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[Janus Prospero]

Originally Posted by RaphAttack

What's a Manriki-gusari?

A chain with weights on the ends. Kinda like what the Nightwatcher was using.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Okay, so like a kusari-gama, just without the blade?

[Ninjinister]

Originally Posted by Roseangelo

Raph: Tonfas
Don: A bo
Mike: Manriki-gusari
Leo: A single katana

Thanks bunches!

Okay, so like a kusari-gama, just without the blade?

Actually it's more like the other way 'round. The kusari-gama is a manriki-gusari with a blade!

I find it ironic that despite using one in issue 9, and again in the old toon, when Karai used it as The Shredder in 2K3, he called it a "chain-whippy thingie".

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

I love to see the Turtles use weapons other than their trademark favs. I wish it would happen more often.

[Scandia]

What year does City at War take place in? What year does Volume 4 start in?

[Ninjinister]

I'd say Volume 4 begins in 2001 (Dec. 2001 was when issue 1 was released), because I know they reference September 11th as being fairly recent in one issue (I think the exact term is "last September").

Actually, I think with the exception of time travel, all of the mainstream TMNT issues take place in the same year that the comic is released.

[Revan]

Are there collected books containing entire volumes? I'm gonna guess no so how many issues are usually contained in collected books...if there are even any collected mirage comics out there?

[Roseangelo]

Originally Posted by Neutrino

Are there collected books containing entire volumes? I'm gonna guess no so how many issues are usually contained in collected books...if there are even any collected mirage comics out there?

For Volume 1:
Collected Book 1 - Issues 1-11 + Raphael #1, Michaelangelo #1, Donatello #1, and Leonardo #1
Collected Book 2 - Issues 12-14
Collected Book 3 - Issues 15, 17, and 18
Collected Book 4 - Issues 19-21
Collected Book 5 - Issues, 16, 22, and 23
Collected Book 6 - Issues 24-26
Collected Book 7 - Issues 27-29
Soul's Winter - Issues 31, 35, and 36

Books 1-7 are not in print, Soul's Winter is.

Originally Posted by Scandia

What year does City at War take place in?

It was published 1992-1993; I would assume for it to take place during that time period.

[jenna]

Hello - question from me time.

In what issues were the first appearances of the Rat King, Leatherhead and Usagi respectively?

Thanks

[MrPliggins]

Rat King: Mirage: Tales of the TMNT volume 1 #4
Archie: TMNT Adventures #11 (not positive on this one)

Leatherhead: Mirage: Tales of the TMNT volume 1 #6
Archie: TMNT Adventures #6

Usagi: Albedo #2 (this is almost as high-priced as TMNT #1 1st printing)

[Janus Prospero]

My questions:

1) Is Bodycount #1 just a page for page reprint of Casey Jones and Raphael #1? Are there any differences other than the title, cover, and publisher?

2) Why are there two Volume #1's of the Archie TMNT series printed in the same year comprising two different numbers of issues? Wouldn't it have been easier to create a volume 2 continuing the initial volume rather than starting over again? And for that matter, what was the big idea having them start at issue #5?

3) What's the story behind the Turtles going to Image? Was it no longer financially practical for Mirage to write/draw/publish them?

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

I can answer #1:

I think (THINK) that Bodycount #1 has more story in it. I've read the Casey Jones & Raphael issue, and it ends with Raph leaping off the roof.

I haven't read Bodycount, but the previews on the TMNT 'site show that Raph fights Johnny Woo Woo in #1. Thus, I think there's a little more to Bodycount.

[Roseangelo]

Originally Posted by Janus Prospero

1) Is Bodycount #1 just a page for page reprint of Casey Jones and Raphael #1? Are there any differences other than the title, cover, and publisher?

RaphAttack is correct that Bodycount has more pages of story. Aside from that, there's no changes to any of the pages. Casey Jones & Raphael #1 does have a backup Guzzi Lemans story by Jim Lawson.

2) Why are there two Volume #1's of the Archie TMNT series printed in the same year comprising two different numbers of issues? Wouldn't it have been easier to create a volume 2 continuing the initial volume rather than starting over again? And for that matter, what was the big idea having them start at issue #5?

