Main story arcs that are re-used in almost every TMNT incarnation?

[CyberCubed]

What are some of the most re-used story arcs in every TMNT incarnation? I know these aren't in all of them, but almost every TMNT cartoon and comic series covers the same beats:



- Year One story where the Turtles/April meet for the first time. First confrontation with Shredder and the Foot Clan. The origin and backstory is revealed with Splinter and the Turtles with just slight changes every series

- Baxter and the Mousers story

- Baxter eventually changing from a human to either mutant fly or cyborg. Eventually he becomes sympathetic figure due to all the horrors he endures

- TCRI being discovered with the origin of the mutagen/ooze to the Turtles backstory. The reveal of the Utroms or Kraang, or Krang himself.

- The Turtles lair being destroyed/invaded

- Splinter being kidnapped/captured/lost and the Turtles not knowing where he is or how to save him

- Shredder eventually being defeated and "gone" for a while even if he eventually comes back. In Mirage Shredder is killed off, in IDW he's currently dead, in the 2k3 series Ch'rell is defeated at the end of Season 3, in the original cartoon he's replaced by Lord Dregg, in Archie he's absent most of the series, etc. Hasn't happened in Nick yet but its bound to

- Karai being introduced usually taking over the Foot Clan after Shredder is gone. Karai also usually goes through the same arc of being an ally to the Turtles and sometimes going against Shredder if he's still around.

- The Rat King being introduced and taking over Splinter's mind or having some influence on him. Rat King coming up with schemes in general

- Leatherhead always originally fights the Turtles at first even if he eventually becomes an ally. Loses his mind/temper and goes feral several time.

- Turtles in Space arc. Usually involving the Triceratons, the Turtles always travel to outer space for a while and meet various alien races.

- A new Turtle is introduced. Either Slash, Tokka, some alien Turtle, or so forth.

- Time travel. Featuring either Renet or without her, the Turtles always travel through time in every series. They always visit the prehistoric with dinosaurs, ancient Japan, the future, alternate universes, etc.

- An intergalactic tournament like the Battle Nexus, Stump Asteroid, or the Triceraton arena

- Meeting Usagi Yojimbo (which might very well also happen in Nick and IDW)

- Bishop, Darpa, the EPF, or the U.S. government capture the Turtles for experiments/dissection and protect the world from aliens. Originally introduced in Mirage Volume 2, Archie had their take on it, then 2k3 introduced Bishop, and now IDW/Nick is doing the story.

- Earth alien invasion story. Triceratons invaded the Earth in 2k3 and Nick, the Kraang invade the Earth, Shredder/Krang try to take over the Earth from Dimension X usually Traag and the Rock Soldiers.

- Purple Dragons or other street punks deal with Casey. Usually involving Hun.

- Mutanimals. A bunch of rogue mutants band together. Or the Turtles having mutant allies.

- Humans against mutants arc. Similar to above, an arc where mutants are actively hunted by prejudice humans and usually involves the Turtles and their mutant allies getting into trouble.

- Turtles traveling to alternate dimensions

- Turtles gaining new mutations or going into their gamera forms. Raph in Volume 4, Don in 2k3, Turtles Season 9 mutations, etc.

- An arc involving monsters/creatures from the dead.

- One of the Turtles is beaten up badly. Leo/Raph usually.

- Turtle tots story. Showing the Turtles as little kids.

- Turtles meeting other superheroes. Happened in Mirage, 2k3, original cartoon, 4th movie, etc.

- Second time Around shop is destroyed and the Turtles move to the Northampton Farmhouse.

- Gang war arc usually involving the Foot Clan, mobsters/gansters, Purple Dragons, etc.

- An arc involving mystical beings or gods. 2k3's Ninja Tribunal arc, IDW's Pantheton, various Mirage deities like the 4 armed monkey, Archie had a lot of stuff like this too.


And then there is the character-centric stuff. Raph always losing his temper, Don dealing with robots/machines/technology and sometimes taking over, Leonardo feeling he can no longer lead the Turtles, Mike trying to be the heart of the team or not being taken seriously.


Damn, this was longer than I thought. The TMNT universe really does re-use the same concepts in almost every incarnation. We've now seen so many takes on the same stories.

[Prowler]

You've pretty much nailed every thing. Can't think of something that you've let slide.

[snake]

It's one of the reasons why I love IDW. They really are trying their best not to do the same stuff we've seen before and put a new spin on everything (rat king). I wish more incarnations focused on creating new material.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Leonardo and Raphael in struggle over the leading role.

[thundermaster612]

Mikey being dumb

[Technogeek29]

Originally Posted by thundermaster612

Mikey being dumb

2k3 started that trend and it hasn't gotten any better. 2k14 being the dumbest it has some serious competition.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by Technogeek29

2k3 started that trend and it hasn't gotten any better. 2k14 being the dumbest it has some serious competition.

