The Most Amazing News Ever!!! Thank You Murphy!!!!

[VaughnMichael]

Over @ Murphy Blog he just announced that:
Some of you old toon fans will be pleased to learn that Mirage has now begun a retro TMNT licensing program based on the original cartoon/
licensing program from back in the late 80s and 90s, and that the likenesses of Krang, Bebop and Rocksteady will be licensed out in limited fashion alongside the core retro images of the TMNT, Splinter, Shredder, April and Casey. First up for the Krang Gang are t-shirts from licensee Giant, available exclusively at Hot Topic later this year.

Pleased? No, I'm Ecstatic! They'll see how well this stuff will sell then I hope it shows them that we really need a line of up to date action figures based on the old show!

[Roseangelo]

I still don't get how this is different from the Retro t-shirts that already exist (except that I don't think Krang, Bebop, or Rocksteady have yet appeared on any of those).

[VaughnMichael]

I still don't get how this is different from the Retro t-shirts that already exist (except that I don't think Krang, Bebop, or Rocksteady have yet appeared on any of those).
Well We haven't really had much shredder merch from the show, no April merch at all, no Casey stuff, and I'm shocked about krang, bebop and rocksteady to be honest I was just talking to a woman at hot topic the other day and she said you wouldn't believe how many people ask for shirts of those guys (meaning krang, bebop, and rocksteady).
But what I don't understand if how this is all ok yet making a retro line of action figures isn't....:roll:

[Revan]

Sweet news! I'll be in and out of hot topic like crazy. So is this new line due to the release of TMNT. It seems to much of a coinsidence that the move just came out and the same year we get a new line of OT merch.

[Roseangelo]

But what I don't understand if how this is all ok yet making a retro line of action figures isn't....:roll:

There might be hope. (https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=2490093766124645019&postID=544583370605886915)

[CyberCubed]

Man, I'd love new toys of Krang, Bebop and Rocksteady. *crosses fingers*

T-shirts generally don't excite me much but I'll probably pick some up just for the hell of it.

[VaughnMichael]

There might be hope. (https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=2490093766124645019&postID=544583370605886915)
Oh sweet jesus! there may actully be a god!!:o
Man, I'd love new toys of Krang, Bebop and Rocksteady. *crosses fingers*

T-shirts generally don't excite me much but I'll probably pick some up just for the hell of it.
I'd say buy them all up! We need to show them how much we love the old toon. I think honestly if we and others show them how much we really care things will move along so we get action figures.

[Drtooth]

I'd only buy the T-Shirts if they hit Kohls, since they usually have them on sale for 10 bucks or so. I got a Kick ass Electric Mayhem shirt not too long ago, and they have a pretty cool selection. I just hate the millions of smartalec T-shirts they have without cartoons/movies/bands/video games on it.

[Toonami Tom]

I really hope they make retro action figures. It would be very awesome. I will be very disapointed if it doesn't happen. Playmates Toys would make them right?

[Roseangelo]

I really hope they make retro action figures. It would be very awesome. I will be very disapointed if it doesn't happen. Playmates Toys would make them right?

Yes. My understanding is that, so far, Playmates wants to make these figures, but Mirage has not allowed them to. Hopefully logic will prevail and retro figures will become a reality.

[ZariusTwo]

Animated DVD movie. Now.

[VaughnMichael]

I'd only buy the T-Shirts if they hit Kohls, since they usually have them on sale for 10 bucks or so. I got a Kick ass Electric Mayhem shirt not too long ago, and they have a pretty cool selection. I just hate the millions of smartalec T-shirts they have without cartoons/movies/bands/video games on it.
Yeah thas not gonna work seeing as they said EXCLUSIVE @ HOTTOPIC :roll:
And I'm wearing that Electric Mayhem shirt today cause I went out and got the muppet show season 2 box set at best buy yay!
Yes. My understanding is that, so far, Playmates wants to make these figures, but Mirage has not allowed them to. Hopefully logic will prevail and retro figures will become a reality.
*prays*

[General Traag]

Yay! I'm not that excited over retro-merchandising (wow, a t-shirt with krang, probably more expensive then a self-made one...), but atleast it means krang and gang still ARE popular, and that's a good thing to me.

(I'm with zariustwo here, i still want a krang movie):D

[ToTheNines]

Animated DVD movie. Now.

That's what we need, I'm sure no one is too old to do their voice. And they owe us some hardcore action/fights in the OT style, they always teased us but never really brought an epic battle to the table. Just one last horah from the technodrome, all out war with the foot, Shredder and company.

