Who would you say is the main character?

[Leofan26]

Of 87 I’d say Mikey maybe but as shows go on I’d say Leo do to the amount of focus he gets. Unless your talking live action movies in which case I’d say Raph.

[ToTheNines]

Mirage = Leo

1990 movies = Raph (Donnie and Mikey getting some decent arcs in the following movies, respectively)

87 show = Donatello for sure

Archie comics = Murph was pretty good about keeping this even. I guess Raph if you had to pick.

2003 = Leo

IDW = Splinter

2012 = Splinter and Leo

Rise = I guess Splinter again

MM = Leo?

[Bluelightsaber]

In the '87 show, Mikey gets a lot of love, but Leo is usually the main character. In the 90s movie, Raph takes the lead. In the 2003 series, Leo's definitely front and center. Splinter gets more focus in IDW and Rise, though.

[Andrew NDB]

There isn't one. It's the very definition of "an ensemble cast."

[ToTheNines]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

There isn't one. It's the very definition of "an ensemble cast."

When done right yes. And in the long-running versions the writers are able to shift focus when they want to. But even in Mirage, you can’t deny that Mike and to a lesser extent Don, get kind of pushed to the side in the “big” arcs.

[MikeyLover_14123]

Originally Posted by ToTheNines

Mirage = Leo

1990 movies = Raph (Donnie and Mikey getting some decent arcs in the following movies, respectively)

87 show = Donatello for sure

Archie comics = Murph was pretty good about keeping this even. I guess Raph if you had to pick.

2003 = Leo

IDW = Splinter

2012 = Splinter and Leo

Rise = I guess Splinter again

MM = Leo?

I would pay 100$ to get a tmnt show centered around Mikey for once, it seems that he gets little parts, but I would love him to have more spotlight

[IndigoErth]

Now that you say it, Rise with its focus on humor and high energy, on top of trying to make Mikey smarter in contrast to what 2012 did, that show was a missed opportunity to make him the main character. (Note, this does not mean making him leader.) It might have let him shine more in contrast to other character changes that, imo, made him fall into the background and stand out less than usual.

Ronin is all him though, far as other media goes.

[Braeden99]

Originally Posted by MikeyLover_14123

I would pay 100$ to get a tmnt show centered around Mikey for once, it seems that he gets little parts, but I would love him to have more spotlight

You should check out Tales Vol. 2 #64 "The Burning Man"

definitely one of my favourite Mikey centered stories.

[Anarchistguy]

Mirage: Leo

1987: Mikey

Archie: This was the only version where they were even

Movie 1: Raph

Movie 2: Don

Movie 3: Mikey

2003: Leo

2012: Leo

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

None, and that's it.

Comic issues and cartoon episodes focusing on science and technology tend to focus on Donatello. Those focusing more specific on ninjutsu and Japanese martial arts may focus on Leonardo.

Those dealing with having fun may focus on Michelangelo while those dealing with street gangs may focus on Raphael.

[shredder orokusaki]

IAM THE MAIN CHARACTER! None of my enemies those green freaks are. ONLY ME THE SHREDDER MUAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !

[ToTheNines]

Originally Posted by Anarchistguy

1987: Mikey

This is the only one I disagree with you on. Michelangelo was the catchphrase guy and absolutely the mascot of that era since he was the pizza-obsessed one and always said “cowabunga”. But he was mostly just a tag along as far as the plot went.

Donatello was typically the only one to effect the story and save the day.

[FredWolfLeonardo]

I know this may sound stupid, but could April be considered the main character of the 1987 series?

She was there all along, and we first get to see the turtles through her eyes. It's almost as if she fills in for the audience with her perspective.

If you want to go even deeper, her role becomes much smaller as the show dies down in the Red Sky seasons and most people lost interest.

[ToTheNines]

Yeah she was certainly a main character. That’s why we see so much of the Channel 6 staff. And her investigative journalism is what moves the plot along most of the time.

[Drose18]

Originally Posted by FredWolfLeonardo

I know this may sound stupid, but could April be considered the main character of the 1987 series?

She was there all along, and we first get to see the turtles through her eyes. It's almost as if she fills in for the audience with her perspective.

If you want to go even deeper, her role becomes much smaller as the show dies down in the Red Sky seasons and most people lost interest.

Thats like saying R2-D2 is the main character of Star Wars - so, you're not wrong

[Anarchistguy]

Originally Posted by ToTheNines

This is the only one I disagree with you on. Michelangelo was the catchphrase guy and absolutely the mascot of that era since he was the pizza-obsessed one and always said “cowabunga”. But he was mostly just a tag along as far as the plot went.

Donatello was typically the only one to effect the story and save the day.

Mikey was quite litterally the face of the series. Whenever TMNT commercials aired, they made them ALL sound like Mikey. Whenever casuals think of the TMNT, they assume the Turtles are basically four Mikeys. I would also argue that most single Turtle episodes focused on Mikey.

[TylerD]

Originally Posted by ToTheNines

Mirage = Leo

1990 movies = Raph (Donnie and Mikey getting some decent arcs in the following movies, respectively)

87 show = Donatello for sure

Archie comics = Murph was pretty good about keeping this even. I guess Raph if you had to pick.

2003 = Leo

IDW = Splinter

2012 = Splinter and Leo

Rise = I guess Splinter again

MM = Leo?

IDW splinter for sure but then his death took him away for a long period so not so sure we can say he's a main character as of late, but the story of Yoshi is definitely very in depth and there wouldn't be IDW storyline period if it wasn't for Yoshi and Oroku Saki

[ToTheNines]

Originally Posted by Anarchistguy

Mikey was quite litterally the face of the series. Whenever TMNT commercials aired, they made them ALL sound like Mikey. Whenever casuals think of the TMNT, they assume the Turtles are basically four Mikeys. I would also argue that most single Turtle episodes focused on Mikey.

Yeah, I agree he was the mascot. But again, that’s just the commercial aspect, not the content of the plot. Michelangelo almost never drove the plot. He was there to be quirky and say catchphrases.

It’s like saying Slimer was the main character of Real Ghostbusters.

Originally Posted by TylerD

IDW splinter for sure but then his death took him away for a long period so not so sure we can say he's a main character as of late, but the story of Yoshi is definitely very in depth and there wouldn't be IDW storyline period if it wasn't for Yoshi and Oroku Saki

Totally. I’m maybe halfway through the Sophie run. There’s so many characters I can’t really say who the main character is. I’m not there yet but I understand Donnie was the key character for #150.

Originally Posted by MikeyLover_14123

I would pay 100$ to get a tmnt show centered around Mikey for once, it seems that he gets little parts, but I would love him to have more spotlight

Same. I guess you could say Last Ronin did that, but it sucked ass so I don’t count it.

[TheLabRat]

I feel like IDW writer love other characters and villains than the turtles or Splinter.

[TylerD]

Originally Posted by ToTheNines

Yeah, I agree he was the mascot. But again, that’s just the commercial aspect, not the content of the plot. Michelangelo almost never drove the plot. He was there to be quirky and say catchphrases.

It’s like saying Slimer was the main character of Real Ghostbusters.



Totally. I’m maybe halfway through the Sophie run. There’s so many characters I can’t really say who the main character is. I’m not there yet but I understand Donnie was the key character for #150.



Same. I guess you could say Last Ronin did that, but it sucked ass so I don’t count it.

Absolutely! It's wild how many characters are in it and how deep the storylines go. Even with Casey and his dad Arnold. So well done