Exhibit — Character History
THE MAN BEHIND
THE MASK
He's not a mutant. He wasn't trained by a ninja master. He's just a guy with a bag full of sporting goods, a cracked hockey mask, and a refusal to look the other way. This is the story of Casey Jones — the human bridge between four brothers in a sewer and the world above.
Born Arnold Bernid Jones — but only his mom calls him that.
Origins
Born from Satire,
Forged into Legend
In 1985, Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird introduced Casey Jones in Raphael #1, a one-shot comic that was itself an experiment. Casey was conceived as a parody of the hyper-violent vigilante characters flooding comics at the time — a guy so obsessed with TV justice that he took a bag of sports equipment to the streets.
But something unexpected happened. The parody became the point. Casey Jones resonated because he wasn't super-powered, wasn't part of a prophecy, and had no training montage. He was just angry enough and brave enough to show up. In a world of mutants and ninjas, the most relatable character was the ordinary human who refused to stay on the sidelines.
Casey became the bridge between the Turtles' underground world and the surface. Through him, the mythology could touch real human stakes: family, love, loss, fatherhood, addiction, redemption. Every version of TMNT that followed found new ways to tell his story, but the core never changed.
First Appearance
Raphael #1 (1985) — Mirage Studios
Created by Kevin Eastman & Peter Laird
Species
Human. Just human. That's the whole point.
Through the Eras
Four Decades of Casey Jones
From indie comics to Hollywood blockbusters, from parody to legacy — every era got the Casey it needed.
Mirage Comics
The original. First appearing in Raphael #1 (1985), Casey was created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird as a parody of hyper-violent vigilantes like the Punisher. What started as satire became something deeper: a hot-headed loner who found family with the Turtles. He married April O'Neil, adopted Shadow, and walked one of the darkest paths in indie comics. The Mirage Casey is raw, flawed, and unforgettable.
1987 Animated Series
Voiced by Pat Fraley, this Casey was a comedic wild card. Less gritty vigilante, more unhinged sports fanatic. He rarely removed his mask, cracked one-liners constantly, and turned every fight into a game. A satirical take that introduced Casey to a generation of kids who had no idea how dark the comics version really was.
1990 Live-Action Film
Elias Koteas brought Casey to life and, for many fans, defined the character forever. An ex-hockey player who couldn't walk away from injustice, Koteas played him as funny, dangerous, and deeply human. From his rooftop confrontation with Raph to the legendary garbage truck scene, this Casey felt real. He returned in TMNT III (1993), proving the mask fits more than once.
2003 Animated Series
Marc Thompson voiced a Casey closer to his comic roots: rougher, angrier, driven by a personal vendetta against the Purple Dragons who destroyed his father's shop. This version showed real growth, evolving from a rage-fueled loner into someone capable of love. He eventually married April, completing one of the series' best character arcs.
2007 CGI Film
Chris Evans (yes, Captain America himself) voiced a Casey who'd hung up the mask. Working as a delivery man and navigating domestic life with April, he was the first to recognize that Raph was operating as the vigilante Nightwatcher. A quieter take, but proof the character works in every register.
2012 Nickelodeon Series
Josh Peck voiced a teenage Casey: a high school hockey star, amateur inventor, and rival to Donatello for April's affection. This younger version brought new energy to the character, exploring what Casey Jones looks like before the years of street fighting harden him. He still had the attitude, just with homework on the side.
Out of the Shadows
Stephen Amell played a corrections officer version of Casey who stumbled into the Turtles' world while transporting Bebop and Rocksteady. Trading hockey skates for roller skates and leaning into pure athleticism, this was the most physically imposing Casey put on screen.
Rise of the TMNT
Zelda Williams voiced Cassandra "Casey" Jones, a former Foot Clan recruit and the first female Casey. A street-smart fighter with her own complicated history, she brought a completely fresh perspective to the legacy while keeping the rebellious spirit intact.
Rise of the TMNT: The Movie
Haley Joel Osment voiced Casey Jones Jr., a resistance fighter sent back in time from an apocalyptic future. Carrying on his parent's legacy, this Casey was battle-hardened, desperate, and driven by a mission bigger than himself. A bold reimagining that proved the Casey Jones mantle transcends any single person.
IDW Comics
The most emotionally complex Casey to date. A college student and hockey player dealing with an abusive father (revealed to be Hun of the Purple Dragons), this version explored trauma, recovery, and the cost of violence with more nuance than any previous incarnation. The IDW Casey earns every bruise.
The Last Ronin
In the darkest possible future, Casey Jones has fallen. But his legacy endures through Casey Marie Jones, his daughter, who trains the last surviving Turtle for a final stand against the Foot Clan. The Last Ronin proves that even in death, Casey Jones doesn't quit.
The Faces Behind the Mask
Actors & Voice Cast
Every actor brought something different. Every version left a mark.
Elias Koteas
Live-Action Films
1990, 1993
Pat Fraley
1987 Animated Series
1988 - 1996
Marc Thompson
2003 Animated Series
2003 - 2009
Chris Evans
TMNT CGI Film
2007
Josh Peck
2012 Nickelodeon Series
2012 - 2017
Zelda Williams
Rise of the TMNT
2018 - 2020
Stephen Amell
Out of the Shadows
2016
Haley Joel Osment
Rise of the TMNT: The Movie
2022
The Arsenal
Tools of the Trade
No swords. No sai. No bo staff. Just whatever fits in a golf bag.
The Hockey Mask
Not armor. Not a disguise. An identity. The mask is Casey Jones the same way the bandanas are the Turtles. Cracked, taped, stained with sweat and blood.
Baseball Bats
The weapon of choice. Wooden, aluminum, sometimes both at once. In Casey's hands, a Louisville Slugger becomes the great equalizer.
Hockey Sticks
The weapon that started it all. From slapshot to beatdown in one fluid motion. Where the mask is his identity, the stick is his signature.
Golf Clubs
For when you need reach. Casey swings a 9-iron like he's teeing off on crime itself. Fore.
Cricket Bats
Flat, wide, and devastating. The cricket bat is Casey at his most unhinged: who brings a cricket bat to a street fight? Casey Jones does.
The Battle Cry
GOONGALA!
Every great character needs a war cry. Casey's makes no sense and that's exactly why it works.
“GOONGALA!”
— The universal Casey Jones battle cry
“Oops.”
— Casey Jones, after the garbage truck. 1990 Film.
“A Jose Canseco bat? Tell me you didn't pay money for this.”
— Casey Jones to Raphael, 1990 Film
“New game, roundhead. Cricket!”
— Casey Jones, 1990 Film
“I look like I live in a dumpster? ... I don't LIVE in a dumpster.”
— Casey Jones, 2003 Series
“The class is Pain 101. Your instructor is Casey Jones.”
— Casey Jones, 1990 Film
Press Start
Gaming Appearances
From 16-bit brawlers to modern beat-em-ups, Casey's been swinging in pixels for decades.
TMNT: Tournament Fighters (1993)
TMNT: Manhattan Missions (1991)
TMNT 2: Battle Nexus (2004)
TMNT 3: Mutant Nightmare (2005)
TMNT: Smash-Up (2009)
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl (2021)
TMNT: Shredder's Revenge (2022)
TMNT: Splintered Fate (2024)