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Some TMNT stuff really isn't for little kids. |
In the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures series produced by Archie Comics, April O'Neil began as a carbon copy of her animated counterpart from the 1987 TV series, but the writers developed her into a competent warrior after training with Splinter. Years earlier in the September, 1985 re-printing of issue one, Mirage Studios artist Ryan Brown depicts April as a katana wielding ninja warrior in his back cover pin-up. At the beginning in this version she is a reporter for Channel 6, but because of her frequent adventures with the Turtles, she lost her job at Channel 6 and became a freelance reporter with her friend Oyuki Mashimi as cinematographer. April received ninjutsu and katana training from Splinter, and gradually became highly proficient at fighting skills. Her remarkably quick progress was explained as being a result of her unique genetic lineage, having been a descendant of the malevolent sorceress, May East. Archie also published 2 sets of 3-part April O'Neil mini-series, the second of which dealt with The May East Saga.
In the Winter 1994 Archie Special, April mutated into a turtle herself. This made April become the first official female turtle introduced to the series, three years before Venus de Milo's debut. Over time, she also builds a relationship with Chu Hsi (who carries the spirit of the Warrior Dragon within), and the two become a couple.