Well, the three issue mini-series was published in 1988, likely as a way to gage interest. When it sold enough copies to ok it as a regular title they started the regular series in March of 1989. And it did continue from the first three issues (although still adapting TV episodes); there was no repeated content. Why start again at #1 instead of picking up at #4? Probably just to have the excuse to publish another #1 and put more attention on the series. I don't know why they decided to adapt episodes instead of just jumping into the new stories.

3) What's the story behind the Turtles going to Image? Was it no longer financially practical for Mirage to write/draw/publish them?

Mirage made the decision to stop publishing based on the reasons you mention - It just wasn't financially practical. It wasn't a situation where they decided to stop publishing because Image was going to take it up.

Here is what's written in the back of TMNT Vol. 2 #13 (written by Michael Dooney):
You now have in your hands the final, at least for now, Mirage issue of Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. However, fortunately for all of us Turtle devotees, this is not the last TMNT comic. No way!

Back a couple years ago, I suggested to my good buddy, and Image Comics co-founder, Erik Larsen that it would be great to have a Turtles/Dragon crossover adventure. Being a huge fan of the Turtles, Erik jumped at the chance to work with the Turtles. Well, when I told Erik Mirage was going to stop publishing a TMNT comic he immediately asked whether he might stop into Mirage's shoes and begin publishing a monthly TMNT book. When I passed Erik's offer on to Kevin and Pete, they loved the idea. So, in June, 1996, Erik Larsen's version of the TMNT will be debuting under the Image logo.

[raphael_is_cool]

Where's the best place to get hold of the entire City at War series? In terms of cost and seller reliability.

[Janus Prospero]

Originally Posted by Roseangelo

Well, the three issue mini-series was published in 1988, likely as a way to gage interest. When it sold enough copies to ok it as a regular title they started the regular series in March of 1989. And it did continue from the first three issues (although still adapting TV episodes); there was no repeated content. Why start again at #1 instead of picking up at #4? Probably just to have the excuse to publish another #1 and put more attention on the series. I don't know why they decided to adapt episodes instead of just jumping into the new stories.

Sorry, my question was not very clear. Let me try again.

When I said "Volume 1," I meant "Collected Book Volume 1" not "Series 1."

What I mean is, of the regular Archie series (which follows the 3 issue mini-series) there are two volume 1 TPBs.

This one collects #5-9

This one collects #5-7 (three additional volumes follow this collecting #8-16)

My question is, why the two volume 1 TPBs? It's like they printed the first one and were like "Dag yo, that's way too many issues in a book, let's start again. And this time, let's spread it out." See what I mean?

And then there is the issue of, why start the TPBs at #5? Why not collect #1-4?


And of course, thank you for your answers.

[Roseangelo]

Originally Posted by Janus Prospero

When I said "Volume 1," I meant "Collected Book Volume 1" not "Series 1."

Ah, I gotcha. Honestly, I haven't a clue. I can't say I ever figured it out for myself.

[GordonUniverse]

Originally Posted by Janus Prospero

And then there is the issue of, why start the TPBs at #5? Why not collect #1-4?

I imagine they didn't collect 1-4 because 1-4 are adaptations of specific episodes from the cartoon, and original stories started at 5.

[Janus Prospero]

Originally Posted by raphael_is_cool

Where's the best place to get hold of the entire City at War series? In terms of cost and seller reliability.

Parts 3-13 (Issues# 52-62) can be ordered directly from Mirage using this order form.

That's 33 USD + Shipping. You have to e-mail them at fanmail@ninjaturtles.com to determine foreign shipping rates.

But that's a good start. All you have left is Issues #50 and 51.

For those I suggest:
(1) Local comic book shops
(2) Local comic conventions
(3) Comic shops you run into while out of town
(4) eBay
(5) Maybe these forums if you're lucky
(6) There are some websites (such as nostalgiazone.com) that sell old issues, but they are hit and miss. (Although it does look like they have a copy of Issue #51 right now.)

Originally Posted by GordonUniverse

I imagine they didn't collect 1-4 because 1-4 are adaptations of specific episodes from the cartoon, and original stories started at 5.

Ah, that actually makes sense. It seems that they do match up with the first few episodes of season 2.

[raphael_is_cool]

Sorted. Thanks!

[Warhorse]

Very vile question.

In the comics, which Turtle has been responsible for the most casulties?