Official Image TMNT conclusion at IDW is HAPPENING -- "TMNT: Urban Legends"

[Sabacooza]

Which leads to Frank Fosco's TMNT vs. Spawn short!
It would be super neat to have it published officially and in colour.Though it wasn't published officially, I did color it for Frank and it has been floating around on the net.

[Nortock Diab]

Thanks.
I know (and enjoy) this version.
I would just love to see it printed (B&W version was already printed, though not officially).

[mrmaczaps]

Its really too bad IDW didn't go with printing a black & white true reprint along with the color version.... I would like the final 3 issues to be black & white to go with the entire rest of the series.... that would be a variant worth paying for...

[Nortock Diab]

Its really too bad IDW didn't go with printing a black & white true reprint along with the color version.... I would like the final 3 issues to be black & white to go with the entire rest of the series.... that would be a variant worth paying for...

I fully agree!

Frank Fosco answered on Facebook regarding the Spawn story:

No way Spawn is going to happen--too many legal hoops to jump through and don't think Todd McFarlane would be on board with that. As for the 30th annivesary short--I could see that making it in the collected volumes.

Too bad...

[oldmanwinters]

Though it wasn't published officially, I did color it for Frank and it has been floating around on the net.

Whereas I view Guzowski's competence for this task as "cautiously optimistic," I'd have full confidence in Sabacooza to knock this out of the park.

[Sabacooza]

Whereas I view Guzowski's competence for this task as "cautiously optimistic," I'd have full confidence in Sabacooza to knock this out of the park.Thanks. I have seen the stuff Guzowski has been putting out and it does look nice even though I haven't exactly looked at it in great detail.

[pferreira]

It's characters like those that I'm concerned regarding the coloring; anyone can color the four Turtles and Splinter. Those colors are known; safe...It'll be interesting as it's the first time these have been coloured. Not much reference to go on so the results will be interesting either way.

I'm halfway worried we're going to see rainbow bandannas on the other Turtles on the insides of these. I'd lose my sh** if I saw that.Why would you worry they'd have multi-coloured bandanas when Mirage's first three volumes at least didn't?

That small glimpse is really pleasing to my eye. More so than I expected based on previous colorization's by IDW. It looks so plain next to First Comics version don't they?

Because Andrew said this, I hope we get an alternate cover in the future where the Turtles have all colored bandanas, initials on their belts, Mikey is holding a slice of pizza in his hand while shouting Cowabunga, the Turtle Van and Turtle Blimp flying in the background, Krang, Bebop and Rocksteady fighting the Turtles, along with the Technodrome rising from the ground...all in the same cover for the Image series.I would actually pay money for that. :D

For the most part, the early Mirage issues always look worse when colorized, but I expect the opposite should be true of Image. As I harp on about all the time First Comics colouring of Volume 1 was flawed but did a better job than IDW.

Jesus christ... even the letters on the belts? It might as well have Bebop and Rocksteady on the cover.Not very 2018 are you Andrew:

https://media2.giphy.com/media/4aWiLikxaIkDu/giphy.gif

:lol:

[Andrew NDB]

Why would you worry they'd have multi-coloured bandanas when Mirage's first three volumes at least didn't?

Because it technically isn't a Mirage volume.

[oldmanwinters]

I'll confess I'm looking forward to seeing the colors on Raphael's managed face in the early issues.

[BartAllen]

... I like the variant cover.

I've actually been reading through my old issues of the Image comic in anticipation for these new releases. I can't wait for this new stuff.

[AquaParade]

I'll confess I'm looking forward to seeing the colors on Raphael's managed face in the early issues.

Watch it be just a smear of "Shredder-Blue" from the Color Classics. No, judging by the small glimpse, I think this will look wonderful colored.

[CyberCubed]

I wonder if the Image run is going to be colored more carefully because it's technically a competing comic companies book, and a lot of Image characters and superheroes appear in it. The reason why it probably took these reprints so long to happen is IDW and Image probably had to get through a lot of red tape to make this work. Even though Viacom/IDW owns TMNT, they still have to deal with all the Image characters which they don't own appearing in it.

[AlZarkovski]

Red bandanas:

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af274/alzarkovski/DcIQ6nFUwAAFIXE_zps9r07o5qt.jpg (http://s1015.photobucket.com/user/alzarkovski/media/DcIQ6nFUwAAFIXE_zps9r07o5qt.jpg.html)

[Powder]

Well, from what we've seen so far, the colors look very nice! Could do without the dot pattern though, as it obscures some of the detail.

[neatoman]

Red bandanas:

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af274/alzarkovski/DcIQ6nFUwAAFIXE_zps9r07o5qt.jpg (http://s1015.photobucket.com/user/alzarkovski/media/DcIQ6nFUwAAFIXE_zps9r07o5qt.jpg.html)

What's with the dot coloring? Is that like a retro style thing?

[AlZarkovski]

Dots only on the Turtles. Perhaps layer paint bug.

[Sabacooza]

Dots only on the Turtles. Perhaps layer paint bug.I've seen the entire proof and didn't notice the dots anywhere else. That's strange.

[pferreira]

Because it technically isn't a Mirage volume.I'm sure they'll contain continuity with previous volumes.

I've seen the entire proof and didn't notice the dots anywhere else. That's strange.If you work for IDW I'd get that sorted out before the comic launches. :o

[Sabacooza]

I spoke with the colorist. It was intentional. He's trying to go for that 90s vibe and to push the depth of field.

[oldmanwinters]

I spoke with the colorist. It was intentional. He's trying to go for that 90s vibe and to push the depth of field.

Glad to hear it from an inside source!

I'm cautiously optimistic for the color quality of these reprints. Let's hope a high quality can be established and maintained for the entirety of the series' run.

[Utrommaniac]

The "dots" are halftones (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halftone).

Which really does help with the 90's design the colorist wanted.

[CyberCubed]

The cyborg on the right looks like Krang's Android body now due to the tan skin. Was that intentional?

[AlZarkovski]

IDW vs. Fan vs. Original:

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af274/alzarkovski/1_zpsyldovfge.jpg (http://s1015.photobucket.com/user/alzarkovski/media/1_zpsyldovfge.jpg.html)

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af274/alzarkovski/3_zpsnucvqk18.jpg (http://s1015.photobucket.com/user/alzarkovski/media/3_zpsnucvqk18.jpg.html)

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af274/alzarkovski/2_zpslt4kovun.jpg (http://s1015.photobucket.com/user/alzarkovski/media/2_zpslt4kovun.jpg.html)

[HotJuicyBurgers]

Both are actually pretty good. I would be happy with both I guess. If I had to pick... I guess the new one is better but the second one looks... idk... maybe more realistic if it had been released during those years?

[Powder]

Fan version:

Pros:
-Actually looks like a mid-90's coloring job
-Has a more traditional color palette for the turtles
-Its de-saturated palette is in-line with the grim tone of the series

Cons:
-Actually looks like a mid-90's coloring job
-Very bare-bones, to the extent that details get lost in it
-Fred Wolf colored robe on Splinter
-No attention paid to the lighting

Official version:

Pros:
-Lighting is acknowledged & accentuated
-Details like low opacity layering drive home the transparency of the smoke
-Cool colors for the dark, wet atmosphere of the sewer
-Texture is added where appropriate, in an unobtrusive way

Cons:
-Turtles' color palette has way too much blue in it
-Overall color palette is a bit too vibrant/saturated in contrast to the grim art style
-The aforementioned added texture could be perceived as meddling with the original art (based on this page alone, I personally like it, but the dot-pattern in a previous shot was very off-putting to me, so we'll see...)
-Cyborg hair & skin are colored as if metal

Overall I prefer the official one. It's not perfect, but it seems to be better than the Mirage re-colors I've seen. Outside of the turtles' skin color, I'd say I'm pretty happy with it.

[CyberCubed]

The official looks good to me, but man those cyborg designs look so generic now in color. Definitely looks like a mid/late 90's generic cyborgs that would fit right in with the superhero comics of the era.

[AquaParade]

I can say I prefer both color versions to the original black and white. Somewhat unusual for me. I really appreciate the depth mood a black and white color scheme can bring to some of my favorite comics.

Not the case here. I find that the colors make it much easier to follow the storytelling. Also pleasant to the eye.

[bushido]

Neat! :tcool: By the way where is from the fan color?

[Andrew NDB]

Yeah, I have to admit I like the cyborgs a lot less in color, and that's surprising (also no one's fault). I think I'd have made all of their metallics a uniform color, largely, and made the skin more sickly and Borg-like, maybe, from a coloring perspective. Emphasize laser sights in the eyes or something.

It's strange and yet refreshing to see so much blood in color in a TMNT comic... because we haven't seen that since Volume 2, and in pretty small amount (though I guess "Bodycount" counts). It's easy to miss/gloss over how much there actually was on the page back then.

[CyberCubed]

The tan skin coloring on the cyborg on the right really makes him look like an updated version of Krang's Android body from the original cartoon. I mean, it's probably just a coincidence, but I can't help but think, "Hey that kinda looks like Krang's android" when looking at that cyborg now.

