Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: 10 Best Characters, Ranked

The heroes in a half shell aren't the only cool cats in New York City. Here are some of the best characters in TMNT ranked.

Choosing the best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle is completely subjective, but Raphael certainly has a shoo-in for the most powerful turtle with his raw fury and sturdy physique, beating his brothers’ stealth and smarts in a fight.

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While the Turtles are the focus point of the comic book source material, preceding the wealth of animated adaptations, movies, and video games, there are a number of allies and villains that steal the spotlight once in a while. Here are some of the best characters from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Krang is a classic TMNT villain second only to Shredder, but this unique adversary deserves mention in the low ranks for being able to pull off this design. A brain alien should be more in line with the M.O.D.O.K. monstrosity seen in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, but instead, Krang is as menacing as he is repulsive—the formula of a great villain.

Inspired by Japan’s obsession with mecha, Krang has displayed a number of impressive mechanical suits to contain his brain, and even though his appearances are fleeting—seen briefly in the comics but mostly in the 1987 animated series—this villain does enough to be remembered.

First appearing in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #53 in 1992, Karai debuted as a high-rank member of the Foot Clan and went on to be Shredder’s second-in-command and adopted daughter in later adaptations of the source material.

Even though a pocket of fans find Karai too abrasive and frown upon her romantic connection to Leonardo, the ninja’s skills and aesthetic have given her loyal followers in the fanbase, and had Image Comics’ run continued, we may have seen Karai debut as Lady Shredder. Nevertheless, this forgotten villain deserves a mention on this list.

April O’Neil is a great character for many reasons, and this list wouldn’t be complete without her. For starters, her unshakable confidence has made her a great ally to the Turtles, combined with her kind-hearted nature that didn’t discriminate against the NYC heroes for being mutants in the first place.

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Unfortunately, not every TMNT adaptation has done the character justice (we’re looking at you, Megan Fox) and sadly let her slip into more damsel-in-distress roles when she’s perfectly capable of handling herself. Her profession as a reporter also gives April her own story to follow instead of just being a tag-along.

Despite many fans believing Casey Jones is boring, the vigilante is about as versatile as they come by making weapons out of anything and adapting to the era of his portrayal. Boasting a style akin to The Warriors gives Casey the perfect aesthetic to cosplay, and there’s no faulting his loyalty to the Turtles.

First appearing in the 1985 Raphael: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles one-shot, Casey was initially created to parody popular vigilantes in other comic books at the time, but he evolved into his own and even became the perfect partner for April down the line. Casey is a solid seventh-place entry on the list for his qualities.

The Turtles wouldn’t be what they are today without their sensei, Master Splinter—even though Baxter Stockman was a supplier of their mutagen in many iterations. Splinter is the perfect homage to Japanese mentors across many mediums and stands as a wonderful father figure to the heroes.

Disguised as a fragile, elderly figure, Splinter is anything but weak and frequently bursts out of his deceiving physique to show he’s still got the fight in him. Fans constantly praise his wisdom and ability to get himself out of dire situations, and even though his older versions in the comics and 1987 animated series are better than modern depictions, he’s still a crucial character to populate this list.

There’s no doubt in TMNT fans’ minds that Shredder is the best villain of the franchise, and he’s consistently been depicted very well throughout the adaptations oozing with a sinister vibe—even in the 90s live-action trilogy that should have been a fail on paper.

Known as the alter ego of Oroku Saki and the relentless leader of the Foot Clan, Shredder’s reputation as a ruthless villain is backed by his striking, samurai-influenced design that never loses its appeal, and as the best TMNT antagonist and one of the greatest comic-book villains of all time, Shredder ignites the top five entries.

It’s only right that the top four spots go to our heroes in a half shell, and kicking off the Turtles' rank is Donatello, who boasts his place as the brains of the group and appeals to every nerdy comic-book fan for his ability to be smart and cool in tandem.

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Wielding the bo staff and donning the purple mask, Donatello’s ability to problem-solve as a natural polymath and speak technobabble makes him a lovable genius. He serves as a great role model for kids deep in their early studies and is a great addition to the team, even if his qualities are somewhat overshadowed by his brothers'.

Taking third place is Raphael for his sheer brute strength in battle, making him the strongest Turtle without a doubt. Donning the red mask and using his twin sai blades in battle, Raphael is known as the hot head of the team and often creates some gripping friction between himself and leader Leonardo.

Fans have often described Raphael as being relatable through his short temper and described him as being a badass. If this was Dungeons & Dragons, he’d be the barbarian of the group, and he's a solid unit to have in battle with you.

In second place is Michelangelo, simply for his pure love of pizza. He’s the Turtle that loves the heroes’ iconic snack the most, and his cool, laid-back demeanor is appealing to every teen with a skateboard while acting as the comic relief throughout many adaptations.

Of course, Michelangelo is a fascinating hero outside his love for pizza, owning the orange mask, and using nunchaku as his primary weapon. His persona is greatly elevated in the brilliant The Last Ronin comic book, where his mental strength and love for his brothers are showcased with heartfelt effect.

Taking first place is the leader of the Turtles, Leonardo, who dons the blue mask and makes light work of defeating Shredder’s henchmen with his dual Katana. While the other three Turtles have their areas of expertise, Leo is level-headed when it comes to making a plan of attack, which makes him a marvel to look up to.

His ability to remain calm and exert a more mature demeanor among his brothers is the foundation of a great leader. Leonardo’s personality may not be as easy to read as the others, but there is subtly in his complexities, fighting for his home and family as a teen forced to grow up too soon and a great hero to take first place on this list.

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Jo Craig has been in the industry for nearly a decade and finds dissecting Marvel trailers for hours standard practice and still finds time to review, analyze, and research anime, video games and everything on the nerdy spectrum. Writing for TheGamer, CBR, and GRV Media, Jo also maintains a strong social media presence with a passion for contributing to the geek culture community.