What the.......

[Samhain]

Why do they make shirts that are so insanely stupid? Its like a little kid is designing them.

This one is just totally random. Doesnt make any sense to me:

http://i45.tinypic.com/14slc9.jpg

Then this one gets on my nerves because Dim Mak is a Chinese move and the Tmnt are trained in Ninjutsu. Its pretty clear people think all asians are the same. Doesnt make any sense. Who the hell aproves the designs? Its ridiculous. Also, ugly shirt.

http://i47.tinypic.com/aou8ft.jpg

[Roseangelo]

In the first pic, Leo/April look like the National Lampoon's Vacation poster:

http://www.bigchicosmovieblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/nationallampoonsvacation.jpg

Which is a parody of the Star Wars poster:

http://www.popartuk.com/g/l/lgfp1416+a-new-hope-original-movie-score-star-wars-episode-iv-poster.jpg

(I thought there was a SW poster with Leia wrapped around Luke's leg, but I couldn't find a pic.)

But yeah, they're all stupid.

[VaughnMichael]

They're trying to apeal to their supposid audience, who ever that may be.
Since they never can seem to make up their minds who the turtles should be marketed towards.:roll:

[Koi]

(I thought there was a SW poster with Leia wrapped around Luke's leg, but I couldn't find a pic.)

But yeah, they're all stupid.

It was an illustration by Ralph McQuarrie.
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/3231/mcquarriestarwars1.jpg (http://img11.imageshack.us/i/mcquarriestarwars1.jpg/)

The awesome shirt would be ten times better if they took off all those conflicting pictures and just stuck with one image and the word awesome.

[Roseangelo]

It was an illustration by Ralph McQuarrie.

Thank you! Knew it was something like that.

[oldmanwinters]

Man, there is a ton of early Star Wars promotional and concept art that I've never seen! I'd love to see a larger shot of that poster!

EDIT:
Ah, that's a little better!
http://www.starwars.com/img/fans/events/news/f20080701/1_bg.jpg

[Kendamu]

They're trying to apeal to their supposid audience, who ever that may be.
Since they never can seem to make up their minds who the turtles should be marketed towards.:roll:
Oh, no. These shirt-making guys know exactly who they're marketing to: adults who grew up on the OT and teens who think retro stuff is cool.

Anywho, I like the first shirt except that they're too smiley. This is supposed to be a kind of action-esque scene. They should at least look like they're making their way through dangerous waters.

As for the second... yeah, Dim Mak is a Chinese discipline. However, in the show itself they used the "Kur-Li" maneuver... which is just a Three Stooges joke. In fact, I'd think it were funnier if they used Kur-Li instead of Dim Mak, but it still looks like a cool shirt to me. In fact, I think I'll get it sometime soon.

[Leonardo87]

I don't know about you but, I actually like these designs. Sure they are based on Star Wars/National Lampoon's Vacation but they are pretty cool. Like Goongasnootch said, they are for the adults like me who grew up on the old toon.

[Samhain]

I don't know about you but, I actually like these designs. Sure they are based on Star Wars/National Lampoon's Vacation but they are pretty cool. Like Goongasnootch said, they are for the adults like me who grew up on the old toon.

Well im a adult that grew up with the toon aswell. But I just dont think they care what the heck these shirts look like. I didnt put 2&2 together when looking at the Star Wars esque shirt. They pretty much use the same exact art for like all the friggin shirts. But thats just my opinion, im sure lots of people will buy them.

[Kendamu]

Well im a adult that grew up with the toon aswell. But I just dont think they care what the heck these shirts look like. I didnt put 2&2 together when looking at the Star Wars esque shirt. They pretty much use the same exact art for like all the friggin shirts. But thats just my opinion, im sure lots of people will buy them.

Well, if you visited Murph's blog back when we kinda had a bit of a choice as to which art we'd have to see over and over again.

Anywho, they have to care what the shirts look like, otherwise people won't buy them... and, from what my friend working at Spencer's told me, TMNT stuff flies off the shelves there.

[Roseangelo]

Well, if you visited Murph's blog back when we kinda had a bit of a choice as to which art we'd have to see over and over again.

