Ninja Turtles Origin was kinda like IDW.

[Galactus]

Originally Posted by chrisdude

There are a lot of things to like or not like about this origin story. But, there's NO WAY that a mutated rat with human intelligence learning ninjutsu from a book is more stupid than an ordinary rat learning ninjutsu by example.

That's laugh-out-loud stupid, right there.

No one is really denying that but it's excusable in the sense that the people who wrote didn't think their work would be ever put under any serious scrutiny.

The fact that a major motion picture decided to go with something that is at best just as stupid and at worst much more stupid is the real laugh-out-loud thing here. That in a movie which couldn't have the Foot be an organised crime group with ninja traditions because that's unrealistic thought Splinter learning it from a book (how could he read?) was acceptable.

There's any number of ways you could change or tweak the origin to sound more plausible. Some that were rumored may have been more fanboy cool like Splinter having his abilities programmed into him at TCRI would have been better than - he learns it from a book.

I've always thought the answer to this is simple and actually found it interesting that one of Laird's ideas to explain the origin in a more plausible was along the same lines; Splinter as a regular rat did not really learn ninjitsu but later the mutagen awakened the memories of watching Yoshi train for hours.

It's simple, changes nothing and can easily be worked in to usual narration that Splinter gives to describe the origin. It could even be appropriately dramatic given it would also awaken the memory of watching Yoshi's murder. One of the first images in his head when he gains sentience is watching his master die.

But learning from a book? There's little that can be done to redeem that.