Which April is best? Scientist or Reporter?

[Andrew NDB]

News reporter April is rubbish. It's just there to create contrivances for the silly plots and because David Wise was too lazy to try and make an everywoman character work with the Turtles.

Every time I see the new TMNT universes trying to put her in yellow everything I just have to roll my eyes.

[Leo656]

Originally Posted by BabyTurtles

Okay guys..how bout April as a cop??

that way she could defend herself AND be involved with the turtles and help stop crime.

Nah, that'd put her in a huge "conflict of interest" situation where her superiors harangued her for more information on her "friends" who mysteriously keep beating up all these bad guys before the cops show up, as well as how she could know more about the bad guys than all the other cops do. She'd get kicked off the force in about five minutes for withholding information from her superiors.

I go for Reporter April, as others have noted Donnie's already the Techie and there's little point in having two of those. April is by definition a Bystander, not the Star. I understand why some people like the idea of her getting more involved with the Turtles' adventures but I'm not a huge fan of that. It's their world/story, at most April is a plot device that moves things forward, as well as being the Audience Avatar, through whose eyes we are to see/react to these bizarre events which are mundane in this fictional reality. It's like whenever writers get bored and decide to give Jimmy Olsen super-powers, and everyone unanimously screams, "We Don't Give A Sh*t", because Jimmy Olsen is not the Star of the Story, his role is to get caught up in the hero's adventures, not have his own adventures.

Because whether you're reading about a bulletproof alien in a cape or a group of mutant reptiles who know martial arts, I don't think it's wise to give valuable story real estate to arguably the least-interesting character(s).

Don't get me wrong, I like April; I just think April's role in the fiction is more to react to events, rather than instigating them. She's a bridge between the Turtles and the rest of the world; that's really all she needs to be. I think that's why her occupation is seemingly up for grabs across different media; what she does for a living is kind of irrelevant to her greater role as a plot device.

[arkangel]

I guess it depends on what medium you're referring to. In the Mirage Comics, April was definitely more than a plot device as her character was fleshed out well and most certainly an intregal part of that universe. Some of the later cartoons, not as much.
I also like the "my after-school tutor" April, for those years that I really needed extra help with my um.. math homework.

[BabyTurtles]

Originally Posted by Leo656

Nah, that'd put her in a huge "conflict of interest" situation where her superiors harangued her for more information on her "friends" who mysteriously keep beating up all these bad guys before the cops show up, as well as how she could know more about the bad guys than all the other cops do. She'd get kicked off the force in about five minutes for withholding information from her superiors.

Maybe you're right....but Elisa from Gargoyles seemed to pull it off and be awesome

[Whatswiththeheadbands?]

Scientist. Never been keen on Reporter April.

[Technogeek29]

Originally Posted by Leo656

Nah, that'd put her in a huge "conflict of interest" situation where her superiors harangued her for more information on her "friends" who mysteriously keep beating up all these bad guys before the cops show up, as well as how she could know more about the bad guys than all the other cops do. She'd get kicked off the force in about five minutes for withholding information from her superiors.

I go for Reporter April, as others have noted Donnie's already the Techie and there's little point in having two of those. April is by definition a Bystander, not the Star. I understand why some people like the idea of her getting more involved with the Turtles' adventures but I'm not a huge fan of that. It's their world/story, at most April is a plot device that moves things forward, as well as being the Audience Avatar, through whose eyes we are to see/react to these bizarre events which are mundane in this fictional reality. It's like whenever writers get bored and decide to give Jimmy Olsen super-powers, and everyone unanimously screams, "We Don't Give A Sh*t", because Jimmy Olsen is not the Star of the Story, his role is to get caught up in the hero's adventures, not have his own adventures.

Because whether you're reading about a bulletproof alien in a cape or a group of mutant reptiles who know martial arts, I don't think it's wise to give valuable story real estate to arguably the least-interesting character(s).

