#5 What do we know?

[Cowabunga Carl]

Looking around the board it seems we don't know anything about it. :-/ It comes out next week, what do you think is so spoilerish about it that we don't have details about it yet?

[ToTheNines]

I'd bet the farm that there will be flashbacks. I don't know if every one's aware of this yet, but Dan Duncan's doing half the art, and the Santolouco guy who did that A cover is doing the other half.

[Cowabunga Carl]

THey talked about split art duty. A flash back makes since in that line of info but it has never been confirmed that it is a flashback. What kind of flashback would it be though?

[Andrew NDB]

Looking around the board it seems we don't know anything about it. :-/ It comes out next week, what do you think is so spoilerish about it that we don't have details about it yet?

Their past lives with Splinter will be revealed and/or they'll get the rainbow bandannas.

[Cowabunga Carl]

I was just hoping there would be something more profound that we thought we would get. Both of those seem kind of like, "Yeah we know." Nothing spoilerish.

[ToTheNines]

We know nothing about their past lives. And we're supposedly getting a really good explanation for the multicolored masks.

[Andrew NDB]

I was just hoping there would be something more profound that we thought we would get. Both of those seem kind of like, "Yeah we know." Nothing spoilerish.

What do you mean? "Their past lives with Splinter" alone is a pretty big deal and we have absolutely no idea how it plays out.

[Cowabunga Carl]

I mean we knew that would be reviled, but not to what extent their "past lives" matter. To me that's not a spoiler since we knew it would have to come at some point after Splinter told them they didn't remember their old life and he would explain later.

The color bandana was spilled awhile ago when Tristan was talking about Infestation.

But they said something spoilerish was in issue 5 that they couldn't revel anything about the issue.

[Matches Malone]

I mean we knew that would be reviled, but not to what extent their "past lives" matter. To me that's not a spoiler since we knew it would have to come at some point after Splinter told them they didn't remember their old life and he would explain later.

The color bandana was spilled awhile ago when Tristan was talking about Infestation.

But they said something spoilerish was in issue 5 that they couldn't revel anything about the issue.

We also know that there will be a new character introduced in this issue and that's why Kevin Eastman's cover for #6 won't be revealed until #5 is out.

[Cowabunga Carl]

See that's what I'm curious about. What character can it be that would be so secretive? I mean could it be a picture of Krang on the cover? Or is it another new character?

[marcelangelo]

it could also be the shredder on kevin's cover, couldn't it?....their past lives with splinter hopefully include the story around yoshi and saki somehow....

[Donnie]

See that's what I'm curious about. What character can it be that would be so secretive? I mean could it be a picture of Krang on the cover? Or is it another new character?

Krang's on the cover of...what is it, #6 or #7? I can't recall. Could be Shredder. I kinda have a feeling they may wait til #10 for Shredder, kinda like in Volume 1 when Shredder "came back from the dead" in #10.

[AquaParade]

Krang's on the cover of...what is it, #6 or #7? I can't recall. Could be Shredder. I kinda have a feeling they may wait til #10 for Shredder, kinda like in Volume 1 when Shredder "came back from the dead" in #10.


My best guess is the cover may have The Shredder on it.

You could be right, but I wouldn't think that Tom would curve his timeline just to pay tribute to the Shredder's reappearance in issue #10. To be fair, I don't know Tom, so I could very well be wrong.

[ToTheNines]

Krang's on the cover of...what is it, #6 or #7? I can't recall. Could be Shredder. I kinda have a feeling they may wait til #10 for Shredder, kinda like in Volume 1 when Shredder "came back from the dead" in #10.

It was 7.

6 had the TMNT from the first-person view of a Mouser.

[Matches Malone]

My best guess is the cover may have The Shredder on it.

You could be right, but I wouldn't think that Tom would curve his timeline just to pay tribute to the Shredder's reappearance in issue #10. To be fair, I don't know Tom, so I could very well be wrong.

I wouldn't think so either, but based on the synopses and covers we've seen so far, it seems that #5 will be a standalone story, and #6-8 is the next 3 issue story arc focusing on unleashing Baxter's new weapon (aka mousers) and Krang entering the picture more with him finally arriving to New York by issue #8. To introduce Shredder in that story arc might pull from the focus, so while I'm sure he will be alluded to in those issues, he may very well fully enter into the fray by the next multi-issue arc which would assumedly include #10 and thus neatly work out as a nice homage to the original Mirage.

Sure he may not even show up by then, but it would probably be foolish to wait much longer as I'm sure they are aware that everyone is anticipating his character. It works out well if you think about it: First story arc introduces the turtles, second arc builds up anticipation to the Shredder, and the third story arc finally has him come in full force. I mean, once you have the Shredder, mousers probably won't seem as epic in comparison, so it's best to do their story first to help build things up. What do y'all think?