[General Traag]

My life would be complete if something like that would hit the shell. =]

[Scandia]

Would they be putting the characters in new comic or cartoon episodes then?

[TristanHuwJones]

At the moment, the retro licensing is only applicable to apparel. Though from what Murph's blog says they're trying to get a figure series off the ground. I have a feeling it might be a limited thing though, kind of like a collector's line.

[jerome]

meh...hot topic is a horrible company and i don't think i'd ever shop there. Not even for TMNT gear.

and personally releasing a bunch of "retro" toys and shirts is in no way helping this franchise get out of the PG "family fun" zone...which is where i'd personally like to see the turtles go. And i think if this property is going to grow and stay around it needs to do something to bring in a more young adult audience. Thats the reason transformers is still around and going strong.

[VaughnMichael]

At the moment, the retro licensing is only applicable to apparel. Though from what Murph's blog says they're trying to get a figure series off the ground. I have a feeling it might be a limited thing though, kind of like a collector's line.
Yeah and the thing holding it back at the moment is Peter Laird.:roll:
Come on Peter give the fans what the want for once PLLLEEAAASEEE!!:D
meh...hot topic is a horrible company and i don't think i'd ever shop there. Not even for TMNT gear.

and personally releasing a bunch of "retro" toys and shirts is in no way helping this franchise get out of the PG "family fun" zone...which is where i'd personally like to see the turtles go. And i think if this property is going to grow and stay around it needs to do something to bring in a more young adult audience. Thats the reason transformers is still around and going strong.
Yeah the new transformers movie didn't make me like the property any more so mmhmm yeah.
And Can we for the love of god stop being so negative around here for once....shesh.

[CyberCubed]

and personally releasing a bunch of "retro" toys and shirts is in no way helping this franchise get out of the PG "family fun" zone...which is where i'd personally like to see the turtles go. And i think if this property is going to grow and stay around it needs to do something to bring in a more young adult audience. Thats the reason transformers is still around and going strong.

Its far too late for that. Outside of the comics and the PG nature of the movies, TMNT is always going to be seen as a childrens property.

The new toon actually attempted to be a more action/story arc oriented series and succeeded, the problem is the audience didn't care. The 2k3 series never made the impact that the original cartoon did, and every time I discuss TMNT with the casual viewer they say they don't like the new series at all.

The new movie only doing 54mil domestically is also proof that people see it as a childrens property, and at this point TMNT is either laughed at or looked at as "the little guy" when compared with Batman, Superman, Spiderman, X-men etc.

[Scandia]

Hey! I grew up watching the old TMNT toon. I loved it back then and still think it is good. Yet I love the new toon just as much. Sure, I had to get past the new Turtle designs- but otherwise it totally fascinates me. In fact, it has become my favorite TMNT version because it combines the best of everything. So I don't think that you have to pick betwen the OT and the NT.

[VaughnMichael]

Hey! I grew up watching the old TMNT toon. I loved it back then and still think it is good. Yet I love the new toon just as much. Sure, I had to get past the new Turtle designs- but otherwise it totally fascinates me. In fact, it has become my favorite TMNT version because it combines the best of everything. So I don't think that you have to pick betwen the OT and the NT.
No none of us do but some choose to and as he was saying oddly enough the general public likes the old toon much more than the more serious new toon.
It's sad but true.
I like almost all tmnt related things myself.

[Roseangelo]

Though from what Murph's blog says they're trying to get a figure series off the ground. I have a feeling it might be a limited thing though, kind of like a collector's line.

I would not expect a collector's line from Playmates. They are only interested in selling to the mass market, WalMart/Toys R Us crowd. Unfortunate for us, yes. But there's no reason Retro figures could not succeed in that market.

and personally releasing a bunch of "retro" toys and shirts is in no way helping this franchise get out of the PG "family fun" zone...which is where i'd personally like to see the turtles go. And i think if this property is going to grow and stay around it needs to do something to bring in a more young adult audience. Thats the reason transformers is still around and going strong.

TMNT is fully capable of existing on multiple levels of seriousness. The thing that keeps it being exclusively a children's property is the extreme lack of adult-aimed products. Right now the only thing you've got is the Tales comic book - that's it. At this point I just want to see the TMNT succeed in whatever way the public is willing to make them succeed and right now the best opportunity for that is with full support for the Retro line. I would love to see more adult stuff, but Mirage has to actually be willing to deliver the goods in that department, because that's something none of the licensees are likely to touch (with the exception of a few t-shirts).

