issue 9 is out! [spoilers]

[xZAOx]

be warned of spoilers....

so what did everyone think? i thought it was a pretty good issue. it was cool seeing baxter...or what was left...for a short time, haha. my only problem is that nanoturtlebots are on the cover, and it was pretty obvious what they were for, and all that, yet we didnt get to see them put to good use.

of course i thought one of the biggest things was in the letters: issue 10 - 60 pages :o . he also mentioned again that someone would die in issue 10, but we already knew that. only 2 months to go! hehe.

[stnthmn]

I haven't read issue 9 yet but I can tell you this. Today I went to the comic store 1 hour after they opened. I always buy 2 of each comic. One to read and one to keep in mint shape. Anyway, I went to find the new Turtles issue 9 and they only had 2 copies left on teh shelf. I grabbed them, bagged them, and paid the cashier. He was like, are we out now. I said yes and he said that this thing sold so fast he couldn't even believe it. Although I did not read it yet I must say that I do like the cover a lot. Different but cool. I suggest anyone who hasn't bought this new Mirage series top get off your butt and get all 9 issues NOW!!!!!

[Jephael]

I'm going to get my copy on Saturday. They should have it saved for me as usual (although they almost screwed up last time)

[Cascadia]

I got my issue :D

[Stefano]

i got mine and there was only two left me and my freind got them. Baxter mention something about time travel. Will that play out in the future. I think it was cool seeing baxter with a mouser in the background. I wish he didnt die though it was cool that don kept him alive i saw the cover and i was like what the hell. I thaught they were little robot turtles that faught. Im glad there little nanobots.

[Aztec General]

Spoilerathon

Wow Issue 9 ruled!!! The Donatello/Baxter scene was awesome, yet quite macabre. And was anyone else grossed out by the dinosaur ripping the Utrom to pieces. Don't get me wrong, I loved it, but it was sick! This was far and away the best Vol. 4 issue yet.

We also got some cool tidbits from Laird:
1) "Reimaging" of Vol. 1 #8 this year. All new introduction to Savanti Romero and Renet.
2) The storyline for Volume 4 will be random and not told in arcs.
3) An official Mirage continuity timeline! (Similiar to what we tried to do on this board)

[donnyman444]

i agree stefano. i didnt like the cover at first but when i found out they were nanobots i guess they are pretty cool. i cant wait for issue 10. 60 whole pages and a death. thats gunna be kickasssss!

also were did the dinosaurs come from?

[GordonUniverse]

I almost didn't go to the comic store today. What got me to actually go, though, was the idea that TMNT might be this week. And it was! I bought the new TMNT and also Batman: The Killing Joke (not new). Just finished both and liked both a lot.


SPOILERS BELOW

The dinosaur stuff was intense. Can't wait to find out more about them. I wonder if Baxter Stockman is dead for good, or if he will reassemble himself somehow. You just can't seem to kill Baxter Stockman. Also, if he dies, they won't be able to travel through time - unless somebody else figures it out - or unless it wasn't relevant.

The wait between comics feels so long, but it is so worth it (though one day I may have to go back and re-read them all, just to make sure I got everything, as sometimes its hard to retain all that happened for two months).

In the back Peter makes note of mentioning that he posts negative letters. I noticed that, and actually thought about writing in to mention it, but he beat me to it. Hell, I might do it anyway. I always thought that was cool. And SO MANY letters! A lot of comic books only feature like 4 letters that can fit on one page, ALL of them praising the comic.

Sheesh! I hope April doesn't die... Though it'd be... I don't know... cool, in that it would be mega-important... then, maybe they could travel back in time to save her from being stabbed by Baxter in the first place... but then, if that happened, she would have never gotten the things, and they would've never traveled back in time, and if they had never traveled back in time, then she would get the nanobots, but if she did... that's about the time the universe caves in, I guess.

[Aztec General]

GU,
I'm guessing that Baxter's dead this time around. He was essentially obliterated by that Triceraton gun set to full blast. That exchange between Don and Baxter was one of my favorite scences in all of Mirage history. Well done Peter.

I hope Baxter' time travel reference is not used. I've never been much of a fan of time travel. Besides the TMNT already have a means of time travel: Renet.

I'm very curious about who's going to die next issue. The obvious answer would be April. But it's so obvious that for the sake of fiction I'm almost assuming it's not her. If it is not her, I'd guess Casey or Shadow who sacrifice themselves to save April's life.

[GordonUniverse]

SPOILERS

Actually, just speculation... I actually think that it will be April's "sister" if it's not April. She seems pretty easy to let go.

[Machias Banshee]

also were did the dinosaurs come from?



Woah Woah WOAH....


Dinosaurs?! :D IN the Comic? :o :-?

[Aztec General]

SPOILERS

Actually, just speculation... I actually think that it will be April's "sister" if it's not April. She seems pretty easy to let go.

No Laird said that he has never killed off a character as important as the one he's about to. Now remember he did kill off the Shredder! So it must be one of the "elite 8". Casey, April, Splinter, Shadow, or the 4 TMNT.

[splint]

this is the best one so far, the coment, "after so many years of hiding... keeping in the shadows..." "to be able to walk around in the light of day... mingle with humanity... frankly, i love it!" That so perfect! And also dons comment about apple's hardware :lol:

[heretic888]

I think its a pretty safe bet that none of the turtles are going to die.

April and/or Casey seem like the most obvious choices.

However.... I think Laird might throw in a freaky plot twise having Splinter die of a heart attack on the last page or somethin'.

We'll see....

[Stefano]

i will be pissed if one of the turtles die

[HorseTechie]

Nah.. Laird ain't gonna kill the TMNT. I thnk it's going to be one of the highly influential humans.

SPOILAGE ALERT!