[CyberCubed]

We've already seen Krang (or rather, his robot body), he's the huge guy with the scarf in front of his mouth.

[AquaParade]

I wouldn't think so either, but based on the synopses and covers we've seen so far, it seems that #5 will be a standalone story, and #6-8 is the next 3 issue story arc focusing on unleashing Baxter's new weapon (aka mousers) and Krang entering the picture more with him finally arriving to New York by issue #8. To introduce Shredder in that story arc might pull from the focus, so while I'm sure he will be alluded to in those issues, he may very well fully enter into the fray by the next multi-issue arc which would assumedly include #10 and thus neatly work out as a nice homage to the original Mirage.

Sure he may not even show up by then, but it would probably be foolish to wait much longer as I'm sure they are aware that everyone is anticipating his character. It works out well if you think about it: First story arc introduces the turtles, second arc builds up anticipation to the Shredder, and the third story arc finally has him come in full force. I mean, once you have the Shredder, mousers probably won't seem as epic in comparison, so it's best to do their story first to help build things up. What do y'all think?

Great observations. I wouldn't be surprised if your outline is spot-on.

I really hope to see the Shredder have a lasting impact on the turtles. Give us a reason to fear this dude!

[Andrew NDB]

I really hope to see the Shredder have a lasting impact on the turtles. Give us a reason to fear this dude!

I'm sure they have that covered. My hope is that whatever Shredder's standing is:

1) He's not some kind of Utrom (not too worried about this one)

And

2) He's not too tied to Krang or anything weird like that. Shredder and the Foot are the "big enemies" of the TMNT, always have been... and no matter how far out their other enemies or groups of enemies may go (and between General Krang and Baxter and their small army of mutants in the making, it sounds like "far out" enemies are pretty well covered), that faction should be fairly "down to earth." The Raphael special creates some worry to this end. I mean, can you imagine the Mirage Oroku Saki employing guys like Bebop and Rocksteady?

[CyberCubed]

I'd actually quite like it if Shredder and Krang were enemies/rivals in this universe. It would make quite an interesting twist as opposed to them always working together like in the original series and Archie.

[Matches Malone]

I'm sure they have that covered. My hope is that whatever Shredder's standing is:

1) He's not some kind of Utrom (not too worried about this one)

And

2) He's not too tied to Krang or anything weird like that. Shredder and the Foot are the "big enemies" of the TMNT, always have been... and no matter how far out their other enemies or groups of enemies may go (and between General Krang and Baxter and their small army of mutants in the making, it sounds like "far out" enemies are pretty well covered), that faction should be fairly "down to earth." The Raphael special creates some worry to this end. I mean, can you imagine the Mirage Oroku Saki employing guys like Bebop and Rocksteady?

Though I'm likely not as concerned as you, these are pretty much my exact sentiments. What really made Shredder and the Foot work well, in my opinion, is that they were a legitimate ninja clan to be taken seriously. I'm okay with some ties to the science fiction realm since it is TMNT (we see some funky robots in RTNY and CAW at times, not to mention worm cloning), but as you stated, I hope this is kept to a minimum and done only when it is absolutely necessary.

While I believe there can be some potential and legitimacy in employing street-knowledgeable thugs to further the Foot's ends, it is a bit worrisome if that is what Raphael #1 is suggesting is happening, as it will be very tricky to maintain their clan's authenticity if it becomes overrun with too many non-ninja elements. Independent contractors are one thing, but if they become part of the clan, it could make the Foot look like a joke to welcome such unrefined and undisciplined hoodlums. I am hoping the Shredder would only keep company with the likes of such ruffians begrudgingly and no longer than the situation would necessitate. 4Kids managed a fairly well balanced approach to this kind of "working relationship" between Shredder and Baxter. However, I do believe this is all in good hands with Tom, Kevin, and Dan.

[Matches Malone]

I'd actually quite like it if Shredder and Krang were enemies/rivals in this universe. It would make quite an interesting twist as opposed to them always working together like in the original series and Archie.

I agree, and I do believe that is where the series is heading with Baxter's comment regarding the ninjas who broke in as potentially being Krang's rivals. I think this indeed will be interesting and will do well to boost Krang's credibility as a real threat by putting him on the same level as the Shredder. However, as I mentioned in my previous post, I hope this is kept to a minimum and does not become the focus of Shredder's ultimate goals.

Great observations. I wouldn't be surprised if your outline is spot-on.

I really hope to see the Shredder have a lasting impact on the turtles. Give us a reason to fear this dude!

Thanks! I'm positive this iteration of the Shredder will be good and very interesting. How badass he is, however, all depends on what kind of risks this team is willing to take. While everything so far has been good solid mature storytelling, it's not exactly the most risque, as IDW is aware of TMNT's prior association with kiddie fare. I am hoping to see a brutal Shredder who has no qualms with killing, but we shall see!

