The definitive version of splinter

[Vegeta]

I'm sure this has been done many times but my search button won't work on my phone so I apologize. So who is your ultimate version of splinter? He has always been my favorite character outside of raphael. At the risk of using too small of a sample size, I'd say the 2k12 is my favorite. He's strong, sarcastic, wise, and hilarious. Outside of him though the first movie's version is the voice I hear when I read the comics. The "I am here my son" scene with raph always stuck with me. I love every version of him but I was curious to hear your guys. If this thread is annoying feel free to link me to an old one.

[zodiac brave]

mine are yours, lol. movie 1 splinter is a huge part of my childhood memory and nick splinter is exactly how i wish 2k3'dve been. he's pretty perfect.

[Loudo]

2k3 and Archie Splinter are my favorite, because they actually get involved in the story, instead of staying home while their sons do the dirty job.

The other Splinter were kind of just there. If they had been replaced with flashbacks of them telling their pieces of wisdom, nobody would have noticed the difference.

[Vegeta]

Originally Posted by Loudo

2k3 and Archie Splinter are my favorite, because they actually get involved in the story, instead of staying home while their sons do the dirty job.

The other Splinter were kind of just there. If they had been replaced with flashbacks of them telling their pieces of wisdom, nobody would have noticed the difference.

Really? To me every version have their quirks and differences. It is nice to see the 2k3 version getting his hands dirty.

[meta ray mek]

I'm p. gonna have to go with Nick!Splinter for now. While it might still be too early to tell, he already strikes me as an interesting character with nuance to him. Not to mention he's got a biting sense of humor/wit, and has a fair balance of disciplinarian sensei v. protective-but-caring father going on. Plus, I like the 'Splinter mutated from Hamato Yoshi' backstory, as it makes his connection to the Turtles a bit more believable, imho; so the fatherly angle makes the most sense in this version. He's got lots of potential, and I honestly can't wait to see where the show takes him from here.

Having said that, I'm slowly making my way through the 2k3 show, and that one is pretty fascinating, but the painfully obvious 'Young/middle-aged White guy imitating old Asian guy' voice tries my nerves every initial time he speaks in an episode. =I

The 80's version I have vague memories of, but I liked him a lot as a kid. But looking back at it, he just kinda seemed "there" and didn't really get to do much outside of a handful of episodes.

The 2007 movie one, for what little screen time he had, was adequate. Makes me miss Mako like something fierce, tho'. =(

Never seen the live action movies or Next Mutation, or any of the comics for that matter, so I can't comment on those.

[TurtleTitan97]

For me, it's a tie between Nick Splinter and 1st movie Splinter. Like others have said, I like his sense of humor and how he's wise. I also love his tragic backstory. 1st movie Splinter is one of the best parts about the original movie, and my favorite part is campfire scene, and where he says, "And most of all, I love you all, my sons."

Originally Posted by meta ray mek

The 2007 movie one, for what little screen time he had, was adequate. Makes me miss Mako like something fierce, tho'. =(

Agreed. Mako was a great actor. Loved him as Aku in Samurai Jack and Uncle Iroh in Avatar: The Last Airbender.

[Cryomancer]

Mirage really, but 2k3 is also pretty great. Nick/IDW are interesting as they give him the ability to actually get angry sometimes, which seems like it hardly ever happened before, outside of battles. Also it lets him be fallible in some way, which generally makes him into a more complex character, so that's nice too.

[Jester]

Any of the "Hamato Yoshi is Splinter" Splinters. Probably Archie followed closely by Nick, then IDW.

[Drose18]

2k3 by far i always like it when splinters the pet

[Pterobat]

Logic would suggest that the Mirage Splinter, being the first one, would be the most definitive. However, I've only read the Mirage comics in bits and pieces (so far).

With that absolutism out of the way, hmmmm....probably 2003 Splinter. As much as FW Splinter is my favourite on a sheer emotional level, he just can't cut it when it comes to an objective evaluation.

The main problem with FW Splinter is that his fatherly aspects are seriously downplayed, so as to be almost absent (key word being "almost"). That's a key part of the Splinter "type", and without it being central, something is missing. FW Splinter is also a little too perfect.

2003 Splinter has the fatherly side, and the same intelligence and wisdom that also is important to the character. I'm not too fond of Darren Dunstan's voice for the character, but I can learn to look past that.

For the record, I have no preference for what species Splinter started life as, since there are pros and cons to both scenarios.

Honorable mention goes to Archie Splinter, who might have started with the same problems as the Fred Wolf Splinter, but had an air of sophistication that came from more than just being surrounded by sillier characters--his knowledge of world cultures made him feel like a real renaissance rat, and he lent gravitas to most of the situations he was in.

Sadly, it wasn't until the very end of the run that Archie Splinter benefitted from the "Toddler Turtles" kind of stories, which do help to shape Splinter's fatherly image, even if you are always a father no mater how old your kids are.