But yeah, I was definately bemused with the intrro of the highly evolved raptors with a Gollum slur. Makes ya wonder if the dinos read LotR in their freetime. But, I guess that's better than sounding like Dinobot. :p

I had read a couple issues of Paleo last year too, a dino comic that Lawson does in his free time. That is an interesting comic, and it surprises me how well drawn it is. I wonder if there will be a link between that one and this TMNT comic...?

Then Donny has this secret room for his techno-stash. And Baxter the cyborg. *lol* Oh yeah... that was rather interesting. Really... rather.. interesting... :evilgrin: What was also odd, is that I assumed Baxter just went into the ocean and more or less died there. Didn't even cross my mind that he was still functioning. Makes me wonder even more just what lengths Don went through years earlier to 'arrest' him.

But anyway.. the letters were interesting too. And... I rest my case that Laird has contacts here, some way, some how. He addressed the bicker fest that I remember going on in one of the threads here about how he responded to letters and stuff to be a nice explaination too. :wink:

[Roseangelo]

And... I rest my case that Laird has contacts here, some way, some how. He addressed the bicker fest that I remember going on in one of the threads here about how he responded to letters and stuff to be a nice explaination too. :wink:

I don't think he has contacts. I think he's reading it all himself. *waves* Hi Peter!!! :) Which is cool and all. I just find it unfortunate that he has to defend himself because of a handful of people who come up with rediculous rumors and/or fail to express their opinions in the most intelligent manner.

I liked the issue. And I definately laughed at the dino's Gollum lisp!

I am really looking forward to the next issue. It seems far too obvious that it'll be April that dies, so I can't help but think it's going to be someone else. But I haven't a clue who that would be. I do have a feeling that no matter who it is, I'm gonna cry! I'm such a wuss like that...

[Aztec General]

But anyway.. the letters were interesting too. And... I rest my case that Laird has contacts here, some way, some how. He addressed the bicker fest that I remember going on in one of the threads here about how he responded to letters and stuff to be a nice explaination too. :wink:

Yeah, either he's reading it himself, or someone very close to him is. (Shifts eyes back and forth nervously :wink: ).

[HorseTechie]

The reason why I word some of my posts involving his works very, very carefully... :wink:

Well, not that carefully. But you know what I mean.

[Keno]

UNfortunatley I wont get to go to my comic store until the last week of april i hope they still have it by then I hope it doesnt sell out if not I'll have to order online :(

Anyways...I wouldnt mind if they killed off a Turtle. It would be kind of interesting?

[HorseTechie]

Ask em if they can put an issue on hold for you, until you can get it. My comic stores has this service, so I never miss an issue. :)

[Stefano]

cool good idea. I went to the comic shop right after school on wendsday and they only had two left. Im scared i will miss some in the future

[Roseangelo]

Killing off one of the Turtles has potental for being VERY interesting. But it has to be done in the right way and at the right time. I do not feel that that time has come yet. I actually think it should be done in a far future setting.

[Stefano]

i hope they dont kill off a turtle. Mabye they can kill off a utrom. It will be dramatic

[Roseangelo]

[SPOILER]

Well, two Utroms kinda died in issue #9. I agree with HT that it will be one of the highly influential humans.

[Stefano]

i was joking about the utroms 3 died actually

[HorseTechie]

And all the little bugs on the ground that got trampled on in the process. :P

[Leo656]

Actually, something about Peter's tone in the letters column really, REALLY rubbed me the wrong way. It's like after so long in the business he isn't used to dealing with criticism by now.

Or, conversely, maybe after so long in the business he's fed up with dealing with criticism.

Either way, he comes off like a total ass.

He calls it being "pithy". I call it being "pissy" and find it amusing that while some people speak with a lisp, Peter apparently types with one. Interesting.

The worst was when one reader in particular commented that Jim Lawson's human art wasn't very good, and Peter responded by ripping them apart verbally. This bothered me for two reasons:

1) On the VERY NEXT PAGE, Peter sings his own praises for being willing to publish letters of criticism. Meanwhile, it seems like the unspoken message is, "feel free to criticize, we'll probably post your letter anyway, but along the way I'll be sure to verbally tear you a new one if I feel the need to do so."

2) I'll be blunt. Lawson's art in the book sucks. Maybe I've been spoiled by the fact that I own like ten million comics featuring art by everyone from Dan Jurgens to Mike Wierengo to Jim Lee and any number of other incredible comic artists, but I swear, the only people that think this guy is any good must either not read many comics besides TMNT or be complete Mirage loyalists. His TMNT are passable, certainly not the worst I've seen in a TMNT comic, and it's obvious that's where his strengths lie, but on the whole the art in the book looks like fan art more than something somebody actually got paid to do. His human beings are LOUSY. Some apologists will say (and have said) that drawing the Turtles is his strong suit. I say, if the guy was any good to begin with, wouldn't he be equally skilled at drawing humans too? Isn't that, I don't know, usually REQUIRED when one gets hired to draw a comic book?

I don't think his working on the new book is for "old time's sake." I think he was willing to work cheap and he was the best Mirage could get for what they were willing to spend. They could have a book with piss-poor art and get away with it by saying "Well that's how Lawson's always drawn!" Bleh.

Be that as it may, the fact that Peter really tore into the person who wrote the letter (who wasn't anywhere near as blunt as I am about the issue) really pissed me off. You could tell he was getting tired of reading all the negative comments about Jim's art and decided to vent more than anything. For one, the person was only expressing their opinion, and they did so in a very sedate, mature manner. Secondly, this person's opinion happened to be a lot more like a fact. Peter comes off as incredibly thin-skinned in his reply, it's like someone insulted his children or something.

