Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

[Cryomancer]

Let's talk some TMNT comics. In case you didn't know, TMNT started as a comic. A parody of Daredevil in fact. These comics are quite a lot different than pretty much any other version of the turtles out there, other than the parts used for the first movie and newer animated show. No pupils in the masks, which are red on all four turtles. Real violence, sometimes swearing, drinkin' and the occasional off-screen sex.

Anyone else read em? When they're good, they're kick ass. When they're not so good...eh it's kinda funky. I've read all the main and most of the side issues of Mirage now, and also the Image series. I think I'm gonna do the Archie comics next, as I hear they are pretty good too, despite being a completely different thing somewhat rooted in the older cartoon.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the IDW comics starting later this month turn out. I'm cautiously optimistic. I feel similar for the new CG animated series that's happening eventually, but my feelings on that are a bit more just cautious. But who knows, maybe they'll surprise me.

IDW will also be releasing some collected reprints of the first issues soon. If you're looking to try em out, that's probably your best bet outside of doing some privateering, as the original issues themselves, as well as most previous collections, are semi hard to come by and can be pretty high in price. But I do suggest trying them out somehow, they are quite often very enjoyable books.

[Cryomancer]

The new IDW TMNT comic started today. Anyone picking it up? It certainly seems like it's going to be an interesting series at the very least.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

I read the original large format black & white run when they were first released and I have the colorized graphic novelizations of those books.

It was good stuff and my favorite iteration of Turtles.

While there was a period as a kid where I enjoyed the animated TMNT stuff, I've long since soured on it based on how abrasive it is/was.

I kind of wish I had more to say on the subject, but looking back on it all, the short-short is that I like the original work far more than anything that it spawned and I don't think that any Turtles property in the future will be able to avoid some infection of the 80s/90s Turtles DNA.

It'll never be as "pure" and "raw" as the original books.

[Cryomancer]

How far did you get in those? Mirage was still making comics in that continuity up until like, a year or two ago. There's quite a lot of material to read there.

I agree that the cartoon has harmed the franchise in certain ways, but I'm still curious to see what these new comics do with it. They are already using at least SOMETHING from the cartoon, as Krang is apparently in it, but so far all they've shown of him seems to be a metal arm hidden in a suit and glove, and that they're calling him General. So that could get interesting even for an 89 sourced character, potentially. They also had a couple frames dedicated to slamming "cowabunga" as nothing they feel the need to have them saying, in the first issue. Otherwise, the new comic seems mostly either rooted in original mirage, or doing it's own thing altogether. Red masks on all the turtles, Baxter is black and April works for him, etc.

[Mayhem]

Trying to get all the variants for this IDW issue #1 may well prove "interesting"...

I was reading the original b/w comics since the late 80s, ever since someone in my year at school brought the first graphic novel in, which I managed to borrow off him for a week or so. This is around the time the cartoon started to be shown on TV here. There was no competition, the comics won hands down heh. And so it has continued since...

I've got first printings of every issue released (yes, even the very first, ask QoF to regale you of the tale for that) through all four volumes and the Dreamwave short run, so I guess I've stuck around for a long time. Anyone unaware of the items I've managed to accrue can have a gander through my collection on Flickr...

[Kitsune Sniper]

I read the new TMNT book and I have to say, it's an interesting take on the story so far. I didn't read the older books much but I'm aware of the general storyline.

I can't wait to see where it goes.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

How far did you get in those? Mirage was still making comics in that continuity up until like, a year or two ago. There's quite a lot of material to read there.

I agree that the cartoon has harmed the franchise in certain ways, but I'm still curious to see what these new comics do with it. They are already using at least SOMETHING from the cartoon, as Krang is apparently in it, but so far all they've shown of him seems to be a metal arm hidden in a suit and glove, and that they're calling him General. So that could get interesting even for an 89 sourced character, potentially. They also had a couple frames dedicated to slamming "cowabunga" as nothing they feel the need to have them saying, in the first issue. Otherwise, the new comic seems mostly either rooted in original mirage, or doing it's own thing altogether. Red masks on all the turtles, Baxter is black and April works for him, etc.

Only as far as the first four graphic novels worth. If I recall there was a production gap before they picked up again that was significant enough that I was long out of touch with collecting/reading comics.