Everybody's Favorite Mutated Reptiles Are Back in Action

[BentonGrey]

Howdy guys, it looks like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are getting a new, full color ongoing series thanks to IDW's quest to bring back any and every property from the 80's.  You can find a bit of information about it here:

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/05/19/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-new-comic-idw/

I'm more than a little excited about this.  I do hope we see something of a happy medium between the Archie series/original 'toon and the original books.  While I love those original stories, I like the wider, more mutant-filled, and more fantastic setting of the later Archie stories.  Plus, being the faithful child of the 80's that I am, I'll always own the original cartoon as my favorite version of the Green Machine.  Either way, I am really hopeful about this new book.  A great many of the series IDW is putting out are of a pretty solid quality.  I would love to have a monthly dose of Turtle action.  Sadly, it looks like they're sticking with the red bandannas, which I always thought were very silly.  Say what you will about the Fred Wolf cartoon, at least you could tell the Turtles apart at a glance.

Also, it would be fantastic if their access to the Archie books might end up with those unpublished stories finally seeing the light of day.

[oldmanwinters]

Looking forward to picking up this one later this week!  The first four issues are going to serve as a mini-series arc, chronicling Raphael's isolation and eventual restoration to his brothers.  Should be interesting to see how long this title runs.

[BentonGrey]

Guys, I just wanted to necropost here to let you know that if you aren't reading IDW's TMNT book, you probably should be.  It's one of the better books being put out right now, and if you're a child of the 80's or have any love for the Turtles, you DEFINITELY need to be reading this book.  They're doing great things, and they are dong an awesome job of renovating and re-imagining good concepts that were done poorly in the classic cartoon and comics.

[Podmark]

It's on my list. Previews have looked good.

[Spe-Dog]

If it can be as good as the original series and the b/w issues then I am so on this.

[BentonGrey]

If it can be as good as the original series and the b/w issues then I am so on this.

The original comics are something unto themselves, but this new book is really, really good.  It just drips promise!

[Silver Shocker]

I've got the first two trades, but haven't had time to put in much reading of them as yet.  So far I've just read the first issue-and-a-half or so, but what I have read I really liked, might be go so far as to say I loved. The art is fluid and dynamic, and the changes to the origin and major characters are intriguing and put a neat new spin on things; so in short it's everything a reboot/relaunch should be and what DC only wishes their rebooted origins were like (nyuk nyuk). I've been wanting to read a lot more of around the time the new show starts, so we'll see if I can fit in some more reading in the coming weeks.

[SickAlice]

This is my favorite comic series of 2012.

[Silver Shocker]

So I've now read the first three volumes and the microseries in trade form, and yeah, the new TMNT comic is awesome. I love what they've done with the series, mixing lots of old elements with newer ideas, and putting lots of nods to earlier iterations in there for older fans (the microseries was especially fond of this). There's also a "Legend of the Foot Clan" mini coming out soon, written by Eric Burnham of the Ghostbusters ongoing. I'm looking forward to that.

[BentonGrey]

Yep, next to Larry Hama's G.I. JOE, this is the best series I'm reading right now...I'd venture to say, it's one of the best series being published right now.  They have every chance to do TMNT right, and they seem to be making all the right choices...what a stark contrast that paints with DC and Marvel!

[oldmanwinters]

Good to see that new artist Ben Bates has a sense of humor:


I hope those "War Vehicles" look familiar to you folks.

[deano_ue]

 with volume 4 now being released i can kinda keep up with the story. i'm only picking up the tpb

my one gripe is they really need to get a constant art style or even a bloody model sheet. volume 4 ends with the turtles facing slash but until he got his own mask the way he was drawn you would have said it was tokka instead.

[Silver Shocker]

I'm sorry to say I don't get the reference. [EDIT TO ADD: after looking closer at it, the vehicles seem to be taken from the original cartoon and toyline. I'm sad/proud to say I still have most of these in my basement] Also, as the Scans_daily community would say, Context is for the Weak.

I'm also trade-waiting. As a result, I passed on the Foot Clan mini as I found out parts of it take place in the present day, which meant there was a really good chance it'd spoil something or other from the stuff I haven't read yet. (sadly, the second Microseries sits on the shelf for now, along with a bunch of other trades and hardcovers I haven't been able to polish off. Yeah, I'm a little grotesquely behind. )

Incidentally, as with the Ghostbusters ongoing, I was surprised to see how little I elaborated on my thoughts on this book. So I'll say the one thing I've really wanted to say, that I am shocked I haven't said yet.

"Serious Krang", as I call him, is awesome. I love that this is a thing that exists. Now we just gotta see the guy in a live action Turtles movie (hopefully by not by Micheal Bay) and we're living the dream.

Speaking of Slash, without going into spoiler territory, how is he in this? Cool? While I like the character, I think I liked him better in the video games and toyline where he didn't talk, rather than the, ahem, "gifted" individual we got in the 80's cartoon.

[oldmanwinters]

Speaking of Slash, without going into spoiler territory, how is he in this? Cool? While I like the character, I think I liked him better in the video games and toyline where he didn't talk, rather than the, ahem, "gifted" individual we got in the 80's cartoon.

I like Slash thus far.  He seems to have an almost Doomsday-Superman complex where he is compelled to seek out his turtle brethren to destroy them.  But he's clearly developmentally challenged and Leonardo was especially troubled to have had to "harm" him while defending his brothers.
Check out TMNT Entity for some good reviews of each issue:
http://tmntentity.blogspot.com/2012/11/tmnt-idw-15.html

[BentonGrey]

Haha, that is too awesome Winters!  I see the classic driller vehicles from the Technodrome, the...Sewer Racer, maybe?  I'm not sure what the drag racer's name was....I also see the Turtle Blimp's glider!  I also recognize a few others, though I can't place them.  See, this is one of the things I love about this comic.  It's obviously made by folks who have a great love for these characters, and who share a love for all of the silly bits of Turtle lore like these old toys.

