Are the TMNT crimefighters? - Page 2

*pannoni1* · 12-09-2011, 12:59 PM

Yeah, it still annoys me when TMNT is labeled as "children's", even though it may say something like "Ages 12 and Up" for the paper RPG book, which clearly belongs in Teen/Young Adult. It makes you question how timeless the franchise is when the original fans of the kiddie stuff are now in their late 20s/early 30s and are starting their own families. But if there was a "maybe" option, that's what I'd pick. In the OT, April sometimes acts like a chief to the turtles, claiming that something has been invaded and needs to be stop, hence making them crimefighters to her, and April would then report on the deeds that the turtles did. In most other incarnations, the turtles are more or less "war fighters", given that they must stop vast clan/armies in order to save the world and not simply catch criminals.

*CyberCubed* · 12-09-2011, 04:52 PM

Hopefully Tom Waltz is lurking this thread to get a general overview on the TMNT and their place in the world.

They don't patrol for crime and don't want to "clean up the city" ala Batman and Spiderman, but they will stop trouble if it comes across them.

Even in the original cartoon during Season 8 Raphael says, "We're not here to save the entire universe."

It amused me as the Turtles didn't give a crap about what was happening in Dimension X.

**Venom** · 12-09-2011, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

Hopefully Tom Waltz is lurking this thread to get a general overview on the TMNT and their place in the world.

They don't patrol for crime and don't want to "clean up the city" ala Batman and Spiderman, but they will stop trouble if it comes across them.

Oh, Tom has a perfect handle on those types.

*Coola Yagami* · 12-10-2011, 03:04 PM

Now that I noticed... they weren't really crimefighters in the OT either. They were just out to stop whatever scheme the Shredder was up to, and only went out on patrol when they needed to stop his latest plan. They never went out to clean the city and were more than content to stay home all day watching monster movies and eating pizza until Shredder's latest plan was revealed. Unlike Mirage, they never set out to find Shredder first....if the bad guys ever took a break, the Turtles would have been bored with nothing to do since they never had the 'we must take out the Shredder before he does anything evil' attitude.

I'd imagine if Shredder somehow survived his encounters with the Turtles in Mirage and would return with plots of revenge every other issue, the Turtles would have been seen in the same light.

*ToTheNines* · 12-10-2011, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coola Yagami

Now that I noticed... they weren't really crimefighters in the OT either.

Right. They were kinda "hyped up" as superheros/crimefighters and were referred to as such in the show, but when you really think about it, they weren't.

*CyberCubed* · 12-10-2011, 07:21 PM

I think the Turtles were called crime fighters on the Channel 6 news, but they never did actively patrol the streets in the old toon either.

Occasionally though they would watch a scientific lab they thought Shreddder would break into however.

*ssjup81* · 12-10-2011, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coola Yagami

Now that I noticed... they weren't really crimefighters in the OT either.

Hm, I mentioned that earlier in this thread.

*Kendamu* · 12-11-2011, 12:39 AM

I figure that, at this point in the comics, Raph and Casey fight crime together as their recreational activity as its always been in most TMNT universe. Anything involving patrolling and fighting crime that's happened before Raphael #1 was probably just a part of their search for Raphael.

If they do regular Batman-like patrols after this point then we know that something's different. I've never absolutely hated TMNT crime patrols so it's not like I'll stop reading, but the Turtles having to deal with their own problems in their own world and not necessarily "fighting crime" just for the sake of it is something I enjoy much more.

I'll never be opposed to seeing a Turtle beat up a mugger or something, though.

*Donnie* · 12-11-2011, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssjup81

Hm, I mentioned that earlier in this thread.

Gotta hate when that happens!

Matches Malone · 12-26-2011, 10:31 PM

Just got the Ultimate Collection (which looks wonderful by the way) and couldn't help but notice in Kevin's annotations for #2 he says: "They have now become classic vigilante crime fighters!"