He also goes on, in his ramble at the end of the column, to refer to some comments and questions from readers as "stupid" and "moronic". Way to go, Pete. Your fanbase really loves being called idiots in so many words. It's obvious that Laird is a very passionate, very STUBBORN individual, but if the criticism is getting to him that badly he seriously needs to rethink his enthusiasm for this entire project. I respect a guy for wanting to stick to their artistic vision no matter what, but to go so far as to refer to critiques and criticisms as "stupid" and "moronic" is entirely childish and unprofessional and it tells me that this whole "revival" isn't as fun as it seemed it would be in his head.

I don't know. I like the book, I'm glad that it's apparently gonna be around for a while, but I seriously think that whatever Peter's on, he needs to cut the dose. His blood pressure's gotta be through the roof by now.

[Fraggle]

ok getting back to who will die i reckon it will be April because the turtlebots will fail

[Aztec General]

2) I'll be blunt. Lawson's art in the book sucks. Maybe I've been spoiled by the fact that I own like ten million comics featuring art by everyone from Dan Jurgens to Mike Wierengo to Jim Lee and any number of other incredible comic artists, but I swear, the only people that think this guy is any good must either not read many comics besides TMNT or be complete Mirage loyalists. His TMNT are passable, certainly not the worst I've seen in a TMNT comic, and it's obvious that's where his strengths lie, but on the whole the art in the book looks like fan art more than something somebody actually got paid to do. His human beings are LOUSY. Some apologists will say (and have said) that drawing the Turtles is his strong suit. I say, if the guy was any good to begin with, wouldn't he be equally skilled at drawing humans too? Isn't that, I don't know, usually REQUIRED when one gets hired to draw a comic book?

I don't think his working on the new book is for "old time's sake." I think he was willing to work cheap and he was the best Mirage could get for what they were willing to spend. They could have a book with piss-poor art and get away with it by saying "Well that's how Lawson's always drawn!" Bleh.



I'm all for being blunt, but I completey diagree. I am a fan of Lawson's art in Volume 4. He is drawing in a "stylized" manner. Not every comic needs to look "McFarlaneesque" or "real". Lawson is quite a talented artist, I'll be the first to admit that he specializes in non humans, but that doesn't mean that he can't draw. His style has just evolved and changed as it went. Personally I think "Return to New York" was his best work, but I certainly love/d his work in "City At War", Vol. 2 & 4.

Lawson has a long history in Mirage TMNT canon, and I'm glad to see him as the artist for this book. In fact I'd place him right behind Eastman and Laird as THE single most important contributor to the Mirage comics. So your comment about Mirage hiring him because he'll "work cheap" is completely absurd.

Also can we stop this "nWo" and "anti-nWo" junk it is so annoying and lame.

Before I end this post I will grant you one thing Leo656, Laird did come off sounding like an ass in his rant. It was really unneccessary IMHO. Now, I'm certainly not trying to dis Laird, but there must have been some less hostile way to address those issues. Peter 95% of your fans are really digging your work, so you needn't freak out and get defensive.

[Karpo_007]

I think Leo hasn't gotten into older Lawssons art. I have read comics as long as I can remember, both B/W and color and I have always tought Lawssons art is good. To me thats sounds like useless complaining.

[Stefano]

i dont mind the way volume four is drawn i like the old feel to it. Not made 100% by computer. ANd leo656 Peter was sharing his opinion just like the people who wrote were sharing thier opionion. They say that the artest sucks and peter calls them morons you bitch about. Shut the hell up leo. If you dont like it dont buy it. screw you

[Raven]

leo have to agree with you man lawsons art seems to be getting worse
sure its different but I dont care for it the only reason i buy vol 4 any more is for the story.
but being a arist my self i cant say that its easy to draw humans but it also counts on what peter wnats in a arist to begin with peter or who ever hires the arist might want lawson to draw that way?
but I just cant get used to it I mean what happened to the way he drew in city at war his humans were great!!!!!!!
but this is my opion

[Karpo_007]

Check pictures of Planet Racer. The humans he draws now and ones in it look suprisingly alike. I hope he would go back to the old style, but a his turtles still look great, im fine with it.

[Jephael]

I just got my copy of #9 yesterday, but I only got to read it once before I ended up trashing it. I lost my temper with the computer and took it out on the comic (I was in serious Raphael-mode), so now I gotta go back to the comic book store on Friday night to get a replacement copy. It's a good thing I called them right away to make sure they still had a spare to put on hold for me, otherwise I'd have to mail order one from Mirage Publishing.

[Stefano]

why on earth did you take it out on something tmnt

[Leo656]

Boy, sure opened up a can of worms here huh.

At random...

1) I hate McFarlane too, so you know

2) I have almost every issue of the old Mirage book and if anything, Lawson is regressing. He was better back then.

3) Regardless of my opinion, it also happens to be the opinion of many, and Laird needs to understand that before he goes snapping at people in print. That was my main issue.

4) nWo tech is here to stay, regardless whether it "annoys" you. Plenty of people get on my nerves too, I just choose not to bitch about it.

5) If you're trying to present an argument, ending it with "screw you" doesn't help your case. If anything, it makes you sound like an immature child. You disagree with my opinion, and that's fine. But in the future, please try and refrain from stuff like "screw you".

6) Rat King gets points for seeing what my main issue was, and that's that Laird came off sounding like someone who can't take a poke. Regardless whether people like or dislike the art, the readers are the ones who buy the book and put money in Laird's pocket, and for him to vent about the criticism in the manner he did made him look like a rant amateur.

7) Stefano, in case you didn't bother to read past my criticisms of Lawson's art, you'd notice I said I like the book and am still going to buy it. It's not the worst art I've ever seen, or even the worst TMNT art. It's still sub-standard for many people, however, myself included. But I like the story, so I can overlook the art.