[pferreira]

I really can't decide which colouring is better. They both have their problems but positives. Somehow the fan colouring looks a little more authentic for when the comic was made. The vibrant colours of the official are good yet the gritty feel of the original comic is sort of gone. I kind of wish the TMNT was coloured in the same colours First Comics did.

[AquaParade]

I think I prefer the fan version. It's easier on my eyes and feels a little more "organic" for lack of better word.

Still, I do enjoy the new colors. They work well for me and I'm excited to see more.

[BartAllen]

The fan coloring seems more appropriate for the time the series was originally released.

It's going to be weird having the original black and white issues, and then have these newer color issues.

[AquaParade]

So who is picking this up on Wednesday?

Honestly, I'm torn. I definitely want to own the conclusion is physical form, but it's hard for me to justify another physical thirty issues, with the space I have. Not much of a digital reader.

I think I'll go ahead and pick up issue #1 to show my support, then wait until either hardcovers are released or the conclusion arrives to purchase more. Who knows though, if the coloring truly blows me away, I may find myself addicted to the series in a way I didn't expect.

[Powder]

I'm holding out for a trade or something, but I'll see my way to checking out a few issues 'cause it's my favorite series.

[spookycookies]

I’m getting 3 issues from my LCS and 2 in the mail from Planet awesome.
Don’t know if my store is going to get the RI for this book but I plan on getting them all. It’s a small run so it won’t be hard to collect for.

[Zog The Magnificent]

I'll definitely pick up the whole run. I want to give support for ventures like this, in the hopes of future projects like The Forever War. Additionally, I don't have a complete original run of Vol. 3 anyways.

[bushido]

I don't think we need to make a thread for each issue so here is the preview for the first issue: https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2018/05/preview-of-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-urban-legends-1/

[Andrew NDB]

I don't think we need to make a thread for each issue

Why wouldn't we? IDW and every issue of Universe gets one. Is Image TMNT Vol. 3 not deserving of such?

[bushido]

Why wouldn't we? IDW and every issue Universe gets one. Is Image TMNT Vol. 3 not deserving of such?

It's up to you :tsmile: I mean we already know the content but if you guys want to make a thread for each issue why not.

[Nortock Diab]

I'll pick up each of the 23+3 issues.
Cover A for the first 23.
Then I'll see what they offer.

[neatoman]

Why wouldn't we? IDW and every issue of Universe gets one. Is Image TMNT Vol. 3 not deserving of such?

Because it's over 20 years old and most who were interested before have already read it years ago?

[Nortock Diab]

Because it's over 20 years old and most who were interested before have already read it years ago?

I'm not so sure about your second statement: back-issues of this run are really hard to come by and so far there is no legal way to read it.

Volume 3 became famous among the TMNT comic book fans yet has probably not been read by many.
A poll would be interesting.

[neatoman]

I'm not so sure about your second statement: back-issues of this run are really hard to come by and so far there is no legal way to read it.

Volume 3 became famous among the TMNT comic book fans yet has probably not been read by many.
A poll would be interesting.

Key word there, "Legal". The illegal way isn't hard. In fact, it's extremely easy compared to the legal way. In my experience, copyright law don't tend to stop most people.

[biganimefan]

Key word there, "Legal". The illegal way isn't hard. In fact, it's extremely easy compared to the legal way. In my experience, copyright law don't tend to stop most people.

Why would it? When something isn't "punishable by law" most people are going to see/read things in whatever way they can. Even if most of those people are otherwise usually honest.

[AquaParade]

I don't think we need to make a thread for each issue so here is the preview for the first issue: https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2018/05/preview-of-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-urban-legends-1/

I agree that we don't necessarily need it, but I'll be pleased if someone does make on. I think it'd be good to give this series as much exposure as possible.

Thanks for posting the preview, btw.

[bushido]

I'm not so sure about your second statement: back-issues of this run are really hard to come by and so far there is no legal way to read it.

Volume 3 became famous among the TMNT comic book fans yet has probably not been read by many.
A poll would be interesting.

It's true that many people will discover it with this reprints.

I agree that we don't necessarily need it, but I'll be pleased if someone does make on. I think it'd be good to give this series as much exposure as possible.

Thanks for posting the preview, btw.

So do I need to do it?

[neatoman]

Why would it? When something isn't "punishable by law" most people are going to see/read things in whatever way they can. Even if most of those people are otherwise usually honest.

I can't tell if you agree with me or not.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

The thought of waiting, month after month, for two years... to FINALLY get to the new material... :trolleye::tgrumble:

Still seems like a very odd business choice. I would think a pair of hardbacks or a few TPBs would seem like the safer option, even with IDW's reprinting goals.

I mean, they didn't do this for Mirage or Archie... although, did they reprint single issues for City at War?

[Andrew NDB]

The thought of waiting, month after month, for two years... to FINALLY get to the new material... :trolleye::tgrumble:

Still seems like a very odd business choice. I would think a pair of hardbacks or a few TPBs would seem like the safer option, even with IDW's reprinting goals.

It's certainly very unexpected. The obvious worry, of course, is that history might repeat itself and the series gets cancelled again before it even makes it to #24.

I don't see that happening, but it could happen.

[CyberCubed]

From what I remember the Mirage color classic single issues didn't sell that well, so I'm not sure why they did this again.

[oldmanwinters]

It's certainly very unexpected. The obvious worry, of course, is that history might repeat itself and the series gets cancelled again before it even makes it to #24.

I don't see that happening, but it could happen.

Man, that was the first thing I thought of when this was announced. "This book will have to sell enough for two years in order to justify the final issues!"

[Kingoji]

I was planning on just waiting for the trades... Never read this series, but it was notorious enough for me to only really be interested as a curio.

[neatoman]

Alright, I read the first issue of this. It's fine, I get the feeling that it's trying to be a bit shocking for the sake of being shocking, I'll see where it's going. The coloring is a bit bland but whatever, first offical opportunity for me to read this.

About Pimiko though... I've seen what she looked like in black and white, it was a pretty dumb design. Now that I've seen her in color, it looks even dumber. It didn't originally bother me that she wore very little, so did Psylocke and plenty other comic book characters at the time, the dumb part were mainly the studs. However, now I see there are holes in her outfit. It literally just looks she's wearing nothing but strips of red tape.

[CyberCubed]

Yeah the female outfits are pretty bad but remember this is the 90's, many female comic book characters at the time had terrible outfits. It's the 90's.

[Andrew NDB]

Yeah the female outfits are pretty bad but remember this is the 90's, many female comic book characters at the time had terrible outfits. It's the 90's.

And hell, the actual clothes people were wearing in the streets were pretty terrible in the 90s... the comic book outfits of the era can be excused.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Yeah the female outfits are pretty bad but remember this is the 90's, many female comic book characters at the time had terrible outfits. It's the 90's.

Oversexualization, brutal violence, hard noir, and metal. Oh, and spikes and belt pouches.

The 90's were freaking awesome. :tcool:

[CyberCubed]

Man, that was the first thing I thought of when this was announced. "This book will have to sell enough for two years in order to justify the final issues!"

Kinda ironic this post came just a day before TMNT Universe was canceled.

Putting out single issues of the Image comic colored in 2018, I don't know if it could sustain sales for 2 years. They really should just went with 5-issue trades of Image to begin with.

[Nortock Diab]

Do not forget the costs per issue for this book are probably way below any other book : story is written and art is done.
Thus, profit can be achieved with a lower print run I guess.

[CJStyles]

I wish they would have gone and just done a trade, but I’ll still get all the issues because I didn’t get to read the book on its initial run and finding all the original copies is very difficult. Managed to acquire 2,3,4, and 8.

I am glad it’s colored though because I found it difficult to make sense of some of the art work in black And white.

Take this how you will, but the comic book shop in my city only had one copy of the first issue available to buy.

[AquaParade]

Real nice job on the coloring. I'm not disappointed. I'm not sure whether I'll be able to stick it out until we get to the conclusion, but I did enjoy this one.

While the dialogue and bits of the script have aged in a really poor way, the panel layouts are dynamic and surprisingly effective at making the story enjoyable to follow. That along with the bright colors and the 90's nostalgia make it easy to recommend to anyone who's curious or on the fence.

EDIT: Btw - Tom, if you're around here, I'd love to hear how you got involved with being Editor on this series. What drew you to it?
I'm thankful were still getting things like this with Nickelodeon and IDW behind the wheel.

[BartAllen]

I bought this new issue this past week -- it was good. I will say the color really made those panels pop in a way the black and white panels didn't. I'm lucky enough that I was able to compare my old black-and-white issues to this modern color release, so I was able to do a panel by panel comparison.

Anyway, even though I own all of these issues, I plan to stick with this series. The Image run has a special place in my heart as it was the first run of the Turtles that I was able to buy each issue off the rack as they were being released.


While the dialogue and bits of the script have aged in a really poor way, the panel layouts are dynamic and surprisingly effective at making the story enjoyable to follow. That along with the bright colors and the 90's nostalgia make it easy to recommend to anyone who's curious or on the fence..

