Which characters are best friends with each other?

[triplexxx]

Originally Posted by Warhorse

Well, in Exodus, The Shredder went on a rampage on Raphael for beating up Karai, when Shredder was trying to board a ship that would take him away from earth, and he simply could have just kept on going, without a second thought for Karai.

But he didn't. He stepped up to protect her, so in some way, there is some understanding between those two that go below the surface.

Yeah, but afterwards when Karai protested her father to let the turtles and Splinter live when he went to finish them off, he raised his arm to strike her, possibly could've killed her. I think he cared more about vengeance than he did about her (which Karai probably failed to realize), and I think the whole reason he beat down Raphael, and any of them for that matter, was for no reason except that he was vengeful and ruthless.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Warhorse

I just really love how the movies and 2k3 toon have really emphasized the friendship between Raph and Casey.

Sure, Raph might have said somewhere in Mirage comics that Mikey is his best friend, but it is portayed far more natural the friendship between Raph and Casey on screen.

It IS worth noting that the "Mikey is my best friend" comment from Raph in the comics is before he even meets Casey.

[Jester]

Mikey and Raph, though they butt heads are probably the best friends of the Team. Raph probably laughs at Mikey more than he lets Mike know, and Mikey knows how and loves to push Raphie's buttons. Note what he said to Mikey in "Attack of the Mousers:"
"This is it. It's been fun guys."
"Even me Raph?"
"Even you Mikey, especially you."
I think that goes to prove that Mikey and Raph's "Love/Hate Relationship" is mostly an act and they are probably the closest Turtles.

[Courk]

I have such a limited knowledge of pretty much anything TMNT, I don't know why I keep jumping in to add my opinions.

I know in one of the early comics Mikey gets injured and Raph says something like "No one hurts my best buddy!" Are there other instances of that from Raph? I can see how it can be interpreted as Raph's best friend being Mikey, but Raph's in such a protective mode that I can't convince myself that he would have said anything different if Mikey were replaced with Donnie or Leo. I think it's strong evidence in favor of Raph being best friends with Mikey, but I don't want it to be the only evidence from the comics. What other pieces of evidence do the comics offer?

Raphael and Mikey are definitely close, but I can't decide if it's best friends close or older brother-younger brother close. I'm not sure it'd be fair to say any of the turtles are best friends with each other since they see each other first as brothers, and that's something that goes deeper than any friendship could.

[jenna]

There are some really interesting comments on a similar thread started by Rooish enetitled Which 2 turtles are the closest, although that doesn't include other characters.

I think that Raphael is the most disliked by his brothers for being antagonistic so finds more companionship in Casey. but Raph adores Mikey in all versions, and is very close to Leo on an unspoken level. He also respects Don a lot.

[Scandia]

So here it goes so far:

RAPHAEL

Mirage- at first Mikey, but then Casey
OT- Mikey
Movies- Casey (except the first one)
NT- I have only watched 2 episodes so please add
Overall- Casey

MICHELANGELO

Mirage- Raph
OT- Mondo Gecko
Movies- Donnie
NT- Raph
Overall- probably Raph

DONATELLO

Mirage- Fugitoid
OT-
Movies- Mikey
NT- April
Overall-

LEONARDO

Mirage- Splinter
OT-
Movies-
NT- Usagi Yojimbo
Overall-

OTHER

April- Irma in the OT, Donnie in the NT
Splinter-
Casey- Raph

[Ava Collier]

What qualifies someone as a best friend? In my mind, I don't even bother naming the turtles as each others' best friends. Being family doesn't always make you friends, but it's obvious they don't love each other because they think they're supposed to. I know, I have a little Mikey, and Don of my own...heh their names even begin with the same letters. *rambles* We weren't even raised together. I would kill for them.

I'm just sticking to 2k3 for this. From MY experience, this is where they seem to have the most obvious pairings. By the way...you can have more than one best friend.

I've noticed there are just certain secondary characters that are there to shadow the primary characters. They're not subtle about pointing it out. You can look at April, and go "Hey...she's Donny, but human and with boobs." Same thing goes for Casey.

...wait...

I meant to compare him to Raphael >.>
I'm not saying they're exactly the same, but close enough to be obvious. In the intro, each of the Turtles has a character with them on their present screen. To be honest, I don't understand why Genosuke is paired with Raph here =/. My speculation is that Casey, and April are share toys, and they just picked someone at random. Usagi is pictured with Leonardo, Leatherhead with Don, and Silver Sentry with Mikey. There's a reason for this.

[Scandia]

Best friend- the one you are closest to, the one you spend the most time with, the one you communicate and share the most with. Does not have to be most like you- but you have to get along quite well.

I don't even know who Genosuke is. Haven't watched much of the NT.

[discordiatookie]

In the Mirage comics, specifically Vol 4 and the new Tales, Don is particularly close to the Utroms, particularly Profs Glurin and Honeycutt (the Fugitoid). He seems to spend alot of his time with them, going off on adventures with the Utroms on several occasions.

Raph and Don seem quite close now in vol 4, with Raph's mutation and Don's shrinking, they had been teaming up just before vol 4's hiatus, with the police and the utroms, fighting terrorists and vampires. Also at the start of vol 4, Don, Raph and Casey were seen all working together fixing up an armoured truck, and getting along together like a house on fire.

Mikey and Raph seem extra close with Shadow, Mikey doting on her as a youngster, and Raph having looked out for her on several occasions. But that's probably more the 'protective uncle'-ness rather than best friends. But she seems closer to them than her other two uncles (she even has her own nickname for Mikey, 'Rooish'. Shadow had a best friend called Sloane, who turned into a werewolf and was subsequently killed (new Tales). Also in Vol 4, she had a boyfriend called Jay who has been getting mixed in with the terrorists...

