Favorite storyline in the comics?

[Cipher]

We're just over a month away from "City at War" getting its first collected release, which means soon everyone can agree with me and pick that.

But if you're some kinda pleb, maybe you think something else is the best multi-issue story to grace the pages of a Ninja Turtles series.

Could be two issues, could be twenty. Maybe your favorite isn't necessarily the one you think is "best." That's all gravy.

Boom. Go, go. Opinions, let's hear 'em. Let's talk about stories and stuff.

[CyberCubed]

Probably the arc where Raphael becomes the Shredder. It was something so random but actually wound up working. I also love how the Foot didn't take a liking to Raph wearing the mantle, and eventually try to betray and overthrow him.

It's just so hard to believe one day you'd see Raphael as, "The Shredder" leading a pack of Foot Ninja. So fun.

[Powder]

I think I'm gonna agree with Cybercubed on this one. Most of the plots in Vol. 3 really get me amped, that one especially.

[Oculus Orbus]

I'd say "City at War". It's been a while since that last time I read Volume 1, but those issues have always been my favourite.

[pannoni1]

It has to be the Return to New York storyline, which was the very reason why I feel that Leonardo decapitating the Shredder was the most dramatic moment in the series. When I first read the series last year, I enjoyed it despite not reading many of the earlier issues in terms of continuity, and it feels like issue #1 with extra gingerbread. If the first issue feels a bit too rushed, Return to New York allows three great issues leading up to a dramatic climax, with Raph fighting the foot soldiers and Leo taking down the Elite Guards along the way. It was part of the reason why the first movie was so great and the story about Shredder's revival continues to bring a sense of mystery to me all these years later.

[AquaParade]

Easily City at War. The questions raised about the turtles purpose, the surreal art by Jim Lawson, and Donatello firing a machine gun (hehe)...too much awesomeness. For me, tmnt stories don't get any better than this. Although I really love the way they handled the characters in Steve Barons Live action tmnt movie. That's got to be my favorite Michelangelo.

[Jephael]

I love any story involving Renet! I can never get enough of her! Hell, if I were a character in that universe I'd ask her out!

[Blossombrooks]

Return to New York for me too. Beautifully drawn, amazing panels with kick-a** action. Not to mention poor old Zog and the Shredder clones! What more could you want? :D

[Chris]

Return to New York. It may not have been the pinnacle of story telling that City at War was, but it was just a fantastic story and the ultimate confrontation between the Turtles and Shredder.

[OA]

Wow, so no love for the Leo, Issue #10, Issue #11 arc?! Starting with Leo in a breathtaking battle with the foot, while the rest of his crew innocently prepares for Christmas. Followed up with a fantastic battle royale in April's place and culminating in the final issue with some deep soul searching...

If not this storyline, then Return to NY for me, for all the reasons so eloquently stated below:

It has to be the Return to New York storyline, which was the very reason why I feel that Leonardo decapitating the Shredder was the most dramatic moment in the series. When I first read the series last year, I enjoyed it despite not reading many of the earlier issues in terms of continuity, and it feels like issue #1 with extra gingerbread. If the first issue feels a bit too rushed, Return to New York allows three great issues leading up to a dramatic climax, with Raph fighting the foot soldiers and Leo taking down the Elite Guards along the way. It was part of the reason why the first movie was so great and the story about Shredder's revival continues to bring a sense of mystery to me all these years later.

After those, comes CAW. I love that arc as well, but the other two worked better for me. But who knows, maybe my attention doesnt last any longer than 3 issues... :)

[Chris]

Wow, so no love for the Leo, Issue #10, Issue #11 arc?!

RTNY is my favourite arc, but Leonardo is my favourite single issue hands down. I think that's the issue where Eastman and Laird really hit their stride. They were at the top of their game from that point, it's just a shame it didn't last longer. But like they said, life at best is bitter sweet.

[CyberCubed]

I like Don's arc with the talking dino's in Volume 4, oddly enough. Probably one of the few early story arcs in that series I really liked.

[Matches Malone]

I almost consider Leo, #10, #11 as part of the same arc as Return To New York. Still, if I don't get to cheat and say both, I'll have to run with Return To New York as well. Turtles at their grittiest, the artwork was fantastic and detailed, and bringing back Zog was one of the coolest twists in the entire series.

City At War runs a close second. Definitely the most sophisticated story Eastman/Laird ever did, though not necessarily my favorite. Sometimes it didn't quite reach its lofty ambitions, and while I loved the development made with Casey, it's disappointing he did not don his hockey mask throughout the whole thing.

[cartoonistaaron]

For me, it's a toss up between Return to New York and the "Turtles In Space" storyline, that I would still love to see adapted into a movie.

I read "Return to New York" right after it was published (or pretty soon after, the next year maybe), and I was 10 or 11. I was just the right age, I had just seen the first movie, and it kicked so much you-know-what. The wild Shredder clones, the brain-damaged Triceraton, Leo's final showdown with the Shredder...

[CyberCubed]

I was so hyped up for City At War (I had a subscription by that point) and was so, so disappointed by the actual comics. I think Return to NY was their last truly great storyline (and I say that having read all the Mirage stuff, the Image comics, Archie, Dreamwave, IDW, etc...).

You were disappointed by City at War? If anything that was the pinnacle of the entire Mirage continuity, as everything after that is either just OK or a step down.

[Heather Breckel]

Mirage-City at War
Archie-Future Shark
Image-even though Raph becoming Shredder was great, I always liked the whole struggle Donatello had with the cyborg stuff.

Too early to say on IDW.