Anything else anyone wants to take a poke at me for, while we're all here? I don't mind, seriously, people disagree. I just don't like stuff like "screw you", that's all. That was uncalled for.

As for issue #10: I'm almost afraid to hazard a guess, seriously. I mean April seems almost too easy at this point, but as soon as I say that it's too obvious, they'll end up killing her. So I think I'll stay out of the "dead pool" for now.

[GK Punk]

Also can we stop this "nWo" and "anti-nWo" junk it is so annoying and lame.

.

Alright off topic, what the hell does that have to do with this topic, other than being just a personal attack?

[Stefano]

because i we dont know what it means and its weird

[GK Punk]

Oh forgive me, I'll be sure to stop having fun because you guys don't "understand" it. Eventhough there is nothing to understand.

Oh wait.. I got that confused... I *WON'T* stop just for that reason

[Apple Cat]

---delete this

[Leo656]

A great man once said:

"Whether you LIKE it, or whether you DON'T like it, learn to live with it, cuz it's the best thing goin' today."

(Insert Ric Flair "WHOOOOOO!" here)

[Apple Cat]

---delete this

[Leo656]

Ric Flair, duh. :lol:

[GK Punk]

What's the big deal, they are sigs, then a few others made joke sigs to go with ours, get over it

[Cascadia]

I have a hunch that it would be April or the elite guard that Leo sparred with in one of the earlier issues.

[Leo656]

Nah I've heard them say it would be a "beloved member of the family" or something, so that would make the Elite guard unlikely. It's probably either April or Splinter, and I would hate it to be either.

I'm afraid to even think of who it's gonna be.... :|

[Cascadia]

Nah I've heard them say it would be a "beloved member of the family" or something, so that would make the Elite guard unlikely. It's probably either April or Splinter, and I would hate it to be either.

I'm afraid to even think of who it's gonna be.... :|

There is probably a more likely chance that it would be April then Splinter. But it also could be Splinter. Just have to wait in 60 days.

[Leo656]

Yeah, I can't wait to see what happens. Unlike some people who say it lacks action, I can live with the story they're doing. I like the "slow burn" feel to it. It gives the book a little more depth.

[Cascadia]

Yep....it shows the characters' personalities more in depth then they were in the original volumes.

[Leo656]

The originals that I read did a good job of it, it just seems like some people don't like how the book isn't more "action-packed". ((shrug))

[Aztec General]

Also can we stop this "nWo" and "anti-nWo" junk it is so annoying and lame.

.

Alright off topic, what the hell does that have to do with this topic, other than being just a personal attack?

Seems like an awful waste of space to have a big fat banner at the bottom of each and every post, in order to pay homage to a pro wrestling storyline from 6+ years ago. And now that 1 person has done it, everyone else on the board now feels the need to make up their own mock nWo sign. It's getting silly and redundant.

Back on topic.

[Leo656]

What started as an inside joke between me and GK ended up growing to include other people who jumped on the bandwagon. Including several Mods. Can we help it that we're trendsetters?

Plus, our sigs aren't any better or worse than anyone else's. Oh, wait... not TMNT-related? Too bad, I didn't get the memo that said all sigs and avatars on a TMNT board need to be TMNT-related.

People pick sigs and avatars based on what they like. Well, so do we. Don't like it? Deal.

I'm not saying this just to you, Rat King, I'm making a broad statement.

That statement is finished, so, I agree, back on topic. If everyone wants to STAY on-topic from here on out, I suggest just smiling and nodding in reply to what I've said above. Any more posts made to protest our sigs will simply be counter-productive to everyone.

[Aztec General]

Leo656
Cool by me, I'm a team player. We've said what we wanted to.

I just want to point out that I've reread #9 again, and I honestly love it more. This one issue has increased my interest in the Vol. 4 storyline three fold. Between the talking Dinos, Don on the street scene, and the Don/Baxter scene the issue was simply brilliant. I think Laird's new story telling method is beginning to pay off.

I can't get that Donatello/Baxter scene out of my head. As I described it before it was just so macabre. It seemed highly out of character for Don to be so cruel (leaving Baxter alive but isolated and imprisoned like that for years), but at the same time I could imagine Don's technical curiosity leading him to do something like that. That scene was done perfectly, especially the ending. As I've said earlier in this thread, it is definetely among my favorite Mirage TMNT moments.

[Machias Banshee]

*blows whistle*

Okay, that'll be enough arguing, thank you...


It doesnt matter what a person has as a sig. That's what makes a person an individual on the forums, or anywhere, for that matter. Some people have stuff from the seventies, eighties, up to today. It doesnt matter what time or place its from (within appropriate context)...

[Leo656]

Yeah I'm digging the issue myself, Rat King, I was in a great mood before I read the lettercol.

I can't wait to see where they go from here, the build-up's been good so far.

[Aztec General]

Yeah I'm digging the issue myself, Rat King, I was in a great mood before I read the lettercol.

I can't wait to see where they go from here, the build-up's been good so far.

Yeah, the possibilities really seem endless. I can honestly say that I don't know what to expect. I guess it's one of the benefits of not telling straight stories. I too like the "slow burn" technique Laird is employing here. I don't need action on every page, I read comics for the story and characters primarily. As long as action is sprinkled in (which it certainly has been in this series- Dinos eating Utroms, TMNT vs. Madhattan Maulitia, that beast in the jungle, Don blowing up Baxter, etc.) then I'm more than content. The story should be priority number one. Which thankfully in Volume 4 it appears to be.

[Leo656]

Yeah I can't complain much about the story, I'm liking it enough to give it a chance and see where it's going, despite my obvious opinion that the art could be better. :P

I remember on another board like when issue 3 came out a few people were like "This book sucks, it's boring"... I admit it's a slower pace than the old one, and Laird admits that too, but it seemed like overreacting to me. I mean passing judgement on the book as a whole by the third issue was like "okay, whatever". At least give it a chance to develop.

