Who Do You Believe Is The Most Popular Turtle?

[manny]

for me when i watch id say leo and mikey

[Leonardo_]

I have noticed that Leo is often only liked because of his color of his bandana, his swords and that he is the "leader" seldom for how his personality is.
Basically the members who identify themselves with him, related to his personality, like him because of this, I think, or am I wrong?

[BigApple3AM]

A lot of good insight in this thread that I would never have thought of before. Ryo is right, Leo is in front on like half of the packaging for turtles including a lot of the old comics (he's also in front on the very first issue of turtles). Leonardo has the swords (katanas), the blue bandana (a color a lot of people identify with), and is the leader.

I think it changes with every medium, and over time. People also tend to pick a favorite but then decide they like them all. Leo was my favorite as a kid (and still is) so maybe I'm biased but I really don't remember why he became my favorite when I was little. It shows how kids will just choose.

In the long scheme of things I think turtles have become so popular that people know about all four turtles now and will choose their favorite accordingly (or not choose a favorite which is usually something mature people will do and not little kids. Kids are so used to attaching to things like parents, home, friends, and are very loyal so they have a hard time not finding one particular turtle to call their favorite). I think it's almost to a point where there is an equally large fan base for each turtle and really they're all popular and it's come down to characters like casey jones and april o'neil are just as popular.

Though I will add that Leonardo figures are almost always sold out at stores I go to and that Donny and Raph are somewhat hard to get but mikey clogs pegs unfortunately. Not nearly as bad as that pink butterfly swords guy.

Edit: I want to add why I think Casey Jones and April are popular. They aren't AS popular as the turtles but thanks to the movie Casey Jones is pretty well known by the general public and many people think he is awesome (similar to the fan base for like Punisher or something) and will associate with him even if they don't like the TMNT. Girls usually need a female favorite so April is pretty well known as well. Though they may not have a big action figure or merchandise selection they do have their own fan following.

[Buslady]

They're all popular, I don't think theres one above the other. All four guys have their fanbase...

for me it's Raph.
For some its Leo, Mikey or Donnie.

They're all equally loved amongst the fans.

Poor Splinter might feel left out...but he's also a big favorite of mine. I wish I had a daddy like him.

Originally Posted by Ectocooler

Leonardo has the swords (katanas), the blue bandana (a color a lot of people identify with), and is the leader.

These may have been the original reasons why I chose Leo as my favorite back in the 80's. Especially him having the blue (which happens to be my favorite color followed by black).

When I think about it, back then, myself along with several kids in my school always viewed Leo as the original ninja turtle... Probably because he has blue and has swords. We figured Don, Raph, and Mikey were spawned off of Leo, given random colors, random weapons, and random personality quirks.

It wasn't untill I discovered the Mirage comics that I saw they were all created at the same time (all based on a single drawing that was intentionally done for laughs).


Anyway... I really don't think there's a most popular one among them anymore. They all seem to be equally popular these days now.

Originally Posted by Buslady

Poor Splinter might feel left out...but he's also a big favorite of mine. I wish I had a daddy like him.

Same here. I would feel so greatful if I had a guardian like him.

[Buslady]

Originally Posted by Lioness-Goddess

But among everyone else, I have to say Raph. Even though he's not my favorite, I believe he's the most popular. I mean, I can't even go for one day without seeing Raph angst fanfiction or something.

that's cause when it's done right, "raph angst" is great material to write!

[Jo Dawn]

I don't think any of them are the most popular.

You have to look at it this way:

Each turtle is a facet of someone's personality. They all represent SOMEONE in this world, no matter where they're from. And, no matter what, you can identify with ALL of them some of the time. Mikey is not my favorite, but I can sure identify with him at times! They are everyone. The everyday person. You can't say one is more popular than another, not truly, because that is like choosing a favorite emotion. Plus, like the turtle they like so much, the Don people may be too quiet to speak up on their choice, while the Mikey people crow it out, proudly! The Leo's may be trying to maintain peace and nobility to choose, and the Raph's say it loud.

And I speak on a worldwide level, not just here. We're not shy here, heh.

