Is pure human April falling out of favor?

[neatoman]

So we all know that the Mirage and Nickelodeon versions of April turned out to be, hmmm, not quite what they originally seemed. In addition, the 4kids April was briefly hinted at having the same origin as Mirage April. And while we don't know yet (and I may very well be dead wrong) it would not surprise me if April turned out to have more fantastical origins in the IDW comics and the new movies.

So, is regular human April falling out of favor?

[Refractive Reflections]

I wouldn't say falling out of favor, as it appears more so as writers reaching a conundrum on what to do with her character after she becomes close friends with the Turtles. It seems that they have to make her character have some supernatural or mutant abilities/background just to make her character interesting, which I don't usually agree with from the standpoint of her character development.

I don't mind if they do add these qualities to April in certain versions, but making it as a necessity of sorts for her character in subsequent versions, just so she can be more involved with the mutant Turtles is not the best writing. I enjoy having the dynamic of the Turtles and April being from two different worlds rather than her discovering that she was a mutant or "freak" just like them after all.

It does bring up an interesting point though, why is there pressure to make April have these supernatural/mutant abilities, but not Casey though in so many depictions? At least that would be something new...

[neatoman]

Originally Posted by Refractive Reflections

It does bring up an interesting point though, why is there pressure to make April have these supernatural/mutant abilities, but not Casey though in so many depictions? At least that would be something new...

Well the thing about Casey is that he is already really weird without a fantastical bent, he's a slightly deranged, stupid, hot headed, sports themed vigilante.

April without a fantastical bent is... A shopkeeper, a journalist or a high schooler...

[Cipher]

Originally Posted by neatoman

April without a fantastical bent is... A shopkeeper, a journalist or a high schooler...

Or a programmer.

But chalk me up for any of those, because I feel a non-fantastic character is something TMNT needs.

Granted, selling a non-fantastic character also requires a more mature level of writing. I think giving her plot-integral super powers, bizarre origins, kick-butt ninja skills, etc., is often sort of a lazy solution.

Also agreed that Casey is usually spared this because he's a bizarre action character from square one. And look -- no version has ever really gotten him out of that role into a fully normal one, even when the story might call for it (Mirage and the 4Kids cartoon both try to imply a more normal, mature lifestyle on the horizon for him as they go on, but still have him back in the mask at the drop of a hat). I think it's more of a failure to integrate non-action characters than anything.

[ScrewtheMirageTMNT]

No. They keep using the same april, human april.

[Panda_Kahn_fan]

Hey did everybody forget the April who drank a potion, turned into a 40-foot tall robot, fought her 40 foot tall robot evil ancestor Mae East, and saved the turtles? Seriously, I think that was awesome!

[Cryomancer]

Originally Posted by Refractive Reflections

I wouldn't say falling out of favor, as it appears more so as writers reaching a conundrum on what to do with her character after she becomes close friends with the Turtles. It seems that they have to make her character have some supernatural or mutant abilities/background just to make her character interesting, which I don't usually agree with from the standpoint of her character development.

I don't mind if they do add these qualities to April in certain versions, but making it as a necessity of sorts for her character in subsequent versions, just so she can be more involved with the mutant Turtles is not the best writing. I enjoy having the dynamic of the Turtles and April being from two different worlds rather than her discovering that she was a mutant or "freak" just like them after all.

It does bring up an interesting point though, why is there pressure to make April have these supernatural/mutant abilities, but not Casey though in so many depictions? At least that would be something new...

Agreeing with this right here.

[DarkFell]

"Is pure human April falling out of favor?"

No - I don't really think so. Human Ms. O'Neil will always be forevermore part of TMNT lore. The Nickelodeon TMNT wanted to go a different way with their version of April as did the Mirage comics. '87 TMNT kept her totally human. The older TMNT movies had Ms. O'Neal totally human.

So, I really do not think human April O'Neil is totally out of the loop.

[plastroncafe]

I'm usually disappointed by Non-Zeppo April. It always rings of Pasted On Yay to me for some reason. Like, the writers couldn't handle just having a normal person to deal with. Made worse by the fact that she's one of the few female characters.

Leaves the story open to the argument that the writers just can't write female characters, so they have to give her a gimmick.

[Electric]

Originally Posted by plastroncafe

I'm usually disappointed by Non-Zeppo April. It always rings of Pasted On Yay to me for some reason. Like, the writers couldn't handle just having a normal person to deal with. Made worse by the fact that she's one of the few female characters.

Leaves the story open to the argument that the writers just can't write female characters, so they have to give her a gimmick.

i disagree with the "writers cant write female characters"

example: nicks karai

nick took a previous plot for karai, and developed it even more, and she has become one of the most if not the most complex character in the show. and she is

Spoiler:

was

totally human, no special powers, abilities, no alien origin, just a trained girl. doesnt just serve as a love interest, has her own plots, can handle herself, had a rivalry with april, and with leo, developed from rebellious fun seeking teen to devoted daughter, showed extreme determination, and ended up making her own choice

she is very well written.

in regards to april, i dont mind giving her different involvments. im all for her being a part of the kraang invasion. it gives her some more purpose than just the turtles friend. having psychic powers though? not a fan

honestly my favorite background for april was the new movie. kinda spoilerish but:

Spoiler:

her saving the turtles, developing their love of pizza, and having her father be the one to make them. it makes her again, more than just their friend, and is a cool way to tie all their pasts together