Leo seems a bit of a loner to be honest. He seems happiest when training. He was probably closest to Splinter, but since his death he's been helping out Karai and the foot, and has just dicovered the Battle Nexus, through Splinter's old scrolls. As for Splinter, he seems to have known countless people, mostly through the astral plane... Also, at the time of his death, he was living in Northampton with Shadow, Metal Head and 'Stainless Steel' Steve of the Justice Force.

That's pretty much all that I can think of right now, but I personally feel that people don't have just one best friend, they can have many.

[Scandia]

OK, since nobody has posted since this morning (boo hiss- I was hoping to see some new input when I got back from my out of town trip), I will post again.

Each Turtle's best friend overall across the universes would be:

Raphael- Casey
Michelangelo-Raphael
Donatello- April
Leonardo- Splinter


Agree? Disagree? Any exceptions?

[Warhorse]

Originally Posted by Scandia

OK, since nobody has posted since this morning (boo hiss- I was hoping to see some new input when I got back from my out of town trip), I will post again.

Each Turtle's best friend overall across the universes would be:

Raphael- Casey
Michelangelo-Raphael
Donatello- April
Leonardo- Splinter


Agree? Disagree? Any exceptions?

What about April's and Casey perception on who they may feel is their best friend?

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

It IS worth noting that the "Mikey is my best friend" comment from Raph in the comics is before he even meets Casey.

But of course. You can note anything you feel fit in any topic on this forum. It's nice to hear people's views on the comics. (I actually find people's interpretations of the comics to be more interesting and fun to read than the actual comics themselves. I've given a few of the comics a shot, but I just dont like the style, and some of the later series are so far out there, I dont want to even know about their storylines at all. Like Mikey's kid with some princess. Some things I prefer to be absent out of my mind permantly)

[MoreCowbell5263]

I remember in some other thread I mentioned that Raph and Mikey get along great in the cartoons, but in the movies, it seems that Don and Mike have the best friendships. Don and Leo have a good relationship, I never thought of April and Don being best friends, but I don't watch the new cartoon that much. If Raph and Mikey are best friends, Raph and Casey are really close, Donny has Mikey in the movies, and has April in the cartoon, makes me feel sorry for Leo. Leo either sees Splinter as a best friend, which is kinda sad because it's like having your dad as your best friend, but I know Leo has a close relationship with Don and Raph at times, but his relationship with them isn't especially close.

[triplexxx]

Originally Posted by MoreCowbell5263

I know Leo has a close relationship with Don and Raph at times, but his relationship with them isn't especially close.

On the contrary, Leonardo and Raphael are very close, considering they're rivals and in certain manners of speaking complete opposites, while in other manners of speaking very similar.

[Scandia]

What about April's and Casey perception on who they may feel is their best friend?

I did ask about them. I do wonder who their best friends are. For Casey, it is Raphael. But for April, it varies upon the medium. In the OT it is Irma. Otherwise probably Donatello. Notice that I am not counting significant others at all.

If Raph and Mikey are best friends, Raph and Casey are really close, Donny has Mikey in the movies, and has April in the cartoon, makes me feel sorry for Leo. Leo either sees Splinter as a best friend, which is kinda sad because it's like having your dad as your best friend.

Does not make Leonardo pathetic in any way. On the contrary, this adds to the variety of the characters in the show.

[Mr._Mutant_Man]

Originally Posted by Scandia

Who's April's best friend?

According to that one song, I think diamonds would be.

[Scandia]

Now that song is really stupid. It does apply to Jeanne de la Motte Valois- but NOT to April O'Neil. April is cool.

Anyhow, now to the second part of the question:

Are the people whom each Turtle considers his best friend do consider them back? Is it reciprocal? Or do Casey, April, and Splinter each consider someone else his or her best friend?

[Time Mistress]

In the OT April and Irma were best friends.

[Scandia]

"La la la! I have a date! I can't be late!"

I think April is better off being Donatello's best friend. Even though the OT April DID kick some major gluteus maximus. Does April show a different best friend besides Irma and Donnie in any other TMNT universe?

And does Splinter show any indication of having any other best friend in any other TMNTverse?

I guess Raph-Casey is definitely mutual everywhere- possible exception could be the first movie, but Raph was injured so that may not count.

[Time Mistress]

Well, there was that Japanese girl in Archie who became her camera woman, Yuki I think was her name. Otherwise poor April doesn't have much of a social life. I suppose her sister Robyn could have been her best friend growing up.

[Sage Ninja]

I am basing my pair-ups on mutual equal realtionship and respect with each other. Like if the realationship is on more or less equal terms and common interst the character might sgare with each other.


Classic Toon

Leonardo: Donatello

Donatello: Leonardo

Raphael: Michaelangelo

Michaelangelo: Raphael

(side characters that could be best friends)

Donatello: ?

Raphael: Mona Lisa

Leoanrdo: Lotus Blossom (ok more of a love interest but they have a lot in common) April

Michaelangelo: Mondo Geko

New Toon:

Leo: Raphael/Donatello

Raph: Leonardo/mikey

Don: Leonardo/ Mikey

Mikey Donatello/Raphael

(side character the turtles are frineds with)

Raph: Casey Jones, and that Tricertron guy

Don: April O'Neil, Leatherhead, and Proffsor Honercutt

Leo: Usagi Yojimbo, and Splinter

Mikey: Klunk (I would also say Silver Sentry but that is more of a hero worship, looking up too, admiration type of thing that I wouldn't call friendship on eqaul terms with)