Your Definitive or Ideal TMNT?

[PizzaPower1985]

We all have that one thing that pops into our mind when we think of TMNT. A piece of art, a scene from a comic, film or show, a painting, a specific comic panel, a single image. What is the one thing that pops into your head when you think of TMNT?

Alternatively,
If you can't think of a single image, what is your definitive TMNT interation? Is it a TV show (a fav. episode), a movie? A comic (fav. run or favorite issue?). It can be anything.

What is the first thing that pops in your head when you think TMNT?

For me, the thing that sticks with me most is my fav. art work of all time.

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/8a/5d/28/8a5d288ee84f3b79a288c302afe3be39.jpg

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

TMNT Volume 1 Mirage, "Shades of Gray" and "City at War." That's my definitive TMNT.

[Wesley]

At the very end of the 1990 movie, Splinter saying “I have always liked ‘Cowabunga’.” The Turtles then giving each other a high-five and saying “Cowabunga”.

[MikeandRaph87]

Seasons 7 and 8 of the 1987 cartoon is TMNT the best it ever was during that stretch for my preferences. Fun with a mixture of serious, Shredder somewhat a badass, and an assortment of characters that I love 90% of. Throw in both Manhattan Project and Turtles in Time home console ports.

[neatoman]

Given how much time I spent collecting and reading it, not to mention how all of TMNT stems from it, it's really hard to not say Mirage. You can ignore What Fred Wolf added for future TMNT stories but it's literally impossible to get away from Mirage.

Although I can't call Mirage "ideal". The writing and consistency could be better. In terms of what series is the best written, that honor goes to IDW. IDW has it's own problems but aside from a some poor artwork, sometimes dragging pacing and... a few turns that should have been thought out better (I really can't defend how the Mutagen Bomb was handled), most problems are fairly subjective.

I guess that a version that was both "Definitive" and "Ideal", it would basically be Mirage but much more cohesive. Think the same story but with a more organic order than "Revenge, Robot Chickens, Car Chase and off to SPACE".

[Leo656]

First movie insofar as personalities and "look" for sure.

[mikey0]

The 1987 miniseries or 1990 movie.

[ABrown]

The first movie would definitely be my "definitive" TMNT. But my favorite would have to be the 4Kids version.

[PizzaPower1985]

Even though I love TMNT art, my fav. piece of TMNT entertainment would prob. be the 1990 movie, even if I have been dogging it lately. Kinda.

[Jephael]

I've always loved the Archie comics. If I were to make my own interpretation of the TMNT for public consumption, it would heavily borrow themes and characters from that series, especially the Mutanimals (except they wouldn't get killed in my version)

[Andrew NDB]

TMNT Vol. 1 #21. Mirage.

[ZariusTwo]

"The Maltease Hamster"

Bats*it premise, laugh out loud funny ("only scientist in all of Malta"), risque humour (men's underwear), semi-competent villains, and a little bit dark too

[D-ray]

We all have that one thing that pops into our mind when we think of TMNT. A piece of art, a scene from a comic, film or show, a painting, a specific comic panel, a single image. What is the one thing that pops into your head when you think of TMNT?

Alternatively,
If you can't think of a single image, what is your definitive TMNT interation? Is it a TV show (a fav. episode), a movie? A comic (fav. run or favorite issue?). It can be anything.

What is the first thing that pops in your head when you think TMNT?

For me, the thing that sticks with me most is my fav. art work of all time.

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/8a/5d/28/8a5d288ee84f3b79a288c302afe3be39.jpg
The trilogy of Episodes of "Return to NewYork".
It has everything:

- Mistery
- Action
- Memorable moments
- Awesome fights
- Funny scenes
- Serious and realistic behaviour

The three episodes could be a nice TMNT movie for me, not kidding.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

" ("only scientist in all of Malta")

They're all here (and in subcategories)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Maltese_scientists

:)

[PizzaPower1985]

The trilogy of Episodes of "Return to NewYork".
It has everything:

- Mistery
- Action
- Memorable moments
- Awesome fights
- Funny scenes
- Serious and realistic behaviour

The three episodes could be a nice TMNT movie for me, not kidding.

I could not agree more. In fact the 2003 cartoon, from the time of Shredder Strikes up to Return to New York is one great saga. Love it. Just awesome!