Of course, Kevin Eastman is probably much more flexible when it comes to things like this, but I just thought it was very interesting... The reason I brought this question up in the first place was to see what fans regarded them as, but either way, obviously the point of TMNT is to have them go on adventures which include battling criminals and villains. While they don't really seek out crime to stop, this is probably a telling statement in simply what the fun was in creating the TMNT: Any excuse for that ninja action, right?

Hermano Dyvas · 12-27-2011, 10:46 AM

They are not crimefighters as in actively patrolling the city to keep it safe but they will fight crime when they encounter it.

Besides, jumping rooftops makes good practice. I thought they enjoyed to do so as well. I think that's what their patrols are, a bit like going jogging so to speak, nothing superheroic about it at all.

Metropoliskid41 · 12-27-2011, 11:07 AM

I wish there was an "other" or "kinda" choice

I'm kind of split on this issue in the current IDW book. I think that Raph & Casey are crime fighters, but don't believe the Turtles as a whole are.

Raph & Casey teamed up and go and fight crime, not totally Batman style but they lurk in the shadows in the crappy part of town and do their part to clean up the trash when they get a chance, a hobby that it seems Casey has always had in every incarnation.

Now the other 3 Turtles in my opinion "patrolled" but it was to look for Raph, but they often ended up tangling with Old Hob in the process. Now Old Hob has a gang of thugs, that I would assume do normal gang type activities, steal goods, rob convience stores, kill for money, and probably sell drugs. I don't think they are just a bunch of guys walking around with chains, brass nuckles, knives, and guns in dark alley ways for a nightly hobby for their old pal the mutant cat. I think they are definitely an organized criminal gang that has the goal of squashing the turtles, but are professional criminals first and foremost. So yeah I guess these 3 turtles and Splinter "fight crime" but to me its a more personal thing and self defense. They aren't out to save the world or necessarily stop Old Hob and his criminal activities. To me they're searching for Raph while being hunted by Hob, so when he confronts them and attacks them, they're gonna fight back against Hob and is Thugs. But when Splinter didn't allow them to kill Hob that to me right there said that stopping him permanently isn't a priority. That gave me the vibe that they aren't out to stop his next scheme like the OT Turtles were for stopping Krang and Shredder's next plot. Hope all that ramblin makes sense

*ToTheNines* · 12-27-2011, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metropoliskid41

Now Old Hob has a gang of thugs, that I would assume do normal gang type activities, steal goods, rob convience stores, kill for money, and probably sell drugs.

I don't think so. From what I can tell, they're simply hired hands. Baxter is giving Hob the money to pay for their services, and is only using Hob so if something goes wrong, they wouldn't be able to trace anything back to Stockgen.

Unless Hob folded under questioning.

Metropoliskid41 · 12-27-2011, 02:58 PM

Valid point, thats true, I assumed they probably did gang things on the side, I guess that might be really the only inconsistent characterization in the book. At least to me the thugs Splinter takes down and avoids in Issue #5 that are working for Hob, do not seem to be Mercenaries or professional hired guns, they seem more like street thugs to me. But maybe I'm interpretating them wrong. You definitely have a valid point. That being said that doesn't really affect how I broke down my view of the Leo, Don, Mikey, and Splinter not being traditional Crime Fighters, while Raph and Casey are.

Logan · 12-27-2011, 03:00 PM

They're crimefighters, but only incidentally. In some ways I think the turtles bear antiheroic traits, such as taking revenge and an "end justifies the means" mentality in some cases.

junkboy · 12-27-2011, 03:59 PM

Although i voted no, i can see them as crimefighters ( just sometimes tho )
But most of times their own problems or enemies are interrupting that i guess.
So their crime fight is generally a practice to face their bigger and badass foe. Which i like more.
I like vigilante stuff, but i would not want them to be that one dimensional way.

*ToTheNines* · 12-27-2011, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metropoliskid41

That being said that doesn't really affect how I broke down my view of the Leo, Don, Mikey, and Splinter not being traditional Crime Fighters, while Raph and Casey are.

Right, I was just getting sidetracked lol.

TobTurn · 12-28-2011, 06:50 AM

No, in my opinion they're not crimefighters. Like people said, if they're just training on rooftops, or just go out for some fresh air and they see/hear someone being robbed or getting beat up, they'd help that person. But they don't go looking for it.