Yea, I have to agree. The dialogue is getting a bit long in the tooth. Still, it's nice to get the 'original' four back.

[oldmanwinters]

Yea, I have to agree. The dialogue is getting a bit long in the tooth. Still, it's nice to get the 'original' four back.

Raphael casually quoting old James Cagney movies in reference to Donatello getting shot nearly to death and Leonardo making a similar joke after Raphael gets his face blown off... really makes the characters come across as artificial video game avatars.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BjFfKmPnFzr/?hl=en

[pferreira]

Unfortunately will have to wait for the trades. :ohwell:

[Vegeta]

After reading IDW's guest starring turtles and at times stiff dialogue for so long (i still love the series) some goofy 90s cheese from this first image issue was great. More risks are taken in 1 issue than I remembered. Two years is a long long time to wait for the rest.

[CyberCubed]

Finally read this myself, the coloring oddly makes reading this series more enjoyable, which I'm surprised to say. It really feels like the old Mirage Turtles in color, which in black and white it didn't. I love how it starts off right away too, with the Turtles lair immediately invaded by random cyborgs and Splinter asks Leo if he recognizes them and he says he's never seen them before.

The dialogue has a lot of fun/cheesy lines, like Raph calling Leo, "fearless leader," Mikey saying "You shot my brudder" the impression from the first movie, and Leo saying, "My katana slices and dices...and still makes cole slaw!" when chopping up the cyborg. It's easy to forget these are lines that feel like they come out of the cartoons. :lol:

It's a well done opening issue. The scars/burns on Raph's face were properly colored too making the pain look more intense in color.

[Andrew NDB]

It's a well done opening issue. The scars/burns on Raph's face were properly colored too making the pain look more intense in color.

Yeah, I have to admit... the first time I saw that panel in color (the Raph face blast reveal) I was a little shocked. Not in a bad way. But just... damn, I guess it really was that bad, but it didn't look that bad in B&W! Hah.

[Ninjinister]

Agreed. It's pretty brutal.

[Powder]

I can't front, this floored me. It looks amazing. So long as they don't make any huge blunders with respect to how characters are supposed to be colored, this should be a fantastic ride. Does great justice to the original art.

[***First of Two Latin Kings***]

Pretty sure we have a couple of times...

We got them when they were wearing red bandanas in the inside story, but I don't remember any since then.

[AquaParade]

You can see from the first page how well the color enhances the pencils/inks. It really is a great issue, in how it draws you in from page 1 and never lets up.

[TheBlueTurtle1]

You can see from the first page how well the color enhances the pencils/inks. It really is a great issue, in how it draws you in from page 1 and never lets up.

so good!, any ideas when we can expect the trade paperback. The colours look great to me:D

[Rooish]

Wow! I got the first issue in my hands. The art is so freaking good! And the colours make it even better. I have never read the first issue of Image before (I own only random issues) and the art definitely declined for a little while after this issue before improving again. I'd like to see how some of the later, sketchier and more abstract art will look with colour.

The characterisation in this issue is, of course, ridiculous, and I've never liked the misogyny throughout the Image run, or the stupid crossovers, but I am looking forward to acquiring this series as it looks great and has cool plotlines.

[BartAllen]

Raphael casually quoting old James Cagney movies in reference to Donatello getting shot nearly to death and Leonardo making a similar joke after Raphael gets his face blown off... really makes the characters come across as artificial video game avatars.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BjFfKmPnFzr/?hl=en

Yea, the dialogue is... stilted. Personally, I can enjoy it for what it is. It's a fun callback, at least for me anyway.

[CJStyles]

The dialogue is hilariously dated. Much like I remember about dialogue in 90s comics being.

I know this is wishful thinking, but I’m curious to see if the sales do well could we get another series from the Image crew. Maybe a couple of mini series or something.

[Andrew NDB]

The dialogue is hilariously dated. Much like I remember about dialogue in 90s comics being.

I know this is wishful thinking, but I’m curious to see if the sales do well could we get another series from the Image crew. Maybe a couple of mini series or something.

If the sales are there, particularly a bit closer to ramping up to #24 - #26 -- and I haven't heard anything, nor have I asked -- I'm not sure we can rule out things simply continuing... into #27, #28, #29, etc..

There's technically a bit of room in the timeline. Vol. 3 could go on a while before it starts hitting things in Tales V2 or Vol. 4.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

If the sales are there, particularly a bit closer to ramping up to #24 - #26 -- and I haven't heard anything, nor have I asked -- I'm not sure we can rule out things simply continuing... into #27, #28, #29, etc..

There's technically a bit of room in the timeline. Vol. 3 could go on a while before it starts hitting things in Tales V2 or Vol. 4.

That'd be pretty badass.

We just gotta get through the next two years before we have any idea of how this will wrap up or continue...

[neatoman]

so good!, any ideas when we can expect the trade paperback. The colours look great to me:D

I estimate December.

It's going to be 25 or 26 issues right? That's probably like 5 trades total then.

[AquaParade]

If the sales are there, particularly a bit closer to ramping up to #24 - #26 -- and I haven't heard anything, nor have I asked -- I'm not sure we can rule out things simply continuing... into #27, #28, #29, etc..

There's technically a bit of room in the timeline. Vol. 3 could go on a while before it starts hitting things in Tales V2 or Vol. 4.

That does sound pretty reasonable, though I hadn't considered it. Love the idea. I may just have to pick up more of the books to show support. I actually believe that a continuation could be an improvement on what has come before.

I don't think there's any reason to be concerned with how it ties into Tales or Volume 4. In my mind, it's time to let volume 3 stand alone as a divergent path following volume 2. Especially if they plan on continuing the series. I think that type of freedom is worth more than the scraps of continuity that may exist between Volume 3 and its successors.
The title "Urban Legends" suggests that IDW feel the same way.

Although you're not citing any sources here, it seems you have some friends on the production side, so you may know things I don't. Obviously this is all from my perspective on things.

[Andrew NDB]

In my mind, it's time to let volume 3 stand alone as a divergent path following volume 2.

No, it's not.

I don't think there's any reason to be concerned with how it ties into Tales or Volume 4.

But that's the whole intent behind their wrapup. It always has been.

[neatoman]

No, it's not.



But that's the whole intent behind their wrapup. It always has been.

5C2rAMAmw9M

[AquaParade]

No, it's not.



But that's the whole intent behind their wrapup. It always has been.

Why should they be so desperate to it tie into the work of someone who has completely disowned it? It's awkward from a business standpoint and a storytelling standpoint.

Image building off of Mirage works, but lets not shoehorn Image it into Volume 4, which wants nothing to do with it. There is no storytelling benefit to that. There are no meaningful payoff's to volume 3 in volume 4. Those payoffs can and will happen in the new Urban Legends issues.

Assuming they want to keep the series going, the idea that we'd trade expansive storytelling and creative freedom so that we can put Volume 3 in a neat little box labeled "canon" is gross.

[CyberCubed]

All the Image series finale needs to do is show the Turtles getting healed and then it will fit into Vol. 4. What's the big deal? The only other thing I can think of is Leatherhead's whereabouts but he's always all over the place in Tales and Vol. 4 anyway.

Pimiko doesn't show up in Vol. 4 but most characters in Mirage disappear without a trace anyway.

[AquaParade]

All the Image series finale needs to do is show the Turtles getting healed and then it will fit into Vol. 4. What's the big deal? The only other thing I can think of is Leatherhead's whereabouts but he's always all over the place in Tales and Vol. 4 anyway.

Pimiko doesn't show up in Vol. 4 but most characters in Mirage disappear without a trace anyway.

Sure, but I'm talking around the possibility of them continuing the series past the conclusion.

Continuity should be used as a tool for good, not something to weigh you down. You are limited, creatively, when you have a pre-determined destination.
Can you work around this? Sure, Solo just did....I guess.
But for what? So we can come on this forum and say "actually, volume 3 IS canon", despite Peter Laird confirming that, actually, no it's not, in regards to the story he is telling.

No, it's already carved out it's own place in TMNT mythology. Let it do it's own thing with unlimited freedom, if it is to continue. Even if it's not, don't let some desperate attempt to tie into a story that ignores it weigh you down. (Now I do think I heard the creators mention their intention to clean up/heal the turtles, so that will probably happen. Not too late to change course though)

This is a comic that was known for taking chances. You never really knew what was going to happen. A lot of that would be lost when you can just go "Well, in volume 4, we know this happens, so..."
Again, it can be done, but it's not worth it.

[Andrew NDB]

Why should they be so desperate to it tie into the work of someone who has completely disowned it? It's awkward from a business standpoint and a storytelling standpoint.

Image building off of Mirage works, but lets not shoehorn Image it into Volume 4, which wants nothing to do with it. There is no storytelling benefit to that. There are no meaningful payoff's to volume 3 in volume 4. Those payoffs can and will happen in the new Urban Legends issues.

Assuming they want to keep the series going, the idea that we'd trade expansive storytelling and creative freedom so that we can put Volume 3 in a neat little box labeled "canon" is gross.

