April being re-imagined as younger and younger in new incarnations - Page 2

*Jephael* · 08-30-2012, 09:16 AM

I like how IDW made both April and Casey young college students, but I'm not sure how I feel about her being a teenager in the new show.

*Mr._Mutant_Man* · 08-30-2012, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Stryker

I'd rather have April as a teen over her being a sad 30 something with nothing to do but hang around with teenage mutant turtles.

Sad? She's always going on exciting adventures. That's hardly sad. Except that she probably always smells like a sewer.

I agree with changing things up, though. We've seen adult April in every other version, nothing wrong with a little change. Besides, I have a feeling that she'll still be more mature than the Turtles, even if they are roughly the same age, so it might not be all that different except that she'll be treated like a kid in her life outside the Turtles.

*Andrew NDB* · 08-30-2012, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZariusTwo

Where do you get off saying what is and isnt "supposed to be" in a franchise that has constantly reinvented the interpretation of the characters over the decades?

I think the merit of a lot of entries into said franchise need to be debated before any kind of sound-minded discussion about the merits of April's spinoff variations can begin. In the source material, as she was created and intended to be, she is the den mother, the big sister at times, our eyes into the world of the TMNT at others, and eventually a love interest/counterpoint for Casey Jones. And more. Now, what she is not: a celebrity news reporter, a child, a like-minded sibling, and certainly not a love interest for the Turtles.

That said, there is one April O'Neil spinoff variation I can get behind. Right behind:
[link removed]

**Jester** · 08-30-2012, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

I think the merit of a lot of entries into said franchise need to be debated before any kind of sound-minded discussion about the merits of April's spinoff variations can begin. In the source material, as she was created and intended to be, she is the den mother, the big sister at times, our eyes into the world of the TMNT at others, and eventually a love interest/counterpoint for Casey Jones. And more. Now, what she is not: a celebrity news reporter, a child, a like-minded sibling, and certainly not a love interest for the Turtles.

That said, there is one April O'Neil spinoff variation I can get behind. Right behind:
[link removed]

EDGY!!!

I'm done.

*zkarlette* · 08-30-2012, 08:52 PM

Man..I guess that leaves all context of nick April out the window.

*The Stryker* · 08-31-2012, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr._Mutant_Man

Sad? She's always going on exciting adventures. That's hardly sad. Except that she probably always smells like a sewer.

She has NO friends outside of the turtles and does absolutely nothing without them. That's alittle sad.

On another note it really bugs me that some people are still on the 'Mirage did it, so that's the way it's meant to be forever and ever and ever.' get over it. It's dead.

*ZariusTwo* · 08-31-2012, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Stryker

She has NO friends outside of the turtles and does absolutely nothing without them. That's alittle sad.

On another note it really bugs me that some people are still on the 'Mirage did it, so that's the way it's meant to be forever and ever and ever.' get over it. It's dead.

Agreed. The franchise's most memorable aspects have all come from interpretations that go AGAINST the original comics, so we should be used to this stuff working in TMNT's favour by now.

n-zero · 08-31-2012, 10:20 AM

I kind of like the IDW college age idea. She's close enough in age to be a peer, but old enough to be career-minded, which either as a lab tech, tv reporter, or antiques dealer is another one of her defining traits.

Cryomancer · 08-31-2012, 01:39 PM

If they keep making her younger, eventually she'll just be a piece of blank paper.

*Powder* · 08-31-2012, 02:04 PM

I see what you did there.

*ZariusTwo* · 08-31-2012, 02:11 PM

April is a cockroach. As God intended.

*Cipher* · 08-31-2012, 03:50 PM

I don't really see the issue.

Adding or subtracting ten years or so from April's age is not enough of a change to her core character to make me cry, "Just use someone else!"

It does change her role, though, and that's really at the discretion of what direction any new interpretation chooses. She was an independent adult in Mirage because it suited her role of providing normalcy and, at times, mothering. It also fit the less childlike Turtles and, though the comics' use of April wasn't always perfect, allowed for more mature stories in a series with an older, more intelligent bent.

But if you want a wacky action series, it's totally cool if she's the Turtles' link to the human world, but also a news reporter who can give them the lowdown on crimes and get kidnapped and stuff.

If you're going for a more series kids' action series, I'm totally okay if she's a 20-something getting trained in ninjutsu ( ... sort of. I still don't like the April-being-a-skilled-fighter bit).

And if you're going for an action-oriented version where the Turtles are all more like actual teenagers, I'm fine with April being closer to their age.

The real core of her character is that she's relatively normal, cares for the Turtles, and provides their gateway into human culture. That's something that's changed little throughout each version. In fact, after Splinter and maybe Leonardo, she's probably the most consistently portrayed character, job and age be damned.

*Mr._Mutant_Man* · 09-01-2012, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cipher

If you're going for a more series kids' action series, I'm totally okay if she's a 20-something getting trained in ninjutsu ( ... sort of. I still don't like the April-being-a-skilled-fighter bit).

I like it. It makes sense to me, if April is hanging around ninjas all the time and is getting into danger, she'd want to be trained in self defense.

Now if she's all the sudden a martial arts savant, that's too much. I'm not expecting April to take out the Shredder, but having her train to help the Turtles a little is cool.

