So what is the Foot Clan symbol in IDW TMNT?
 

Is it a giant Foot or is it the 4Kids cartoon Foot symbol? Because I've seen both used in IDW TMNT and I feel like one should probably be decided on.

I have no strong feelings either way, but the giant Foot symbol has always looked goofy to me. Actually, they both kinda look goofy to me, though I guess the 4Kids one is the lesser of two evils.

Can't it just, like, be the Kanji symbol for Foot?

I think they are using both the Fred Wolfish human foot symbol and 2003 series symbol because this series is supposed to be a meshing of everything, and to choose one over the other would be too lean more towards one cartoon influence.

I thought they used the giant Foot for the Feudal Japan era, and the 4Kids symbol for the modern era. Or am I remembering something wrong?

I like it.

I'm always down with kanji. I love how much Santoloucco has incorporated that and other Japanese influences into SHotF, and hopefully that continues with the ongoing.

That's correct. Although we've only seen the 4kids used in Sins of the Father. Secret of the Foot has used it, but not in the actual story pages.

Just read "Sins of the Father" today and was actually wondering the same thing.

I actually prefer the Fred-Wolf literal Foot picture in this case, since at least it has an (actually pretty cool) explanation.

And feudal Japanese clans didn't just use kanji as their markers.

Um... the Mirage comics used the literal foot symbol as well, which is where the cartoon got it from. They just didn't have the Foot actually wear it on their forehead...

I'd be down with both so long as IDW designated particular signifigance to each version.

Like the original Mirage "footprint" symbol represented the Foot Clan overall (since the symbol was created by Foot Clan founder Tatsuo Takeshi), while the 4Kids style "claw" could represent something unique within the Clan like say the Oroku lineage or something.

In retrospect, has the Mirage "footprint" style symbol been used anywhere outside of the Feudal era Japan flashbacks? It's seen prominently there, but I can't recall off the top of my head if it has been used in the contemporary setting.

Likewise, the 4Kids "claw" style symbol appeared in Shredder's HQ in the modern day, so maybe the "claw" is just a current evolution of the "footprint"?

Personal taste, I prefer the Mirage/Fred Wolf symbol.

So I figured why not just ask Bobby about it?

His answers:

So Mirage-style "footprint" symbol is the original overall Foot Clan symbol created by Tatsuo Takeshi when he founded the Clan.

The 4Kids-style "claw" symbol is unique to Oroku Saki and refers to his control of the Clan.

That actually does work out well within the context of the series, even if it was an accident.

No-prizey, but it works for me.

Yeah, that works.

i've always thought that this was a conscious decision ever since seeing the foot-print symbol in #5 and confirmed in Andy Khun's run. it always made sense to make the original Mirage/OT symbol the "original" feudal japan era symbol in the IDWniverse and adopting the newer sleeker "claw" as the modern symbol. it always made sense to me... and apparently it was a fluke.

Man, I love how the fandom can subtly influence these comics. Andrew proposes a decent question... Spengler asks the editor... and now it's on their radar to make sure they stick to this footprint:feudal::claw:modern continuity that WE helped define. :tgrin:

the 4 kids simbol is the best,more evil

I think that now this explanation works even more, since we know that Saki was destined to be the "new" dragon warrior...

I accidentally just ruined this by drawing a 4Kids claw symbol in Tatsuo Takeshi's cave in Karai's Path which has nothing to do with Saki. D: I'm sorry!!!

I always thought the distinction was that the human foot print was for the foot clan in the past and the claw was for the modern era reconstruction.