Only one Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle?
 

Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird originally created just one Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle in November 1983, holding a nunchuk in his hand. What if it stayed there, but they still wanted to publish a comic about him?

What are your thoughts about that scenario? It's not sure he would have the Michelangelo personality we know (or even that name).

I think he would be like a combination of Donatello (knowledge of science and technology) and Leonardo (ninjutsu skills).

If there was only one Turtle his personality would likely be a combination of all 4 Turtles so he could behave differently in different ways. He'd also probably use a whole bunch of weapons rather than just nunchucks and use swords, sai's, etc.

Since it would be one Turtle and not a team it'd be something like those singular superheroes you see DC/Marvel/Image put out

I was thinking along similar lines, even if there were a preferred/more used weapon. As for whether it would have been successful, who knows, there are plenty of lone characters but I couldn't see the same mania coming from 1 as we got from 4.

Throughout the years there have been a number of Leonardo or Raphael solo stories in the cartoons or comics where they're off on their own for the majority of a episode/comic and the other Turtles only appear at the beginning or end. So we've already gotten glimpses of "one turtle" over the franchise.

My guess... basically in good part much like modern Batman in Turtle's 'clothing.'

I'm sure that may have had some fans too, but having all the dynamics as a family that play off of one another and make them more relatable and sympathetic characters, rather than just a single loner, works well for them.

One Ninja Turtle wouldn't have become a phenomena and would've likely been a generic superhero cartoon if ever adapted.

Of course, such a series would probably not reach the same international popularity. But I think it could have been much darker, like Mirage. One Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, and maybe Splinter, April O'Neil and Casey Jones, wouldn't have any teenaged turtle friends for pizzatime and surfing.

I guess it would have been a combination of Donatello and Leonardo, fighting for the good side while hiding in the shadows, and searching for his origins (TCRI, Utroms and all that stuff). He would probably beat up a few street punks alone, but not Shredder's ninjas and would definately call for help when Krang or the Triceratons attack Earth.

if it was just one...

I'd imagine the single turtle to be a lot like daredevil.... at least in skills.

Personality wise, the original turtle looked pretty peaceful and calm, so I would expect more of a ninja master rather than our team of four.

Definitely a splinter demeanor coming from the original art.

I'm with the combo of all 4. Each turtle kind of represents one of the four humors, which are supposed to be present in all of us. I don't think it would be as fun as having the four guys to play off each other, though.

I think that'd be worth saving for a fun twist reveal at the end of a Turtles Forever kind of deal. Shredder is trying to locate the Prime Turtles, you think they're setting up the Mirage universe... then boom - hit'em with this guy.

I often wonder if just one Turtle would gain the morality and social experience without having others like him around. :ohwell:

It would depend on if he had Splinter, or someone similair, around.

But I thought perhaps that wasn't enough. Loneliness can develop someone differently over time.

I guess a single Ninja Turtle would try to become friend with some teenage Human, maybe in secret.

Well Raph would be Wolverine, if anything.:tlol:

It would be interesting but I think the thought of this is something left to their solo issues which may not be the point of this thread but still.

I think it could have been an interesting story for an alternate Earth issue.