back. In Mirage Shredder is killed off, in IDW he's currently dead, in the 2k3 series Ch'rell is defeated at the end of Season 3, in the original cartoon he's replaced by Lord Dregg, in Archie he's absent most of the series, etc. Hasn't happened in Nick yet but its bound to
- Karai being introduced usually taking over the Foot Clan after Shredder is gone. Karai also usually goes through the same arc of being an ally to the Turtles and sometimes going against Shredder if he's still around.
- The Rat King being introduced and taking over Splinter's mind or having some influence on him. Rat King coming up with schemes in general
- Leatherhead always originally fights the Turtles at first even if he eventually becomes an ally. Loses his mind/temper and goes feral several time.
- Turtles in Space arc. Usually involving the Triceratons, the Turtles always travel to outer space for a while and meet various alien races.
- A new Turtle is introduced. Either Slash, Tokka, some alien Turtle, or so forth.
- Time travel. Featuring either Renet or without her, the Turtles always travel through time in every series. They always visit the prehistoric with dinosaurs, ancient Japan, the future, alternate universes, etc.
- An intergalactic tournament like the Battle Nexus, Stump Asteroid, or the Triceraton arena
- Meeting Usagi Yojimbo (which might very well also happen in Nick and IDW)
- Bishop, Darpa, the EPF, or the U.S. government capture the Turtles for experiments/dissection and protect the world from aliens. Originally introduced in Mirage Volume 2, Archie had their take on it, then 2k3 introduced Bishop, and now IDW/Nick is doing the story.
- Earth alien invasion story. Triceratons invaded the Earth in 2k3 and Nick, the Kraang invade the Earth, Shredder/Krang try to take over the Earth from Dimension X usually Traag and the Rock Soldiers.
- Purple Dragons or other street punks deal with Casey. Usually involving Hun.
- Mutanimals. A bunch of rogue mutants band together. Or the Turtles having mutant allies.
- Humans against mutants arc. Similar to above, an arc where mutants are actively hunted by prejudice humans and usually involves the Turtles and their mutant allies getting into trouble.
- Turtles traveling to alternate dimensions
- Turtles gaining new mutations or going into their gamera forms. Raph in Volume 4, Don in 2k3, Turtles Season 9 mutations, etc.
- An arc involving monsters/creatures from the dead.
- One of the Turtles is beaten up badly. Leo/Raph usually.
- Turtle tots story. Showing the Turtles as little kids.
- Turtles meeting other superheroes. Happened in Mirage, 2k3, original cartoon, 4th movie, etc.
- Second time Around shop is destroyed and the Turtles move to the Northampton Farmhouse.
- Gang war arc usually involving the Foot Clan, mobsters/gansters, Purple Dragons, etc.
- An arc involving mystical beings or gods. 2k3's Ninja Tribunal arc, IDW's Pantheton, various Mirage deities like the 4 armed monkey, Archie had a lot of stuff like this too.
And then there is the character-centric stuff. Raph always losing his temper, Don dealing with robots/machines/technology and sometimes taking over, Leonardo feeling he can no longer lead the Turtles, Mike trying to be the heart of the team or not being taken seriously.
Damn, this was longer than I thought. The TMNT universe really does re-use the same concepts in almost every incarnation. We've now seen so many takes on the same stories.