[Dragon Turtle]

Its far too late for that. Outside of the comics and the PG nature of the movies, TMNT is always going to be seen as a childrens property.



I don't believe it's too late for the turtles to become a property that can appeal to young adults, the 2k3 was a step in the right direction, and despite
what some people might feel about the new movie, it too helped to keep the franchise at more mature level when compared to original toon.



The new toon actually attempted to be a more action/story arc oriented series and succeeded, the problem is the audience didn't care. The 2k3 series never made the impact that the original cartoon did, and every time I discuss TMNT with the casual viewer they say they don't like the new series at all.



What "audience" didn't care? The 2K3 series was very successful, did it make the same impact as the original toon? No, of course not, the circumstances surrounding the oringinal toons popularity would be difficult if not impossible to duplicate today. After the turtles popularity faded around the mid 90's, the only talk about the turtles you could find was old school comicbook fans bashing the original toon, so I was very surprised that when the new toon came about, which was more mature and closer to original comics, I could find very little chatter about the new show, it wasn't until
the old toons became available on DVD and the new movie was announced that it became clear that all those kids who grew up with the old toons now in their late teens to early thirties still preferred the old cartoon series.


It will be years before we see kids who have grown up with this current cartoon respond.




The new movie only doing 54mil domestically is also proof that people see it as a childrens property, and at this point TMNT is either laughed at or looked at as "the little guy" when compared with Batman, Superman, Spiderman, X-men etc.

The new movie only doing 54mil domestically is proof of Warner Bro's ineptitude, and no matter how popular they were as a either independent comic or a popculture kid property, the turtles were never viewed on the same level as comicbook icons such as Batman, Superman, Spiderman or the X-men.

[gobo]

It seems to much of a coinsidence that the move just came out and the same year we get a new line of OT merch.
The 20th Anniversary of the classic cartoon is late December of this year. Mirage's 25th is sometime in 2009.

[jerome]

Hey don't get me wrong guys I love the old toon just as much as the next mid-20's turtle fan. I mean i grew up with it and loved it and have never stopped. Its why i'm here today. I actually have quite a few OT t-shirts and products that were either bought on ebay or from somewhere that is not hot topic. And if there was a re-issue of OT collector's edition figures i'd be first in line to buy them all (i've got nearly every other figure up to this point so why stop now:P ).

What i was really trying to say is that i wish mirage and other companies would wake up to the fact that if they just made something new for the teen -20 something audience (that isn't a very hard to find comic with sometimes very weird stories and art that never ships on time and makes my comic shop hate it when i walk in because they know they are going to have to special order it and go thought this giant hassle) it would be quite profitable. NO THE NEW TRANSFORMERS MOVIE WAS NOT GOOD. But it was the most recent example of a franchise's ability and willingness to put out something a bit more mature as well as hold on to a young fanbase allowing for a big budget PG-13 movie to be made. I guess x-men would probably be a better example.... I'd just like to see the tmnt treated with the same credability as batman, x-men, etc as well as still put out some product for the little ones:)

As for my comments about hot topic. Well i worked for that company for quite sometime and they are horrible money grubbing people willing and ready and all too happy to take advantage of kids. Not to mention they put up this phoney "all about the music" front when really all they are doing is exploiting and pillaging hardworking underground bands and musicians while contributing to and causing the dumbing down of the young american consumer. I'd rather spend my money else where....

but i'm not trying to be negative. just sharing my opinions :D

[ZariusTwo]

No none of us do but some choose to and as he was saying oddly enough the general public likes the old toon much more than the more serious new toon.

"Oddly" does'nt come into the equation here. To them, It IS TMNT, it always WILL be TMNT, it's surreal that not even the original source material can change that except for older fans, historians, and as a footnote for curiosity, but that's true too.

[Krang]

Pleased? No, I'm Ecstatic! They'll see how well this stuff will sell then I hope it shows them that we really need a line of up to date action figures based on the old show!
Glad to hear that the original cartoon is finally getting some recognition again. I would gladly buy and wear a Krang-related t-shirt. :kgrin: And I agree, I would really like to see some new figures based on the original cartoon as well.

Animated DVD movie. Now.
Agreed.

and personally releasing a bunch of "retro" toys and shirts is in no way helping this franchise get out of the PG "family fun" zone...which is where i'd personally like to see the turtles go. And i think if this property is going to grow and stay around it needs to do something to bring in a more young adult audience.
What age group do you think TMNT fans who grew up watching the original cartoon would be in? :P

[Drtooth]

Glad to hear that the original cartoon is finally getting some recognition again. I would gladly buy and wear a Krang-related t-shirt. :kgrin: And I agree, I would really like to see some new figures based on the original cartoon as well.