Not really. They ignored all of our valid critiques of the crappy art and went with it anyways. And now it's plastered over all of this new crap. I refuse to buy anything that has this new crappy faux old school art. But I also basically don't buy any new TMNT stuff in general.

[VaughnMichael]

Oh, no. These shirt-making guys know exactly who they're marketing to: adults who grew up on the OT and teens who think retro stuff is cool.
I was being a smart @ss lol
Not really. They ignored all of our valid critiques of the crappy art and went with it anyways. And now it's plastered over all of this new crap. I refuse to buy anything that has this new crappy faux old school art. But I also basically don't buy any new TMNT stuff in general.
There hasn't been anything worth buying for some time anyway, and I agree about this bad art.

[Roseangelo]

There hasn't been anything worth buying for some time anyway, and I agree about this bad art.

This is the one and only thing I've been tempted to buy in a long, long time. I like the distressed look and it has genuine old school art on it that looks to be untouched and not mucked up. Unfortunately, the $45 price stops me.

http://img.hottopic.com/is/image/HotTopic/269618_hi?$270x406$

[Kendamu]

And that's the problem. It seems that what's flying off the shelves isn't what we want and what we want doesn't seem to sell so well.

[Roseangelo]

And that's the problem. It seems that what's flying off the shelves isn't what we want and what we want doesn't seem to sell so well.

This is very, very much true. Here is how I've seen the last year-and-a-half of Turtles:

Fall 2008, Mirage prepares the 25th anniversary style guide that they will make available to licensees. For the first time since Peter Laird became sole owner of the TMNT, the old school cartoon Turtles are included in the style guide. I'm not 100% sure of this, but I believe the style guide would have also included 2K3 Turtles (probably BTTS... ugh) and comic Turtles. This would give licensees the chance to choose their flavor of Turtles as Mirage celebrated 25 years of all the flavors of Turtles.

However, with maybe a couple exceptions that I can't recall off hand but I'll leave room for exceptions just in case, the licensees have only been interested in the cartoon turtles. Not surprising, as these are the most nostalgic of the different flavors of Turtles and there is a lot of money to be made on nostalgia.

BUT THIS DOESN'T MEAN ALL THE NEW CRAP HAS TO HAVE CRAPPY ART. Really, this is the thing that bugs me most. I have nothing against the old cartoon Turtles and I do quite love them the way I love all the different flavors. If these are the Turtles that sell, then yes, these are absolutely the kind of products that companies should be making. But would it really have killed Mirage/4Kids to spend more time on the art and make it NOT crappy? Seriously, not only are the proportions on most of the Turtles horrible, but a lot of them also have actual old stock art heads photoshopped onto them (which doesn't help the proportions at all). And then there are all the pictures where the Turtles have boobs. Really, it's like they didn't even look at any of the actual old cartoon art by Lavigne/Brown or even the damn cartoon itself. It's just sloppy, and that's what bugs me most.

[Kendamu]

Here's to hoping the art's a bit better when they start pushing products for the new series in a couple years. It's a shame they don't use the real oldschool art on most things (I have a "Turtley Awesome" shirt (http://www.teesforall.com/product_info.php?language=en&products_id=5575) I got for X-Mas with real oldschool art on it). The face on the "Dim Mak" shirt looks oldschool, though.

[Roseangelo]

(I have a "Turtley Awesome" shirt (http://www.teesforall.com/product_info.php?language=en&products_id=5575) I got for X-Mas with real oldschool art on it).

The heads on those Turtles have been replaced from the original. This is not uncommon with a lot of the newer stuff, though I have no idea why.

[VaughnMichael]

The stupid sayings also keep me away from these shirts.

[Roseangelo]

The stupid saying also keep me away from these shirts.

Me too. And that's why I'm hanging onto the Target shirt from a few years ago. Not only no stupid saying, but not even a TMNT logo. Bonus points in my book.

[Kendamu]

Huh. Replaced heads. Who'da thunk it?

Yeah, the saying would've kept me from buying it myself, but it's really grown on me. The stupid saying is kinda funny to me now. Maybe I'm just not taking things as seriously now that we have less than no say in what happens next. Originally, the buyout combined with Mirage basically saying, "We're not doing anymore TMNT comics even though we can completely devote our time to that now that we only do TMNT comics," I was kinda turned off to all things Turtles for awhile. I'm getting over it now, though.