*Ninjinister* · 09-01-2012, 03:24 PM

Michelangelo will give birth to April in the 2021 cartoon.

You heard me.

*Jephael* · 09-01-2012, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Ninjinister

Michelangelo will give birth to April in the 2021 cartoon.

You heard me.

That means he's gonna be turned into a chick at some point... just like Nostalgia Critic said Michael Bay would do!

Tuxedo Moroboshi · 09-02-2012, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BubblyShell22

While I'm not entirely sure about April being a teenager, I can see why Nick did that. They want to have her relate more to the Turtles on a teen level, something she couldn't do as an adult. But then again, there will still be problems as she won't be independent and will have to answer to her parents about the Turtles. I prefer her as an adult and the big sister type, but I'm willing to wait and see what happens with this new incarnation.

I'm pretty sure I remember reading that this April's father is a scientist that gets kidnapped by The Kraang, and that's how she meets the Turtles. So maybe she won't have to keep them a secret from them?

*chrisdude* · 09-02-2012, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clown Prince of Crime

I'm pretty sure I remember reading that this April's father is a scientist that gets kidnapped by The Kraang, and that's how she meets the Turtles. So maybe she won't have to keep them a secret from them?

Is (are?) The Kraang supposed to be evil?

Tuxedo Moroboshi · 09-02-2012, 10:34 PM

From everything that I have gathered, that does seem to be the case. They're essentially an evil version of the Utroms, with a name for their "collective" that's a nod to Krang from the 87 'toon.

Vivi · 09-04-2012, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Ninjinister

Michelangelo will give birth to April in the 2021 cartoon.

You heard me.

Plot Twist! Irma is the father.

Rule #34

*Original TMNT Cartoon Fan* · 09-04-2012, 05:42 PM

Feals like some sexualized undertone. I don't like that.

08-30-2012, 09:16 AM	#21
Jephael That whack job behind you Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Carlisle, Pennsylvania Posts: 8,143	I like how IDW made both April and Casey young college students, but I'm not sure how I feel about her being a teenager in the new show. __________________ "I like it. Simple, but effective!" Raphael; The Mean Machines - 1988

08-30-2012, 08:52 PM	#25
zkarlette Fashionably late Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: CA Posts: 4,146	Man..I guess that leaves all context of nick April out the window. __________________ "If only we'd stop trying to be happy, we could have a pretty good time" E.W

08-31-2012, 01:39 PM	#29
Cryomancer Mad Scientist Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 1,090	If they keep making her younger, eventually she'll just be a piece of blank paper. __________________ Final Boss of translation group Opentrain. We do videogame comics and TMNT stuff. http://opentrain.theyear199x.org/

08-31-2012, 02:11 PM	#31
ZariusTwo Overlord Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Britain, DINO THUNDER...POWER UP! Posts: 22,412	April is a cockroach. As God intended. __________________ Spider-Man: The Rescue Spider-Man: The Galloping Cat Spider-Man: Scarlet Mirror Doctor Who: Child of the Daleks

09-02-2012, 10:34 PM	#38
Tuxedo Moroboshi Mad Scientist Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Battle Nexus Posts: 1,127	From everything that I have gathered, that does seem to be the case. They're essentially an evil version of the Utroms, with a name for their "collective" that's a nod to Krang from the 87 'toon. __________________ Hey, be sure to check out my art!

08-31-2012, 10:20 AM	#28
n-zero Foot Soldier Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 102	I kind of like the IDW college age idea. She's close enough in age to be a peer, but old enough to be career-minded, which either as a lab tech, tv reporter, or antiques dealer is another one of her defining traits.

08-31-2012, 02:04 PM	#30
Powder 40 Years of TMNT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Shell-Ri-La Posts: 26,945	I see what you did there.

08-31-2012, 03:50 PM	#32
Cipher Foot Elite Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 3,454	I don't really see the issue. Adding or subtracting ten years or so from April's age is not enough of a change to her core character to make me cry, "Just use someone else!" It does change her role, though, and that's really at the discretion of what direction any new interpretation chooses. She was an independent adult in Mirage because it suited her role of providing normalcy and, at times, mothering. It also fit the less childlike Turtles and, though the comics' use of April wasn't always perfect, allowed for more mature stories in a series with an older, more intelligent bent. But if you want a wacky action series, it's totally cool if she's the Turtles' link to the human world, but also a news reporter who can give them the lowdown on crimes and get kidnapped and stuff. If you're going for a more series kids' action series, I'm totally okay if she's a 20-something getting trained in ninjutsu ( ... sort of. I still don't like the April-being-a-skilled-fighter bit). And if you're going for an action-oriented version where the Turtles are all more like actual teenagers, I'm fine with April being closer to their age. The real core of her character is that she's relatively normal, cares for the Turtles, and provides their gateway into human culture. That's something that's changed little throughout each version. In fact, after Splinter and maybe Leonardo, she's probably the most consistently portrayed character, job and age be damned.

09-01-2012, 03:24 PM	#34
Ninjinister 無問題 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Moesko Island, WA Posts: 14,348	Michelangelo will give birth to April in the 2021 cartoon. You heard me. __________________

09-04-2012, 05:42 PM	#40
Original TMNT Cartoon Fan Overlord Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sweden Posts: 10,480	Undertone Feals like some sexualized undertone. I don't like that.