Mirage Vol. 4 #12 (spoilers) [Archive]

Aztec General

10-15-2003, 05:24 PM

I can totally picture Raph becoming a binge drinker as a way to deal with Splinters death.

Yeah especially since all of his brothers seem to have their own things going on. Wow, those vampires sure gave him a good walloping though. Looks like he needs a few stitches for that one.

Kid Icarus

10-15-2003, 05:52 PM

And more than likely some new blood. That was the most evil cliff hanger I've ever experianced. Damn you Mr. Laird.... damn you.

I fear for any alien who gets greeted by Mikey... they'll pry turn right around and go back to where ever they came from :P .

Machias Banshee

10-15-2003, 06:12 PM

*blinks* the guys are splitting up?! :o

oh, what of the talking dinosaurs?!

*wont be ever seeing a TMNT comic anytime soon*

Jo Dawn

10-15-2003, 10:21 PM

I liked it alot. Though, it was kinda sad when they began going their seperate ways... I must admit, at first I was surprised it was Donnie going first, but that was only the initial feeling. My second thought about that was that it kinda made sense. I had also kinda hoped that he'd go (or at least call) and say goodbye to April and Casey. Of course, it could've been done "off camera"...

April's mystery: I wanna know what's on that film! :)

And that cliffhanger: ...it's gonna be a long two months...

Awesome issue! :D

Taloniss

10-16-2003, 05:40 AM

Awesome issue, loved the direction it's going. Can't wait for issue 13.

Cascadia

10-16-2003, 03:52 PM

this is the 2nd time that the guys split up. The first time that they did was after the City at War arc. They came back together around issue 6 of Volume 2.

Jo Dawn

10-16-2003, 08:12 PM

Oooooh, I didn't know that... I just started reading Mirage with volume four, because, well, my local comic shop never carried it before. Though, now they have a bunch of old ones I have to go get now! :)

Thanks for the info...

Skeletoncrew

10-16-2003, 11:25 PM

I enjoyed this issue, its finally starting to look as though they're going to pull all these loose ends together. I've been getting frustrated with all of the different elements that were being introduced, then abandoned.

I really liked the bar. It makes sense to me that there would be hangout places where aliens and humans could "mix". It also makes sense to me that there would be alien "groupies", and that's how I felt about some of the ladies shown in those panels.

Raph getting his ass whupped? Just how many did he have? There were a lot of glasses in front of him!

impetus

10-17-2003, 11:40 AM

I just want to say that I was on page 19.

lhb412

10-17-2003, 05:23 PM

Great issue, not as good as issue 11 (which is probably one of my all-time favorites), but still great. The mystery of April's parent's depens, their is a great scene of the turtles splitting up (I like how they are still very much greiving about Splinter) We see a weird (in a good way :D ) alien thing with a lazer gun in a jungle, (He must play a key role in the next issue because, well, he's on the cover), a cool scene of Raph at a bar, and then of course Raph gets beat up by some vampires then as they're about to drink his blood: "to be continued"! ARRRGGGHHH!!! 2 mounths to find out what happens to Raph and what's up with that alien. Again a beautifull cover painting and some info in the letters collums: Tales of the TMNT #3 will revolve around Splinter, Laird has an idea for a neat extra on the new DVD's, and that issue sixteen will feature the unexpected return of one of Laird's favorite charcters, wonder who that could be?

HorseTechie

10-20-2003, 12:18 PM

I have found a new way to read comics, while spinning on a stationary bike in the fitnesses center. :P

But yeah, this comic was really good, in that it was finally touching back on all the mysteries dropped earlier. I don't think the Turtles are officially 'splitting up'. It sounded like Don was going to head off and do his thing again, when Mike does a Mike, and forgets to tell them about his plans too. Leo and Raph were still gonna be hanging. Leo's just doing some business with Karai for a bit. :wink:

I did have a wonder... anyone remember reading the Flaming Carrot crossover? For a minute, I wonder if that has anything to do with the Utroms involvemnt here in thsi issue too? I need to reread those old issues again...