[Lordmylar06]

About 9 years ago (yes I know that's pushing it) there were t-shirts you could find in Hot Topic/Spencers/Sam Goody, that actually had Eastman drawn turtles, with all red bandannas. I bought one, but sadly can't find anything like that anymore. It's almost as if you have to make your own iron-on t-shirt if you want something decent.

[Kendamu]

About 9 years ago (yes I know that's pushing it) there were t-shirts you could find in Hot Topic/Spencers/Sam Goody, that actually had Eastman drawn turtles, with all red bandannas. I bought one, but sadly can't find anything like that anymore. It's almost as if you have to make your own iron-on t-shirt if you want something decent.
I snagged a bunch of those online where I could find ;em. They probably make up about half of my TMNT shirts.

[Roseangelo]

It's almost as if you have to make your own iron-on t-shirt if you want something decent.

That's how we made Next Mutation shirts for ourselves back in the day. I think I still have mine buried somewhere. :tcool:

These days I've used Zazzle to make myself a shirt, which turned out really nice.

[sdp]

meh, I like some of the stuff though they also have terrible designs and very high prices. What gets me is hipsters wearing the stuff to be ironic or retro.

I only need one TMNT shirt and I bought an awesome one at walmart in the kids section that fits me as well as any adult medium does, its brown and features some cool artwork thats not from 2k3 or the OT just kick ass turtles.

[Roseangelo]

I only need one TMNT shirt and I bought an awesome one at walmart in the kids section that fits me as well as any adult medium does, its brown and features some cool artwork thats not from 2k3 or the OT just kick ass turtles.

Is it all plastic-y? I'm guessing it's the Peter Laird shirt they had. I would have gotten that, but I couldn't get over it being all plastic; all it takes is one bad bend in the wash for those to become unwearable.

[sdp]

Yeah and brown, it was really cheap price too. I do believe some dromer may have pointed it out to me of its existence. And at least I've never had a problem with it, then again I don't really wear it that often I've had it for like almost three years and only worn it like five times.

[Tomoshibi Amatsu]

Why do they make shirts that are so insanely stupid? Its like a little kid is designing them.

This one is just totally random. Doesnt make any sense to me:

http://i45.tinypic.com/14slc9.jpg



I'm confused.... Did Leonardo just get some?

[CyberCubed]

Honestly, I couldn't care less. They're just shirts/clothing.

I only buy a handful of TMNT T-shirts and even that is a rarity. Is this really worth blowing out of proportion?

[Sage Ninja]

they should try putting some Archie turtle comics covers on these shirts. Tha would be wicked.

[Ninjinister]

The first shirt is actually similar to old action movie posters. I believe it's like the Conan ones and so forth, or at least that sort of film. Might have actually originated on book covers. Many different movies/media use parodies of that sort of image - take the Army of Darkness poster for instance:

http://www.impawards.com/1993/posters/army_of_darkness.jpg

EDIT: This was the poster I was thinking of:

http://artfiles.art.com/images/-/Conan-the-Barbarian-italian-Movie-Poster-C10076453.jpeg

[jimmyjams]

This is the one and only thing I've been tempted to buy in a long, long time. I like the distressed look and it has genuine old school art on it that looks to be untouched and not mucked up. Unfortunately, the $45 price stops me.

http://img.hottopic.com/is/image/HotTopic/269618_hi?$270x406$

I feel exactly the same way as u. I like this a lot but too pricey... waiting on some online sales to come along.

[Krutch]

That "AWESOME" shirt is right up my alley. I love collecting random and downright stupid looking clothes(remember, im the guy who petitioned for that Aquaman Costume Hoodie to be made).

My favorite shirt I own is dark blue and has a picture of a bowl of mustard with a spoon in it. On the back, in plain white writing, it says "Mustard".

Best shirt ever.

[Samhain]

That "AWESOME" shirt is right up my alley. I love collecting random and downright stupid looking clothes(remember, im the guy who petitioned for that Aquaman Costume Hoodie to be made).

My favorite shirt I own is dark blue and has a picture of a bowl of mustard with a spoon in it. On the back, in plain white writing, it says "Mustard".

