Why don't the TMNT use guns? Like, often?
 

https://i.ibb.co/w7QqQmf/tcvr.jpg

I'm really only talking in terms of the TMNT universes in which they have no qualms about killing their opponents/enemies (which is... just the one), but we can talk about why they wouldn't use guns elsewhere, too.

I mean... what is it? We've seen them very sparingly use guns, but why not at least pack a pistol sidearm, just in case? Not stealthy enough? Are we to think that they have some strange aversion to guns in general? Don't say it's "honor," because that's dumb for a variety of reasons.

I know the Archie series has the ongoing thing with the Turtles, Leonardo largely, going around saying, "I hate guns!" but that's just the Archie series.

If they are true ninjas, guns are just like any other tool; they will use them when a situation calls for it. The lack of gun usage from the turtles is probably from the western stereotype that ninjas only use feudal-era weapons that the writers inject into the stories.

I've always assumed because stealth. Donnie used the gun to save Karai in City at War, of course, and was disgusted by himself for using it after. Except... it's just a tool, Don? And you've killed plenty of other people without guns?

And Raph got to gun down plenty of mobsters in Image, and... he also felt pretty disgusted with himself afterwards. (I won't bother discussing Bodycount. Silly stuff there.)

I dunno. Probably just writers trying to lean into the "heroes don't use guns" stereotype from Batman et al.

I'd love to see an "Elseworlds" TMNT story with guns. Maybe the Turtles gunning down some hapless ninja who brought knives to a gunfight.

There is absolutely no reason for the tmnt not to use guns (or laser weapons, if its a non violent universe), when they have the chance.

Why they don't use guns at times I would pin down to guns not being readily available to them or bad writing.
Even when using stealth, it is best to have a gun with you, just in case.

Because we all know historically, Ninjas never used guns. :lol:

Wouldn't be the same watching them shoot from hiding places instead of watching their fighting skills. (obviously you meant where necessary rather than solely)

Cutting out the toons cause they can't have real guns (and massive fingers, though it didn't stop them using everything else) Maybe in the comics or an adult show that fans wait in hope for.

I'd say not much, their art preferred? kinda like how the Jedi like to use a lightsaber and skills rather than blasters.

Cause (usually western) Pop-Culture depicts Ninjas using East Asian medieval weapons with a sprinkle of South Asian melee weaponry.

It's not like Shinobi had techniques with barrel cleaning bullets, double shot techniques with flintlock guns, land mines, rocket launchers, fire bombs or grenades...

Better stick with fantasy swords and bladed Sai :lol:

I dunno, it's just not really their thing. Some people who are really into guns seem to think everyone should be. Push come to shove, if it was the only thing in front of them and they had to act immediately, then sure, the Turtles would probably pick it up. But not everyone feels the same way about them or share the interest in them, and if it isn't really their thing, so be it.

Though the opinions seem to vary among them.

One exception to not actively using guns that I would accept is the turtles having some sort of superior superhuman capability which makes guns obsolete, such as the Rise turtles having magic weapons (even though I don't think there have been guns on that show?), or even the PD ones being able to block bullets with their shells.

We need a Punisher Turtle. Forget Slash or Venus, give us Kirby... :tgrin:

Good guys tend not to use guns in comics in general with rare exceptions. You might as well ask why Spiderman doesn't use a gun, or Batman (lol), etc.

There plenty of "good guys" who use guns in comics. Less so people who we would consider "heroes" or "superheroes"... but the TMNT are really neither heroes or superheroes, they're killer ninja assassins.

Simple, their fingers don't fit through the trigger hook.

That's a good point. They'd have to customize (as in break the trigger guard off) any gun they'd ever pick up.

Future Donatello in the Archie Comics had no problems with guns (even if it was a laser).

Batman did use guns. A LOT.

https://www.newsarama.com/26211-the-...ng-batman.html

Even in Batman v Superman he killed enemies with guns. :tlove: He ain’t no wuss like some people made him out to be.

Frighten of bat? He uses the bat as his symbol.
Traumatized by guns because it killed his parents? ****ing use those guns to kill people!

So simple.

——————-


As for the turtles, it’s not their MO or default weapon. But if they’re in battle and the opportunity rises for them to use guns, of course they would. No doubt about it.

Too noisy. I would've loved this though:

https://tcrf.net/images/9/95/TMNTArcZappyFire.gif

I mean, gonna agree on the "fingers too big", but I think some of it also stems from the "Bruce Lee Ninja" roots from Mirage.
Now, I'm not entirely sure myself if they used guns at all, but there's probably a reason why people don't usually assume "historical ninjas" (which of course didn't exist) did in fact use guns.


A lot of it just comes down the the turtles being "Hollywood ninjas" and not "historically inspired shinobi".
(Honestly, people keep talking about "accurate depictions of ninja" for them, but in all honesty, they wouldn't be "ninja" at all. More like a martial arts-based street gang that maybe uses "ninja" as a name only)


I would also argue "Doctor Who Logic", wherein the Doctor outright refuses to use guns across most versions.