Picture this.... A caucasian flesh toned shirt, silk screened all over, to look like Krang's android body, with Krang right in the middle. now that would be a T-shirt of epic proportions.

In fact it's one of my dream T-Shirts right up their with a blue Super Grover emblem shirt (similar to the Batman and Super Man Logo shirts).

Anyway, I'd love to see Bebop and Rocksteady Resculpted to be sort of in scale with the current line. Or at least to look more like the cartoon versions of themselves. A retro line that is totally remade. Not just rereleased.

[odupianist]

Batman, Superman and the like have been around since the 60's (some even since the 40's) at least. They have been around forever and prove that they can stand the test of time. The general audience associates the cartoon with the TMNT bc that is what gave it its jump start. I think this news is good, but let's not get our hopes up so we don't get too disappointed. Not trying to be a bummer, but I don't want to hear all of you complain when the stuff comes out and no one's happy lol :P.


And I'm wearing that Electric Mayhem shirt today cause I went out and got the muppet show season 2 box set at best buy yay!

Glad to see I wasn't the only one. Muppet Show is awesome. I'll have to send you some pics of the EM set up I've got at my house with the toys (minus Zoot - damn rare line of figures lol)

[Ninja Tiptup]

I recall before the 2003 series came out there was a line of Mirage comic based T-Shirts.

I love the idea of more retro shirts but the possibility of retro figures has me exstatic.

Now as for trying to help TMNT mature in marketing... People will always base their opinions on what they saw/read first. For Batman and Spider-Man it was probably comics that people were aware of first but for TMNT it was the 87 cartoon so anything without Rocksteady, Bebop and Krang isn't TMNT to them even if those characters weren't in the original indepedant comics.

The first movie was really quite mature but I believe that caused a stir so they had to tone things down a bit. I appreciate the new movie from trying to get back to the first movie's feel though it doesn't quite manage that. Even so, there really isn't another widespread theatrical CGI action movie with the kind of atmosphere TMNT portrayed.

Even so, the whole idea of TMNT is so entirely ludicrous that it lends itself well to family entertainment.

But the main reason that "mature" TMNT products are few and far between are the alliances Mirage chose to form for the property. What more needs to be said than the name of 4kids to know that TMNT wont be aiming at the older crowd outside of comics and nostaliga until 4kids doesn't have a piece of the property left. Despite that I think 4kids treated TMNT quite well at least until Fast Forward. The 2003 cartoon is one of the best action cartoons ever made in my opinion.

There should definently be some adult oriented products but TMNT lends itself well to being a youth franchise and it's going to stay that way for the forseable future.

We all believe TMNT is as good as any of those other comics and we hate to see it considered to be a lesser franchise but that's the nature of being an independant comic franchise and as long if you love something that much then you don't care what anyone else says about it. You know it's good and that's all that truely matters.

[General Traag]

I don't wanna get too much offtopic here, but i allways thought the main problem of the turtles (besides the 'kiddie' factor) is the fact that there are too many different universes. I mean we have: 2 different cartoon universes, the movie universe and other different comic universes.
It's hard to bring new ppl to the turtles when you have to spend half of the day explaining why the turtles now are totally different then the turtles most people of my age know (which is the 80's cartoon universe to be exact).
I can't even count the times when i told someone the turtles have a new cartoon and they ask "does it have krang and the technodrome in it?"

But to come back to the t-shirts, a 'krangs android body' t-shirt is something i would think about buying too. ^^

[VaughnMichael]

Ok Exactly what "adult" items would everyone like to see?
I really can't picture "adult" based tmnt items I know I for one would not enjoy seeing tmnt condoms....or a blue up donatello like in the one mirage mini comic making fun of fan girls....:lol:
But yeah everyone talks about these "adult" products but I can't think of anthing so could you guys list a few?

[General Traag]

I find it allready hard to imagine batman or spiderman 'adult' items. o0

[Drtooth]

Glad to see I wasn't the only one. Muppet Show is awesome. I'll have to send you some pics of the EM set up I've got at my house with the toys (minus Zoot - damn rare line of figures lol)

You know how long I've been waiting for them to make a Male T-shirt with them? I've seen numerous T-shirts for women. I saw a woman's Sesame T-shirt with Telly on it, and now I'd love to see one for guys too. We have an Elmo one. Not kidding.


