How can we try to get the rest of Gang Wars & the followup to Change of Power made?

[John Pannozzi]

I must say I'm a bit inspired by the bold attempts by members of this fine forum to see the conclusion of Volume 3 and the Forever War realized. I want to try to do the same for the rest of Tristan Jones's Gang Wars saga and Ross May's planned followup to Tales v.2 #22's "Change of Power".

Tristan himself said on another thread that some publisher like IDW, Dark Horse or Image might allow him to continue his Gang Wars saga someday, but said that it would come down to fans like you and I requesting them to do so in order to make it happen.

So, I ask of those who the business side of the comic book industry best:
how should we try to get IDW, Dark Horse, Image, etc. interested? By snail mail? By e-mail? By posting requests on their official message boards? What would be the most appropriate and effective way to show our interest?

[Aztec General]

I'd be all for that. I found TJ's Gang Wars story to be far more completion worthy than Image's run.

[CyberCubed]

Answer: We don't.

Not every storyline in the Mirage run is going to be wrapped up.

[Powder]

Good luck with that.

[Spitfire]

I'd like to see that storyline finished. Honestly it's the last big storyline aside from the others that are being worked on that needs concluding.

[RossMay]

Hey guys,
Thanks for the interest, John. Here's what's happening at the moment. Image and Dark Horse are currently vying to have the reprint rights to old TMNT material. Outside of the Image finisher, nobody is interested in doing new Ninja Turtles comics until they see what Nickelodeon's cartoons and movies will look like and be story-wise.

So first a comic publisher would need to do new TMNT comic material. I have no doubt that will happen someday. Secondly, they would need to be interested in doing a comic that's not specifically based on a current cartoon or recent movie. Not a sure-fire thing, but I can see that happening. Thirdly, the publisher would still need to be interested in our stories. Talking to editors is a great idea, but you should probably save that until there is definitely someone to talk to. All the publishers are aware that Ninja Turtles might be up for grabs in the future and will be watching closely.

But finally, a bit of a downer. The Image finisher might get a pass by virtue of Peter not seeing it as part of his Mirage universe. Tristan's and my stories were most definitely in that universe. This is not to say that something couldn't be worked out, but first all these conditions mentioned above would have to be met, and then Peter Laird would also have to give his approval as well (something many publishers and editors would not want to have to deal with out of hand with any outside creator).

Anyway, my point is to save any push for something like that until someone has the publishing rights. Personally, I would just like to get back to the turtles someday period (future stories by me would've included more Renet and time travel, and a day at the worst zoo ever created by Dr. Moreau!).

Thanks for the enthusiasm!

[TristanHuwJones]

Ross pretty much hit the nail on the head there. The only thing I can think of is that maybe -- and I'm not privy to the details of Peter's contract regarding the Mirage Universe and the comic clause, so don't take this as gospel -- we could finish the stories through Mirage via Peter's 18 issues a year deal. But IF that were allowable, it would come down to Peter letting either Ross or myself (or both) to do it.

[CyberCubed]

Probably a short mini-series about 13-issues long would be alright to wrap up both these plots together.

But from when I last e-mailed Dan he told me Peter doesn't want to print comics/approve any TMNT stories for the time being as Tales has been costing him a fortune. And now he doesn't have the licensing money coming in.

The fact that he won't even continue Vol. 4 for the meantime makes me think he wants to take a long break from seeing comics printed.

[TristanHuwJones]

Just because I said it was the only real option at the moment doesn't mean it's likely to happen ;)

[ToTheNines]

And now he doesn't have the licensing money coming in.

Slap yourself. The man just got 60 million.

[CyberCubed]

He only got $50 million, the other $10 million went to 4kids when Nick purchased the 2k3 series from them.

Then he said some of the Mirage artists got some of the buyout money, like Dan, Jim, etc...although who knows what percentage they got out of it, I imagine small.

Then there's Gary Richardson, who had to make a hefty profit out of this. Then PL will probably save a load for his daughter, while some other money is spent on motorcycles and segways.

So whatever is left out of that is sitting in the bank.

[ToTheNines]

Not saying you're wrong, but you fail to make a point... He's still a multi-millionaire.

[Cipher]

Not saying you're wrong, but you fail to make a point... He's still a multi-millionaire.Enough to never have to worry about money problems, but not necessarily enough to go funding comic series willy-nilly out of pocket. It's understandable.

I think it's likely he may wait for a more lucrative market. Maybe after Nickelodeon has begun their reboot and some other companies have published trades of the Mirage material. (Hello possibility of high-profile, in-bookstore Mirage trades!)

[John Pannozzi]

Hey guys,
Thanks for the interest, John. Here's what's happening at the moment. Image and Dark Horse are currently vying to have the reprint rights to old TMNT material.
Are they still vying right now?

[TristanHuwJones]

Modeen is the best person to ask. He seems to be in the loop better than most of us these days :lol:

[Andrew NDB]

Are they still vying right now?

No, Dark Horse threw in the towel some time ago but they did make a go of it (both before and after the sale). At least as far as the "mature"/Mirage-like TMNT go, IDW has tried to make a pitch for things a couple of times, though it seems like one publisher in particular has a particular edge over the rest... but it really doesn't sound like anything's any firmer than it was a few months back and may not be until 2012.

[jaymq]

I had my heart set on Dark Horse.. 'cause of the potential of crossing over with Usagi. Oh well. =/

[Kendamu]

He only got $50 million, the other $10 million went to 4kids when Nick purchased the 2k3 series from them.

Only $50-Million? That's a rip-off. With $50-Million I could only live very comfortably for 625 years! :P

On-topic, I sure do hope that when TMNT makes its comeback that someone good gets comic-publishing rights. Even if it's not specifically Mirage Universe, I'm sure I'd enjoy it.

[CyberCubed]

I'd rather we not get any new TMNT comics at all unless they are a part of Mirage continuity, not counting a Nick spinoff comic based on the cartoon, which I'm sure will happen.

No publisher has to respect Mirage continuity now, so I'd hate to see 25 years of history down the drain.

[Kendamu]

Would you rather see new people do their take on Mirage or would you rather see Mirage get left alone and have new people do new things?

[CyberCubed]

I'd rather new people try to work within Mirage continuity. Similar to what most Tales writers like Tristan have done, or the Image series, or something like that.

They write the stories they want, but they make sure it fits in with the Mirage TMNT characters.

I really don't think the comics ever needs a, "reboot," there's just no point. Why reboot when so little of the universe has been explored already?

That being said a cartoon spinoff comic is fine by me, and I half-expect Nick to come out with one based on the new cartoon. The question is who here will follow it? I would if its similar to Archie/Dreamwave.