i was wondering.......

[Haddyskelly]

when the turtles mutated did they just mutat or did they kinda go half human? i mean they can talk they have human interests they have human knowledge they can stand they kinda got human hands and feet also they have a build of a human so yeah im just wondering.

[Buslady]

there's the general idea of they're mutations.

Then there's all the fun theories how they changed. One of my ideas is there was human DNA in the radioactive gunk and it found it's way into their DNA and began to react by mutating the organism...four cute widdle turtles and a rattie.

[Revan]

A better question for those religious fans... do they have souls?

[triplexxx]

They've been raised to be spiritual, haven't they? Though I can't say for certain which actual religion they abide to.

[Kendamu]

Sccording to overprotective Soccor Moms of the early 1990s, Splinter's meditation practices and abilities to sense certain things proved that he was Satanic... meaning that the TMNT were raised in a Satanic home.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Haddyskelly

when the turtles mutated did they just mutat or did they kinda go half human? i mean they can talk they have human interests they have human knowledge they can stand they kinda got human hands and feet also they have a build of a human so yeah im just wondering.

Good question. I'll address it as it pertains to the Mirage/source material, which also kind of carries over to the 4Kids stuff.

Theory 1) The radioactive chemical waste of the TCRI Utroms was waste from their human-skin/body generating efforts (as well as the Transmat). Obviously, since the Utrom skins were designed to look human... it reasons to say any radioactive waste from such would make the mutatee (hey, a new word!) human-esque.

Theory 2) The radioactive chemical waste of the TCRI Utroms is actually a hyper-evolution agent. When the Turtles are exposed to it, it's the equivalent to four red-earred sliders suddenly receiving millions of years of evolution.

Either theory seems equally valid in my book.

But if you're talking about other universes like the original cartoon (and subsequently the Archies), that's quite another story. Of course they're half human. The way the mutagen in that show worked, if you're a man, and you touched an ant, then some mutagen, you instantly become Ant-Man (or vice-versa), which is sorta over the top in my book, but I won't knock it. In the movies it would literally be Theory #2, the hyper-evolution, since there's no Utroms or TCRI (TGRI and humans instead)... or just simply an enlargening agent, depending on how you look at it (re: SuperShredder and the dandylions in TMNT 2 ).

[Cascadia]

either theory would work in my book..although the second is slightly stronger in my mind because chemicals can cause mutations.

[triplexxx]

Originally Posted by Goongasnootch

Sccording to overprotective Soccor Moms of the early 1990s, Splinter's meditation practices and abilities to sense certain things proved that he was Satanic... meaning that the TMNT were raised in a Satanic home.

And the fact that the turtles use the skills they were taught to unselfishly risk their lives for the safety of a society that cares nothing for them means nothing to these "Soccor Moms"? Although, I did find out that according to the original comc book storyline, Splinter's initial purpose in training his sons was for satisfying his vendetta against Shredder, and vendetta killings do qualify as murder, unless they happen to be done in self-defense. So, in a sense, the turtles were raised to commit a murder at some point in their life.

[Cascadia]

The only time that this was not the case is during the 1987 series and Archie comics.

[VaughnMichael]

Something that always botherd me with the old toon mutation atleast was the fact that the turtles where not just around a human but the same rats that mutated hamato yoshi so wouldn't that mean that by the theory of the mutagen that they would not only be part human but part rat as well?
And why didn't any of the rats mutate? ugh! now I've just ruined the entire old show for myself haha nah just kidding I don't care that much but it is odd if you really think about it.

[jenna]

Originally Posted by Neutrino

A better question for those religious fans... do they have souls?

I for one believe that every creatue has a soul and that the turtles would have souls... but I remember the post by a fundamentalist Christian group (I know no religious debates here, I'm not judging or dissing) referred to them as soulless abominations or something like that because they were mutants. Well, I'm a 'mutant' too because I have red hair. (red hair is a mutated gene). So I think the argument is quite thin because I know I have a soul!

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Putrescent

Something that always botherd me with the old toon mutation atleast was the fact that the turtles where not just around a human but the same rats that mutated hamato yoshi so wouldn't that mean that by the theory of the mutagen that they would not only be part human but part rat as well?
And why didn't any of the rats mutate? ugh! now I've just ruined the entire old show for myself haha nah just kidding I don't care that much but it is odd if you really think about it.

Strictly speaking of the original cartoon, it's perfectly reasonable that the Turtles weren't part rat. By the rules of the Fred Wolf Cartoon/Archie Comics, as soon as you contact the mutagen, you are mutated only into half of the last life form you came into physical contact with. The last life form the baby Turtles came into contact with was the dude that bought them... so they became humanoid Turtles -- Splinter sort of discovered them in mid-transformation, and the last person that touched him was Yoshi.

[PipingPringle]

I find it interesting that when Donnie was mutated that second time in the new toon that no one was worried that the cure for the second mutation would cure the original mutation. Or did they adress that? I can't remember.

[Swany]

Originally Posted by PipingPringle

I find it interesting that when Donnie was mutated that second time in the new toon that no one was worried that the cure for the second mutation would cure the original mutation. Or did they adress that? I can't remember.

Yeah, I watched that one just the other day. I think because the second mutation was pretty much like an illness it was cureable.

I think the first mutation had pretty much reached the point where its irreversable, 15 years is a long time.

Plus it was different mutagens was it not? But I dont actually know if that would be a factor. I've only done High School Biology.

[Spawn Guy]

Originally Posted by triplexxx

And the fact that the turtles use the skills they were taught to unselfishly risk their lives for the safety of a society that cares nothing for them means nothing to these "Soccor Moms"?

Welcome to the society that cares nothing for them.

Although, I did find out that according to the original comc book storyline, Splinter's initial purpose in training his sons was for satisfying his vendetta against Shredder, and vendetta killings do qualify as murder, unless they happen to be done in self-defense. So, in a sense, the turtles were raised to commit a murder at some point in their life.

Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

[triplexxx]

Originally Posted by Spawn Guy

Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

What couldn't have happened to who, you mean Splinter?

[Spawn Guy]

The Shredder.

[triplexxx]

Oh, I see. And about what I said about vendetta killings, well, this one just happened to be done in self-defense, and yes you're right, he by all means deserved it, that way the turtles don't have to feel guilty about it.

[Sewer Bull]

Originally Posted by triplexxx

Although, I did find out that according to the original comc book storyline, Splinter's initial purpose in training his sons was for satisfying his vendetta against Shredder, and vendetta killings do qualify as murder, unless they happen to be done in self-defense. So, in a sense, the turtles were raised to commit a murder at some point in their life.

That reminded me of my favourite TMNT comic cover. Issue #1, fifth print:



Best. TMNT. Cover. Ever. Ever.

I really like the concept of Splinter being driven with the blind lust for vengeance. And the turtles being his avenging puppets.

[Roseangelo]

Originally Posted by Sewer Bull

Best. TMNT. Cover. Ever. Ever.

I really like the concept of Splinter being driven with the blind lust for vengeance. And the turtles being his avenging puppets.

You know, I've never thought about that cover like that before. But there's definitely truth in what you say.

I don't think I'd rank that as the best cover personally, but it's definitely a good one.