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An essay about IDW Mike
March 17th, 2000 08:52 pmThe Problem With Mike
Introduction (No Spoilers)
First, let me say: I like IDW Mike. He has a discernable personality, which instantly makes him better than his original incarnation. He's even likeable, if you don't find him annoying, and I greatly enjoyed his solo issue. But, like many of his alternate versions, he has one fatal flaw: he's The Fourth Guy. He doesn't do anything.
Most TMNT 'verses are a two-man show. Leo and Raph get all the action and character development, while Don and Mike sit in the background eating potato chips. Don at least gets to be their deus ex machina, solving many of the team's problems by spouting technological jargon, picking locks, inventing useful stuff, and so on. But Mike... um. He often serves as the decoy. He is generally considered to be a peacekeeper and lightener of moods, though as we've never seen the Turtles without him, it's hard to say how much he's really needed in that capacity. What else does he bring to the party?
Well, the party itself, for starters. But in IDW, not a whole lot else.
Issue 9 (Minimal Spoilers)
Issue 9 is where I really noticed this. It's a great issue! It has well-written dialogue, lots of action, and exciting plot advancement. How does Mike contribute to these things? Let's take a look.
Dialogue. Mike gets four lines. Four. They are:
1. His name (as all the Turtles introduce themselves).
2. Helpful exposition.
3. More helpful exposition.
4. A moderately witty comment.
That's it. A pretty poor showing that doesn't even do anything to illustrate his character.
Action. He dodges some lasers. We don't see him attack anything. Is he part of this mission or is he just tagging along?
Plot advancement. Nope. Don and Raph think of and execute plans that help the team progress. Casey gets some good moments as Raph's partner in plan-execution, and Leo shines as the leader, keeping the others in line as they carry out their task. Mike? Just an observer, apparently.
Let's be fair. The comic is only 32 pages, and this issue has at least 13 important characters vying for panel space. Maybe there just wasn't room for Mike. Maybe he does better in other issues. Let's look.
Previous Issues (Some Spoilers)
In eight prior issues of main continuity, surely Mike does something of significance. I diligently reviewed the series to find out.
In the first few issues, three Turtles are looking for their lost brother. Mike is pretty discouraged about their search; he wants to give up. I can't hold this too much against him, though, as Don expresses the same feelings. On the other hand, Don at least vigorously defends his position against Leo's insistence that they keep looking. Mike is apathetic about his desire to quit. However, he gains back some points by intervening in his brothers' argument and reminding them to be nice to each other. Maybe there is something to that 'peacekeeper' characterization.
In a later scene, the Turtles and Splinter have a lively conversation about the meaning of one of their adventures. While this is going on, Mike... lies on the couch playing video games. He speaks up only to provide Don the opportunity to explain a term the reader is unlikely to understand.
Hint: You never want to be the guy who exists to provide exposition. You really never want to be the guy who exists to set up other characters to provide exposition.
Moving on, another issue devotes several pages to showing that Mike has befriended some guy - a character original to the IDW 'verse - who works in a pizzeria. I sure hope that guy shows up again later, because otherwise that was a huge waste of space.
Mike's visit to this pizzeria causes him to be late to an epic battle taking place in his own home. Surely he's going to do something awesome in this scene, right?
No, sorry. Raph orders Mike to protect Splinter, a task that Mike fails at spectacularly when he's surrounded and overwhelmed, and Splinter is kidnapped right out of his arms. Mike gets back on his feet, but instead of doing anything useful, he just yells to the others that he lost their sensei and has no idea what to do next.
This I consider to be an outright insult to his character. The Turtles are trained ninjas, for crying out loud! Instead of whining that he can't see his master, Mike should run in the direction he was probably taken, or lay waste to every enemy he can get his 'chucks on, or something. Instead, he does pretty much nothing until Don comes up with a plan to get them out of the fight.
Sad.
In conclusion:
1. Mike at least has a personality, and I really like how Don is written, so the Turtles as a whole are still better than in other incarnations.
2. But in nine issues Mike has not done one meaningful thing. This is lousy use of a main character. IDW, please remember your Fourth Guy.