Unlike "The Dark Knight Strikes Again", which was only a three-issue mini and it was obvious halfway through the second issue that the book was garbage. :evil:

[Tetsu Deinonychus]

Did anybody notice what species of Dinosaurs were in that issue? :evilgrin:

[The Stryker]

*twirls bo staff around*

splinter's gonna die it'll be more emo-tion-nal ya dig?

thats all! so long jerkwads!

[Machias Banshee]

Did anybody notice what species of Dinosaurs were in that issue? :evilgrin:

hehehe...yes... :evilgrin: a few relatives of mine... Deinonychus... :D

[Tetsu Deinonychus]

Good eye, Machias!
Looks like only us Dinosaur nuts recognized them.

Wait a minute!! Did you just say we're Related?!

[Machias Banshee]

:D


hehehe, yep...VelociRaptors/UtahRaptors are related to Deinonychus... :D

Its one big carnivorous family! :D

[Tetsu Deinonychus]

:D


hehehe, yep...VelociRaptors/UtahRaptors are related to Deinonychus... :D

Its one big carnivorous family! :D
Hence the foot-claws! :D

[HorseTechie]

Yep... I recognized that Raptorish snarl too from after seeing them a good many times on JP. Still intriques me that they speak like Gollum, of all things! :lol:

And I bet that April will be the one to die. (boy, this gamble sounds rather morbid now, no?) :roll:

Sidenote... if I have to put up with peoples Mile Wide Avatars, then I don't see much wrong with Not So Tall sigs. Of course, I've seen even bigger sigs on the TF forums that really get to be a PITA to scroll through.

Anywayz...

You think DOn will ever confess he secret to the others too? :evilgrin:

[Jephael]

why on earth did you take it out on something tmnt

Like I said, I was in serious Raph-mode. I didn't even think about it until it was too late.

[Karpo_007]

Heh, I used to go into "Raph Mode" When I was youner, but the object was the "bigger kids" in school. Didn't even lose MOST of them... Ahh the old times...

[impetus]

You think DOn will ever confess he secret to the others too? :evilgrin:

Probably - only b/c Baxter comes back. What I want to know is why Don left Baxter in that room with all the alien technology for 4 years? Bad move!!!

[Aztec General]

Probably - only b/c Baxter comes back.

Do you know this or are you guessing? Because he seems pretty dead to me. To be honest I'd be quite annoyed if he came back after that scene. It was a good death sequence.

[Leo656]

Maybe Laird is gonna borrow an idea from former Superman writer/artist Dan Jurgens. One of Superman's main villains throughout the 90s was a character called The Cyborg, aka Hank Henshaw. Basically, when this guy died he transferred his consciousness into machinery and used it to create a new body for himself. He's been defeated and destroyed dozens of times in every way imaginable, but he can never really "die" because his consciousness keeps transferring itself into new technological bodies.

Maybe that's what Laird's going for with Baxter. It's not an original idea, but it is a good one, IMO.

[CookSux]

Sounds like Ultron.

[impetus]

Actually, sounds like TMNT Vol 3. :lol:

Rat King: I'm guessing. I'm not "inside" or anything. But I think the hints are there:
1. We already thought Baxter was dead once before.
2. Why would he suddenly show up in Vol 4 anyway without a purpose?
3. Someone mentioned this before but the time travel implications.
4. Stretching here, but cool storyline possibility: perhaps BS is the only one who can save April. Thus, Donny tries to access his memory but unintentionally brings him back...

[Fraggle]

ok how can it be cha ocho hes not a beloved family member and i reckon it could be april or the fugitoid or someone complety different in that!!!!! but one thing will the price go up because its got 60 pages and to the peeps in the UK its out in all major comic shops :D

[Jephael]

One of Superman's main villains throughout the 90s was a character called The Cyborg, aka Hank Henshaw. Basically, when this guy died he transferred his consciousness into machinery and used it to create a new body for himself. He's been defeated and destroyed dozens of times in every way imaginable, but he can never really "die" because his consciousness keeps transferring itself into new technological bodies.

Maybe that's what Laird's going for with Baxter. It's not an original idea, but it is a good one, IMO.

It's a strong possibility, and alot cooler than the worm clone scenario they used with Shredder (I just didn't understand the concept).

Anyway, I finally got my replacement copy of #9 last night, and I made sure to keep it in good shape.

[HorseTechie]

You think DOn will ever confess he secret to the others too? :evilgrin:
Probably - only b/c Baxter comes back. What I want to know is why Don left Baxter in that room with all the alien technology for 4 years? Bad move!!!
Hrmm.. interesting possiblity, especially if Leo's superman propostion is considered.

But if you hadn't noticed, Don had Cyborg Baxter pretty much dissambled and disarmed. He was just a body and a head hung from the wall.

[Leo656]

Coulda been faking acting docile, like Henshaw did. Ya never know.

[HorseTechie]

True... since we hadn't seen before hand what measures Don took to disarm him. Man, that starts to sound bad the more I think about it.

[Roseangelo]

Maybe Laird is gonna borrow an idea from former Superman writer/artist Dan Jurgens.

Hey, I saw Dan Jurgens today. :) We had our annual MicroCon and he was a guest. He's a local guy, so he's at all our small little comic cons. Still a cool guy, though. :)

[Leo656]

:o

Wow... that would pretty much make my millenium...

[impetus]

But if you hadn't noticed, Don had Cyborg Baxter pretty much dissambled and disarmed. He was just a body and a head hung from the wall.
My point is that Baxterbot commented on how being isolated helps him think out scenarios and solve problems, etc. With all that hardware in the room, he had plenty to think about and learn. Anyways, Don prolly shoulda known better.