View Poll Results: Are the TMNT crimefighters?
Yes	8	26.67%
No	22	73.33%
Voters: 30. You may not vote on this poll

12-09-2011, 12:59 PM	#21
pannoni1 Foot Elite Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: USA Posts: 3,447	Yeah, it still annoys me when TMNT is labeled as "children's", even though it may say something like "Ages 12 and Up" for the paper RPG book, which clearly belongs in Teen/Young Adult. It makes you question how timeless the franchise is when the original fans of the kiddie stuff are now in their late 20s/early 30s and are starting their own families. But if there was a "maybe" option, that's what I'd pick. In the OT, April sometimes acts like a chief to the turtles, claiming that something has been invaded and needs to be stop, hence making them crimefighters to her, and April would then report on the deeds that the turtles did. In most other incarnations, the turtles are more or less "war fighters", given that they must stop vast clan/armies in order to save the world and not simply catch criminals. __________________ http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/sho...d.php?t=37065- MY WANT LIST TMNT FAN CLUB LINK: http://sot.ag/gCjK/ 30 years of Turtle Power!

12-10-2011, 03:04 PM	#24
Coola Yagami Overlord Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 15,701	Now that I noticed... they weren't really crimefighters in the OT either. They were just out to stop whatever scheme the Shredder was up to, and only went out on patrol when they needed to stop his latest plan. They never went out to clean the city and were more than content to stay home all day watching monster movies and eating pizza until Shredder's latest plan was revealed. Unlike Mirage, they never set out to find Shredder first....if the bad guys ever took a break, the Turtles would have been bored with nothing to do since they never had the 'we must take out the Shredder before he does anything evil' attitude. I'd imagine if Shredder somehow survived his encounters with the Turtles in Mirage and would return with plots of revenge every other issue, the Turtles would have been seen in the same light. __________________ "I was down with TMNT once, but then they changed what TMNT was. Now what I was down with is no longer TMNT and what TMNT now is seems weird and scary. And it'll happen to YOU." Check out my blog for Comic Reviews and other things. https://markepicblogofrandomness.blogspot.com/ I also started The AEW Crew, the All Elite Wrestling Fan Club! https://www.facebook.com/groups/637508120044168/

12-27-2011, 10:46 AM	#31
Hermano Dyvas Hench Mutant Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Europe Posts: 355	They are not crimefighters as in actively patrolling the city to keep it safe but they will fight crime when they encounter it. Besides, jumping rooftops makes good practice. I thought they enjoyed to do so as well. I think that's what their patrols are, a bit like going jogging so to speak, nothing superheroic about it at all. Last edited by Hermano Dyvas; 12-27-2011 at 10:53 AM.

12-27-2011, 11:07 AM	#32
Metropoliskid41 Stone Warrior Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Tundra Posts: 886	I wish there was an "other" or "kinda" choice I'm kind of split on this issue in the current IDW book. I think that Raph & Casey are crime fighters, but don't believe the Turtles as a whole are. Raph & Casey teamed up and go and fight crime, not totally Batman style but they lurk in the shadows in the crappy part of town and do their part to clean up the trash when they get a chance, a hobby that it seems Casey has always had in every incarnation. Now the other 3 Turtles in my opinion "patrolled" but it was to look for Raph, but they often ended up tangling with Old Hob in the process. Now Old Hob has a gang of thugs, that I would assume do normal gang type activities, steal goods, rob convience stores, kill for money, and probably sell drugs. I don't think they are just a bunch of guys walking around with chains, brass nuckles, knives, and guns in dark alley ways for a nightly hobby for their old pal the mutant cat. I think they are definitely an organized criminal gang that has the goal of squashing the turtles, but are professional criminals first and foremost. So yeah I guess these 3 turtles and Splinter "fight crime" but to me its a more personal thing and self defense. They aren't out to save the world or necessarily stop Old Hob and his criminal activities. To me they're searching for Raph while being hunted by Hob, so when he confronts them and attacks them, they're gonna fight back against Hob and is Thugs. But when Splinter didn't allow them to kill Hob that to me right there said that stopping him permanently isn't a priority. That gave me the vibe that they aren't out to stop his next scheme like the OT Turtles were for stopping Krang and Shredder's next plot. Hope all that ramblin makes sense __________________ -------------------