[Solink]

I'm positive this iteration of the Shredder will be good and very interesting. How badass he is, however, all depends on what kind of risks this team is willing to take. While everything so far has been good solid mature storytelling, it's not exactly the most risque, as IDW is aware of TMNT's prior association with kiddie fare. I am hoping to see a brutal Shredder who has no qualms with killing, but we shall see!
The 4Kids Shredder did that pretty well. Even if most of you guys hate the Utrom version, he's a badass and I hope he returns. As a kid, I was freaked out when he asked Hun to remove Stockman's eye. With a DRILL! That's not kiddie at all for a 10 years old. haha

[TomWaltz]

Big week!

Happy Holidays to everyone here on the Technodrome boards, and to your families and friends -- really, really appreciate your constant support of all things TMNT, including our little comic book.

Speaking of which, I heard a rumor issue #5 hits stores this week. That's the one where **************************** happens, isn't it?

Mwahahahahahahaha!

8)

Take care, friends!

Tom W.

[Venom]

I agree, and I do believe that is where the series is heading with Baxter's comment regarding the ninjas who broke in as potentially being Krang's rivals.

Then that would beg the question of how Shredder came to learn about General Krang and discover Krang's super-secret mutagen and what purpose he wishes to employ with it.

[marcelangelo]

merry christmas to you and your family and friends, too, tom!and to everybody working on the tmnt comic book!!cannot tell you how great it is for me to have them boys back in a great story with exciting art each month!!!right now I am facing some hard to take hardships in life and this book is giving me something to look forward to!so thank you!
I would love to wish everyone else a merry christmas, too, but I am going nowhere and so I'll be writing and wishing everyone here in a few days!

[Andrew NDB]

The 4Kids Shredder did that pretty well. Even if most of you guys hate the Utrom version, he's a badass and I hope he returns. As a kid, I was freaked out when he asked Hun to remove Stockman's eye. With a DRILL! That's not kiddie at all for a 10 years old. haha

I wouldn't be against seeing Ch'rell again... though he needn't be Shredder or Oroku Saki.

[oldmanwinters]

Big week!

Happy Holidays to everyone here on the Technodrome boards, and to your families and friends -- really, really appreciate your constant support of all things TMNT, including our little comic book.

Speaking of which, I heard a rumor issue #5 hits stores this week. That's the one where **************************** happens, isn't it?

Mwahahahahahahaha!

8)

Take care, friends!

Tom W.

Tom, you tease! I hate that I'll be out of town for a few weeks. I might not get to read this one until January!

[Hermano Dyvas]

I wouldn't be against seeing Ch'rell again...

:teek: Where's Andrew and who are you?

Kidding aside, with a more mature Krang in place already I don't really see a need for Ch'rell unless he is Shredder. I want Shredder to be human again in IDW's universe though.

[twopinacoladas]

My thoughts about Mirage Shredder employing Bebop and Rocksteady or even Shredder in this book is that he wouldn't have a need for them. If he has even a small army of Foot Ninjas why would he need them. Unless they were arms dealers or connected by some way but I don't think he needs them as his two right hand men like the original toon. We still don't know their purpose but it seems clear that they will be mutated, unless The Shredder just happened to come across some ooze or mutagen and wanted some dummies to try an experiment on (assuming he isn't associated with Baxter Stockman).

*spoilers*

I actually really enjoyed this issue, although I don't like the colored masks or that it was Raph's favorite color why they wore them. Unless the spirits of Hamoto Yoshi and his boys were reincarnated into the Turtles and Splinter at birth or at the time of their mutation or whatever and Splinter all of a sudden because of this the mutation or because he was older or whatever reason knows all of the past in Japan etc.

Splinter obviously has memories that the turtles don't have as he was telling the story at the end. I think an idea I'd be more in favor if they really want to bring in colored bandanas is to have them wear their favorite color bandanas while at home relaxing and what not and when they go out on patrol or what not to have red bandanas to show unity and all that mumbo jumbo as a clan.

Then if they don't have their weapons everyone can tell them apart in the lair and people will also be happy that they still have red bandanas. This way they aren't just throwing away what they have had so far in this book in regard to red bandanas and in the past Mirage books.

Just a couple ideas I had floating around after reading it. Overall good book, I don't mind the changes and its making more sense having them learn martial arts so much quicker as Hamoto Yoshi's boys would have been teenage when they were slain. It also doesn't seem as bad that they were not children or babies after their mutation.

The positive or negative I guess is we may get to here stories of them as children in Japan as human pre-mutant turtles in stead of potential stories of them as young mutated turtles. So there would be some potential for stories of them as youngsters but it gets away from the whole mutated turtle thing if it happened.

One thing does anyone know if Kevin didn't do page layouts for this book as he wasn't credited. So I am assuming he didn't I hope to see more from him if that is the case anyhow it was good if he did or didn't do them on this issue. Waay to long of a post ;)