[Stefano]

ive noticed in vol. 4 (or mabye others i dont know) They call the utroms or something or someone oot's. What does that mean and why. thanks

[HorseTechie]

Just that. They felt like calling them oot's, like a slang term to refer to Utroms, I guess.

[Keno]

When I was out of town last week my sister picked up this issue for me but today I wanted to get a second copy because she tore the cover of the other one...and i cant find it ANYWHERE! every comic store ive gone into told me its "out of stock" as in SOLD OUT
which I think is a good sign the comics getting good sales

[Apple Cat]

---delete this

[Cascadia]

When I was out of town last week my sister picked up this issue for me but today I wanted to get a second copy because she tore the cover of the other one...and i cant find it ANYWHERE! every comic store ive gone into told me its "out of stock" as in SOLD OUT
which I think is a good sign the comics getting good sales

The comic store that I get my issues still have copies of it.

[Stefano]

how is the correct way of saying utroms. Is it youtroms or ootroms. oo as in goo.

[Barkworm]

No one really knows since they have never been on TV. We have to wait 'til they appear in the new show.

[impetus]

since they're called "oots", I imagine they're "oot-roms"

[Stefano]

yeah thats what i was thinking. But i always called them youtroms

[xZAOx]

Actually, sounds like TMNT Vol 3. :lol:

Rat King: I'm guessing. I'm not "inside" or anything. But I think the hints are there:
1. We already thought Baxter was dead once before.
2. Why would he suddenly show up in Vol 4 anyway without a purpose?
3. Someone mentioned this before but the time travel implications.
4. Stretching here, but cool storyline possibility: perhaps BS is the only one who can save April. Thus, Donny tries to access his memory but unintentionally brings him back...

i think number 3 sounds cool. we all know laird likes the time travel business.

number 4 would break some things mentioned in vol. 2 - when they think baxter is dead, donny opens him up, but cannot find any memory banks.

i think splinter is a risky but good guess. laird said before that with this volume hes doing stuff that they talked about doing in vol. 2. we all remember the 'doesnt make a lick of sense' vol. 2, and whats on the very very first page? :evilgrin:

[Splinter]

I don't think they'll kill off Splinter, he's far to popular with fans. You'd have another case of Chewbacca's Death on your hands. Where all the fans are up in arms about it, and many quit reading the NJO Stuff.

Although, this is Peter Larid we're talking about, he's far from being the most fan friendly person from the way he talks about them and treats them in interviews and his comic column. Compared to Eastmen who still enjoys talking with the fans about the TMNT.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The wrong partner ended up with the rights. Regardless of that, I just have a feeling that it's going to most likely be April or Casey. Casey from the standpoint that they'll save April, but at the sacrifice of Casey to someone\somthing. :)

[Jephael]

Casey is a possibility, but it would have to be an "in the line of fire" kind of moment where someone else is about to be struck dead with a sword, or bullet or death beam, and he leaps out infront of him/her.

[Aztec General]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The wrong partner ended up with the rights.

Regardless of that, I just have a feeling that it's going to most likely be April or Casey. Casey from the standpoint that they'll save April, but at the sacrifice of Casey to someone\somthing. :)

You mean the "wrong partner" that revived the TMNT franchise? The same one who helped write the Mirage based and excellent new cartoon series? I like Laird's work just fine. I've been rereading Vol. 4, and I must say that when you read them all back to back the story works better. I feel the same way about Vol. 2. So far I find the Vol. 4 to be an excellent read, and it seems that almost anything can happen.

As for who dies, I'm going with Splinter. April seems just too obvious. Besides a post Splinter TMNT, should be very interesting. I hope they do follow Splinter's premenition from Vol. 2 #1.

[Tetsu Deinonychus]

The Idea of Splinter dying is (no pun intended) DONE TO DEATH! I hope that whoever is killed off is ressurected in a future issue (Comic book charactors come back from the dead all the time after all). I like the Idea of a charactor being dead for a year or so but I hope they don't make it permanent.
Anyway about that premonition, I don't see how one of the Turtles would ever harm Splinter but I was thinking, what if he's possessed! I mean ghosts exist in the TMNT universe (look at Rat King), so what if the ghost of Shredder (or any other extinguished TMNT villian) posseses one of the Turtles and kills Splinter, then the other Turtles have to free that turtle from the ghost! Then, many issues later somehow Splinter comes back. Maybe, Leo contacts his spirit while Don worm-clones his body then they bring them together. Or maybe Splinter was just injured and he goes off somewhere to recover and the Turtles (and the ghost) assumed he was dead.
Actually, I'd prefer it if he'd kill off one of the Turtles instead, then had a long spirit-world story-arc (while the others mourn and have other adventures) ending with that Turtle's resurrection.

[Aztec General]

The Idea of Splinter dying is (no pun intended) DONE TO DEATH! I hope that whoever is killed off is ressurected in a future issue (Comic book charactors come back from the dead all the time after all). I like the Idea of a charactor being dead for a year or so but I hope they don't make it permanent.
Anyway about that premonition, I don't see how one of the Turtles would ever harm Splinter but I was thinking, what if he's possessed! I mean ghosts exist in the TMNT universe (look at Rat King), so what if the ghost of Shredder (or any other extinguished TMNT villian) posseses one of the Turtles and kills Splinter, then the other Turtles have to free that turtle from the ghost! Then, many issues later somehow Splinter comes back. Maybe, Leo contacts his spirit while Don worm-clones his body then they bring them together. Or maybe Splinter was just injured and he goes off somewhere to recover and the Turtles (and the ghost) assumed he was dead.
Actually, I'd prefer it if he'd kill off one of the Turtles instead, then had a long spirit-world story-arc (while the others mourn and have other adventures) ending with that Turtle's resurrection.


