Pterobat

[Pterobat]

Hey, everybody.

This is my first post to these forums, though I've been lurking for a bit. Thanks to re-runs of the OT on Teletoon Retro, I found myself rediscovering TMNT and am slowly working my way back through parts of the franchise I've missed and ones that I remember from before.

Like many, I grew up with the old cartoon, moved on to the Archie comics, with the first two live-action movies in between. After that, it faded as all things do, though looking back, I realize it never quite went away. I replaced the interest with other nerdy things, and active involvement in various fandoms, including Transformers and Macross, but I guess I've found myself here again.

I'm never not open to change.

Favourite characters would be a toss-up between Baxter Stockman and Splinter. Splinter in 80s and 90s was a favourite of my childhood, and Fred Wolf Splinter was always the one I liked the best. I think it was because he was smart--nowadays I can see more problems with the character, but a knee-jerk, nostalgic impulse keeps any criticism from sticking for long. I find it harder to like the new Splinters, not because there's anyting wrong with 'em, but becuase that interest is so steeped in nostalgia.

Baxter I barely remembered from those years ago, but I found that I liked him now, when he's portrayed as an evil but pitiful failure, as Fred Wolf and 4Kids Baxter are, and maybe that's where Nicktoons Baxter is going. That "type" of Baxter is darkly hilarious and sympathetic all at once, though I don't consider him innocent at any point.

I can't think of anyone else I like as much. I don't have a favourite Turtle, but I don't dislike any of them, either.