Don't get me wrong, I like April; I just think April's role in the fiction is more to react to events, rather than instigating them. She's a bridge between the Turtles and the rest of the world; that's really all she needs to be. I think that's why her occupation is seemingly up for grabs across different media; what she does for a living is kind of irrelevant to her greater role as a plot device.

To fix that issue you would have to make April in an atagonist role for a period before she started becoming friends with them. Of course once she does then the above situation you mentioned could be a result of her getting mixed up with the Turtles.

[neatoman]

Ok, I'm just going to say this straight, having the Turtles hang out with a news reporter is a bad idea.

"We must always keep ourselves hidden from the world that won't understand us, so let's constantly hang out with a public figure who's job it is to make unusual things relevant in the eyes of the masses!"

There is a reason why the reporter thing may be the most recognisable aspect that also ends up being ignored for most versions. The only reason she's a reporter in the latest movie is because the producers thought it was more marketable that way.

[Leo656]

They could always tweak it and make her a struggling tabloid reporter looking for a break, rather than an established big shot Lois Lane type. Then it didn't matter how much she knew or didn't know, nobody'd believe her anyway.

I'unno, it just seems like TMNT hang out with entirely too many scientists. There's just way too many scientist-type characters in the fiction when one of them is already a main character.

Just have her fold sweaters at the Gap. Problem solved.

[Netkeeper]

How about April O'Neil: Paranormal Investigator.

Eh? Ehhh??? I like it!

Bah, tough crowd, I'll just go with scientist because I like the way she looks in a lab coat. I like the way Stockman looks in one, too. And Leatherhead. And okay I'll shut up now I just really like lab coats.

[I have legit reasons for picking scientist April but I'm too lazy to type them.]

[ssjup81]

Originally Posted by Leo656

Just have her fold sweaters at the Gap. Problem solved.

Nick April?

[Leo656]

Originally Posted by Netkeeper

Bah, tough crowd, I'll just go with scientist because I like the way she looks in a lab coat.

If we're talkin' OT April, I wouldn't mind seein' her in JUST a lab coat! HI-OHHHHH!

Man, you're right, this is a tough room....

[Gunpowder]

I just found her more fitting as a scientist; I don't have a particular reason. She seemed more independent, I guess.

[smitbro2]

I like both but I'm gonna have to lean towards programmer April since I'm in the same field

[Luckyday]

Originally Posted by Technogeek29

To fix that issue you would have to make April in an atagonist role for a period before she started becoming friends with them. Of course once she does then the above situation you mentioned could be a result of her getting mixed up with the Turtles.

That's actually a really novel idea. It can be like J. Jonah Jameson situation or have working her along Baxter Stockman's side for a while.

[Coola Yagami]

News reporter. I don't see why being a scientist is even an issue. She was a scientist for what... A week before the Baxter deal went south.

[Coola Yagami]

Originally Posted by Leo656

If we're talkin' OT April, I wouldn't mind seein' her in JUST a lab coat! HI-OHHHHH!

That got my attention kind sir.

[Bry]

Scientist/programmer. Though either one works fine, I always enjoyed the Mirage version the best. I think her friendship with the Turtles makes a bit more "sense" if she's not a prominent public figure, and I like her having some technical smarts.

[IndigoErth]

Gonna go with reporter since that's what I've always been most familiar with, though after watching the 2003 series the 'scientist' version is an interesting take. (Man, at the point you have her, Donnie, and Leatherhead... lots of brains in that series. )

[Warhorse]

Originally Posted by BabyTurtles

Okay guys..how bout April as a cop??

that way she could defend herself AND be involved with the turtles and help stop crime.

This! I prefer the April as a reporter, but I would have much preferred her being a cop or detetective of some sorts, or maybe even an FBI agent. (Back then, my ideal April would have been something like The X-Files Dana Scully)
Not too much a fan of the scientist April though.

However, I have seen fanfics where April was also a vet, and I liked that scenario as well.

[Slade]

Honest answer, I don't care either way. Not fond of April.