No offense, but I hope none of what you just said happens. Whichever character dies, I hope they stay dead! It's better for the story and the overall direction of the comic. Laird is clearly taking the comic in a very different direction with Vol. 4; so killing off an important character is a way of breaking with the past. Every now and again shocking events should happen in fiction. Hell, they happen in real life. I'm willing to deal with change as long as it proves to be change that helps the story progress and evolve.

By the way, Rat King was not a ghost he was a derranged man.

[Tetsu Deinonychus]

No offense taken, and BTW Rat King was a ghost in "City at War"!

[Splinter]

No offense taken, and BTW Rat King was a ghost in "City at War"!
Yep, the TMNT had apperantly killed him, and in the "City at War" series, Splinter fell and broke his leg in the same area. He ended up being visited by a spirit that called himself the Rat King. Who ended up convincing him that he needed to do anything to survive. So Splinter eats a rat that was crawling nearby to live, making him a cannibal. After regaining his strength, he found the skeleton of the Rat King on his way out. :)

[impetus]

Yep, the TMNT had apperantly killed him I never got that impression from it. I don't think we know how he died (or if that was indeed his skeleton). As far as I know, the only time the TMNT met him was in an ish of Tales, and he was very much alive at the end of that story.

[Splinter]

Yep, the TMNT had apperantly killed him I never got that impression from it. I don't think we know how he died (or if that was indeed his skeleton). As far as I know, the only time the TMNT met him was in an ish of Tales, and he was very much alive at the end of that story.
There was a previous issue that made it seem like the rat king was killed by the TMNT, but they never looked for his body. And the skeleton was wearing pretty much the remains of the Rat King's clothing. :)

[Splinter]

From the TMNT Comic Encyclopedia:

RAT KING, THE

(AKA "The Monster") A hermit with mental power over rodents; a man believing himself a monster who rejected his humanity for reasons unknown upon some traumatic event in his past and took on the identity of "the Rat King." Passing through a ghost town beyond Manhattan, the Turtles and Casey Jones found themselves caught in a surprise attack by the Rat King, who lived in the abandoned area. After a fight, Leonardo hurled a shuriken star that struck the Rat King square in the chest, then sent him tumbling over the edge of the building he stood on (Tales of the TMNT #4). Some time later, when Splinter went on a journey of enlightenment while his pupils dealt with the warring factions of the Foot Clan, he wandered into the same ghost town the Turtles once passed through. Losing his footing, he fell into the same building as the Rat King had when Leonardo struck him down, breaking his leg. Weakened and famished, the apparition of the Rat King helped Splinter survive (by forcing him to consume a one of his own kind, a rat) and gave him the knowledge he sought. Splinter then discovered the now-skeletal corpse not to far from where he had lay, evidently establishing that Leonardo had killed him in the previous encounter (TMNT Vol. 1, #55 - 59).

[Keno]

The Idea of Splinter dying is (no pun intended) DONE TO DEATH! I hope that whoever is killed off is ressurected in a future issue (Comic book charactors come back from the dead all the time after all). I like the Idea of a charactor being dead for a year or so but I hope they don't make it permanent.
Anyway about that premonition, I don't see how one of the Turtles would ever harm Splinter but I was thinking, what if he's possessed! I mean ghosts exist in the TMNT universe (look at Rat King), so what if the ghost of Shredder (or any other extinguished TMNT villian) posseses one of the Turtles and kills Splinter, then the other Turtles have to free that turtle from the ghost! Then, many issues later somehow Splinter comes back. Maybe, Leo contacts his spirit while Don worm-clones his body then they bring them together. Or maybe Splinter was just injured and he goes off somewhere to recover and the Turtles (and the ghost) assumed he was dead.
Actually, I'd prefer it if he'd kill off one of the Turtles instead, then had a long spirit-world story-arc (while the others mourn and have other adventures) ending with that Turtle's resurrection.

I actually really like these ideas! if it doesnt happen, you should turn it into a fanfic or something :)

[Jephael]

As the guy just said, it's been written as a fanfic, over and over and over. Plus every time it happens, Leo and Raph get into this big fight over who should've done something differently to prevent it.

[Aztec General]

From the TMNT Comic Encyclopedia:

RAT KING, THE

(AKA "The Monster") A hermit with mental power over rodents; a man believing himself a monster who rejected his humanity for reasons unknown upon some traumatic event in his past and took on the identity of "the Rat King." Passing through a ghost town beyond Manhattan, the Turtles and Casey Jones found themselves caught in a surprise attack by the Rat King, who lived in the abandoned area. After a fight, Leonardo hurled a shuriken star that struck the Rat King square in the chest, then sent him tumbling over the edge of the building he stood on (Tales of the TMNT #4). Some time later, when Splinter went on a journey of enlightenment while his pupils dealt with the warring factions of the Foot Clan, he wandered into the same ghost town the Turtles once passed through. Losing his footing, he fell into the same building as the Rat King had when Leonardo struck him down, breaking his leg. Weakened and famished, the apparition of the Rat King helped Splinter survive (by forcing him to consume a one of his own kind, a rat) and gave him the knowledge he sought. Splinter then discovered the now-skeletal corpse not to far from where he had lay, evidently establishing that Leonardo had killed him in the previous encounter (TMNT Vol. 1, #55 - 59).

There's a TMNT comic encyclopedia? Cool.

Hmmm.... never thought of him as a ghost though. Although, I will certainly agree Splinter's encounter with the Rat King was far more symbolic than actual. That is a very interesting character description though. As my UserID suggests I've always been fascinated by his character.

I even have a theory that Splinter actually ate the Rat King in City At War. Thus his skeletal remains. So the "cannibalism" was more symbolic than actual. Rat King saw himself as being of the rats, so Splinter eating him was a symbolic eating of other rats. Why would Rat King allow this? Because he'd surely do anything to feed his rat friends (he made this quite clear in Tales #4), especially a speaking and bipedal one. Just a theory.