Lastly.. I was loving the Raph/Vampire fight. I actually had an idea a couple years back of writing a fanfic with a more seedy and violent version of VamMi, seducing Raph into being her victum. I guess the whole 'but do vamps really like to drink mutant blood?' research issue turned me off. It'll be interesting to see where Laird goes with this idea! :evilgrin:

Dinny

10-20-2003, 12:39 PM

I thought it was great how, when Raph was getting beaten, he was totally drunk. :lol:

I can so see Raph in one of those drunkern rehab places,

"Hi, my names Raph and Im an alcoholic."
"HELLOOO RAPH, WELCOME"
"Ye Ye Ye, wheres the booze?"

VaughnMichael

10-20-2003, 02:13 PM

raph says in this isue
"I'm tellin ya ,"dark Lord" I've fought real vampires.......and while you losers could clearly use some personal hygiene lessons....you don't stink nearly as bad as the true unded!"

uuuuuuuuummmm ok I have every issue of the mirage series even special books....where in the hell has raph or any of the other turtles ever fought vampires or the undead before....
just found that odd...
I'll add more if I think about it
Vaughn Michael

impetus

10-20-2003, 02:19 PM

then you have #29, Men Of Shadow

http://www.ninjaturtles.com/comics/mirage/volume01/29/29cover.jpg

VaughnMichael

10-20-2003, 02:30 PM

ahahhaha omg sorry
I totatlly forgot about that isue!
yes i do have it for some reason I never realized that guy to be a vampire..
because I prolly got the isue when I was younger and never botherd to read it again
thanks again
Vaughn Michael

sango

10-21-2003, 03:44 PM

w00..ah know! SOOOO menny cliffhangers in one issue! *gets into major issues* :o

ah wonna know what that monster is...what's on Ape's film...and WHAT'RE DEME VAMPIES GONNA DO TA MR. RED SNAPPA?? :o

*belches in fear*

BAHAHA...I loved the Casey kissin April's fuzzy head thing :P GHEEE...
I also enjoyed seeyin Mikey with an0ther plushie...I cant resist dat ;)

Jephael

10-23-2003, 07:01 AM

You mean her peach fuzz? Yeah, that was sweat. I love the "Must be what it feels like when I don't shave" line!

CookSux

10-23-2003, 06:22 PM

I dunno, this book is disappointing me more and more... If the next issue doesn't peak any of my interest, I'm probably going to stop picking this up. I still haven't seen DW 5 yet.

Aztec General

10-23-2003, 06:44 PM

impetus

10-23-2003, 08:51 PM

You mean her peach fuzz? Yeah, that was sweat.

it was sweat? :dead: yuck!

Stefano

10-25-2003, 11:38 AM

I dunno, this book is disappointing me more and more... If the next issue doesn't peak any of my interest, I'm probably going to stop picking this up. I still haven't seen DW 5 yet.

Really? I actually feel the complete opposite. The Mirage series has had me gripped since #9. I'm going to give the DW series 2 more issues to get interesting or I'm going to stop picking it up.
exactly i dont know what is so great about dreamwave. Yes the newer isssue is much better than the others but still the first four are kinda boring and hard to reread

Cascadia

10-26-2003, 10:34 PM

this issue was great.....the next would be interesting with Raph on the ground and there is a bunch of vampires.

Dinny

10-27-2003, 04:08 AM

I thought it was quite good, Im guessing we'll be seeing a showdown between Leo and Cha Ocho pretty soon. And I thought it was great when Raph said, "Oh for the luvva Mike".

Snailman

11-02-2003, 03:45 PM

Really? I actually feel the complete opposite. The Mirage series has had me gripped since #9. I'm going to give the DW series 2 more issues to get interesting or I'm going to stop picking it up.

Yeah, I'm totally ready to get the next issue as I want to see what's happening with everything like:

• What exactly are mutant-type dinosaurs doing in the jungle? I mean, I get were the material came from that mutated them, but were did the dinos come from? :-?

• What's that weird plant-type- humanoid with the laser-type looking gun on his arm? Is it the same thing we saw in TMNT #3, or a 2nd different creature?

• What's the deal with these "vampire" guys? Are they really vampires, or just some sort of psuedo-vampires?

• What exactly is on that old movie film with April's dad?