Someone posted on a fansite (think it was the Cowabunga Corner) some years ago that he played child-like because he hates responsibility.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by thundermaster612

Mikey being dumb

No, that's only the dumb ones.

[Technogeek29]

Originally Posted by Original TMNT Cartoon Fan

Someone posted on a fansite (think it was the Cowabunga Corner) some years ago that he played child-like because he hates responsibility.

I have a very hard time believing that with PDT Mikey, or until recently Nick Mikey. 2k3 Mikey isn't exactly smart but his main offense is being obnoxious as oppose to being dumb.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by Technogeek29

I have a very hard time believing that with PDT Mikey, or until recently Nick Mikey. 2k3 Mikey isn't exactly smart but his main offense is being obnoxious as oppose to being dumb.

What's PDT?

[Technogeek29]

Originally Posted by Original TMNT Cartoon Fan

What's PDT?

Platinum Dunes Turtle or most here here just do PD.

[plastroncafe]

Originally Posted by Technogeek29

2k3 started that trend and it hasn't gotten any better. 2k14 being the dumbest it has some serious competition.

I'd go so far as to say the OT started that trend, not 2k3.

Mirage and the original Live Action movies are the only places to find a Mike with more than four brain cells to rub together.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Originally Posted by plastroncafe

I'd go so far as to say the OT started that trend, not 2k3.

Mirage and the original Live Action movies are the only places to find a Mike with more than four brain cells to rub together.

You forgot IDW.

But yeah, Mikey is the Tommy Boy of the TMNT. "Did you eat a lot of paint chips when you were a kid?"

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by Technogeek29

Platinum Dunes Turtle or most here here just do PD.

But I recall reading this before those versions.

[plastroncafe]

Originally Posted by CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy

You forgot IDW.

But yeah, Mikey is the Tommy Boy of the TMNT. "Did you eat a lot of paint chips when you were a kid?"

>.>
<.<
I don't know that I did forget IDW.

I'm no where near current on the book, and to be honest I haven't picked up the copies I do have in a damn long time, so maybe things have changed?

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Originally Posted by plastroncafe

>.>
<.<
I don't know that I did forget IDW.

I'm no where near current on the book, and to be honest I haven't picked up the copies I do have in a damn long time, so maybe things have changed?

Awwww... don't say that!

I'll give you that Mikey is extremely childish in IDW's take on the TMNT, but it's an innocent childishness that does not rely on "goofy" or "slapstick" or "annoying." Instead, there is an earnest yearning to be a hero, to keep his family together, and to be accepted as a friend and brother.

Whether it's trying to get Leo back from Foot Clan brainwashing, or his relationship with Woody the pizza guy, or his friendship with Slash, or his fallout with Splinter over the outcome of the Gauntlet Battle... trust me, this Mikey is legit.

[plastroncafe]

Originally Posted by CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy

Awwww... don't say that!

I'll give you that Mikey is extremely childish in IDW's take on the TMNT, but it's an innocent childishness that does not rely on "goofy" or "slapstick" or "annoying." Instead, there is an earnest yearning to be a hero, to keep his family together, and to be accepted as a friend and brother.

Whether it's trying to get Leo back from Foot Clan brainwashing, or his relationship with Woody the pizza guy, or his friendship with Slash, or his fallout with Splinter over the outcome of the Gauntlet Battle... trust me, this Mikey is legit.

I'm of the opinion that Mike is the turtle that makes or breaks an incarnation for me. Raph is nigh on impossible to mess up, and if one squints the same can be said for Leo and Don, but for some reason Mike is the hardest guy to get "right."

Apparently competent comic relief is difficult to write for.
An over-eager excitable Mike I can handle, but...the more times his brothers tell him to, "Shut up," the lower in my esteem he goes.

I should give the IDW books another shot, especially before I hit up SDCC.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Originally Posted by plastroncafe

I'm of the opinion that Mike is the turtle that makes or breaks an incarnation for me. Raph is nigh on impossible to mess up, and if one squints the same can be said for Leo and Don, but for some reason Mike is the hardest guy to get "right."

Apparently competent comic relief is difficult to write for.
An over-eager excitable Mike I can handle, but...the more times his brothers tell him to, "Shut up," the lower in my esteem he goes.

I should give the IDW books another shot, especially before I hit up SDCC.

Y'know, that's actually a REALLY interesting litmus test. Certainly confirms my preexisting bias against Platinum Dunes and Nick TMNT.

Give IDW another try. It's not Mirage/Image Mike, but it's definitely the next best thing.

[CyberCubed]

Originally Posted by plastroncafe

I'd go so far as to say the OT started that trend, not 2k3.

Mike wasn't really portrayed as dumb in the OT, he just had a laid back stoner personality, mostly for pizza.

[Technogeek29]

I kept IDW Mike off the list for a reason, I never got the impression he was dumb. Young and at times Naive sure but never dumb.