Who's saying "desperate"? Their public intent has always been to return everything "back to normal" by the conclusion so as to fit back into the Mirage box. I'm not aware that this intent has ever changed.

Now, should they give two craps about tying stuff in the conclusion into Vol. 4 plots or subplots? Of course not. I don't think they've ever picked up an issue of Vol. 4 and I don't imagine that would change, even leading up to working on their conclusion... and they don't need to. It's enough to show how the status quo is more or less restored.

[neatoman]

Who's saying "desperate"? Their public intent has always been to return everything "back to normal" by the conclusion so as to fit back into the Mirage box. I'm not aware that this intent has ever changed.

Now, should they give two craps about tying stuff in the conclusion into Vol. 4 plots or subplots? Of course not. I don't think they've ever picked up an issue of Vol. 4 and I don't imagine that would change, even leading up to working on their conclusion... and they don't need to. It's enough to show how the status quo is more or less restored.

Okay but why even bother going in that direction 20 years later? If the storyline was declared non-canon 2 years after the book was cancelled, the book that replaced it pretty much being dead, the Mirage continuity having been abandonned and IDW even going with a title that reinforces the non-canon status, what's the point of even giving it a return to the status quo ending? That might have made sense when the book was still being published and they expected to finish it before Mirage got the rights back, it's just that now you might as well give it a more interesting ending. At this point the status quo ending would just come across as a "Let's never speak of this again!" gag.

[Zog The Magnificent]

Well, the benefits of tying the story back in is that it fulfills many of the visions the characters got in volume 2, and it's overall just a really good story. Besides, Vol. 4 starts 12 years or so after this, when they're all in their 30's. Vol. 3, if they decided to continue past the original 26 issues, could easily go on for a long time, doing whatever the heck it wants, as long as when it ended it got the characters to where they were when Vol. 4 starts. Given the aforementioned time gap, it wouldn't be too restricting. Not that it matters anyways, as since the story was declared non-canon by Laird, it's up to each individual fan to take it or leave it. Plus, even if the new Vol. 3 ends up diverging, there's a perfectly good unofficial official conclusion that ties it into Vol. 4, so those of us who want to treat it as canon totally can and can treat the new ending as an alternate, and vice versa.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Andrew gave us an Image TMNT conclusion that neatly tied everything up with a bow and put all of the toys back in the box to tie into Volume 4. He did it flawlessly.

I want something new; I want this IDW Image TMNT conclusion to just go nuts, Volume 4 be damned. Keep Pimiko alive, kill Splinter, leave Raph running the Foot, Mikey gets interviewed by Oprah.

[CyberCubed]

The plan is to restore status quo. It's likely going to go back to a clean slate when it ends, and that's how Vol. 4 started. It was a timeskip a decade into the future when the Turtles were 30 years olds with a clean slate.

As I said, if Pimiko survives a Image conclusion and never shows up again? That's fine, plenty of Mirage characters only show up a few times and fade to obscurity.

[Andrew NDB]

As I said, if Pimiko survives a Image conclusion and never shows up again? That's fine, plenty of Mirage characters only show up a few times and fade to obscurity.

Yep. And killing off Pimiko and Puzorelli was my idea, not Gary's. I suspect the original intent was to not kill them off.

[AquaParade]

Who's saying "desperate"? Their public intent has always been to return everything "back to normal" by the conclusion so as to fit back into the Mirage box. I'm not aware that this intent has ever changed.

Now, should they give two craps about tying stuff in the conclusion into Vol. 4 plots or subplots? Of course not. I don't think they've ever picked up an issue of Vol. 4 and I don't imagine that would change, even leading up to working on their conclusion... and they don't need to. It's enough to show how the status quo is more or less restored.

I'm not using this to bait you into an argument, but what is it you prefer about having it tie back into Volume 4 as opposed to going its own way?

I know the creators have hinted, so far, that this, for some reason, is their intent, but I'm assuming you have your own reasons. Just curious. Maybe there's an element I'm not seeing.

[Andrew NDB]

I'm not using this to bait you into an argument, but what is it you prefer about having it tie back into Volume 4 as opposed to going its own way?

It's not about Volume 4 (which didn't even exist and wasn't a blip on the horizon when Vol. 3 ended prematurely), it's about returning the pieces to the way they found them... which was always the intent from Gary and Frank. At least, that's what they've always said. You can say, "I want them to go crazy now that they have 3 additional issues to do so!" and so do I, but that shouldn't mean, "I want them to kill April O'Neil, or Casey Jones, or otherwise something CRAZY that would fly in the face of the Mirage universe after it because SCREW Volume 4!" Because that would go against their intent from day one.

Or maybe I'm not understanding what you're talking about wanting to see them do.

[Coola Yagami]

Sure, but I'm talking around the possibility of them continuing the series past the conclusion.

Continuity should be used as a tool for good, not something to weigh you down. You are limited, creatively, when you have a pre-determined destination.
Can you work around this? Sure, Solo just did....I guess.
But for what? So we can come on this forum and say "actually, volume 3 IS canon", despite Peter Laird confirming that, actually, no it's not, in regards to the story he is telling.

No, it's already carved out it's own place in TMNT mythology. Let it do it's own thing with unlimited freedom, if it is to continue. Even if it's not, don't let some desperate attempt to tie into a story that ignores it weigh you down. (Now I do think I heard the creators mention their intention to clean up/heal the turtles, so that will probably happen. Not too late to change course though)

This is a comic that was known for taking chances. You never really knew what was going to happen. A lot of that would be lost when you can just go "Well, in volume 4, we know this happens, so..."
Again, it can be done, but it's not worth it.

That all kinda happened the moment a volume 4 was announced.

[CyberCubed]

Canon is the most important thing in life, if it's not going to be canon then I'm going to lose interest. This is not an "Elseworlds" TMNT comic.

[AquaParade]

Canon is the most important thing in life, if it's not going to be canon then I'm going to lose interest. This is not an "Elseworlds" TMNT comic.

Why? You enjoy plenty of TMNT interpretations that aren’t connected or tied into the same canon.
Whether or not it’s an “Elseworlds” depends on who you ask. The conversation has shifted more towards what it could or should be, should it continue, than what it is. If we’re trying to be technical, it most certainly is an “elseworlds” TMNT in relation to Mirage. But ya know, during its inception and actual creation, it wasn’t. There’s obviously two sides to that truth.

That all kinda happened the moment a volume 4 was announced.

What all “kind of all happened”?

[Andrew NDB]

Why? You enjoy plenty of TMNT interpretations that aren’t connected or tied into the same canon.
Whether or not it’s an “Elseworlds” depends on who you ask. The conversation has shifted more towards what it could or should be, should it continue, than what it is. If we’re trying to be technical, it most certainly is an “elseworlds” TMNT in relation to Mirage. But ya know, during its inception and actual creation, it wasn’t. There’s obviously two sides to that truth.

To me, it all come down to intent.

1. Image TMNT/"TMNT Vol. 3" was always created to be a direct continuation of Mirage TMNT Vol. 2. Always, this wasn't even ever a muddy issue. It was lauded as such in every press release from www.ninjarturtles.com, and even its own lettercol, both from Mirage and from Gary and Frank. There are editor's notes throughout the books referencing Mirage Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 issues.

2. Image TMNT/"TMNT Vol. 3" was under the full purview of Peter Laird. There are many lettercols where Gary talks about notes from Laird on this or that, every issue... Laird was fully involved in the creative process.

3. Image TMNT/"TMNT Vol. 3" in its later days when sales dipped was kept afloat by Peter Laird's own dollars.

4. When it was over, at every turn, Gary and Frank said that had they been allowed to, TMNT/"TMNT Vol. 3" would have returned the Turtles to the status quo to fit back into Mirage (which most probably correctly assume to mean... all injuries/conditions were to be reversed). That doesn't mean that all the new characters they created were to die (although I kind of killed a lot/most of them off in my thing, with their blessing), or that they were to work to precognitively anticipate future stories that they had no idea would exist in Mirage... but those were the basics.

That years later Peter Laird said in Vol. 4's lettercol he didn't feel right about massaging Vol. 3 into Vol. 4 in any visible way doesn't take away any of that intent from the beginning or end of Vol. 3. And not to be cold, but it seems to mean even less now a decade after Peter Laird sold away the right to even determine that anymore. Truth be told, Laird could have directly and easily trampled on Vol. 3 within Vol. 4... but he didn't.

[Zog The Magnificent]

Canon or not, it's a good story, and I think that's all that really matters (though I personally consider it canon, regardless of Laird's statements).

[oldmanwinters]

To me, it all come down to intent.

1. Image TMNT/"TMNT Vol. 3" was always created to be a direct continuation of Mirage TMNT Vol. 2. Always, this wasn't even ever a muddy issue. It was lauded as such in every press release from www.ninjarturtles.com, and even its own lettercol, both from Mirage and from Gary and Frank. There are editor's notes throughout the books referencing Mirage Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 issues.

2. Image TMNT/"TMNT Vol. 3" was under the full purview of Peter Laird. There are many lettercols where Gary talks about notes from Laird on this or that, every issue... Laird was fully involved in the creative process.

