Who's older? Donatello or Raphael?
 

(I want to apologize beforehand if this thread was already posted, but I tried searching for it and couldn't find a specific thread for it.)

I know there have been numerous threads about the age of the Turtles in general, but I was more curious about the birth order of the Turtles. We all know that Leonardo is the oldest and that Michelangelo is the youngest, or at that very least if some versions don't mention that, it seems to imply that.

Therefore it leaves Donatello and Raphael as the middle children, but between them...who's older? Was it ever resolved official by Eastman and Laird? What do you (as a fan) think yourself?

In my small opinion, I get the impression that Donatello was 2nd and Raphael was 3rd because some of Raphael's anger issues may reside in that he is constantly living under the shadow of his more older "accomplished" brothers. With Leonardo excelling in ninjutsu/leadership/athleticism and Donatello in science/academics, it makes it more difficult for Raphael to uniquely shine in his own right with his talents and abilities; thus making Raphael feel like he's being compared to them despite Splinter and the other Turtles not doing so. In fact, it seems like most versions of TMNT seem to focus (not always, but mostly) on Raphael's emotions rather than any unique combating skills (besides his strength and hot-temper) that make pivotal contributions to the Turtles' missions.

I think I remember a Double Dare episode where Marc Summers was asking the question out of all 4 turtles, which one of them is the oldest? And then one of the players answered Donatello and the answer was correct.

About the same, as both the 1988 Playmates figures and 1989 Arcade game profile lists them as 15. And that Double Dare question must have been made up since the same two sources list Leonardo as 16. They seem to be fraternal twins in a way(one fella has voiced both of 'em), since both have a witty quality (geeky vs. daring).

I honestly don't know. I'd like to think that maybe Raph is second oldest in some incarnations because of how close he is with Leo and how he feels that rivalry with him. But I think for the Nick incarnation, Don is the second oldest and Raph may be third.

I've always figured Raph was second oldest. That way one of the reasons for his rivalry with Leo is because he is just right under him. I remember in the TMNT Tournament Fighters game, everyone had a bio. It listed Leo as 16 or 17 and the other three as 15 or 16. I don't mind that all to much. Since Leo is always said to be oldest.

According to Kevin Eastman Donatello is 2nd oldest.

When did Kevin say that?

The motion comics on Nick.com said that Raph was the second oldest.

At a Con about 10 years ago.

For me personally i wish it was

Leo
Don
Ralph
Mike

To me that makes more sense

Easiest answer is no age has ever been given

The Giovanni brothers? Yeah, that's right. Ralph is the 2nd youngest.

I always thought it was Raphael then Donatello.

When I first was introduced to the Turtles, even when I was little, it never occurred to me that Don might be older than Raph, and even now I still can't imagine them that way. Raph just makes sense in my mind as being second oldest, not only because of his rivalry with Leo as not wanting to be seen as 'second best', but also for his intense protectiveness he has over Mikey and Don, watching out especially for his younger bros. Even if they're officially stated somewhere as being the other way around, in my mind Raph will always be older than Don.

I always felt Raphael was older than Don, maybe because Don hangs out more with Mike or something.

Who's older then who isn't really a huge factor for me

The 5th turtle no one likes to talk about :lol:

that just crap from the 4kids series. In the 80's toon I always thought Don was older than Raph. It kind of sucks that every thinks it is the other way around.

The old action figures have Mike as the second oldest.

What do you mean? There have been sources that mention their ages. They've even been mentioned in this thread, and they all somehow put Leonardo first.

I think of Raph as second oldest.