NOTE: This is not a "which Casey Jones is your favorite?" thread, I know it looks & even somewhat functions that way, but the the question being asked is, what
kind of Casey Jones do you prefer? Think of it like this- If you were in control of a new TMNT series, what route would you go with him, using these foundations from established versions of the character? He's been played out roughly 5 different ways over the years, & I did my best to break them down.
http://i57.tinypic.com/2zz192r.jpg
Art by Michael Dooney
Mirage/Live Action Film: A Wacko Who Goes Good
At his roots, he's a loose cannon. He's sick to death of the decline of western civilization, it drives him mad. He can't bear doing nothing while the world rots, so he takes the law into his own hands. But it's not as though he's a hero, or a true crimefighter, really. Casey wants to take his anger out on
people, he's a violent guy with idle hands & little to no conscience, if only at first. He's a lot like Travis Bickle, from Taxi Driver; mentally unstable, dark, but ultimately well intended, at least in his mind. As far as we can tell from his first appearance, if you were killed in the process, well, that's just a consequence of justice served. He did eventually learn what's right, & how to hold back, but only after it was too late. He killed a young kid by mistake over petty crimes, & it really ate at him. Ultimately he'd be mellowed out by April, Shadow, & the turtles, becoming a more emotionally centered person, with the exception of a drunken slip here & there. Elias Koteas' portrayal of the character is very much in line what the Mirage books, given they were he film's inspiration. He'll cross the line unless Raph is there to stop him, but when he finally falls into the adoptive family dynamic, he changes his tone.
Fred Wolf: Totally Psycho
It's clear that the OT's Casey Jones is very much out of his mind altogether. In the bulk of his appearances, he is totally nuts, willing to obliterate j-walkers, litterbugs, & even those who sneeze at the salad bar. If you so much as
think about breaking a law, he'll beat the snot out of you without a second thought. He has no self-awareness whatsoever, with reality being that he's likely done worse than the average criminal in doling out his particular brand of "justice". His speech is equally ridiculous, spewing one-liners left & right, with a voice like Clint Eastwood on a coke bender. A hilarious interpretation, but nonetheless wholly flawed as a dogooder. He would come in handy down the line, however, helping the turtles out in a pinch on at least 2-3 different occasions.
4kids: The Lovable Oaf
While the 4kids series is largely based out of Mirage's universe, it's very much it's own, taking a lot of creative liberties along the way. For example, with this version of the character, we finally get a real backstory & some motivation beyond simply wanting to crack skulls. His father's shop was burned down by neighborhood thugs (killing his father in the process, we're led to believe) & from that day forward he vowed to rid his city of all gang members & otherwise bad/evil men. (While this origin would later be adapted into Mirage canon via Tales Of The TMNT 2 in the mid to late 2000's, I've not included it in the Mirage section as it's sort of revisionist history.) He starts off with the same Hit First, Ask Questions Later attitude as his inspiration, but is much quicker to find an emotional connection with the cast & do what's right. The defining characteristic of this interpretation, is that he's a complete buffoon. He's big, clumsy, lacking in common sense, & overall none too bright. What he lacks in depth, he makes up for with unwavering loyalty & reliability, his love for April shining brightest in this particular universe.
2007's TMNT/IDW: That Cool Guy With A Hockey Mask
These two more modern iterations have made Casey brighter, taller, slender, better spoken, & all around less rugged than his counterparts. Despite his vigilante role, he's got a strong sense of morality, & at times even advises others before
they act irrationally, which is ironic given the hypocrisy of it. He is very much a dedicated partner to April, not terribly insensitive like those who came before. In TMNT, he holds a job, in IDW he does his best to take school seriously. He still lets loose when night falls, but is a much more reeled-in version of the character. I suspect the same can be said of Platinum Dunes' upcoming interpretation. He falls in line with the pretty-boy look, sleeker design, character driven presence, etc.
Nickelodeon Series: Cocky Jock Of All Trades
What makes Nick's CJ stand apart is his overall attitude, which is to say he's a bit of a cocky jerk. He speaks in the third person, he thinks he knows it all, & he's very quick to act. To a point, you can't fault him, he's around 17-18 years of age, there's a lot to learn yet & plenty of time to make improvements. He makes the mistake of underestimating his opponents, talking a big game, but his bark often proves bigger than his bite. Don't be misled, he's quite a competent fighter, he just so happens to live in a city full of ninjas, mutants, robots, & more. For a kid, going toe to toe with them is breaking the mold. Despite being 3 seasons into the show, we don't truly know what drives him besides the fact he finds beating guys up to be good American fun on a Friday night. One advantage he has over his predecessors is that he's seemingly tech-savvy. He's no Donatello, but he's got electric gloves, explosive grenades, & a host of other enhanced weapons that he made on his own. Other unique traits are his artistic talents, such as drawing & graffiti, as well as heightened agility- This Jones has no problem doing rooftop runs with the TMNT, close combat in roller blades, or even fighting while riding a bike. Impressive!
So, how do you like your Casey Jones? Nutty? Well rounded? Bit of a showoff? Voice your opinions!
I like Mirage's Casey most of all. Best of both worlds, I say. You get half a run with the crazy badass & half a run with the dad who just so happens to beat up bad guys sometimes.
