Ask any adult or kid what their favorite of theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesis, and they will likely have an answer. Children of the ’90s grew up in the height of ‘turtle mania’ with the 1987 cartoon cementing the four characters in pop culture, with kids playing games on the NES/SNES, eating pizza, and yelling ‘cowabunga.’ The 1990 movie gave fans more content, bringing the Turtles to the big screen. This trend continued with each generation being offered their own version of the turtles, with the most recent iteration inTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhemproving their longevity.
Picking a favorite is easy, but who out of the four is the strongest in the team? We will look at several versions of the Turtles and how various creators interpreted their abilities to determine who is the strongest fighter.
The Turtles' Beginnings
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Created by comic book artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird in 1983, drawing influence from various artistic sources, including Frank Miller’s work onDaredevilandRonin. The duo also leaned into their love of action cinema that focused on martial arts, combiningMiller’s gritty aestheticwith cinema’s more sensational fighting sequences. The first issue was self-published in black & white in May 1984 with an initial print run of 3000 copies in a forty-page oversized format. The comic was a surprise hit among indie comic fans, leading to interest from Mirage Comics, which began serializing the comic.
The initial series, taking a more dark and gritty tone, would not reach the public attention in a big way until the 1987 TV show brought a more family-friendly version of the Turtles to millions. From here, the franchise grew exponentially, backed by merchandise and other media, such as the comics and videogames being released on Nintendo and later Super Nintendo. While the height of ‘turtle mania’ undeniably rests in the 90s when the franchise was at its most profitable, there has been a continued interest in the Teenage Mutant Turtles since then.
The Many Versions of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
The unparalleled success of theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesfrom its inception to a global phenomenon has resulted in many versions of the characters in film, TV, and video games. Each project has taken on its own distinct interpretation of the Turtles, with varying elements in their powers, though generally sticking with the same personalities of each.As the lyricsto the original 1987 series stated, “Leonardo leads, Donatello does machines, Raphael is cool but crude, Michaelangelo is a party dude.”
While having several comic book companies tackle the team, six animated versions (with a new one slated for April 2024), and seven films, we will focus on a few specific projects to exemplify how powerful the Turtles can be.
Mirage Studios (1984–2014)
The comic book series’s original run evolved as the series progressed, and the title’s popularity skyrocketed. While there was a level of continuity, there were also changes over the 129 issues released under Mirage Studios. However, looking at the original conception of the Turtles, one gets the first glimpse of them being not only ‘powerful’ but deadly.
Those whose introduction to the family-friendly 1987 series may not know that the original concept wasmuch more gritty and violent, with the turtles going as far as murdering criminals. At this point, they were already depicted as strong enough to cut through a person, but the fact that this was shown in the early conception of the characters paints a darker and more violent picture than most were used to. This is a boundary heroes do not cross, and while this is one of the less strong versions of the Turtles, it is notable due to its brutality that has not been seen since.
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First Animated Series (1987–1996)
This was the main introduction for many to the world of theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, as it was one of themost popular animated series in history, airing on over 120 different channels by 1990. Revisiting the show as an adult, one will realize the program was aimed at kids and was rather silly in the way most cartoons of the era were. So, while this presented a strong version of the turtles, this one should be taken more lightly.
The turtles showed incredible strength throughout the animated series, easily lifting cars and slicing through any material with their weapons. In addition, the turtles showed great speed and reflexes, being able to deflect lasers or run circles around enemies faster than they could perceive. These instances were often more situational and less ‘established abilities’ used to overcome any problem presented to them.
Second Animated Series (2003–2009)
Produced by 4Kids Entertainment and airing on the “FoxBox,” the second animated series of TMNT took the Turtles in some interesting directions, perhaps feeding off the more ‘mystically inclined’ shows that were popular around the same time, such asJackie Chan MysteriesandAvatar. Notably, the series introduced an alternative form to the Turtles, allowing them to competeagainst a world-destroyer versionof Shredder.
This is easily the most powerful version of the Turtles to date, but they don’t compare to other series when removing their mystical powers. This also puts this one in a notable but unsubstantial, as their ‘dragon form,’ which gave them immeasurable cosmic powers, is not a great indicator of looking at their prowess as individuals.
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2018–2020)
Produced for Nickelodeon, this shorter-lived series marks probably the most powerful versions of the turtles without evoking some form of ‘mythical power’ to give them a boost. The style also drew influence from various sources, notably anime, giving the show a more expressive and over-the-top approach to the action. This included an upgrade of the Turtles' skills with their weapons.
Donatello probably saw the most significant boost in power here, with his staff reflective of his genius in becoming a multipurpose tool that could do everything from shooting laser beams to transforming into a drill. Comparatively, Leonardo’s sword skills were amplified to the point where he could slice through the fabric of reality, creating portals to escape any peril. Michelangelo and Raphael also got significant ability boosts, with Raphael’s bulking appearance allowing him to smash through anything and create Green Lantern-like constructs.
Which Ninja Turtle is the Strongest?
There is a case for various turtles to be picked as the ‘strongest,’ depending on how you interpret it. Donatello brings up the conversation of brain versus brawn, and his intellect has proved continually valuable. Comparatively, Raphael’s humanity and strong sense of moral drive have often driven the turtles to be better versions of themselves. Michelangelo may not have an edge, but if you look at fan popularity, a case could be made for him being the strongest in persona.
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However, the obvious choice has to go to Splinter’s star pupil,Leonardo, whoseskill with the sword and in martial artsis the most refined of the entire group. Combine this with his reasonable approach to conflict, and there is a reason he was made the team leader. This has stayed consistent through most versions of the Turtles, so even as their abilities change, Leo has been a steady powerhouse and leader throughout.
The turtles continue to evolve, and the most recent movie,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, shows that the franchise will continue to grow and experiment. With time, another movie or TV show may make one of the other turtles step up to be the strongest in the team, but until that day comes, Leonardo is the most obvious pick. While waiting for the newly announced series,Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, to drop in April 2024.