TUE, I know what you mean.  I think their newest artist is a step in the right direction.  I hope that he'll stick around a bit.

Winters, I enjoyed this version of Slash as well.  I REALLY enjoyed the conflict Leo underwent as part of that tale.  I thought that was really good stuff.

Yeah, I love "Serious Krang."  He's quite awesome.  He's basically the terrifying alien warlord that the Archie comics hinted at and almost delivered, but with a much cooler look and the wherewithal to actually kick some backside.

[BentonGrey]

My goodness, I just read up to #21 of the main series and the Secret History of the Foot mini, and I am still absolutely loving this book.  The main book was great fun, though I felt like Krang's army might should have done a bit more damage.  Still, this arc with Krang was fantastic, and it really evoked the classic TMNT adventures in space from the original comic, right down to several iconic moments.  I'd have liked to have seen the Neutrinos get a bit more development, but the changes to their characters were CERTAINLY for the best.  Better a tad plain than horribly, painfully annoying.  I love all of the references and Easter eggs in this series.  The art in this latest arc was, I think, some of the best we've seen so far.  I also loved the interactions between the Fugitoid and Donatello.  All-in-all, this was great.

Even better, however, was the Foot mini.  This was incredible.  I loved the story, the skeins of fate twisting throughout, and the art was perfect.  This really develops Shredder well, and I am totally onboard to learn more about these characters.

[Podmark]

Yeah I've read the first three trades now and I'm liking the series. I think there's another two or three out now so I'll grab those with my next amazon order.

I was really impressed with the redesigns for Shredder and Karai in the second trade, very very cool. I also like Old Hob and Alopex.

[BentonGrey]

Cool, I hope you'll let us know what you think, Pod!  Yeah, I think the redesigns are universally really nice.  Hob has some potential.  I'm rather hoping he'll go in a bit of a Verminator X direction.

[Podmark]

The one thing I'm kind of iffy about is the mystical/resurrection and how quickly the Turtles seem to have bonded. If I remember correctly they've only been mutated for a month or so at the beginning of the story yet they act like they've known each other for years, especially Raphael who they've technically never met (in his sentient mutated form). The backstory makes that kind of work but like I said I'm iffy on it. I don't hate it, just not sure of it just yet.

But that aside it's been a good read as far as I've gone.

[BentonGrey]

I was extremely doubtful about that aspect of the story at first, Podmark.  I was actually ready to drop the book when they finally did the reveal about their origins.  That caught my interest enough that I hung around, and I have never been sorry I did.  I think they've really expanded on that origin in the various mini-series and in the main book to the point that, honestly, it's become my favorite origin for the Turtles.

[oldmanwinters]

In case y'all haven't already heard, the sixth issue of the Villains Micro-Series will spotlight Hun (created for the 4Kids cartoon as the liaison between Shredder & the Purple Dragon gang).  Hun will also factor in the later issues of the current City Fall arc:
http://www.tmnt-ninjaturtles.com/blog/2013/06/tmnt-villain-micro-series-6-hun-idw/
http://www.tmnt-ninjaturtles.com/blog/2013/07/tmnt-27-idw/.

And there a couple of weird looking mutant characters who will be starring in the 7th issue of the Villains Micro-Series.  Maybe some folks might remember them...

Spoiler

http://www.tmnt-ninjaturtles.com/blog/2013/07/tmnt-villain-micro-series-7-bebop-rocksteady-idw/

[BentonGrey]

Ohh man!  That is what I've been waiting for!  That is too awesome!  Great news, Winters.   I couldn't care less about Hun, never really having been a fan of that newer series, but these mutated miscreants hold a special place in my heart!

[oldmanwinters]

San Diego Comic Con panel update on the very near future of TMNT comics!
http://www.comicvine.com/articles/sdcc-2013-tmnt-panel/1100-146882/

[oldmanwinters]

In an alternate TMNT multi-verse...

2k3 Casey Jones to Hun: "You KILLED my father!"

IDW Hun to Casey: No. . . 

Spoiler

"I AM your father."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfh4Mhp-a6U

http://tmntentity.blogspot.com/2013/09/tmnt-villains-micro-series-6-hun.html

[BentonGrey]

That....is interesting...wow.  That's got potential.  I can't wait to get my books!

[deano_ue]

damn i hate being the guy who is only reading the trades, i'm so far behind

[Podmark]

damn i hate being the guy who is only reading the trades, i'm so far behind

Yeah me too. Looks like some good reading ahead.

[oldmanwinters]

And don't forget--Bebop & Rocksteady's Micro issue is coming next month!

[oldmanwinters]

The long-awaited Bebop & Rocksteady Micro-Issue came out last Wednesday.  Here's my favorite lol-worthy moment:


Seriously, it's one of the funnest issues of a TMNT-related comic I've ever read.  Ben Bates provides some stellar artwork and the colors are a wonder to behold.  Here's a solid review of it:
http://tmntentity.blogspot.com/2013/10/tmnt-villains-micro-series-7-bebop.html

[SickAlice]

Still great to date, including the Ultrom series. Not my number #1 slot anymore which has been occupied by Aphrodite IX but still in my top five and every issue looked fore ward to.