Peter Laird is a cruel, cruel man making us wait 2 months until issue #13 comes out! :lol: But it was awesome though. :D

-Snailman

Savanti Romero

11-02-2003, 03:50 PM

Although the Turtles are splitting up a little bit, they seem to have a little more appreaciation for each other. Like the part when Raph was giving Mikey some good luck before Don and Mikey left. Splinters death seems to have brought them to more of an understanding for each other. But at the same time they need to find their own way to relieve some of the pain.

April's past is starting to get very interesting. I really like the main story arc with many lose ends. This is like real life and leaves more mystery than short little stories. These lose ends can also come into play a ways down the road. Volume Four has been great since #2 (don't have #1) and I hope it continues.

Joel

11-13-2003, 02:16 PM

The plot was pretty good in this issue, but the dialogue kind of annoyed me.

Stefano

11-13-2003, 02:29 PM

the dino's and the plant dude with laser guns are enemys. In the 9th issue of vol 4 the dino asked the utrom if he was freinds with the forest. I bet leo is gonna kick that dudes ass who kicked the ooots ass in issue 11

Snailman

11-13-2003, 03:19 PM

the dino's and the plant dude with laser guns are enemys. In the 9th issue of vol 4 the dino asked the utrom if he was freinds with the forest.

Yeah, that's right, I remember that part when I re-read issue #9 the other day. Maybe that hasardous material somehow mutated some of the plant life in the jungle & they somehow became human, sentiant plant people? :-? It'd sure explain things, but then there's the laser guns. Now, either those were utrom weapons that the trees somehow modified, or they are somehow super intelligent & made'em themselves out of the wrecked utrom ship that dumped the stuff there.

I can't wait for issue #13 now & I hope they reveal more. I'm betting they will, as the sneak-peek cover for #13 at the end of the letter's page in issue #12 has one of thos plant-people pointing a gun at the "screen" so to speak.

I bet leo is gonna kick that dudes ass who kicked the ooots ass in issue 11

Who kicked the ooots ass? When did this happen in #11? :-?

-Snailman

(p.s.)
Um, does anybody know where I can host the picture for my avatar? My angelfire site kinda closed it down, so I'm avatar-less until I can find a new place to host it. :(

Savanti Romero

11-13-2003, 05:05 PM

The plot was pretty good in this issue, but the dialogue kind of annoyed me.
How? The only part I didn't like was April without hair. :lol:

Stefano

11-13-2003, 08:00 PM

I bet leo is gonna kick that dudes ass who kicked the ooots ass in issue 11

Who kicked the ooots ass? When did this happen in #11? :-?

-Snailman

:(

some weird dude at the way end. Ive never seen him before. He left a small triangle thing on the ground

Snailman

11-13-2003, 08:55 PM

some weird dude at the way end. Ive never seen him before. He left a small triangle thing on the ground

OH, I remember now. Yeah, I hope they explain just who the heck that guy is too.. :ohwell:

-Snailman

Dinny

11-14-2003, 12:31 AM

Was that the guy at the end of the issue who beat up the foot? I think that that was Renets master

Snailman

11-14-2003, 09:40 AM

Was that the guy at the end of the issue who beat up the foot? I think that that was Renets master

Lord Simultaneous (not sure if I spelled that right)? :-?

Wasn't he a short little dude, this guy looked to be normal height to me.

-Snailman

azure turtle

11-14-2003, 07:45 PM

Snailman

11-14-2003, 07:53 PM

Overall, a really great issue that leaves a lot of plot holes to be filled. Can't wait to see what happens next. Anyone else think that Don will use the Utroms' technology to do something with Splinter's hair (or thumb or whatever he took from Splinter's body)? Maybe he'll analyze the effects of the mutagen on Splinter? Perhaps he's going to perform some sort of autopsy? Maybe even resurrect Splinter? Makes me wonder how long Peter is gonna keep that plot in the back of our minds...

Hmmmm...yeah, that's a interesting idea. I thought about that too, I mean maybe Don thinks something doesn't seem right & want to take a look at things for himself. I mean, we all did see the Rat King hanging out in the shadows at Splinter's house, & I'm sure he wasn't there for tea.