[Sophie Campbell]

the Leo micro through #11, the TCRI/Triceratons/Turtles-in-space issues, Return to New York, and City At War are all amazing, and i also love The River, but i have to mention New York Ninja! :D it's really short but so good.

[Cipher]

I was so hyped up for City At War (I had a subscription by that point) and was so, so disappointed by the actual comics.
Without begrudging you your opinion, what got you down about it?

Were you expecting/normally enjoy more action? Because then I can totally see that.

Although, action-wise, I still think the last fight is right up there with "Return to New York".

[Dirty Blond]

All I can say is, because I'm new to the comics, I've been looking forward to City at War, thanks to many of you. If the 4Kids! CAW was cool, the book ought to be even greater.

[FoxZerro]

Rick Veitch's The River is one of my favorite overall arcs from the first volume. I like that they introduced a new mutant and had a very reasonable explanation for his existence. I liked that its environmental message wasn't to preachy. Most of all I liked how it explored the meaning of the Turtles existence. Just overall a great story with great art, and its a shame that the story isn't in continuity, despite Raph referencing the events in a book that is.

[Matches Malone]

All I can say is, because I'm new to the comics, I've been looking forward to City at War, thanks to many of you. If the 4Kids! CAW was cool, the book ought to be even greater.

Just be careful to go in with an open mind. 4Kids City At War is almost unrecognizable from the source material, since the Mirage version is dealing with the destruction of the Shredder and well, a kid's cartoon can't really permanently kill any character off.

Plus, it has its detractors. The artwork is the beginning of Lawson's transition to a more stylized turtles, and the fight scenes are pretty light at the beginning. Which brings me to: make sure you read it all at once! The pacing is a bit slower over 13 issues, so it might dampen your excitement to read only a few issues at a time. Hope you enjoy it!

[Plasticplayhouse]

man there were quite a few really good stories throughout the turtles. its hard to choose just one. i would probably list them in order as:

Leo,10, &11
City at War
Return to NY
the River
Soul's Winter
Shades of Gray

[Matches Malone]

Rick Veitch's The River is one of my favorite overall arcs from the first volume. I like that they introduced a new mutant and had a very reasonable explanation for his existence. I liked that its environmental message wasn't to preachy. Most of all I liked how it explored the meaning of the Turtles existence. Just overall a great story with great art, and its a shame that the story isn't in continuity, despite Raph referencing the events in a book that is.

I agree, The River is great, and probably my favorite of the "guest artist" era, along with Sons of the Silent Age, which is actually the issue that references it! I thought the explanation for his mutation was so cool, but

I thought the way Raph returned to normal was a little silly. Doesn't quite work as well the other way around since Raph isn't a leech...

Also thought Bloodsucker was a pretty lazy name... It's too bad Leech and Parasite are already taken!

[CyberCubed]

Bloodsucker was basically the Mirage version of Wyrm.

I think the only reason PL doesn't like that story is because it introduces another mutant similar to the ones from the OT and Archie.

[FoxZerro]

Bloodsucker was basically the Mirage version of Wyrm.

I think the only reason PL doesn't like that story is because it introduces another mutant similar to the ones from the OT and Archie.

I don't know if similar is the right term. I think that Bloodsucker was way more intense than Wyrm was. I definitely agree that Bloodsucker and Wyrm are the same character with different names in different continuities. However, there are some images with Bloodsucker that are just downright creepy. When they find the body of the Fish and Game Warden sucked dry, that scene has such a great vibe and even thinking about it now is such a disturbing visual. Plus there was a level of intelligence present with Bloodsucker that was never seen in Wyrm.

[poprob]

Return to New York and City at War.

Still hoping for a live action movie of the material one day...

[Panda_Kahn_fan]

From Archie- Future Shark

Mirage, itself, was never actually my cup of tea- I always preferred it in adapted form (The first movie, the 4kids series adaptations) it's actually my least favorite rendition of the turtles.

IDW- my Favorite version of the Turtles! And out of it so far- the Fugitoid issue!

[MikeandRaph87]

From Archie- Future Shark

Mirage, itself, was never actually my cup of tea- I always preferred it in adapted form (The first movie, the 4kids series adaptations) it's actually my least favorite rendition of the turtles.

IDW- my Favorite version of the Turtles! And out of it so far- the Fugitoid issue!

Agree with all said here just I would amend and say Image in place of Mirage and while IDW is not my favorite its blasted off into greatness after a weak start. I have a feeling this upcoming issue with Slash will be my favorite replacing Fugi's issue on the top spot. We are of like-minds for the most part,Panda!:tsmile:

[Azrael Macool]

I can't say too much for Mirage, because I've only read a few, but as for Archie, which I've read the most of, it would have to be, hands down, Terracide. The Mighty Mutanimals burning in hell really, really stuck with me since I was a kid.

[CyberCubed]

I love the stories where the Turtles are captured by the U.S. government.

Mirage did it in Volume 2, Archie did it with Mikey in Blindsite, the 4kids series adapted this with various Bishop episodes...I always like that concept.

[HanShotFirst]

Whats your favorite tmnt issue/ story arc?

For me it has to be Raphael's micro-series Me, Myself and I. I really like the tag team of Raph and Casey. Although they did have a good run on Body count, I liked how Me, Myself and I made it's way into the storyline in issue 10.

As for Story arc, I'd have to say Return To New York. I just love the fight scene in Part one. The fight goes on all the way through to the end. Very well written and put together I thought.

[Powder]

Aye my man, this topic has been covered many times before (recently, even). In the future, do a search for your thread before you make it.

http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showthread.php?t=39559
http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showthread.php?t=39141