I guess being ninjas they prefer using their ninja weapons as Splinter taught them to?

That's a good question - those Turtle fingers were dexterous when it came to holding their weapons, but it was rare whenever it came to firearm usage.

I hardly thought about that, but, it would appear that TPTB also thought the same way.

I suppose that 'True Ninjas' don't use guns - they use skill and improvisation whenever skill backfires.

Evil Turtles
 

The Evil Turtles in the Fleetway Comics are seen robbing banks with rifles

http://tmntentity.blogspot.com/2017/...of-terror.html

Perhaps in elseworlds stories they might.

It’s kinda pretty much covered in the ot season 9 episode “The New Mutations”:

Raphael asks “why can’t you two geniuses whip up a couple of sci fi blasters?”
Leonardo says “We’re ninjas, we don’t use blasters.”
Raphael “Aw come on, who wrote that rule?”

Then Splinter gives advice that virtue assures victory, not weapons and strength, and that their valor will defeat Dregg, not brute force.

There's even a red sky episode where Raphael(I think) suggested them to use laser blasters to fight Dregg, but he never learned to aim and shoot properly.

It’s a good question with no real suitable answer within the fiction. But the truth lies in the fact that we really like sword fights.

Yes. I don't know about you guys, but part of the appeal of the TMNT to me was that they didn't needs guns to beat the bad guys and just used their ninja weapons and fists and feet instead. Ofc it's not particularly realistic for someone without a gun to survive in a battle against dozens of bad guys shooting their laser guns at you, but it looks cool in fiction. Just like people love anime like DBZ and One Piece where characters shoot fireballs and use other special powers to beat up each other.

Shootings in movies aren't that interesting unless it's a military movie or battle.

Yep, agreed with the two posts above.
If we can believe they aren't seen and filmed in today's age then we can accept they would dodge bullets successfully too.

They're not the Teenage Mutant Cowboy Turtles.

Watch the OT episode "New Mutations" to understand why. Though they did well in "Invasion of the Krangazoids", the line from Michaelangelo: "With all this artillery, we could've finally caught those creepazoids!!" is a close second.

If the TMNT used guns often, it would ruin the ninja myth they play on.

They always use their own weapons and I can't remember them fighting with any other weapons.

I can't recall Raphael fighting with a sword, or Donatello fighting with a nunchaku. Yes, it takes time to master these weapons but sometime they have to improvise in the fire of action...

So using guns... My point being they won't have the reflex to use something else because they are so used to their own weapon.

But, personnaly, I would like to see them in more fist fights to demonstrate their martial art abilities.

I suppose one pro of sticking to their normal weapons, even if not consciously intended, is, where kid's role play drive is concerned, just the simple fact that the Turtles' typical weapons are also a whole lot less common in the typical household. The less temptation to go secretly grab it to show off the better. (Yes, yes, the parent's responsibility. Even still, far too many are lax on it and, lets be honest, even the most well behaved of us as kids might sometimes get into things you know you're not supposed to.)


In future media aimed at adults... eh, whatever. It would just be dumb to throw guns into all of their hands just because the real world thinks guns are cool and best. At least take into consideration the individual Turtle and his own existing or likely views and preferences.

Raph does definitely seem the most likely to want to have one with him and seems the most suitable for him out of the group. BUT. If it's a hot headed, short tempered, "act now, think later" depiction of him, is that even wise.


:D:tlol:

Although now I most definitely need to see this in animation, so long as it's a "Wild West" time travel thing and they're dressed to look the part :)

How many superhero like characters are known for using guns anyway? Do Batman, Spider-Man, Superman and others ever use them? batman doesn't have superpowers, so clearly a gun in some situations would come in handy for him, right?

Also, if the turtles began using guns sometimes in adult-geared comics you'd still not see them using them in their kid version cartoons and movies. Aren't guns in cartoons and children properties in general a no-no in the American media? Especially nowadays after all of those mass shootings the US had in the last few years.

Most importantly, even though they wear belts, holsters wouldn't sit properly against their turtle anatomy.

Punisher, goes without saying. Captain America, at times. Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier, of course. Almost every Image character ever, including Spawn and Savage Dragon. Rocket Raccoon. Wild Dog. Jonah Hex. Judge Dredd. Green Lantern Simon Baz. Star-Lord. Black Widow. Cable. Bishop.

And so on and so on.

Guns are for heroes without decent powers.

OKm, I stand corrected, but pretty sure The Punisher is strictly aimed at adults and doesn't have any kid friendly tie in stuff, or does it?

Don't know enough about the others or even know who some of those are. I was referring to the major DC and Marvel ones that everyone knows anyway. Are any of those notable for using guns?

I suppose, when trying to adapt the turtles to a somewhat "grounded" setting, the size of their fingers could be a suitable explanation.

The turtles would pick up guns from The Foot and use them, if they could even fit their finger on the trigger. They have to work with what they've got. Done.

Hmm... Raph could technically slip the prong of a sai in there, though that might make for a bit less accurate, albeit interesting-looking, use.

If we want to get technical...I doubt those Turtle paws could wield ninja-weapons either..