-Snailman

azure turtle

11-14-2003, 08:02 PM

Hmmmm...yeah, that's a interesting idea. I thought about that too, I mean maybe Don thinks something doesn't seem right & want to take a look at things for himself. I mean, we all did see the Rat King hanging out in the shadows at Splinter's house, & I'm sure he wasn't there for tea.
LOL! Too bad Rat King wasn't there for tea. Then maybe poor Splinter wouldn't have died. I'm still wondering why he was there... I keep thinking that there's more to Splinter's death, and Don might be the one to find out. Perhaps the Rat King never really died... Maybe he's been hanging out on the astral plane all this time??

Stefano

11-14-2003, 08:12 PM

i think read somewhere (i think it was in the letters at the end of the comics) that laird said he can't see the turtles without splinter

HorseTechie

11-15-2003, 09:15 AM

*starts singing that one Lion King song*

He lives in you! He lives in me! He watches over everything we see....!

..What? :P

Machias Banshee

11-15-2003, 09:40 AM

i think read somewhere (i think it was in the letters at the end of the comics) that laird said he can't see the turtles without splinter

I hope youre right... I mean, Laird HAD said that Splinter was gonna be around for a long time. But then he killed him. Either he wasnt telling the truth, or he's got plans for the defunct Sensei....

Karpo_007

11-15-2003, 09:51 AM

He said his plans just changed.

Machias Banshee

11-15-2003, 10:10 AM

some change... I cant help but wonder what happened to change his mind...

Stefano

11-16-2003, 04:50 PM

things change

azure turtle

11-17-2003, 10:56 AM

Heh... That's pretty ironic, 'specially since Splinter said "change is good" during the first episode of the new 'toon.

HorseTechie

11-17-2003, 11:42 AM

Yes... but as I was trying to imply, is that Laird prolly will have Splinter with the Turtles in spirit, mind and soul. Not the ObiWan method... just there in the Turtles thoughts, even thought he can't be with them in flesh.

Therefore, if Laird means it like that, then he wasn't totally tricking us.

azure turtle

11-18-2003, 04:00 PM

Hmm... Perhaps you're right, HT. At least we'll be able to see Splinter in the new Tales coming out in January! Maybe that's what Laird meant when he said he'd never kill Splinter. The ol' rat's still alive in two other comic book versions. :D

Stefano

11-18-2003, 04:42 PM

tales of turtles #3 is supposed to be all about splinter

Machias Banshee

11-18-2003, 09:57 PM

oh?????

where'd you learn this?

Leo656

11-19-2003, 05:01 AM

Maybe I'm just kinda jaded because I read so many comics and know how "comic book death" works, but Splinter's death didn't phase me. Even if he stays "dead", they'll still have tons of stories to tell, so who really notices? Between the DW comic, the cartoon, and the new "Tales", there'll be more Splinter stuff than you can shake his walking stick at. He's only "dead" according to the timeline.

Kinda like how Chewbacca is "dead" in the Star Wars universe, as he died in one of the novels. Yet plenty of comics and novels still come out with Chewie as a character, as they take place before his "death". So again, who notices the guy's even gone?

It'd be entirely different if the characters were gone entirely, but they're not.

azure turtle

11-19-2003, 11:34 AM

Good point, Leo. I think that's why Splinter's death wasn't so shocking to me. I'm sad that he's gone from the "official" Mirage universe, but he isn't entirely dead. With that said, I know I'm gonna love Tales, and of course, there's always the new 'toon. :)

Stefano

11-19-2003, 07:08 PM

oh?????

where'd you learn this?
im pretty sure laird said it in the letters after the comic book. Im not sure where, but im positive he said this

Jetter

11-20-2003, 08:26 PM

Where do I see next months issue.. I haven't seen the front page.

Stefano

11-20-2003, 08:51 PM

if your talking about the cover of the next issue look in the back of the comic of #11

Demonfox38

12-02-2003, 06:25 AM

:cry: Why did they have to kill Chewbacca? WHHYY?!!!

*okay, I'm good now*

I'm kind of having a difficult time reading Volume 4. It's kind of been weird for me, with Splinter's death and April little . . .Stockman bug problems. I like the vampires, though. :ttwisted:

This issue was depressing. But, I did like it.

Stefano

12-02-2003, 04:58 PM

volume four is sweet. I like how all the issues are combined in one story.