Comments? Disagreement? Think I should clean this up and send it to the Letters column? Post it below.
Introduction (No Spoilers)
First, let me say: I like IDW Mike. He has a discernable personality, which instantly makes him better than his original incarnation. He's even likeable, if you don't find him annoying, and I greatly enjoyed his solo issue. But, like many of his alternate versions, he has one fatal flaw: he's The Fourth Guy. He doesn't do anything.
Most TMNT 'verses are a two-man show. Leo and Raph get all the action and character development, while Don and Mike sit in the background eating potato chips. Don at least gets to be their deus ex machina, solving many of the team's problems by spouting technological jargon, picking locks, inventing useful stuff, and so on. But Mike... um. He often serves as the decoy. He is generally considered to be a peacekeeper and lightener of moods, though as we've never seen the Turtles without him, it's hard to say how much he's really needed in that capacity. What else does he bring to the party?
Well, the party itself, for starters. But in IDW, not a whole lot else.
Issue 9 (Minimal Spoilers)
Issue 9 is where I really noticed this. It's a great issue! It has well-written dialogue, lots of action, and exciting plot advancement. How does Mike contribute to these things? Let's take a look.
Dialogue. Mike gets four lines. Four. They are:
1. His name (as all the Turtles introduce themselves).
2. Helpful exposition.
3. More helpful exposition.
4. A moderately witty comment.
That's it. A pretty poor showing that doesn't even do anything to illustrate his character.
Action. He dodges some lasers. We don't see him attack anything. Is he part of this mission or is he just tagging along?
Plot advancement. Nope. Don and Raph think of and execute plans that help the team progress. Casey gets some good moments as Raph's partner in plan-execution, and Leo shines as the leader, keeping the others in line as they carry out their task. Mike? Just an observer, apparently.
Let's be fair. The comic is only 32 pages, and this issue has at least 13 important characters vying for panel space. Maybe there just wasn't room for Mike. Maybe he does better in other issues. Let's look.
Previous Issues (Some Spoilers)
In eight prior issues of main continuity, surely Mike does something of significance. I diligently reviewed the series to find out.
In the first few issues, three Turtles are looking for their lost brother. Mike is pretty discouraged about their search; he wants to give up. I can't hold this too much against him, though, as Don expresses the same feelings. On the other hand, Don at least vigorously defends his position against Leo's insistence that they keep looking. Mike is apathetic about his desire to quit. However, he gains back some points by intervening in his brothers' argument and reminding them to be nice to each other. Maybe there is something to that 'peacekeeper' characterization.
In a later scene, the Turtles and Splinter have a lively conversation about the meaning of one of their adventures. While this is going on, Mike... lies on the couch playing video games. He speaks up only to provide Don the opportunity to explain a term the reader is unlikely to understand.
Hint: You never want to be the guy who exists to provide exposition. You really never want to be the guy who exists to set up other characters to provide exposition.
Moving on, another issue devotes several pages to showing that Mike has befriended some guy - a character original to the IDW 'verse - who works in a pizzeria. I sure hope that guy shows up again later, because otherwise that was a huge waste of space.
Mike's visit to this pizzeria causes him to be late to an epic battle taking place in his own home. Surely he's going to do something awesome in this scene, right?
No, sorry. Raph orders Mike to protect Splinter, a task that Mike fails at spectacularly when he's surrounded and overwhelmed, and Splinter is kidnapped right out of his arms. Mike gets back on his feet, but instead of doing anything useful, he just yells to the others that he lost their sensei and has no idea what to do next.
This I consider to be an outright insult to his character. The Turtles are trained ninjas, for crying out loud! Instead of whining that he can't see his master, Mike should run in the direction he was probably taken, or lay waste to every enemy he can get his 'chucks on, or something. Instead, he does pretty much nothing until Don comes up with a plan to get them out of the fight.
Sad.
In conclusion:
1. Mike at least has a personality, and I really like how Don is written, so the Turtles as a whole are still better than in other incarnations.
2. But in nine issues Mike has not done one meaningful thing. This is lousy use of a main character. IDW, please remember your Fourth Guy.
Comments? Disagreement? Think I should clean this up and send it to the Letters column? Post it below.