Best shirt ever.

Well, if ya like it, more power to you. :lol: But really, we do need more ''comic'' Tmnt shirts. There isnt a whole lot. I understand they probably wont sell well in the general public but gosh, tmnt started as a comic! You think there would be a few of them to go around.

[Vivi]

This makes me greatly regret accidently throwing out a great TMNT t-shirt in a spate of cleaning --it was old, and it had the turtles from the old toon, but without pupils. Although I do like the new toon better, the old toon artwork looks better on clothes for some reason.

[Samhain]

Just thought I would share this pic. It made me laugh so hard. I love the fact hes holding a slice of pizza. :lol:

http://i46.tinypic.com/1snk05.jpg

[discordiatookie]

I must say that I really like the first t-shirt. The second one? Not so much. But yeah, i'd definitely wear the first one.

[Powder]

I love the first shirt in all honesty, but I totally see what everyone else is saying. the proportions, positioning etc. I just deal with it. I have like the largest tmnt shirt collection ever except maybe next to michele ivey, so I'll cop it. If anyone can tell me a good way to go about getting shirts made, I'll make my own mirage shirts :D


Besides, koschei airbrushes rediculously awsome shirts for good prices, you could always hit him up for something real special. I got a sick ass casey jones shirt through him.

[Samhain]

^^

I mean, after thinking about this, I realize some shirts are just so over the top, you gotta get them? Know what I mean? Because they are just so hilarious. I have a ton of shirts but I just wish there would be a little more thought into what these shirts have on them. But not hating on anyone who gets these, it just all about taste.

[Kendamu]

Is this really worth blowing out of proportion?

Absolutely! We have to keep up with the Sonic the Hedgehog fanbase somehow! Otherwise what'll the neighbors think?! :trazz:

That "AWESOME" shirt is right up my alley. I love collecting random and downright stupid looking clothes(remember, im the guy who petitioned for that Aquaman Costume Hoodie to be made).

My favorite shirt I own is dark blue and has a picture of a bowl of mustard with a spoon in it. On the back, in plain white writing, it says "Mustard".

Best shirt ever.

I want that shirt. Over-the-top humor is great!

^^

I mean, after thinking about this, I realize some shirts are just so over the top, you gotta get them? Know what I mean? Because they are just so hilarious. I have a ton of shirts but I just wish there would be a little more thought into what these shirts have on them. But not hating on anyone who gets these, it just all about taste.

I know exactly what you mean and that's sort of the mentality I'm getting back into with TMNT. Like I said earlier, the buyout combined with the comics stopping altogether (even though they don't have to) really turned me off to TMNT for a bit and then when I started warming up to the Turtles again it was in a, "I'm gonna interpret the comics in a mega-serious manner," kind of way.

Now I just want manga t-shirts! Maybe I'll have to Zazzle some up.

[Cipher]

I second what other members have said. That "Awesome" shirt actually would be awesome, if it were drawn better.

[Adam Riches]

BUT THIS DOESN'T MEAN ALL THE NEW CRAP HAS TO HAVE CRAPPY ART. Really, this is the thing that bugs me most. I have nothing against the old cartoon Turtles and I do quite love them the way I love all the different flavors. If these are the Turtles that sell, then yes, these are absolutely the kind of products that companies should be making. But would it really have killed Mirage/4Kids to spend more time on the art and make it NOT crappy? Seriously, not only are the proportions on most of the Turtles horrible, but a lot of them also have actual old stock art heads photoshopped onto them (which doesn't help the proportions at all). And then there are all the pictures where the Turtles have boobs. Really, it's like they didn't even look at any of the actual old cartoon art by Lavigne/Brown or even the damn cartoon itself. It's just sloppy, and that's what bugs me most.

I just have to say in some partial defense on the part of Mirage/4Kids, I don't think this was always entirely up to them. I know from first hand experience because I had talks with Lionsgate twice begging them to let me have a shot at some of the OT DVD box art and they were like dealing with a brick wall in regards to this stuff. They do it all in-house based on whatever materials are available to them and at least from what I could see were really just concerned with getting the product on shelves and had little care about it's presentation, as I think from where they're sitting the product itself (the episodes) are the real selling point. Now before anyone says anything, I realize Mirage had no say in the LG releases, it was just an example of something out of their hands.

