April and her powers....

[ssjup81]

Originally Posted by BabyTurtles

I really don't think she needed them.

I feel like that's the only way to make her interesting....instead of actually trying to make her a good character on her own.

I think the problem is that it's always going to be difficult to make a character like April interesting when you have the super awesome Turtles alongside her since she is so normal. I haven't seen or read every incarnation of the Turtles franchise, but I've never found April as a character interesting for the ones I have...but did like her as a reporter...it did help piqué my interest in journalism.

As for this thread, I'm indifferent and feel I should see how it plays out as a whole when the series is finished.

[BabyTurtles]

Originally Posted by ssjup81

I think the problem is that it's always going to be difficult to make a character like April interesting when you have the super awesome Turtles alongside her since she is so normal. I haven't seen or read every incarnation of the Turtles franchise, but I've never found April as a character interesting for the ones I have...but did like her as a reporter...it did help piqué my interest in journalism.

As for this thread, I'm indifferent and feel I should see how it plays out as a whole when the series is finished.

coughcopAprilcough......

Seriously I can't be the only one that thinks a cop April would totally work....

[Leo656]

I don't think April, as we traditionally know her, would ever have the implicit craving of power or innate need to prove herself superior to other people that's generally required to be a police officer.

[BabyTurtles]

Originally Posted by Leo656

I don't think April, as we traditionally know her, would ever have the implicit craving of power or innate need to prove herself superior to other people that's generally required to be a police officer.

Tweak her a bit then ^_^ I mean....if she can become a teenager/mutant with psychic powers then I don't think having a Police April who wants to help people by keeping the city safe is too hard.

I mean A police April would be handy...she would know how to defend herself so people wouldn't be annoyed with her getting captured or be defenseless all the time (without being an instant ninja)...and she could also help the turtles gain intel. Seems perfect to me...
....thinnnnkk about itttt~

[IMG][/IMG]

[Leo656]

Let me see if I can put it another way: April, as a person, is too good to be a cop.

Despite what cartoons and movies try to sell, people don't become cops to "protect people", because legally, they're not allowed to do anything in order to do so. That's not their function. Their function is, ostensibly, to penalize people only after any suspected wrongdoing has occurred. And even then, half the time they're just harassing people who "Seem suspicious." And in between, they write traffic tickets, based on a quota system designed to justify their salaries.

People typically become police officers because it's an easy path to respect; people have to treat you like a big shot, or else you might punish them for something they didn't do, because your word will always trump theirs, no matter what. Most often, they're people who didn't know what to do with themselves once they graduated high school and scoring sportsball points no longer made them a hero in the local community. So they transition from one position of false importance to another, because they have no idea how to get by if they're not making other people feel smaller and weaker than they are. They can't stuff nerds into lockers anymore, but they can still ruin someone's day by pulling them over for going 40 in a 35, potentially costing that person their only means of getting to work, and so on and so on. And now they get paid to be douchebags, instead of just doing it for free.

Cops are generally bullies and awful people, basically. Anyone who goes into a power-seeking type of job is fundamentally a bad person, because you have to be a bad person in order to want to bully, harass, and control people as a career.

I would prefer not to see April turn out that way. I frankly always saw her as being a lot better than that.

[BabyTurtles]

Originally Posted by Leo656

Let me see if I can put it another way: April, as a person, is too good to be a cop.

Despite what cartoons and movies try to sell, people don't become cops to "protect people", because legally, they're not allowed to do anything in order to do so. That's not their function. Their function is, ostensibly, to penalize people only after any suspected wrongdoing has occurred. And even then, half the time they're just harassing people who "Seem suspicious." And in between, they write traffic tickets, based on a quota system designed to justify their salaries.

People typically become police officers because it's an easy path to respect; people have to treat you like a big shot, or else you might punish them for something they didn't do, because your word will always trump theirs, no matter what. Most often, they're people who didn't know what to do with themselves once they graduated high school and scoring sportsball points no longer made them a hero in the local community. So they transition from one position of false importance to another, because they have no idea how to get by if they're not making other people feel smaller and weaker than they are. They can't stuff nerds into lockers anymore, but they can still ruin someone's day by pulling them over for going 40 in a 35, potentially costing that person their only means of getting to work, and so on and so on. And now they get paid to be douchebags, instead of just doing it for free.

Cops are generally bullies and awful people, basically. Anyone who goes into a power-seeking type of job is fundamentally a bad person, because you have to be a bad person in order to want to bully, harass, and control people as a career.

I would prefer not to see April turn out that way. I frankly always saw her as being a lot better than that.

HEY! If anything it would be something for April to overcome! She IS trying to be a good person (a good cop) but others around her might abuse their power. (heck she might even have to choose between defending the turtles or keep her job)

maybe she leaves the job and that's a whole turning point for her character???

developmennnnttt~

[Utrommaniac]

What about a detective or Private Eye?

