Duoshade issue in Ultimate Collection Volume 4

[Navin Johnson]

I just cancelled my order....

[Cipher]

Got it today.

Guys, buy this book. Buy this book. Buy this book.

I can honestly say the missing tones, while disappointing, don't horribly matter outside #53. They're sorely missed in that one, as the inking during the action scene gets pretty sparse. The other issues they're missing from happen to be more heavily inked though, so outside of a few panels, you'd never know they were there in the first place.

If you've never read it, double-super-buy this book, because you're depriving yourself of the single best piece of writing to ever bear the TMNT name. Every time I come back to this storyline I'm worried it won't hold up, and every time I'm proven dead wrong. The writing is still so good you'll be able to overlook the tone flaw. And the bonus content is as great as ever. I am incredibly happy to finally own this in collected form and be able to point new readers toward this arc. Because anyone looking to try the Mirage TMNT -- forget Vol. 1 #1. This is where they should start.

IDW needs to reprint this thing as a standalone book down the line, because it really does make a great hook for potential readers. They can and should fix the tone mistakes then as well, depending on the level of scans they can drum up.

But guys, until then, give this book your hard-earned money. It deserves it.

[CyberCubed]

I already have the individual issues so I am in no rush. I just can't justify spending $30 or so on an inferior copy.

Hell I would have taken these issues colored over this.

[Abnormal Freak]

I'll keep my hard-earned cash in my pocket rather than spend it on mediocrity. I, too, have the original comics and won't support a poor product.

[CyberCubed]

Originally Posted by Abnormal Freak

I'll keep my hard-earned cash in my pocket rather than spend it on mediocrity. I, too, have the original comics and won't support a poor product.

Agreed, supporting it kind of gives the impression that people "don't mind" these releases and are what they're fine with. I am not blaming anyone at IDW as I know they were unaware of this, but its still a shame.

I do have the first 3 Ultimate Collections but now its going to look really odd with the first 3 but not the last two. Hopefully #5 is printed properly.

[twopinacoladas]

CyberCubed, I hope they print #5 properly as well they know of the issues from this print and there should be no excuses. I think I have 5 preordered allready. Had I known in advance I may have cancelled my preorder on book 4. While its disapointing I am not overly PO'd. This certainly shouldn't happen again tho.

[CyberCubed]

I just wish they could do a limited re-print of Collection 4 for hardcore TMNT fans.

Its not like the casuals know any better so it doesn't make a difference to them.

[Allio]

let me just ask this, something that gets on my mind with stuff like this

if you already have the original issues, why do you want to get the ultimate collection? you get the exact same thing...I see it as just a waste of money

[CyberCubed]

Originally Posted by Allio

let me just ask this, something that gets on my mind with stuff like this

if you already have the original issues, why do you want to get the ultimate collection? you get the exact same thing...I see it as just a waste of money

People buy collections for reading, better quality paper and ease of storage.

[frank_one]

Originally Posted by Allio

let me just ask this, something that gets on my mind with stuff like this

if you already have the original issues, why do you want to get the ultimate collection? you get the exact same thing...I see it as just a waste of money

These books are oversized hardcover and contain new notes by Eastman and Laird.

[mgambino]

Just got my copy today. The lack of shading doesn't really bother me that much. Sure, I'd like to see the issues as they were intended, but the story/art is the same either way and I don't have the original issues.

[CyberCubed]

I don't see how anyone who actually owns the original issues can say it doesn't look much worse.

Without the duoshades the art has no depth, the story loses its impact and it looks like an adult coloring book. It is inferior and ruined.

Doesn't matter for casuals who never read it before but for us its disappointing.

[Abnormal Freak]

Originally Posted by Allio

let me just ask this, something that gets on my mind with stuff like this

if you already have the original issues, why do you want to get the ultimate collection? you get the exact same thing...I see it as just a waste of money

As mentioned, ease of readability/access/storage, higher quality paper stock, multiple issues in one book (no opening and sealing an individual bag and putting that back in the comic box), extras, sleek hardcover format, oversized print.

It would be the perfect format if only the actual issue scans were any good, and I don't just mean this problem of missing tones from one issue. There should have been better quality control from the get-go, especially since this is supposed to be a prestige reprinting of these issues.

[Cipher]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

I don't see how anyone who actually owns the original issues can say it doesn't look much worse.

Without the duoshades the art has no depth, the story loses its impact and it looks like an adult coloring book. It is inferior and ruined.

Doesn't matter for casuals who never read it before but for us its disappointing.

Worse? Yes.

Ruined? Nah. That's what I was trying to say in my earlier post; it's everyone's own prerogative, but, while disappointing, we all know the story behind what happened and it reads as well as ever.

You also, I'm assuming, haven't actually seen the three issues without tones in full, so let's be fair.

Originally Posted by Allio

let me just ask this, something that gets on my mind with stuff like this

if you already have the original issues, why do you want to get the ultimate collection? you get the exact same thing...I see it as just a waste of money

Pretty much what Abnormal Freak said, both the positives and the negatives.

At the end of the day, though, it's a product that will hold up much longer than individual issues and is much easier to read. I wouldn't do it for everything, but I'm a big enough fan of the Mirage series that I don't mind double-dipping.

[CyberCubed]

Originally Posted by Cipher

You also, I'm assuming, haven't actually seen the three issues without tones in full, so let's be fair.

It reminds me of how worse the later Volume 4 issues looked art-wise without the duotones. Remember how in early Volume 4 people were fine with the art, and around halfway through people started complaining that it looked worse?

[ctt4lfecw]

Woot! My UC 4 came in the mail today!!

[Cipher]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

It reminds me of how worse the later Volume 4 issues looked art-wise without the duotones. Remember how in early Volume 4 people were fine with the art, and around halfway through people started complaining that it looked worse?

With the exception of #53, which I admit really does suffer without its tones, they look considerably better than latter-day Volume 4. The inking here is just a lot more detailed.

Again, side-by-side, yeah, it's a noticeable loss. But other than #53, you probably wouldn't guess they had tones in the first place, if you didn't know better.

[funatic]

Irony:

Spoiler:

[CyberCubed]

Man whoever first said it looks like an adult coloring book really nailed it, I can't help but think about that everytime someone posts a scan.

Perhaps IDW wants us to get out our crayola crayons and color in the classic City at War issues like we're in the early 90's again?

[Cipher]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

Man whoever first said it looks like an adult coloring book really nailed it, I can't help but think about that everytime someone posts a scan.

Perhaps IDW wants us to get out our crayola crayons and color in the classic City at War issues like we're in the early 90's again?

Really? I think that page in particular looks fine without the tones. Look at the shadows. It's striking, and honestly, I'd dare anyone to guess without prior knowledge that the page was originally intended to have any shading.

There are plenty of indie comics that use very sparse, strict black-and-white, and aren't any less appealing for it. (Scope a Love and Rockets preview on Comixology, for example. Or, hell, several issues of Tales of the TMNT Vol. 2.) Not all TMNT art works without them, but '92-'93 Lawson is in good company either way.

Yes, it's a flaw. But I think how much the art suffers without them is being blown way out of proportion.