[ToTheNines]

This is tough for me since Splinter is my favorite TMNT character, period.

I'd go ahead and say movie Splinter. He really nailed the wise master and fatherly aspect, plus he was still a hell of a martial artist. Granted they had to use some clever camera work during his one action scene... so his brief face off with Shredder wasn't too remarkable, but he still threw his ass off a building lol. And I loved the bow & arrow scene from Ooze.

And I agree that Yoshi being Splinter makes a little more sense, but that still doesn't lock any of those takes as "definitive" for me.

Only Splinter I dislike is from TMNT 2007. He pretty much pitted Raph and Leo against one another if you analyze what was really going on. He made ridiculous rules for his sons that really carried no rhyme or reason, and gave shaky advice.

Originally Posted by meta ray mek

Never seen the live action movies

No offense, but what the fug?

[Jester]

Yeah...of the "Splinter is Yoshi's Rat" Splinters, Movie Splinter, especially TMNT 1's Splinter is great. Has some of my favorite scenes in TMNT history.

[Shark_Blade]

OT Splinter is pretty much what I grew up with. He's tiny, brown and seems fragile yet wise.

But for the definitive version, I'll go with Nick's Splinter. He's as strong and wise, but the sheer size and height of him, towering above the turtles makes quite a staggering difference to me. When it comes to discipline, he uses a cane (which is good for the soul from time to time). He can fight Leatherhead too, effortlessly. Respect.

And he's the funniest. Some lines out of my head:
- "This is very difficult. I shall meditate on it." (1 second later) "It's Leonardo."
- "The first rule of ninja is to do no harm. Unless you need to do harm, THEN DO LOTS OF HARM."


Lol

[Bossa Nova]

I have to go with 1st-3rd movie Splinter, followed closely by 4th movie Splinter as they are obviously very similar, but I find his depiction in the 4th film a bit younger and more willing to fight. As awesome as he is in the Nick version, I really prefer him as much more elderly, and the classic 'wise Master'. For some reason it's just weird to me to imagine him out and about fighting as much as the Turtles, and I love the dynamics of four sons who have been protected by their father their entire lives who are now all old enough and capable enough to do the same in return.

His 4Kids interpretation I can take either way as he's a lot like how he was shown in the 4th film, though a bit more sarcastic which was obnoxious at times, and I'm still getting acquainted with him in both Mirage and IDW comics so I don't know enough to really form much of an opinion. I suppose I would have to say Nick's version is my least favorite, but seeing as I love his character no matter what, it's not like I hate him or anything. But I think the fact that I VASTLY prefer him as starting life as an ordinary rat and not Yoshi probably has something to do with it as well.

[Andrew NDB]

Definitive Splinter? As in, not "What Splinter did you like watching on the teevee when you were growing up as a kid?" Then it's not even a matter of opinion.

The Splinter from the source material. Mirage Splinter.

[Shark_Blade]

I'm curious why some people like the rat origin story than Hamato Yoshi one. I understand it's faithful to Laird and Eastman's first comic, but seems pretty unlikely that a rat merely mimicking a human can master the art of ninja.

[Candy Kappa]

Originally Posted by Shark_Blade

I'm curious why some people like the rat origin story than Hamato Yoshi one. I understand it's faithful to Laird and Eastman's first comic, but seems pretty unlikely that a rat merely mimicking a human can master the art of ninja.

or how turtles can do martial arts stunts encapsulated inside their plastron and carapace?

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Shark_Blade

I'm curious why some people like the rat origin story than Hamato Yoshi one. I understand it's faithful to Laird and Eastman's first comic, but seems pretty unlikely that a rat merely mimicking a human can master the art of ninja.

The main reason? Because it makes the way the mutagen works a sham. And I don't like things in my TMNT comics to be a sham.

Second reason? It's been mentioned numerous times that Splinter was never a normal rat... even pre-mutation. We just never got the story behind it.

[JoshDA7X]

Originally Posted by Jester

Yeah...of the "Splinter is Yoshi's Rat" Splinters, Movie Splinter, especially TMNT 1's Splinter is great. Has some of my favorite scenes in TMNT history.

I agree! "I made a funny!"

I also like the Nick Splinter for the reasons Shark_Blade mentions above. Those and the ninja egg bomb - "Michealangelo said you needed me"

[Vegeta]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

Definitive Splinter? As in, not "What Splinter did you like watching on the teevee when you were growing up as a kid?" Then it's not even a matter of opinion.

The Splinter from the source material. Mirage Splinter.

I feel splinter doesnt have as much personality in the comics because hes just not in them a ton. Outside of idw of course where there is a lot of splinter. Not to say I dont like him in mirage i just dont feel a personal connection with him like in other versions of the tmnt.