Still, it puts her at an age range at least twice that of the turtles. One thing I can say about the Nick TMNT is that her young age is that it makes her a peer to them. Even tech school student where she's only a little bit older than them works.

[Commenter 42]

Originally Posted by Leo656

Let me see if I can put it another way: April, as a person, is too good to be a cop....
Cops are generally bullies and awful people, basically. Anyone who goes into a power-seeking type of job is fundamentally a bad person, because you have to be a bad person in order to want to bully, harass, and control people as a career.

I would prefer not to see April turn out that way. I frankly always saw her as being a lot better than that.

^^^All of this.

Although...
I briefly worked for the news division of an infamous TV station when I was first starting out, and from what I saw, it's a personality type that dominates the news room too.
Off-air reporters, fact checkers, writers, producers, etc... many of them have bully tendencies. They all love a good "gottcha" story.
Not exactly the same, as they're often going after bullies, but they use a similar approach.

I loathe both in the end, but I can see the parallel if we're doing the FW thing.

[Leo656]

Originally Posted by BabyTurtles

HEY! If anything it would be something for April to overcome! She IS trying to be a good person (a good cop) but others around her might abuse their power. (heck she might even have to choose between defending the turtles or keep her job)

maybe she leaves the job and that's a whole turning point for her character???

developmennnnttt~

And then what? She decides she can't change the system from within so she decides to put on a cape and a mask and fight bad guys that way, because she tried to do it "by the book" and failed? That's not April's story, that's Batman's story. You're confusing April O'Neil with Batman, somehow. I don't know how, but good job, I suppose.

I always felt like Reporter April was a decent balance as far as "proactive enough to be an occasional catalyst for events, but passive enough to be fully a background character to the Turtles rather than an encroaching lead." I can see the scientist angle but it's not my favorite.

Originally Posted by Commenter 42

^^^All of this.

Although, I spent some time working for the news division of an infamous TV station, when i was first starting out. Not all, but many of the Off-air reporters, fact checkers, writers, producers, etc... many of them have bully instincts/tendencies. They all love a good "gottcha" story. It's not exactly the same, but I loathe that mentality just as much.

That's why I like how in some incarnations they have April eventually become a freelance reporter. Her allegiance is to The Truth, not any employer, so it makes sense she'd be more of a renegade, rather than be beholden to a network or whatever.

[Commenter 42]

wow... you know it's late when you have to re-edit your post 6 times...sorry folks

[BabyTurtles]

Originally Posted by Leo656

And then what? She decides she can't change the system from within so she decides to put on a cape and a mask and fight bad guys that way, because she tried to do it "by the book" and failed? That's not April's story, that's Batman's story. You're confusing April O'Neil with Batman, somehow. I don't know how, but good job, I suppose.

I always felt like Reporter April was a decent balance as far as "proactive enough to be an occasional catalyst for events, but passive enough to be fully a background character to the Turtles rather than an encroaching lead." I can see the scientist angle but it's not my favorite.

Good job indeed....I don't know how I got you to think Batman...I'm surprised myself.......


anywhoooo~

Maybe I'm thinking too much about Elisa from Gargoyles who was totally awesome and useful~

but hey if you are worried about realistic bully cops in a show about ninja turtles....then fine.

[Leo656]

Originally Posted by Commenter 42

wow... you know it's late when you have to re-edit your post 6 times...sorry folks

You do it a lot. I figured you were just like me, where you post, re-check it for errors, then another light bulb goes off. "Oh, yeah, and ANOTHER thing...!"

Never apologize. It's just the dum-dums who should talk less.

Originally Posted by BabyTurtles

Good job indeed....I don't know how I got you to think Batman...I'm surprised myself.......
http://33.media.tumblr.com/db1b8f12d...lk9fo1_500.gif
.

Beeeecause you described Batman's origin as possible "character development" for April O'Neil. In most versions of the story, Bruce grows up wanting to be a cop so he can arrest people like the one who killed his parents, then finds out he can't do it that way because the system is corrupt and broken, so he quits the police academy and redirects his efforts on becoming Batman.

Your suggested "development" for April uses every single thing except the part where the protagonist decides on a cape-and-mask ensemble. That's why I thought of it... because that's how you laid it out. You literally suggested simply giving Bruce Wayne's story to April.

[BabyTurtles]

Originally Posted by Leo656

You do it a lot. I figured you were just like me, where you post, re-check it for errors, then another light bulb goes off. "Oh, yeah, and ANOTHER thing...!"

Never apologize. It's just the dum-dums who should talk less.



Beeeecause you described Batman's origin as possible "character development" for April O'Neil. In most versions of the story, Bruce grows up wanting to be a cop so he can arrest people like the one who killed his parents, then finds out he can't do it that way because the system is corrupt and broken, so he quits the police academy and redirects his efforts on becoming Batman.

Your suggested "development" for April uses every single thing except the part where the protagonist decides on a cape-and-mask ensemble. That's why I thought of it... because that's how you laid it out. You literally suggested simply giving Bruce Wayne's story to April.