[TheShredder]

How is Stockman still alive? Didn't he explode when the Turtles fought him in the severs? I think Splinter is gonna die. In vol2 issue 1 he has a dream that he dies.

[Splinter]

How is Stockman still alive? Didn't he explode when the Turtles fought him in the severs? I think Splinter is gonna die. In vol2 issue 1 he has a dream that he dies.
Donny's been keeping him alive in a secret area of his lab. Basically all that's left of him was his head and his torso.

As for Splinter's dream, that's exactly why I don't think it will be him. It's to obvious since he's the elderly character and has had that dream/vision.

[tOkKa]

-->> ..hope it's not aprill.. that would be a bit to easy for them to go that direction.. :cry:

[TheShredder]

Why would Donny keep the robot "alive" in the first place? He had no idea it was stockman.

[Splinter]

Why would Donny keep the robot "alive" in the first place? He had no idea it was stockman.
I haven't seen the issue myself, yet. But I am assuming that he was intrigued by the robot and went back later to salvage it and found that it was still functional. And basically disarmed it and tacked it up on the wall so that he could have a brilliant (though crazed) mind to talk to. After all, it's not like Donny can bounce his scientific ideas off anyone else. :)

[impetus]

Why would Donny keep the robot "alive" in the first place? He had no idea it was stockman. What do you mean, he had no idea????

[HorseTechie]

*lol* duuude!

I think Don knew it was Baxter sooner or later. Boy.. that missing gap between th#9 and the last issue from Vol 2 sure is bugging me though. Just what did they do in all that time?!

But I think one reason that Don didn't let Baxter survive, what that he was truly a evil thing void of a soul. Baxter was hardly even human anymore, but just a robot body with a wired human brain in it.

It was like Baxter was the Serpant, tempting Don with the Fruits of Endless Knowledge, that could as well lead to his doom. Who knows if the plan for a time machine could really be a way to get rid of Don and the Turtles?

I'm glad Don did loose his temper on him to prevent that, in additiion as it being a display to his loyalty to April. He's got that dark side to be wary of.. yesssss.... :evilgrin:

[Cascadia]

*lol* duuude!

I think Don knew it was Baxter sooner or later. Boy.. that missing gap between th#9 and the last issue from Vol 2 sure is bugging me though. Just what did they do in all that time?!

But I think one reason that Don didn't let Baxter survive, what that he was truly a evil thing void of a soul. Baxter was hardly even human anymore, but just a robot body with a wired human brain in it.

It was like Baxter was the Serpant, tempting Don with the Fruits of Endless Knowledge, that could as well lead to his doom. Who knows if the plan for a time machine could really be a way to get rid of Don and the Turtles?

I'm glad Don did loose his temper on him to prevent that, in additiion as it being a display to his loyalty to April. He's got that dark side to be wary of.. yesssss.... :evilgrin:

I agree with you 100% :-)

[Dinny]

The Idea of Splinter dying is (no pun intended) DONE TO DEATH! I hope that whoever is killed off is ressurected in a future issue (Comic book charactors come back from the dead all the time after all). I like the Idea of a charactor being dead for a year or so but I hope they don't make it permanent.

But Peter Laird always goes on about how he likes to keep characters dead.

[Dinny]

They can kill some1 off and then Donny goes back in time to save him/her with Baxters help and if it is April that wouuld create perfect irony.
But I dont think its Splinter, thyve been toyin with that iea 4 ages and they still havent dne it, so y do it now???

[ToTheNines]

Reading through this thread is cracking me up :lol: Journeys #9 is out next Wednesday the 6th, here’s a preview: https://comicbookclublive.com/2026/05/01/idw-preview-tmnt-journeys-9/

Fero Pe did a real nice B cover, but this month I’m sharing this Beast Mode Jim Lawson retailer exclusive he did for Jetpack Comics:

https://tmnt-ninjaturtles.com/assets/TMNT-Journeys-09_Cover-RE-Jetpack_rich-scaled.jpg

[ToTheNines]

Once again, I'm so grateful IDW is reprinting this series. If anyone from over there is reading: Thank you!

That being said, the first segment of this issue is what finally reminded me why Volume 4 was so often maligned, 9 issues in. Fourteen whopping pages of dinosaurs talking like fu*ing Gollum from LOTR. Sweet Jesus.

The second part, wow! I loved the whole slice of life portion just showing Don walking through the city and reflecting upon the new world. Then of course, that unforgettable moment with Baxter. Incredible stuff.

Then the third act returns to tedium, but the character interactions were still fun and well done.

Per my memory, the book takes a major dip in quality after #11 for quite a while. And the pages and pages of dinosaur crap at the begining of this one is kinda of a preview for what lies ahead. But as someone who laments the loss of the good old days, even the worst Mirage book is still something special to me. I just hope sales don't drop off and Journeys makes it all the way to #32... (and beyond!)

[Andrew NDB]

Donny's been keeping him alive in a secret area of his lab. Basically all that's left of him was his head and his torso.

How in the world would anyone come up with that? Clearly all that is left of Baxter is his brain. We saw him prepping himself for the brain surgery and even where to cut.

[TheLabRat]

I like when mirage turtles can finally walk around in the daytime, and they just care about their own affairs instead of fighting crime or saving the world.

[Andrew NDB]

I like when mirage turtles can finally walk around in the daytime, and they just care about their own affairs instead of fighting crime or saving the world.

It kind of adds another layer on top of what Vol. 2 added: "what will the Turtles do after they fulfilled their life's purpose of ending Oroku Saki and that circle of vengeance?" With Vol. 4 the new layer is "... and if they can join society, too?"