[Leo656]

I've always loved the Archie comics. If I were to make my own interpretation of the TMNT for public consumption, it would heavily borrow themes and characters from that series, especially the Mutanimals (except they wouldn't get killed in my version)

Yeah, at one point I pretty much stopped watching the cartoon as much but tried hard to keep up with the Archie books. So that would be super-high on my list, too. It felt like an "evolved" version of what the cartoon started off with. So it was perfect for me at a time when the cartoon felt stagnant.

Personally less in love with the Mutanimals, but they were a big part of Archie at times so I understand why they have a strong following. I didn't mind them in theory but I'unno. Felt kind of like a blatant spin-off "let's sell 'em another comic" kinda exercise and I was never invested enough in the group to jump into their book.

[PizzaPower1985]

Yeah, at one point I pretty much stopped watching the cartoon as much but tried hard to keep up with the Archie books. So that would be super-high on my list, too. It felt like an "evolved" version of what the cartoon started off with. So it was perfect for me at a time when the cartoon felt stagnant.

Personally less in love with the Mutanimals, but they were a big part of Archie at times so I understand why they have a strong following. I didn't mind them in theory but I'unno. Felt kind of like a blatant spin-off "let's sell 'em another comic" kinda exercise and I was never invested enough in the group to jump into their book.

That's just the way I feel about a lot of the IDW Mini-series. They're just cash grabs a lot of them with little relevance to the main ongoing.

[oldmanwinters]

I would go all-in on the style and backstories of the early Playmates toyline.

[wpugh2424]

I would go all-in on the style and backstories of the early Playmates toyline.

Now I could seriously get behind this idea

[PizzaPower1985]

I would go all-in on the style and backstories of the early Playmates toyline.

YES. YES. YES. If I remember correctly the initial campaign was far more Mirage than the 87 toon EVER WAS. A purer statement about TMNT. If that kind of approach had been maintained for the the 87 toon, it would have been as fondly remembered and as taken seriously as BTAS (Batman Animated Series) is today.

I am with you! That campaign was so cool.

[Hans Flying Turtlenecker]

For me, the closest to an ideal TMNT, would be the 1990 movie. I love the design of them so much. And that poster is pretty much the first thing that comes to mind.
But, I have also always prefered the Turtles in different shades of green much like the "comic colors" in Turtles in Time. I never play the game without that color set.

[Whatswiththeheadbands?]

Mirage Vol 1 is pretty much my perfect TMNT version

[Toxin45]

Mirage Vol 1 is pretty much my perfect TMNT version

Was that your first tmnt? Like did you read volumes 2,3,and 4?

[sleeplessknight]

Definitive TMNT? The first 21 issues (and individual one shots) of the original Mirage comic.

[Andrew NDB]

Definitive TMNT? The first 21 issues (and individual one shots) of the original Mirage comic.

I dig that. Though... CAW.

[D Piddy 1982]

If one thing always sticks in my mind to what the TMNT is/was, it would be the Mirage Leonardo one shot.

I am born and bred Fred Wolf TMNT guy, so I have a soft spot for those guys. But a Turtle Christmas (probably 90 or 91) I got given TMNT Book IV. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, it blew my mind.

The section that turned out later to be the Leonardo one shot really stuck in my head. Really clever layouts, dark, gritty.

Plus turned out they used that as a major arc in the first movie (but switched Leo and Raph around).

My first taste of the 'real' TMNT and I couldn't have chosen a better one.

[Andrew NDB]

If there had to be a "slice of life" that leads to a definitive TMNT. The Leonardo special wouldn't be a bad place to look to by any means.

[D Piddy 1982]

If there had to be a "slice of life" that leads to a definitive TMNT. The Leonardo special wouldn't be a bad place to look to by any means.

I think it sticks with me as well because as a 9-10 year old I was....well shocked isn't the right word, but I did wonder if my parents knew what they had bought me. They probably thought it was "just another Turtles book".

It was this period in my life as well where older brothers of friends would rent films like Terminator, Predator, Robocop and let us watch it.

So it was like "wow, the Turtles have got this 'dark side' to them...am I even allowed to look at this?". Sort of drawing comparisons with those films I mention above, not intended for children specifically...