3. Image TMNT/"TMNT Vol. 3" in its later days when sales dipped was kept afloat by Peter Laird's own dollars.

4. When it was over, at every turn, Gary and Frank said that had they been allowed to, TMNT/"TMNT Vol. 3" would have returned the Turtles to the status quo to fit back into Mirage (which most probably correctly assume to mean... all injuries/conditions were to be reversed). That doesn't mean that all the new characters they created were to die (although I kind of killed a lot/most of them off in my thing, with their blessing), or that they were to work to precognitively anticipate future stories that they had no idea would exist in Mirage... but those were the basics.

That years later Peter Laird said in Vol. 4's lettercol he didn't feel right about massaging Vol. 3 into Vol. 4 in any visible way doesn't take away any of that intent from the beginning or end of Vol. 3. And not to be cold, but it seems to mean even less now a decade after Peter Laird sold away the right to even determine that anymore. Truth be told, Laird could have directly and easily trampled on Vol. 3 within Vol. 4... but he didn't.

I always appreciate well-reasoned appeals to authorial intent. While I confess there's a part of me that would love for the Image-era continuity to just go wild into its own thing, I find your post persuasive as to the original tone of the Image-verse.

[CyberCubed]

I seriously doubt the writers are going to go crazy with it, especially now that the franchise is managed by IDW and their scripts still have to be approved by Nickelodeon. And even if they never read Vol. 4 they're likely well aware the main cast at least is all alive and well (at least at the start, Splinter does pass away in Vol. 4 :lol: )

[DK2]

Quite pleased with the colors of TMNT: UL #1. It really makes a difference. Since it was purely B&W with no duotones/shade, it really lifts it up to enjoy the art even more. About canon, since its such a long time gap between Vol. 3 and Vol. 4, I'd like to think it counts. There's nothing that disputes it either in Vol. 4. Like others have stated Vol. 3 was the only "Mirage tone" TMNT comic at the time and it takes place literally after if not shortly after Vol. 2. I'd like to think Vol. 3 is like Tales of TMNT, a gap of untold tales in between Vol. 2 and Vol. 4. :D

[Nortock Diab]

2. Image TMNT/"TMNT Vol. 3" was under the full purview of Peter Laird. There are many lettercols where Gary talks about notes from Laird on this or that, every issue... Laird was fully involved in the creative process.

3. Image TMNT/"TMNT Vol. 3" in its later days when sales dipped was kept afloat by Peter Laird's own dollars.

I had no idea Peter Laird was that much involved in Volume 3.
Is there an interview or another source where his part in the creative process is mentioned?

Thanks!

[pferreira]

The dialogue is hilariously dated. Much like I remember about dialogue in 90s comics being.I guess I'll like it then. ;)

[clockstomper]

It's happening. It's all colored, retitled "Urban Legends" and gets 3 brand new issues to conclude.

https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-long-unfinished-image-tmnt-comic-is-finally-getting-1823171674

I'm very happy this is coming together. So will the conclusion allow the characters that might still belong to the Image universe to appear? Or will they be restricted to the reprints only? My memory is foggy but I believe a few characters who appeared were Erik Larson creations.

[CyberCubed]

They already announced all 23 issues will be reprinted. The Image characters/superheroes appear in like half the issues of the book, so there would be no way to even reprint this series in the first place if they didn't make a deal with Image.

[Powder]

He's asking if they would appear in the 3 new issues.

I don't think any of those characters are relevant by that time in the story, they were just fun fodder for in-house crossovers at the time. That said, it'd be neat if the dragon showed up in one of the 3, he's had a fair amount of history with the turtles. I wouldn't count on that happening, though.

[Andrew NDB]

I had no idea Peter Laird was that much involved in Volume 3.
Is there an interview or another source where his part in the creative process is mentioned?

Thanks!

Yep. Check out the lettercols of all of Vol. 3, particularly closer toward the end.

[Rooish]

It honestly just seems a shame to return everything to the status quo. There were lots of daring changes made and it seems kind of pointless to reverse them all.

[CyberCubed]

It honestly just seems a shame to return everything to the status quo. There were lots of daring changes made and it seems kind of pointless to reverse them all.

They were already healing by the end of the book. Raph's face was healing and Donatello was shedding more of the cyborg armor and lost the CPU A.I. as it progressed. The only thing that's a hard sell is Leo regaining the hand that got bit off, I kinda wish that never happened.

[Rooish]

They were already healing by the end of the book. Raph's face was healing and Donatello was shedding more of the cyborg armor and lost the CPU A.I. as it progressed. The only thing that's a hard sell is Leo regaining the hand that got bit off, I kinda wish that never happened.

I know that, but it seems like a cop out. Just let the storyline do its own thing. There are many different iterations of the TMNT and no reason to shove them all into the canon. The characters acted so OOC anyway at times. I'm not disagreeing that they were in fact going to restore to status quo, it just seems unnecessary to undo all the daring changes they made.

[Red Robin]

I am still stoked to see these books coming back to comic book stores.

But to be honest: I would love the idea to let Vol. 3 replace TMNT Universe as a monthly book and not just end with #26.
I know that these three books are more than we could ever ask for, and am so thankful that IDW will do these reprints plus a conclusion.
But if I had to choose I would always go for the Vol.1-4 TMNT over the rest.
They could do 100 issues of the Imageverse and I would still be around.
Just like I am now 20 years later.

[CyberCubed]

The series won't sell enough to continue with new issues from scratch. It's why it ended in the first place. And the comic book market now in 2019+ is even worse than it was in 1998-1999 when they originally planned to end it. We're lucky we're even getting 3 new issues as it is.

[AquaParade]

The series won't sell enough to continue with new issues from scratch. It's why it ended in the first place. And the comic book market now in 2019+ is even worse than it was in 1998-1999 when they originally planned to end it. We're lucky we're even getting 3 new issues as it is.

Good point. Plus, it’s more expensive to produce now that it has color.

Although, say it sells better than TMNT Universe? Hard to conjure a reason why they wouldn’t keep it going, assuming they can work out a pay rate with the creators.

[Andrew NDB]

Looking at the numbers, it looks like sales began around 16,000 in 1996 and dropped to about 5,000 by around #21 in 1999.

[CJStyles]

From what I read, it also doesn’t help there were delays and what not that ruined sells.

[pferreira]

The series won't sell enough to continue with new issues from scratch. It's why it ended in the first place. And the comic book market now in 2019+ is even worse than it was in 1998-1999 when they originally planned to end it. We're lucky we're even getting 3 new issues as it is.Not sure if this has been asked already so apologies in advance but does anyone have sales figures comparisons for the original prints of Volume 3 and the reprints we're getting now?

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Not sure if this has been asked already so apologies in advance but does anyone have sales figures comparisons for the original prints of Volume 3 and the reprints we're getting now?

A little too soon to tell, man. #1 issues always skew high. Wait a few months.

[DrSpengler]

IDW's release of The Maxx: Maxximized was the same deal as Urban Legends (recolors of decades old material released monthly) and ran about the same length of time that Urban Legends is planned to (35 issues rather than 26, but close).

Wasn't a huge seller, but IDW stuck it out and completed the run. The Color Classics for Mirage Vol. 1 weren't big sellers either, but they always completed the arcs they went for. I'm not too worried about Urban Legends getting canned early.

And in regards to Urban Legends #1, I picked my copy up last Saturday and was really impressed with the colors, especially on the page where Raph reveals his hamburger face. This looks WAY better than the Color Classics stuff, though I kind of expected it to. This run will definitely be worth double-dipping.

[CJStyles]

The colors were fantastic. With some of the black and white issues I have, I didn’t enjoy them quite as much. The color definitely accentuates the horror that happened to Raph’s Face and Donatello being shot.

[DK2]

From what I read, it also doesn’t help there were delays and what not that ruined sells.

TMNT Vol. 3 ran almost 2 years as a monthly title from Image and almost its final year went bi-monthly. It wasn't delays but more of a tactic to try to keep the title running instead. Though I think Eastman & Laird helped put money into the book to keep it afloat. Eventually Erik Larson told them it wasn't worth their efforts anymore with the poor sales numbers.

[AquaParade]

You also have to wonder if comic fans were in a strange place with TMNT at the time. Perhaps there was an element of betrayal or over-saturation from the comic book community. The 90's were bringing in fresh and edgy characters aimed at teenagers. Although this book adapted to that path, maybe it was too late in the eyes of that audience. The turtles were on lunchboxes, backpacks, and probably even diapers. Was the franchise entering it's first "downtime" era?

I was too young and had no community or resource to track this sort of thing, so I'm just having fun speculating.

[CyberCubed]

Yeah, by the mid/late 90's the original TMNT fad was pretty much dead and all the original kid fans were early teenagers. Likewise most of the adult Mirage fans probably lost interest by then.

I was only like 12 when Image came out, so I got whatever issues I could because my TMNT interest never died. Same reason Next Mutation bombed at the time because TMNT was "uncool" back then.

It made sense to wait till the early 2000's to revive TMNT again with Volume 4 and the 2k3 series.

