I really like the OP's idea that Bebop and Rocksteady are rival hockey players of Casey. That's a good way to introduce them pre-mutation that wouldn't be too similar to Bradford and Xever.

That's what I suspect, and why I wouldn't really care to have R&B try to be a 'replacement' to B&X. If B&R made a brief cameo as some human punks in jail then I wouldn't care, but I've grown attached to these new guys and I want to see how they turn out.

I also feel each version needs its own thing. the 80's had Bebop and Rocksteady, 2003 had Hun and Karai, and now we have Fishface and Dogpound. Let each version show it's own spin.

Uh, what? Karai is in both 4kids and Nick, and Dogpound is now Rahzar. And Baxter is working for Shredder again in Nick like he was in 4kids.

In fact now the only unique character Nick has working for Shredder is Fishface. Karai and Baxter have almost the same exact roles they had in the 4kids version, and Rahzar is an old character.

So if Nick's intention was to do their own thing, then they seem to be going backwards actually....

Yes dear friend, but what past incarnation had Rahzar, Karai and Fishface working for Shredder? All at one time? It's still something new and different.

It would be like yet another TMNT reboot having Shredder use Tokka and Bebop. Both are old characters, but they were never paired off before in any other version.

But they're still using old characters.

IMO the reason Hun was invented was because they didn't want to use Tatsu because of possible rights issues with Golden Harvest over the likeness of the actor. It was easy to create a new character and link his origin with Casey Jones.

Hun became so popular they brought him into Mirage and now even IDW is using him. I'd be surprised if he doesn't show up in Nick and take over the Purple Dragons now that Xever is permanently Fishface.

While I definitely like the idea the OP posed - B&R originally being teens on an opposing hockey team or bullies at school - I don't need to see B&R in the Nick cartoon JUST to have them there. I loved them in the OT, but unless they do come up with a clever way to add them in (like what the OP suggested), I would rather them not appear.

Exactly. It's fresh and new, and avoids the perennial risk of things getting stale.

Transformers seems to have that 'staleness' risk in the shows, they almost never deviate from standard formula. Almost to the point that each character has a story arc that is the rehashed version of their previous namesake's arc in an earlier show. It's why I love that TMNT does a big change up in each show/comic, you never know what's going to happen or who will show up in it.

You miss the point dude. It's not about using new or old characters. It's about using different character dynamics.

The OT had Shredder, Krang, Bebop and Rocksteady
2K3 had Shredder, Hun, Karai, Baxter and Chaplin
IDW currently has (or had) Shredder, Karai, Alopex, Bebop and Rocksteady
the new Nick show has Shredder, Karai, Dogpoung/Rahzar, Fishface and I assume Tiger Claw.

A mix of old and new, but still different dynamics. Like my previous example, if some brand new show had Shredder with Groundchuck, Bebop, and Fishface.... yeah, they're old characters we've seen before, but we never seen them paired up that way.

Yeah I see that.

Anyway getting back to Bebop and Rocksteady, they better not give them "monster" designs. It works for characters like Slash and Rahzar to give them spikes or bones sticking out but it wouldn't work for them.

I hope to god they keep Bebop and Rocksteady's designs simple and don't give them outlandish monster designs with spikes and bones coming out of their skin.

That's kind of what I would be be afraid of. IDW just buffed them and aside from the stupid hooves, didn't change their looks too much. Based on everyone else, if they did mutate 'normally' they'd be the only mutants besides the Turtles, Splinter and Leatherhead to not turn into overdone monstrosities.

I'd be happy seeing them make a come back as long as they were not as dumb and useless as in the old toon. Make them an actual threat.

I enjoy seeing old characters brought into the new show, not just for nostalgia but because none of them really had much character development in the old toon. I'd love to see the Punk frogs, Ray Fillet and the Mutanimals etc in the new show.
The problem is, the new show doesn't really seem to be doing much with characters they introduce outside of the Turtles themselves.

I'd totally be up for them coming back if done with justice.
Like others here I'm tired of the mindless monsters with spikes all over them.
I know the designers are horror fans but I think there should be at least a few mutants with personality and not so horrific looking.
They did the same thing in 2k3 but worse and it just annoyed the hell out of me, but I think that had a lot to do with Peter Lairds no mutants rule.

