April becoming like Venus

[LeoRaph]

Hey guys, I've never seen NM and probably never will but I've read here and other sources how Venus had these powers that overshadowed the Turtles and I can't help but wonder if April is falling down that path. Sure she's a teenager who's 'discovering her powers' but when she has them under control those powers will over shadow the turtles.

So, for those who have seen NM and the nick series, do you think her powers are similar to Venus's and is anyone worried that she is becoming too Venuslike?

[Sabacooza]

Yeah, she is similar now that you mention it.

I don't really understand why April needs to have any powers at all. Why couldn't she have just been an ordinary teenager?

[IndigoErth]

Was thinking about that the other day, but not so much really, imo. Venus had kind of the mystical powers of the mind thing going on and they of course gave April mind powers, but doesn't really seem to be quite in the same way/sort of thing.

Venus more like... a world where mystical magic powers are real and she can practice to try to become skilled at it. April just has limited(?), largely uncontrollable advanced non-magic abilities from aliens.

[Gunstar_Red]

Well, that's what I thought was going to happen in "The Lonely Mutation of Baxter Stockman". Or turn into Mona Lisa (for whatever reason). But it disappointed me that she didn't. She could have been two characters in one (April/Venus or April/Lisa)!

But yeah, she has a different sort of powers than Venus. I actually think if she went down the Jean Grey route, it would be kinda cool. She could end up being the new big bad enemy once Shredder is defeated.

[Autbot_Benz]

I get a Jean Grey vibe from her. Just hook her up with cyclops already

[victory_angel]

It's possible April's powers to could mark her as a Neutrino or make her a new definition of a Neutrino.

I know in the OT and the IDW the Neutrinos are depicted with elf ears but that is mostly to differentiate them from other normal humans.

And in one episode it was revealed that Neutrino infants had telechinetic powers that fade as they grow older.

So I would imagine that once April understands what her powers are and how to control them they would be used less.

[BabyTurtles]

I'm waiting for her phoenix mode to be revealed.

any episode now.

[JTH]

She's never made the Turtles look meaningless to the show.

And as much resent as people may have, it will never...EVER relate to the example.

No...just no. Please, don't make me cringe like that...

[Raven]

Meh, sorta I guess. I think because of some lazy writing shes easily turned into a plot device when they can't think of what to do with her. Three seasons in and I feel like were still trying to figure out whats up with her.

Its either going to be a sweet pay off, or well not...

[drgon78]

I think the turtles should be the ones to defeat Shredder and most other enemies but I think April should be the one to defeat the Kraang once and for all or at least some other major Alien/psychic threat down the line.

[RedOnYellow]

I'll start getting worried when she starts making the turtles look stupid and worthless.

[Tarris Vaal]

I dont know if she will ever overshadow the turtles - though perhaps be placed on near equal footing (which would at least be preferable to Venus)

They might put some power overlaps from Renet or Venus though, just as nods to those characters without actually putting them in

[neatoman]

Venus is pretty much the pinnacle of unoriginal Mary Sue characters, April would have to be much more like one of those Deviantart OCs to even come close to being as bad as Venus.

[VaughnMichael]

I was thinking the same thing actually.
The only real difference is that April isn't ignorant to American culture like Venus.

[Shark_Blade]

Well, April is the "5th turtle"... it says so on her t-shirt. And Ciro mentioned this very early on.

[DarthRaphael]

April's psychic powers are going to be needed to wipe out the Kraang. They have been building up to it over the entire run so far.

[Leo656]

I echo the "Why Can't She Just Be Normal?" sentiments.

"Because 'Normal Characters' don't sell toys" being the obvious answer. I just don't agree with it.

April was always supposed to be the "viewer's POV" character, the "regular person" who gets dragged into the Turtles' world and provides the "real person's" perspective on these fantastical events. Now she's basically Just Another Super-Hero. I mean, even in versions where they have her become proficient at martial arts, I'm not a huge fan of it despite it making sense. Because she never gets "just kind of good", she always ends up being able to beat up Karai and I don't think that's April's "Role" in things. It makes her too much of a Participant rather than Supporting Cast. It's like Lois or Jimmy Olsen getting super powers of extra-normal skills. It's too easily over-done, Don't Do That.

Imagine my disgust with Mirage when even Laird couldn't leave well enough alone and had to give April some kind of fantastical backstory/"Secret Origin". Why not just have Normal People be Normal People? The entire fiction is full of "freaks" and aliens. Being "Normal" is what makes April special. Leave well enough alone.

Alas, that ship has sailed.

[DarthRaphael]

I guess you either get a 'damsel in distress' or a member of the team. My guess is that if she was 'normal' people would complain that she wasn't a necessary part of the story.

[Leo656]

People who don't know how to write or tell stories, perhaps.

[Amaranthus]

Originally Posted by DarthRaphael

I guess you either get a 'damsel in distress' or a member of the team. My guess is that if she was 'normal' people would complain that she wasn't a necessary part of the story.

She would have been perfect if she just trained to protect herself.
But if April wasn't needed by the Kraang, she an the turtles wouldn't have met.