But I believe they are all equally popular, because they are ALL of us. We are all a leader, and a hot-head, and a genius and a goofball. And, yes, we are all outcasts at times, too. We are all of them, at different times. At the same time.

Thus, I don't think there IS a most popular. It fluxuates with our changing and growing emotions. Mikey used to be number two after Don, but as I grew older Leo wedged himself in there. There isn't a most popular. There can't be.

[Leonardo_]

That's a wise "word"

[KROW]

Venus.

*runs away from Dromers carrying torches*

[NeoBix]

The most popular turtle is definitely Leo, Mike, or Raph. Donatello is like the George Harrison of the TMNT. He's unappreciated and not noticed very often.

By the way, in that rap song at the end of the first turtles movie, the rapper says that Raphael, not Leo, is the leader of the turtles. What's up with that??

[KROW]

Originally Posted by NeoBix

The most popular turtle is definitely Leo, Mike, or Raph. Donatello is like the George Harrison of the TMNT. He's unappreciated and not noticed very often.

By the way, in that rap song at the end of the first turtles movie, the rapper says that Raphael, not Leo, is the leader of the turtles. What's up with that??

I actually agree with that. Donatello is like Harrison. Alot of genius hidden among the more distinguishing people in the group.

As for the rap song, it fit the rhyme scheme. Simple as that.

[NeoBix]

Originally Posted by KROW

As for the rap song, it fit the rhyme scheme. Simple as that.

Yeah true that's probably the only reason. I just remember when me and my bro were little kids and we saw an episode where Raphael was always walking in front and he was telling the turtles what to do and stuff and ever since that we've been wondering if the leadership has ever changed in the TMNT gang. my bro thought Raph was leader for a long time... i don't remember during which season though (old toon). i always knew leo was. we would argue about it for hours.

[XERO]

Put it this way; Raphael is the verbal leader of the group.

[Masked Ninja]

I dunno if Splinter, April, or Casey fit in here, because the question specifies "Turtles." (Though for my two cents, Splinter rocks the house, Casey is all right, and April downright annoys me. In all incarnations.)

As for "nobody is the most popular," that's what happens when you get to know the Turtles well enough. I can't even remember who was my favorite as a kid... I loved Mikey because I was 4 and he was silly...but I also loved blue and swords. When I had my TMNT revival in 2003, I was stunned to find that Leo's personality matches mine perfectly. (I also identify with Don a bit. When I started following the new toon, he was my second favorite by a hair.)

But I have to commend the writers of the new toon. A lot. Because they took my favorite-to-least-favorite ranking and made it impossible. Leo is still in front, but only because he's my personality match. If not for them, they'd all be the same. Don is my geeky, nose-in-a-book side. Mikey is my active imagination and sense of humor. And even Raph has a heart. The characters have been developed so well, and changed so much... in the first season they had personality conflicts and little spats a lot. Now they're working together, and that doesn't happen as much. And yet they still act like themselves.

Oops, there's my dorky rant on good writing. There's Don again. I should probably stop before I gush about the animation.

(And you're right...as far as fans who pick a favorite, Don is underappreciated. Poor guy.)

Originally Posted by NeoBix

By the way, in that rap song at the end of the first turtles movie, the rapper says that Raphael, not Leo, is the leader of the turtles. What's up with that??

This is true, and it always makes me twitch. But it makes sense to me because I saw Raph acting more "leaderish" than Leo. The only time Leo wasn't kinda boring in the movie was when he received Splinter's message. (Though I have to admit, there's a lot of clumsy rhyming going on in that song.

[KROW]

Originally Posted by Masked Ninja

This is true, and it always makes me twitch. But it makes sense to me because I saw Raph acting more "leaderish" than Leo. The only time Leo wasn't kinda boring in the movie was when he received Splinter's message. (Though I have to admit, there's a lot of clumsy rhyming going on in that song.

It's a rap song. What do you expect?

And besides, it was to fit the rhyme scheme, that's all. Don't read too much into it. I'm sure Partners in Kryme never came to the conclusion you did when they wrote the song.

[Leonardo_]

Perhaps poor Leo did always let himself push away by Raphael.