It was also super violent, so I will forever remain surprised that it became a kids thing.
But then Nickelodeon decided to give the guy who made the comic book Johnny the Homicidal Maniac a show and we got Invader Zim, so weirder things have happened.
Well, the Ninja Turtles were originally an unsubtle Daredevil parody…
(Is “parody” the right word? I think they were part parody and part homage.)
That’s why it’s the “foot” clan. The ninjas in Daredevil were called The Hand.
Edit: and I just remembered, it’s Master Splinter because “Stick” was Daredevil’s sensei.
It was also super violent, so I will forever remain surprised that it became a kids thing.
But then Nickelodeon decided to give the guy who made the comic book Johnny the Homicidal Maniac a show and we got Invader Zim, so weirder things have happened.
“Homage” is the word the creators would have used.