12-09-2011, 04:52 PM	#22
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,838	Hopefully Tom Waltz is lurking this thread to get a general overview on the TMNT and their place in the world. They don't patrol for crime and don't want to "clean up the city" ala Batman and Spiderman, but they will stop trouble if it comes across them. Even in the original cartoon during Season 8 Raphael says, "We're not here to save the entire universe." It amused me as the Turtles didn't give a crap about what was happening in Dimension X.

12-10-2011, 07:21 PM	#26
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,838	I think the Turtles were called crime fighters on the Channel 6 news, but they never did actively patrol the streets in the old toon either. Occasionally though they would watch a scientific lab they thought Shreddder would break into however.

12-11-2011, 12:39 AM	#28
Kendamu Sewerhead Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,890	I figure that, at this point in the comics, Raph and Casey fight crime together as their recreational activity as its always been in most TMNT universe. Anything involving patrolling and fighting crime that's happened before Raphael #1 was probably just a part of their search for Raphael. If they do regular Batman-like patrols after this point then we know that something's different. I've never absolutely hated TMNT crime patrols so it's not like I'll stop reading, but the Turtles having to deal with their own problems in their own world and not necessarily "fighting crime" just for the sake of it is something I enjoy much more. I'll never be opposed to seeing a Turtle beat up a mugger or something, though.

12-26-2011, 10:31 PM	#30
Matches Malone Stone Warrior Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: California Posts: 954	Just got the Ultimate Collection (which looks wonderful by the way) and couldn't help but notice in Kevin's annotations for #2 he says: "They have now become classic vigilante crime fighters!" Of course, Kevin Eastman is probably much more flexible when it comes to things like this, but I just thought it was very interesting... The reason I brought this question up in the first place was to see what fans regarded them as, but either way, obviously the point of TMNT is to have them go on adventures which include battling criminals and villains. While they don't really seek out crime to stop, this is probably a telling statement in simply what the fun was in creating the TMNT: Any excuse for that ninja action, right?

12-27-2011, 02:58 PM	#34
Metropoliskid41 Stone Warrior Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Tundra Posts: 886	Valid point, thats true, I assumed they probably did gang things on the side, I guess that might be really the only inconsistent characterization in the book. At least to me the thugs Splinter takes down and avoids in Issue #5 that are working for Hob, do not seem to be Mercenaries or professional hired guns, they seem more like street thugs to me. But maybe I'm interpretating them wrong. You definitely have a valid point. That being said that doesn't really affect how I broke down my view of the Leo, Don, Mikey, and Splinter not being traditional Crime Fighters, while Raph and Casey are. __________________ -------------------

12-27-2011, 03:00 PM	#35
Logan Hench Mutant Join Date: May 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 483	They're crimefighters, but only incidentally. In some ways I think the turtles bear antiheroic traits, such as taking revenge and an "end justifies the means" mentality in some cases. __________________ We're a team; and as a team let's go kick some ass! -Leonardo Logan the Layman Critic, a youtube channel for movie reviews and animation appreciation. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjn...xrKPml1WlYh6Mw

12-27-2011, 03:59 PM	#36
junkboy Hench Mutant Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Turkey Posts: 443	Although i voted no, i can see them as crimefighters ( just sometimes tho ) But most of times their own problems or enemies are interrupting that i guess. So their crime fight is generally a practice to face their bigger and badass foe. Which i like more. I like vigilante stuff, but i would not want them to be that one dimensional way. __________________

12-28-2011, 06:50 AM	#38
TobTurn Foot Soldier Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 153	No, in my opinion they're not crimefighters. Like people said, if they're just training on rooftops, or just go out for some fresh air and they see/hear someone being robbed or getting beat up, they'd help that person. But they don't go looking for it.