Discogod saw renders of Bebop & Rocksteady at the UK Toy Fair:

Yeah! I can't wait to see them show up. Tribal markings? Interesting. It'd be alright with me if they weren't providing comic relief this time around. At least not as much. They were great in the 5 part pilot of the OT. Bebop and Rocksteady seemed menacing, but they had a few nice comedic moments there. I dunno. I don't want to see carbon copies of the OT punks if that makes sense. But from what has been described so far, I'm very excited.

Ugh so they're not human punks anymore? Horrible I knew this would happen.

Now I wish they didn't appear at all.

ugh yeah, I don't trust how the show is going to use R&B, and they're only bringing them because everyone keeps asking about them, they don't even want to so they won't be treated great. I'm definitely not a fan of this show, I don't understand how there isn't more backlash and is still well liked by most. I'll take Fast Forward or Back to the Sewers over most of the Nick episodes. And to think that I was one of the few who defended the show before it premiered. How the tables turn, or maybe the fandom just always has the opposite opinion of mine.

I'm sure they'll like their version and treat them well.

And you knew this HOW exactly? Just because they're described as looking "feral", doesn't mean they're gonna start off as animals. They could still mutate from humans. I doubt Ciro would change them that much.

They're feral with tribal markings. That implies they were normal animals in some forest.

So much for street punks.

Cause animals have tribal markings on them right? They can paint themselves right? They could be street punks turned feral upon mutation. Look at what happened to April's father.

It sounds like they were animals shipped from Africa (perhaps Tiger Claw picks them up when he comes to America), and after they get mutated they remember their animal instinct. In other words they're completely different characters.

Where are the two street punks?

Turned into feral mutant monsters. Get over it. Worked wonders for April's dad.

So more mindless monsters? What the hell is the point then?

I want them to talk.

well... there's this series out on DVD for 10 seasons... and they're in 7 or 8 of those seasons...

Calm down Cubed:

Did Bebop have a purple mohawk? Please tell me he is still black!

More from Discogod

Those sound less like tribal markings and more like tatoo's.

I wonder what he means by more feral? I understand they probably look more beastly but they had better be humans too.

Why? Why had they "better" be humans? Why do you have such narrow qualifications on what needs to happen with this franchise?

Are you being serious? There's a huge difference between animals being mutated and actual humans becoming mutants.

Bebop and Rocksteady's appeal come from being human punks turned mutants. We got to see them as humans and then be mutated. Bebop's human design is incredibly iconic, from the purple Mohawk and shades to the black skin. He was a perfect example of an 80's black street punk.

I also like Rocksteady's camo army outfit and blonde hair.

Explain.

Maybe in your little fantasy with the population of one.

See, this makes sense. "I like how it was before" is perfect logic for why you personally would care to see something. Making it sound like an ultimatum, or that more than just you feel that way, is ridiculous.

You don't think being humans before makes them more appealing? It worked for Splinter, Dogpound and Fishface.

And Bebop and Rocksteady are known humans for 25 years.

I promise you, the majority of people know them as a rhino and warthog.

Either way, you're jumping to conclusions, as usual. Wait to see.

I honestly could care less how they're brought in. I could care less if they were mutated animals. I would just accept them as the Nick version of Bebop and Rocksteady. Them being feral mutated animals doesn't change the fact they were humans for 25 years. Just like Megan Fox doesn't change the fact that April never looked like her for 25 years.

What is with your black obsession? I've seen you mention this quite a few times in a few threads. Who cares what color he is as a human. Don't be obsessed with race.

Because Bebop is black. Why should he be whitewashed or changed into an animal?

I think its important because other than Baxter...Bebop is the only other notable black person in TMNT history.

I hate how that topic was closed before I could post in it. People are too over-sensitive. The world is becoming more and more pussyfied by the day. I agree the way he phrased the opening thread may have lacked some serious tact, but I think we're all better than getting our panties in a bunch over something so stupid. Grow a pair, people.

I'm surprised too. I thought people joke about ebonic slang all the time.