Turtles wear no masks!
 

All right, the other thread on the red vs. colored mask debate got me to thinking about several points about this debate, and here some of the conclusions I've come to;

-The red masks are B.S., no matter what any of you say. Japanese clans of any kind do not have clan colors of any kind, the idea they wear the same color to show that are a family is made up and inaccurate. I don't care if they are in the source material, it's still an idiotic concept.

-Colored masks are equally as silly, why would turtles wear masks to begin with? They sure as heck aren't hiding their identities, those long bandannas could snag on anything during stealth missions, or during a fight.

So you know what? Let's have a version where we get rid of this stupid debate altogether. Have them go without masks. Either have their faces have different colored making adorn their eyes in the shape of masks, or have the area around each their eyes tattooed/painted to symbolically represent the four seasons, which may relate to each of the turtles uniquely the turtles for a spiritual reason. (Yes, Japanese clans did wear/use colors to represent the season in their wardrobe). I know Sophie Campbell's fan comic did something like this, but I'd love to see it in something official.

So, what would the rest of you think of mask-less TMNT?

I like my masks, red or colored.

Masks on mutant Turtles are cute/cool. The end.

Sure, realistically the long tails are a risk. In terms of utility of simply being of use to keep the sweat out of the eyes, it could be reasonable to wear them... without the long tails. Though I like the long tails.

As far as maskless Turtles go, I'd rather it was simply another version that has made them different enough to easily tell know who is who, as opposed to replacing the masks with something else.

Prefer the masks though. Red is okay and I respect it as the source version, though I like that a simple color kind of lightly lends itself as a hint to the demeanor of a character and is more open to personal interpretation associated to the meaning/symbolism applied certain colors. Without having debatable specifics like a symbol would and how well it actually fit or not.

What about all black masks. Wearing red is an eye catching color. Wouldn't they want to blend into the shadows?

True, but that black mask is still going to show up against the moonlight and street lights. Also, that little eye mask is really going to bland in to the shadows well with a big, green, exposed body and plastron attached to it.

My point is the masks, red or colored, make zero sense in any context, except for misplaced nostalgia or 'it looks kewel'.

[citation needed]

But...without masks what will keep the sweat from getting into their eyes?

:tgrumble:

.... A whole four years of an East Asian studies minor attached to my history major, with a focus on China and Japan, under the professorship of an actual Japanese history professor, with a PhD, who focuses on the Sengoku Period of Nihon. If you really wanted cited works, I'll shoot her an e-mail, but it could be a while before she answers, because she's back home in Kyoto with her family this semester.

I don't just pull this stuff out of my rear end, people...

Judging by what you just said, they wouldn't blend in either way because of their big green body and plastron so what's the point of wearing a mask or not wearing one?

That's my whole point in the thread, wearing the mask is superfluous.

Fine. Green masks.

They're teenage New Yorkers, the 'whys' prob don't matter to them much, and questionable if some of them even get the context, etc. too deeply. Leo's probably the only one worth debating (or teasing him) about it, given his interest in such history in the first place.

They're kind of like the kid stuck in the school uniforms but wearing fun neon socks of their choice because that's okay. :trazz:


What it could ultimately and innocently come down to: "Dad 'dressed' us like that, so, I dunno, it's just the way it's always been done."


I'm still going with the keeping of sweat out of the eyes, since many versions of them have been seen sweating. Even more in Donnie's case... imagine he's got grease smudges on his face from working on machinery, that would suck even more if sweat gets the grease or other grime into your eyes; risky even.

Right now, IDWs Turtles are part of the Foot Clan. The foot wears red. I suggested/asked the editor if they considered going red and they didn't. I still think it would be cool. IN STORY it makes sense. Or go Orange since Mikey is "missing"/not being oart of the team while they're part of the foot... I would be okay with mask less as well as we don't see enough of them without and they do look different enough the masks aren't needed.

Headbands above the eyes would be more practical, like many martial artists actually do. an eye mask runs the risk of impairing vision. And color wouldn't really matter, unless for some symbolic meaning.

I do like your idea with the Mikey thing, it's really cool. But the foot wearing red is just something I roll my eyes at, and go along with in IDW, just like I go along with the kabuki pajamas in every incarnation.

Which is why I like it.

Source: http://www.color-wheel-pro.com/color-meaning.html

Tell me that doesn't sound like our boys.



Although what I'm curious about is if receiving these color designations had some hand in shaping their personally development over the years. If they did not receive these separate colors, would they be a lot more cookie cutter in personality today?

While we're at it, Batman should ditch the bat ears. No point to them... pun not intended.

And Superman should stop wearing Lois's red panties... we KNOW you two have sex, Clark, quit bragging about it. :trolleye:

And red and blue don't make any sense for a spider's color scheme; ditch the Superman colors, Peter.

Doesn't matter if things make sense or not; they're part of the design and they're here to stay. "Iconic."

In a design level, it breaks up the green and makes it visually interesting in the same level as why Superman/Batman have "underpants". Red is also the Opposite/Complimentary color for green so they work great together.

Removing the mask, you still need a supplement to break up the monotone green. So in the end it'll have the same result be it natural markings like a Red-Eared Slider, make-up or other types of head garments.

It's mostly about the Clan Symbol and less about colors. The only instance I can think of that have a uniform color would the the now-resurrected ninja school Natori Ryu where red is used as a uniform color.

I'd love for incarnations to give us more no-mask time, but doing away with the masks all together just isn't going to happen.

Indigo, at least you addressed the issue directly.

Guys, I really don't have a huge beef with the masks (though I would love to see at least one version without them), my point is I wish people would stop using Japanese culture to justify the red masks and other mirage TMNT elements, when the turtles have very little to do with actual Japanese culture. I applaud the IDW team and Nick show team for being the first TMNT writers to actually go and research things intensively, instead of just watching kung-fu movies, borrowing from frank Miller, and making things up.