Well instead of Batman maybe she should become a reporter afterwards and...........eh...Ya know what....forget what I said before. I think she should be a police detective all the way through. I still believe it's a better option for her than what we have gotten so far.

[Ninturtle]

I am not a fan of Cop April because it puts her in a position to kick *ss and do other pointless detective stuff ,and that's not her role. She's supposed to be the turtles connection to the outside world.The first human they attached to,a friend and at times a mother like figure. Her being able to fight well adds nothing to this role, it seems unnecessary when you have a ton of characters who are good fighters . There's also Leos point about April being too good of a person.

[BabyTurtles]

Originally Posted by Ninturtle

I am not a fan of Cop April because it puts her in a position to kick *ss and do other pointless detective stuff ,and that's not her role. She's supposed to be the turtles connection to the outside world.The first human they attached to,a friend and at times a mother like figure. Her being able to fight well adds nothing to this role, it seems unnecessary when you have a ton of characters who are good fighters . There's also Leos point about April being too good of a person.

I still don't see why she can't be both a friend AND a kickbutt cop.

I mean she's gonna be in danger...that's her character...she's danger prone...because she's around the turtles...who attract danger...why not give her the skill and knowledge to be a real asset to the team.

personally I think if we need a person who's normal and just a friend for the turtles to hang with I'd choose a young Angel.

But this is all just my own vision ^_^ my opinion.

[Ninturtle]

Originally Posted by BabyTurtles

I still don't see why she can't be both a friend AND a kickbutt cop.

I mean she's gonna be in danger...that's her character...she's danger prone...because she's around the turtles...who attract danger...why not give her the skill and knowledge to be a real asset to the team.

personally I think if we need a person who's normal and just a friend for the turtles to hang with I'd choose a young Angel.

But this is all just my own vision ^_^ my opinion.

She can be an asset she just doesn't have to fight, part of April is that shes an ordinary person in extraordinary situation as Leo said earlier. Having her fight ninjas and mutants isn't something an ordinary person can be.

[Technogeek29]

Originally Posted by Ninturtle

I am not a fan of Cop April because it puts her in a position to kick *ss and do other pointless detective stuff ,and that's not her role. She's supposed to be the turtles connection to the outside world.The first human they attached to,a friend and at times a mother like figure. Her being able to fight well adds nothing to this role, it seems unnecessary when you have a ton of characters who are good fighters . There's also Leos point about April being too good of a person.

It can still work, you just have to change the setting a bit. Like I said in a previous post waaaaay back April and the Turtles can be at ends with each other think something along the lines of Early Gordon and Batman relationship. (lol I'm making the Bat parallels now) Eventually they come to commute together and if you don't want the Turtles killing April is a way for the Turtles to legally bust some of the bad guys.

[Ninturtle]

Originally Posted by Technogeek29

It can still work, you just have to change the setting a bit. Like I said in a previous post waaaaay back April and the Turtles can be at ends with each other think something along the lines of Early Gordon and Batman relationship. (lol I'm making the Bat parallels now) Eventually they come to commute together and if you don't want the Turtles killing April is a way for the Turtles to legally bust some of the bad guys.

Then the character would hardly feel like April, it's just too drastic and unnecessary of a change.

[BabyTurtles]

Originally Posted by Ninturtle

She can be an asset she just doesn't have to fight, part of April is that shes an ordinary person in extraordinary situation as Leo said earlier. Having her fight ninjas and mutants isn't something an ordinary person can be.

Why can't she be an ordinary cop that just happens to get mixed up with 4 mutants......It's not like she's trained to fight ninjas and mutants XD

And it's not like being a bioengineer (or whatever she was when she worked with Baxter) was exactly ordinary either....

(unless you mean when she was a reporter...)

like Technogeek29 said she can be at ends with them at first....like Gordon or like Yin from The Batman. I don't know...it just seems so much more interesting.

[Leo656]

But again, April is traditionally neither self-serving nor a bully, nor does she display an irrational hatred of men or a need to prove herself as "just as good" as they are. She's never displayed any of the personality traits that police officers typically do.

So again, by what logic would she even WANT to be a cop? She's never been written as having the personality for it. Not one bit. She's a Good Person, regardless of career. Cops, on the other hand...

For the sake of conversation I'll disregard the separate issue of, "It makes her too proactive and intimately involved in events that should have more to do with the Turtles than with her since it's their story and not hers", for the moment.

No offense, but it seems more like wishful thinking that your fanfiction ideas would influence canon, rather than what would actually make sense for April as a character. She'd have to be so completely different from a character and personality standpoint in order to be portrayed as a cop, that she may as well be an OC entirely by that point.

No offense, just sayin'. It's like, "Why not just make Lois Lane a cop?" Why not make her an astronaut, then? She's not, that's why not. These aren't just Changeable Hats that characters wear, what they do for a living is an extension of Who They Are as people. It's not always as simple as "Well, why can't _____ be a ____?"