[BartAllen]

I think the numbers began to fall because they kept mutilating the turtles. I remember collecting the book as it was being released and people at my shop would talk about how the book didn't feel like a real TMNT book. I think the term 'gore porn' was thrown around.

I didn't agree with that sentiment, but I do remember hearing it.

I always liked the Image series. I remember loving the two issues where the Dragon appeared.

[Andrew NDB]

I think the numbers began to fall because they kept mutilating the turtles. I remember collecting the book as it was being released and people at my shop would talk about how the book didn't feel like a real TMNT book. I think the term 'gore porn' was thrown around.

I never minded it on the outset. The doubling down with Leo losing a hand late into things was kind of a... stretching point, though. Like, "Really, guys? Really? You're going to do this now, after all this?"

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

I never minded it on the outset. The doubling down with Leo losing a hand late into things was kind of a... stretching point, though. Like, "Really, guys? Really? You're going to do this now, after all this?"

I think, in the letter column, they explained that Leo losing his hand was the first step towards Don getting decyborgized...

But yeah, given that the writing may have already been on the wall...

[AquaParade]

I never minded it on the outset. The doubling down with Leo losing a hand late into things was kind of a... stretching point, though. Like, "Really, guys? Really? You're going to do this now, after all this?"

When you say "after all this?", do you mean after backlash they received for going overboard with mutilations, or that narratively it felt like things were supposed to be wrapping up?

Or maybe you mean neither of those things.

Personally, I really liked the lost limbs, and other visual changes to the characters (Other than Donatello - cool concept, but the design was very abrasive, and, frankly, ugly) .
I know to a lot of people, that sort of thing comes off as "shock value" or a shallow attempt to be edgy, but that's sort of what I like about this comic - you never really knew what to expect.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

When you say "after all this?", do you mean after backlash they received for going overboard with mutilations, or that narratively it felt like things were supposed to be wrapping up?

Or maybe you mean neither of those things.

Personally, I really liked the lost limbs, and other visual changes to the characters (Other than Donatello - cool concept, but the design was very abrasive, and, frankly, ugly) .
I know to a lot of people, that sort of thing comes off as "shock value" or a shallow attempt to be edgy, but that's sort of what I like about this comic - you never really knew what to expect.

I loved it all. I'll take Volume 3 mutilations over Volume 4 mutilations any day.

Cyborg Donatello > Micro Donatello
Two Face Raphael > Gamera Raphael

[pferreira]

A little too soon to tell, man. #1 issues always skew high. Wait a few months.Okay thanks. :)

I was too young and had no community or resource to track this sort of thing, so I'm just having fun speculating.Well if you look back we had Volume 3 on sale which was very different in tone to the kids friendly FW cartoon series and around the same time you had The Next Mutation which was also completely different to Volume 3. TMNT found itself in a crisis as the now teenage TMNT fans found TNM too juvenile while they found Volume 3 far too off what they were used to.

Saban was also trying to bring in new TMNT fans with TNM but it didn't work as the popularity of the TMNT was fading. To reiterate the only people who would want to tune into the TNM were fans who had grown up with Volume 1 and the FW series but the show was just too childish to watch. Just speaking from my own experience growing up.

[bushido]

Preview for issue 002. https://13thdimension.com/exclusive-preview-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-urban-legends-2/

[Sabacooza]

I got my issue early. I'm enjoying seeing these in color.

[neatoman]

Does "Weasel" ever come back or did Gary Carlson just hate Wolverine? Because outside of establishing that Komodo was looking for some hybrid, that seemed pretty pointless.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Does "Weasel" ever come back or did Gary Carlson just hate Wolverine? Because outside of establishing that Komodo was looking for some hybrid, that seemed pretty pointless.

It's just a fun cameo, man. :tlol:

[neatoman]

It's just a fun cameo, man. :tlol:

Got it, Carlson's a Wolvie hater. ;)

[CJStyles]

Ah, the good old 90s Image lets rip off one of the big twos characters because reasons. Even for a gag I felt it was pretty pointless. In some parts I enjoy the banter between the turtles. I thought it was silly that Leo thought Splinter was talking to him during his attempt to get to the astral plane. And it seemed weird that they entered into prose when Mako is supposed to speak for the first time.

[CyberCubed]

Even though this issue came out in 1997, it's so funny to see so many characters share names with other TMNT characters. One of Pimiko's soldiers is named, "Angel" and when she said it I immediately thought of IDW Angel. :lol:

Likewise, "Dragon Lord" is both the name of this character, the Dragon Lord from Next Mutation, and the eventual Dragon Lord in the Patheon who Kitsune is trying to ressurect Shredder as.

We'll see other familiar aspects in the next few issues, which is funny because the Image series came out 20+ years ago.

[AquaParade]

Ah, the good old 90s Image lets rip off one of the big twos characters because reasons. Even for a gag I felt it was pretty pointless. In some parts I enjoy the banter between the turtles. I thought it was silly that Leo thought Splinter was talking to him during his attempt to get to the astral plane. And it seemed weird that they entered into prose when Mako is supposed to speak for the first time.

Yeah, that prose sure was strange.
Is this series beautiful in color or what though? Tbh, I never played thought of the Image TMNT as being a milestone for the franchise before, but seeing it in color, is really up there with some of the other best looking tmnt comics.

[oldmanwinters]

Likewise, "Dragon Lord" is both the name of this character, the Dragon Lord from Next Mutation, and the eventual Dragon Lord in the Patheon who Kitsune is trying to ressurect Shredder as.


Huh. I never thought about the possibility of IDW's fabled "Dragon Lord" of the Pantheon being a reference to the Next Mutation character who replaced Shredder (but still kinda dressed like him). I wouldn't think that show would be much of an influence on the current IDW team, but has anybody ever asked Bobby the question?

[Ninjinister]

Has he actually been called Dragon Lord in the IDW? I thought it was just "Dragon"/"The Dragon".

[oldmanwinters]

Has he actually been called Dragon Lord in the IDW? I thought it was just "Dragon"/"The Dragon".

I was thinking that too. Seems like if I had ever read it as "Dragon Lord," it would have set off the red flags in my fandom memory bank.

[neatoman]

The hell, so we have two characters named named "Dragon Lord"? One in TNM and one in Image? Okay then...

Whatever, knowing the tastes of Tom Waltz, the IDW Dragon is probably the Shredder Demon. Especially considering how Shredder was groomed to be his host body. Or maybe it turns out to be Drako? Who knows?

[CyberCubed]

Well, "Dragon Lord" is a fairly common/generic name, I can see why it's overused for completely different characters.

One thing I like about Image is how fast paced it is, it doesn't take years and years for plotlines to continue. The cyborgs are already pretty much killed off and this arc continues with Pimiko and Dragon Lord.

[oldmanwinters]

Well, "Dragon Lord" is a fairly common/generic name, I can see why it's overused for completely different characters.

One thing I like about Image is how fast paced it is, it doesn't take years and years for plotlines to continue. The cyborgs are already pretty much killed off and this arc continues with Pimiko and Dragon Lord.

Yeah, it did move at a breakneck pace... especially for Donatello. :tlol:

[The Fifth Turtle]

Off topic and maybe mentioned before but, will IDW collect these in TPBs every handful of issues or so (like they do with their current on going titles)? Or will they wait till everything is released?

[CJStyles]

Yeah, that prose sure was strange.
Is this series beautiful in color or what though? Tbh, I never played thought of the Image TMNT as being a milestone for the franchise before, but seeing it in color, is really up there with some of the other best looking tmnt comics.

The colors have been awesome. It honestly makes reading the image run better to me.

[CyberCubed]

Off topic and maybe mentioned before but, will IDW collect these in TPBs every handful of issues or so (like they do with their current on going titles)? Or will they wait till everything is released?

Who knows, but after the first 5 issues are done they can collect them shortly after since it's one arc.

My guess for trades is something like:

1-5
6-10
11-14
15-18
19-23

5 trades will likely be how this run is collected.

[neatoman]

Who knows, but after the first 5 issues are done they can collect them shortly after since it's one arc.

My guess for trades is something like:

1-5
6-10
11-14
15-18
19-23

5 trades will likely be how this run is collected.

Reminder that they're adding two issues. so it should probably look like this:

1-5
6-10
11-15
16-20
21-25

[CyberCubed]

They're adding 3 issues, and the 3 new issues will probably come in their own collection.

[Nortock Diab]

Do we know if the additional page from the Image TPB will be included in this new release?

[Red Robin]

Do we know if the additional page from the Image TPB will be included in this new release?

Would be my question aswell. Anything else would be disappointing.

[Andrew NDB]

We have Warlord Go-Komodo AKA "The Dragonlord" from Image and we have "Dragon Lord" from NT:TNM. Both were created almost simultaneously and coincidentally.

[Joey Kamikaze]

Even though this issue came out in 1997, it's so funny to see so many characters share names with other TMNT characters. One of Pimiko's soldiers is named, "Angel" and when she said it I immediately thought of IDW Angel. :lol:

Is Angel in 2k3 and IDW not considered the analogue of Angel in Image? I thought she was different, but still considered the "same" character, in a sense. Or is the name just the same?