Still I agree with you because these issues were present on many Mirage approved TMNT licensees in 08-09. To some extent the same case can be made about the Playmates 25th cardbacks, a lot of us were disappointed at the way they seemed sort of haphazardly arranged with no new art. It's a sad reality but the business side of TMNT licensing has basically equated to either using pre-approved stock art and updating it (new heads) or paying the absolute smallest amount possible to produce the product (if you can believe people actually get paid to do those head swaps, as if they are new art :o). I've always found this to be a major bummer because as someone who really loves the TMNT I was hoping we'd see a lot more authentic Brown/Lavigne art for the 25th or at the very least find people that are passionate enough about the property (see: me ;)) to replicate that style and create quality art to better represent the TMNT to both casual and diehard fans.

I agree with most of you guys about the shirts especially...I've often believed that better quality product would have resulted in more interest and profits, but this opinion didn't seem to be shared by basically any of the licensees that deal with TMNT product, especially clothing items apparently.

[Archon_Turtle]

I kinda like the star wars spoof one *hides*

[Kendamu]

I kinda like the star wars spoof one *hides*
How dare you like something?! That's not how TMNT works!! ;P

[Leonardo Mystic]

Speaking of crazy t-shirts, check this one out. http://cgi.ebay.com/NINJA-TURTLE-BATTERY-Funny-Retro-Men-T-Shirt-White-M_W0QQitemZ160408115328QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMen_s_Cl othing?hash=item2559119880

[Mutated Turtle]

Speaking of crazy t-shirts, check this one out. http://cgi.ebay.com/NINJA-TURTLE-BATTERY-Funny-Retro-Men-T-Shirt-White-M_W0QQitemZ160408115328QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMen_s_Cl othing?hash=item2559119880

LMAO!:lol: i want that shirt!

[Adam Riches]

I kinda like the star wars spoof one *hides*

WHAT?!
:lol:


...kidding, I think people are totally entitled to like whichever items they want. I just feel as a now (sadly) adult fan they don't really make a lot of product that represents my position in the fandom. These shirts with strange scenarios, zany artwork, off-model characters, and odd sayings don't really apply to someone who is more than a casual fan in my opinion.

I would really like to see some cool comic based stuff, or more straight forward OT stuff that isn't some weird representation of the characters. I'd like to see stuff that's just more along the lines of good art that happens to be on a shirt. It doesn't always have to have a punch line. Look at some of the great retro based shirts that G.I. Joe, Marvel, Power Rangers, and other iconic brands have received in recent years. I'm generally not one to be a billboard for the things I like, but if the right product came along I might bite, basically all the TMNT stuff I have now is legit vintage as that stuff really exemplifies the kind of items I wish they still had around today.

[Samhain]

WHAT?!
:lol:


...kidding, I think people are totally entitled to like whichever items they want. I just feel as a now (sadly) adult fan they don't really make a lot of product that represents my position in the fandom. These shirts with strange scenarios, zany artwork, off-model characters, and odd sayings don't really apply to someone who is more than a casual fan in my opinion.

I would really like to see some cool comic based stuff, or more straight forward OT stuff that isn't some weird representation of the characters. I'd like to see stuff that's just more along the lines of good art that happens to be on a shirt. It doesn't always have to have a punch line. Look at some of the great retro based shirts that G.I. Joe, Marvel, Power Rangers, and other iconic brands have received in recent years. I'm generally not one to be a billboard for the things I like, but if the right product came along I might bite, basically all the TMNT stuff I have now is legit vintage as that stuff really exemplifies the kind of items I wish they still had around today.

Yeah there is definatly nothing wrong with liking this stuff. Heck, if it were under $10 I would probably get it. But I do see what you mean. I think the majority of Tmnt shirts that are made nowadays are just a joke.I want a completly badass eastman/Laird turtles shirt.

[Spitfire]

Looks like they're turning into 2K3/Lion's Gate stock art offenders.

[Leonardo_]

I like the first one and what I dont like, I simply dont buy. No need to nag about it. Others may like it and thats totally ok.

Additionally...I mostly paint my tmnt shirts myself ^^