ToTheNines

08-02-2026, 01:18 PM

Out (again) this Wednesday. Preview: https://comicbookclublive.com/2026/08/02/idw-preview-tmnt-journeys-12/

B cover:

https://tmnt-ninjaturtles.com/assets/TMNT-Journeys-12_Cover-B_rich-scaled.jpg

Heyowakka

08-02-2026, 03:20 PM

Now this is some amazing work! Why can’t Santolouco draw the turtles like this when he’s working on the main book?

Andrew NDB

08-02-2026, 04:15 PM

They look like they're teenagers there and giving Mikey a stuffed animal? I don't think he has read any Mirage.

ToTheNines

08-02-2026, 05:02 PM

Yeah, Mateus always throws heat but had you shown me this independent from it being a Journeys cover I never would have guessed they were supposed to be the Mirage guys in their 30’s. They don’t even look 15.

CyberCubed

08-02-2026, 05:45 PM

This was the issue those vampires were introduced, he should of drawn an awesome cover of the vampires attacking Raphael instead of just a generic group image in the sewers.

BTW were these vampires supposed to be the same ones we saw from Volume 1 #29 or other various issues/specials before Vol. 4? And I don't mean the same exact people obviously but the same "group" of vampires? I don't even think Mirage ever explained why vampires were roaming around.

Andrew NDB

08-02-2026, 06:27 PM

BTW were these vampires supposed to be the same ones we saw from Volume 1 #29

The Farley ones? I can't remember now but I think there was an extraterrestrial element to those?

ToTheNines

08-03-2026, 07:57 AM

I personally never really considered that one canon. Beautiful art and worth a read, but a pretty stupid story that never had any ramifications down the road.

Heyowakka

08-04-2026, 03:24 PM

They look like they're teenagers there and giving Mikey a stuffed animal? I don't think he has read any Mirage.

https://i.imgur.com/BKZhI98.jpeg

Andrew NDB

08-04-2026, 03:29 PM

Fair enough...

neatoman

08-04-2026, 03:42 PM

Wait a minute... Andrew, did you forget about the stuffed Triceratops?

CyberCubed

08-04-2026, 04:04 PM

The Turtles are 30 in Vol. 4 but Jim Lawson draws them the same as any time period anyway (even in the Tales issues he did which were set during the Vol. 1 era).

ToTheNines

08-05-2026, 04:21 AM

Wait a minute... Andrew, did you forget about the stuffed Triceratops?

I don’t think he has read any Mirage!

Barkworm

08-05-2026, 11:56 AM

People were giving Lawson so much **** back then but his Turtles looked great.

CyberCubed

08-05-2026, 04:23 PM

His humans got worse as time went on, if you look back at City at War and see how Casey and April are drawn and compare it to Vol. 4 and there's a big difference. And he just stayed like that for the last 25+ years. He's still drawing covers for IDW and whenever a human is there it's the same.

Andrew NDB

08-05-2026, 05:06 PM

People were giving Lawson so much **** back then but his Turtles looked great.

That page was inked by Laird. The chins/lips are always a giveaway there. And of course he smooths out the linework.

ToTheNines

08-05-2026, 06:24 PM

I know last month I said we were getting into the doldrums of Vol. 4 after #11, but I loved this one. The April stuff was very compelling, the bros splitting up is a big moment, the beginning of Don’s adventure is interesting and Raph hanging out at the local alien-friendly pub was fun.

And Lawson kicks butt, I don’t care what anyone says.

Zog The Magnificent

08-06-2026, 12:02 AM

I think Lawson is always at his strongest when he's drawing creatures. His turtles look fine, and his work on Paleo is another great example of how well he draws animals. That said, I've always thought his late period people look weird, but I got used to it eventually, so it really doesn't bother me at the end of the day.

CyberCubed

08-07-2026, 05:27 AM

I remember someone said around 15 years ago that his art of humans looks like caveman or tribal cave art, lol.

Coola Yagami

08-07-2026, 09:35 PM

Lawson's art just got more and more 'jagged-looking' over time, especially when he was drawing Mirage-style art for Smash-Up and stuff. I think the comic that came with the game was for many, the first mainstream look at his art. The people buying the games were not buying the Vol 4/Tales 2 comics.