Re: the books:

I've never gotten to read volume 3 before, so this is mostly new to me. The first issue was interesting, but so in media res that it was hard to find my feet in the story. I enjoyed this second issue more because it felt like it leaned into the characters better and let me wrap my head around the new plotlines.

[CyberCubed]

Is Angel in 2k3 and IDW not considered the analogue of Angel in Image? I thought she was different, but still considered the "same" character, in a sense. Or is the name just the same?.

Um, no? The 4kids writers created Angel in 2003, I'm sure they had no clue there was a random character in Image named Angel.

Angel is a pretty common name for hispanic girls, which is what Angel is.

[Red Robin]

I just went through Urban Legends #2 and the bonus page was not included.
It is the page with Splinter in jail isn't it?

Please correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't the page included between #2 and #3 in the TPB? So maybe we still have a chance to get the page when #3 is released. At least that's my hope.

[CyberCubed]

Most likely the bonus page won't be included, they likely just have the single issues to go on, not the obscure TPB from 20+ years ago.

[wpugh2424]

Is body count coming out as a set or individuals?

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Is body count coming out as a set or individuals?

Actually, IDW is reprinting it separately, as a trade... don't remember if it's hardback or paperback only.

[wpugh2424]

Thanks
I think I saw they were offering it as a hardback but didn't know if that was the only way they were releasing it

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Thanks
I think I saw they were offering it as a hardback but didn't know if that was the only way they were releasing it

IDW is not reprinting it in single issues, unlike Volume 3.

[CyberCubed]

Yep, I just wish they'd continue the Tales trades, they were up to around issue 25 before the hiatus.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Yep, I just wish they'd continue the Tales trades, they were up to around issue 25 before the hiatus.

Eh. I'm still irritated with how they reprint Tales... I much preferred the Mirage version, collecting them by storyline or plot (or creator) rather than just publication order.

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51VqJVdQAyL._SX321_BO1,204,203,200_.jpghttps://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41Nfk0-Om4L._SX234_BO1,204,203,200_.jpghttps://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Rh2Nj0ZzL._SX229_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51VhYxjyGIL._SX323_BO1,204,203,200_.jpghttps://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51lglZ0D4PL._SX283_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

[CyberCubed]

Those were ok, but I like them in publishing order. I mean Tales jumped all over the Mirage timeline anyway so it's not like there's any "right" way to read them.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Those were ok, but I like them in publishing order. I mean Tales jumped all over the Mirage timeline anyway so it's not like there's any "right" way to read them.

Eh. If you wanted to read the Shark Shredder story by IDW's order, you gotta buy THREE trades. Mirage's order, one trade. I like that better... especially considering how I have no desire to ever reread about 1/3 to 1/2 of the Tales.

[bushido]

Preview for issue 003: http://www.comiclist.com/index.php/news/comiclist-previews-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-urban-legends-3

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Preview for issue 003: http://www.comiclist.com/index.php/news/comiclist-previews-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-urban-legends-3

I'm still really in love with the colors for this.

Best reprint coloring by IDW I've ever seen. Not quite enough to get me to give up B&W as my preference, but still damn pretty...

[AquaParade]

Wouldn't it be fun to see Frank Fosco draw an issue of the IDW series? Sure, there's no need, if you're essentially getting your fill from the Image work, but it's comics, so why not?

I'd like to see what he'd do with Old Hob, a toned down version of the turtles, Shredder, etc

Regarding the preview for issue 3 - Wow, I continue to be impressed by how great this series looks in color. I'm a bit of a broken record, but I am surprised to say I find the art working much better in color. I'm a huge fan of black and white, but the texture and sense of place that the colors are bringing to this series are making for a much atmospheric reading experience, if that makes sense. Leo on the astral plane is quite gorgeous looking, and easy on the eyes.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Wouldn't it be fun to see Frank Fosco draw an issue of the IDW series? Sure, there's no need, if you're essentially getting your fill from the Image work, but it's comics, so why not?

I'd like to see what he'd do with Old Hob, a toned down version of the turtles, Shredder, etc

I'd be down for that. He's probably my favorite TMNT artist. Loved his stuff.

[CyberCubed]

The Image series is also easier to follow in color.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

The Image series is also easier to follow in color.

Dude. One of them is in a hockey mask or eye-patch, one of them is a cyborg, and the other two have swords and 'chucks.

Nobody's having a problem telling Turtles apart in Image Volume 3. Mirage Volume 1 and 2, I'll give you that. But not Image Volume 3. :trolleye:

[CyberCubed]

I didn't mean the Turtles, I meant the art itself or the layouts. You can see what's going on better.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

I didn't mean the Turtles, I meant the art itself or the layouts. You can see what's going on better.

Ah, okay. Yeah, seeing Donnie in red blood does sell the horror of the situation a LOT better!

[AquaParade]

Yeah, I'd have to go back to confirm my thoughts, but I remember some panels having large spaces of white, in which sometimes shapes and objects would appear to blend together and make it hard for the eye to follow.

The color highlights how dynamic some of these layouts are.

[Casey]

I'm still really in love with the colors for this.

Best reprint coloring by IDW I've ever seen. Not quite enough to get me to give up B&W as my preference, but still damn pretty...

I honestly couldn’t agree more. Some of them have been horrible and unnecessary. This adds to the Image black and white so much and makes it way easier to follow the art and almost horrific.

[neatoman]

Preview for issue 003: http://www.comiclist.com/index.php/news/comiclist-previews-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-urban-legends-3

"Rattus Norvegicus"

Wouldn't Splinter more likely be Rattus Tanezumi?

Edit:
Alright, so now I've actually read the third issue. Not gonna lie, I'm kind of starting to see why this series didn't sell back in the day. The story so far amounts to this:

"Guy wants to take over Japan because his ancestors ruled Japan. He sends out cyborgs and ninja women to kidnap Splinter. Raph is mutilated and Don breaks his back. Evil Guy has an assload of mutants, aliens, cyborgs and other weirdness in his secret lab. Splinter is believed to be the useful test subject. Turns out Evil Guy wants to do the research so he can transform into a Dragon through mutagen. And now Donnie is a skeleton."

For a TMNT story that you're meant to take seriously, this is pretty dumb. In addition to this, I also know that Donnie becomes one of the cyborgs and Splinter becomes a bat. Maybe it'll make sense but so far I just find this series to be bizarre. And i'm not angry or perplexed at this version, certainly not when trash like TNM or OotS is out there. Archie TMNT is actually noticeably worse than this, it's not that bad. At least it tries to have decent pacing and artwork, I just don't think it's very appealing in general.

At least the part about Splinter kind of being a dirty old man was amusing.

[CyberCubed]

The first arc is 5 issues and it hits the ground running, honestly aside from Raph possibly being scarred and wondering if Don dies (spoiler: he doesn't, he becomes a cyborg for a while), the plotlines in Image are par the course for TMNT at the time. It's not like robots, mutants, aliens, cyborgs are anything out of the usual for TMNT, every series has them.

After this the Image series focuses on a more urban gang/mobster story with issues 6-8. But we still have these opening 5 issues to go.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

For a TMNT story that you're meant to take seriously, this is pretty dumb. In addition to this, I also know that Donnie becomes one of the cyborgs and Splinter becomes a bat. Maybe it'll make sense but so far I just find this series to be bizarre. And i'm not angry or perplexed at this version, certainly not when trash like TNM or OotS is out there. Archie TMNT is actually noticeably worse than this, it's not that bad. At least it tries to have decent pacing and artwork, I just don't think it's very appealing in general.

At least the part about Splinter kind of being a dirty old man was amusing.

It is unabashedly 90's. Look no further than the ridiculous--dare I say cheeky?--design for Pimiko.

But, if you stick with it, you get some incredible character development from this series. Casey and April being a family with Shadow; Raphael really growing past the one-note angry Wolverine ripoff; Michelangelo being more than the party dude; the Foot Clan continuing to evolve past Oroku Saki.

Also, dem colors. I'm a full believer now. It makes the women look more ridiculous, but Mako drooling with a mouthful of teeth or Donatello drenched in blood... or a blood-drenched empty turtle shell with a skeleton...

Yeah. This series really needed to be colorized. AND IT IS COLORED SO WELL!!!

Are we sure IDW is reprinting this, not some other publisher? 'Cause these colors are just trippin' balls fantastic. :tgrin: :tlove:

[Ninjinister]

My thought is either two different people were responsible for tapping the colorists between their Mirage reprints and these, or that person took heed of the criticism from the previous attempts.

I mean, I can't even say that the color derps before were even solely the fault of the colorists not knowing the material, since they actually recolored already-colored images, including covers, with the "wrong" colors. It had to be a person above them who signed off on those schemes.

[neatoman]

Greg Guzowski is the colorist for this one. Digikore Design Limited and Tom Smith's Scorpion Studios made the previous colorizations, I don't know about TSSS but DDL is located in India. That's right, they actually outsourced the coloring to India...