I really can't picture "adult" based tmnt items I know I for one would not enjoy seeing tmnt condoms....or a blue up donatello like in the one mirage mini comic making fun of fan girls....
But yeah everyone talks about these "adult" products but I can't think of anthing so could you guys list a few?



Hey... as long as I don't see TMNT lip rings or TMNT panties, I'm okay. Actually I would love to see TMNT panties... but I should stop right there.

I mean there is a nostaliga boom right now that says it's okay to wear these shirts and boy these toys at the moment. We've got a small window of oppertunity that this is still cute and not pathetic. Maybe into are early 30's at best. If they do not make any retro TMNT things that appeal to older fans soon, there's no chance until the next generation grows to our age.

[VaughnMichael]

I find it allready hard to imagine batman or spiderman 'adult' items. o0
You know it's funny every acts like Batman and spiderman have always been so mature and not silly.
Has everyone forgotten the old live action tv shows or cartoons?
I mean they're cool and all of that but they're by no means "dark" or "adult" like people think of the characters now.
Frankly I like turtles being all over the place I don't mind that we have differnt worlds and differnt versions of the turtles aimed at all kinds of fans.

[ToTheNines]

What "audience" didn't care?

All of the faux fans that whined about no more pizza and cowabunga (which is not true, it just was no longer the main focus). No one here really acts like this, but if you go to like a gamefaqs message board, or read comments on a TMNT youtube video, a bunch of nearly illiterate whiners go on and on about how they hate anything TMNT has done from 2003 onwards.

[VaughnMichael]

All of the faux fans that whined about no more pizza and cowabunga (which is not true, it just was no longer the main focus). No one here really acts like this, but if you go to like a gamefaqs message board, or read comments on a TMNT youtube video, a bunch of nearly illiterate whiners go on and on about how they hate anything TMNT has done from 2003 onwards.
Or if you talk to any regular non hardcore tmnt fan like us on the street the first thing that more often than not that comes out of their mouth is COWABUNGA!, Yeah Pizza!, or they sing the old theme song.
You may not believe this or may not want to but allot of people didn't even know a new series was on tv untill the movie came out.
And allot of people I've shown 2k3 to hated it and said that they like the old cartoon better.

[odupianist]

You know how long I've been waiting for them to make a Male T-shirt with them? I've seen numerous T-shirts for women. I saw a woman's Sesame T-shirt with Telly on it, and now I'd love to see one for guys too. We have an Elmo one. Not kidding.

The only thing I've found was at Target. It's a red shirt with Animal's face in the middle and it says "Want Woman". I like it lol

[ToTheNines]

Or if you talk to any regular non hardcore tmnt fan like us on the street the first thing that more often than not that comes out of their mouth is COWABUNGA!, Yeah Pizza!, or they sing the old theme song.
You may not believe this or may not want to but allot of people didn't even know a new series was on tv untill the movie came out.
And allot of people I've shown 2k3 to hated it and said that they like the old cartoon better.

Yep, other than some younger cousins of mine that I introduced to the turtles, I only know one guy who his an honest straight up TMNT fan. Then theres my close friends who like it all just because they watch it with me.

[Roseangelo]

"Adult-aimed" items doesn't means adultadult items. Sheesh. What I see it as would be an on-going comic book that can be taken seriously. Novels written for adult readers (this only means 250 page mass market paperbacks with no pictures, not adultadult books, you dirtydirty people). Nice reference books that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. Reprints of all the older comic books. That kind of stuff. Higher-end collectibles would also be nice.

All of this can co-exist with the goofy old toon stuff, the more serious new toon stuff, and the in between new movie stuff.

[Drtooth]

All of the faux fans that whined about no more pizza and cowabunga (which is not true, it just was no longer the main focus). No one here really acts like this, but if you go to like a gamefaqs message board, or read comments on a TMNT youtube video, a bunch of nearly illiterate whiners go on and on about how they hate anything TMNT has done from 2003 onwards.

Those guys actually crack me up.

Omg they no asay cowabunnga. it crap be. XDDDDDDD psxgg9kf.

Too lazy to pick up a comic book I see. There's nothing wrong with prefering th old show, but do your bloody research. Unless it was a wacky issue written by Hedden/McWeenie, or that other guy who's name escapes me at the moment, they didn't do either. Donatello did NOT do machines and Michelangello was NOT a party dude. Raph was rude but not cool. That's about it.

I feel retro stuff would do great. It's the adult themed newer stuff I'm worried about. But it's only about 3 T-shirts... 2 being just the logo.