[oldmanwinters]

Digikore Design Limited and Tom Smith's Scorpion Studios made the previous colorizations, I don't know about TSSS but DDL is located in India. That's right, they actually outsourced the coloring to India...

That explains quite a bit about those Mirage Color "Classics."

[Andrew NDB]

Goodness. Are things that bad that we need to outsource comic book coloring to India? Joe Schmoe who colors really good and lives in Bronson, Iowa is going to charge too much money?

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Goodness. Are things that bad that we need to outsource comic book coloring to India? Joe Schmoe who colors really good and lives in Bronson, Iowa is going to charge too much money?

As someone completely ignorant of this task, how hard can coloring be?

Mirage is done in black and white. I mean, kids buy coloring books all the lines. Keep a consistent green for the Turtles' skin, stay inside the lines...

Hell, you don't even have to worry about coloring the wrong color bandanna. IT'S MIRAGE.

[neatoman]

Coloring is like any other artistic skill, simple at the core but very difficult to become good at. Ringo Starr and Leonardo Da Vinci are both able to craft images, one is just clearly better than the other.

https://www.leonardoda-vinci.org/thumbnail/113000/113732/mini_large/Mona-Lisa-Or-La-Gioconda.jpg?ts=1459229076 http://www.ringostarrart.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/whot.jpg

As for why they hired anonymous Indians to color the books? I don't really know, ask Bobby if you really want to know.

My guess is that because they had roughly 2500 pages they wanted colored for fairly rapid publication, it was kind of a big load for for some singular freelancer. Then the option is between hiring multiple people individually or outsource it to a firm, the latter option being cheaper.

I don't know how the budget would actually balance out, it's just my best guess.

[Andrew NDB]

As for why they hired anonymous Indians to color the books? I don't really know, ask Bobby if you really want to know.

He probably has no clue and has nothing to do with that.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Coloring is like any other artistic skill, simple at the core but very difficult to become good at. Ringo Starr and Leonardo Da Vinci are both able to craft images, one is just clearly better than the other.

Mona Lisa wasn't colored, bro, it was PAINTED. Huge difference.

[neatoman]

Mona Lisa wasn't colored, bro, it was PAINTED. Huge difference.

It's just an example of artistic skill level. I contrasted Da Vinci's high skill level to Ringo's low skill level.

Maybe I would make my point clearer if I posted comic book coloring instead.

Here's professional Alejandro Sanchez:
http://11oclockcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/20-2.jpg?gid=37

Here's the relative amateur Humon:
https://satwcomic.com/art/excuses-excuses.png

And here's complete amateur Chris Chandler:
https://sonichu.com/w/images/d/d9/Sonichu_15_cover.jpg

I think these examples speak for themselves.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

It's just an example of artistic skill level. I contrasted Da Vinci's high skill level to Ringo's low skill level.

Maybe I would make my point clearer if I posted comic book coloring instead.

Here's professional Alejandro Sanchez:
http://11oclockcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/20-2.jpg?gid=37

Here's the relative amateur Humon:
https://satwcomic.com/art/excuses-excuses.png

And here's complete amateur Chris Chandler:
https://sonichu.com/w/images/d/d9/Sonichu_15_cover.jpg

I think these examples speak for themselves.

I completely disagree.

The differing quality of the ART is self-evident, but comparing the first example to the second isn't really fair. An overuse of colors on the webcomic would be too much.

Now, if you had examples of a professional colorist's page from a DC or Marvel book, compared to an amateur colorist's page from the same DC or Marvel book...

THEN I think we'd be seeing eye to eye. But I'm still unconvinced, because your examples just aren't working for me.

[neatoman]

I completely disagree.

The differing quality of the ART is self-evident, but comparing the first example to the second isn't really fair. An overuse of colors on the webcomic would be too much.

Now, if you had examples of a professional colorist's page from a DC or Marvel book, compared to an amateur colorist's page from the same DC or Marvel book...

THEN I think we'd be seeing eye to eye. But I'm still unconvinced, because your examples just aren't working for me.

That's quite the difficult criteria to find examples of. I might be able to find different colorings for the same indy book or manga though.

[Powder]

I'd have been happy to color Mirage... :tgrin:

https://orig00.deviantart.net/849b/f/2015/229/2/b/lead_shells_by_powderakacaseyjones-d961wfj.png

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

That's quite the difficult criteria to find examples of. I might be able to find different colorings for the same indy book or manga though.

That'd work. Just something where the art style, the pencils and inks, are identical (or close enough).

[Ninjinister]

As for why they hired anonymous Indians to color the books? I don't really know, ask Bobby if you really want to know.


I think Bobby's said several times that he has nothing to do with the reprints. Correct me if I'm wrong.


And here's complete nutcase Chris Chandler:


Fixed.

[neatoman]

I think Bobby's said several times that he has nothing to do with the reprints. Correct me if I'm wrong.


Yeah but it's the best shot at geting an answer.

As for Chris Chan, I don't know what to make of it. I don't know if I should feel sorry for, be disgusted or laugh at this trainwreck of a human being. "Amateur" was about as netural of a description I could come up with. "Delusional hack" might also work.

[CyberCubed]

Just finished the colored issue, I remember in the letters section of the original so many readers were actually scared the writers were going to kill off Donatello. Like legitimately, even though Don is part of the main 4 TMNT. Keep in mind this was 1997 when there was very little internet and most TMNT fans were becoming teenagers hot off the heels of the original fad dying down a few years before.

Also interesting to see Raph make a joke about Pimiko possibly being a lesbian, it worked well in 1997 but it still sort of fits now, especially with her all-female minions and Pimiko saying, "I choose my own partners" now that the word "partner" has a new meaning than what it did 20 years ago.

As a kid I remember wondering if that shark creature was Armaggon. But no he is some guy named Mako, apparently from the Image universe.

[Xav]

I mean, I can't even say that the color derps before were even solely the fault of the colorists not knowing the material, since they actually recolored already-colored images, including covers, with the "wrong" colors.Why are they even recoloring already-colored images in the first place? Do they just not want to pay the original colorists?

[Ninjinister]

Why are they even recoloring already-colored images in the first place? Do they just not want to pay the original colorists?

I 'unno but what it ends up with is

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/tmnt/images/8/83/Colorclassics11.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20180417021706

[CyberCubed]

really glad the Ultimate Collections in black and white exists, imagine if those colored versions of the Vol. 1 major issues were only in color from IDW?

[pferreira]

Those were ok, but I like them in publishing order. I mean Tales jumped all over the Mirage timeline anyway so it's not like there's any "right" way to read them.I would be happy if we just got the reprints with main story and guest stories together.

I think these examples speak for themselves.I think Chris Chandler's work show's promise. :D

[AquaParade]

really glad the Ultimate Collections in black and white exists, imagine if those colored versions of the Vol. 1 major issues were only in color from IDW?

Definitely. But what I'd really like to see is the old Mirage-colored issues published into a new hardcover. I love the way that looks.

[pferreira]

Definitely. But what I'd really like to see is the old Mirage-colored issues published into a new hardcover. I love the way that looks.What about The Works?

[AquaParade]

What about The Works?

Maybe I could have been more clear in my wording.

What I mean is, I'd like to see the original Mirage issues collected, with the original colors done by my Mirage Studios, collected into a hardcover.

The coloring in The Works collection is done by a different studio.

[pferreira]

What I mean is, I'd like to see the original Mirage issues collected, with the original colors done by my Mirage Studios, collected into a hardcover.

The coloring in The Works collection is done by a different studio.You mean First Comics?

[bushido]

Preview for issue 004: http://www.comiclist.com/index.php/news/comiclist-previews-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-urban-legends-4

[AquaParade]

Thanks for sharing, Bushido.

See, something isn't quite as striking about this preview compared to the previous ones. I can't really pinpoint whether that's due to the original pencils/inks or what. Still, it looks great, but those previous issues really shine.

I wonder if it's just the sample size of pages. Perhaps other pages in the issue will pop more.

[neatoman]

Well, now I've read issue 4...

... I can't really say I expected Dragon Lord to transform into non-anthropomorphic Komodo. I mean, I suspected that he would transform into Komodo but I thought it would happen with mutagen and that he'd be the standard humanoid mutant, not without and into a regular Komodo.

[bushido]

Preview for issue 005: https://www.newsarama.com/41654-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-urban-legends-5-preview.html

[AquaParade]

Wow.

That looks fantastic. Really hope we get this in an oversized hardcover.

[neatoman]

That was... Was that intentionally funny?

"Drink the tea, I totally haven't poisoned it."
"Don't you want me dead?"
"Yes but I totally haven't poisoned the tea."
"OK then... Gah, you lied!"
"No I didn't, I just roofied you!"

[AquaParade]

That was... Was that intentionally funny?

"Drink the tea, I totally haven't poisoned it."
"Don't you want me dead?"
"Yes but I totally haven't poisoned the tea."
"OK then... Gah, you lied!"
"No I didn't, I just roofied you!"

The writing is pretty silly, I agree. Like many 90’s Image comics, the art is the main attraction, for me.

[Ninjinister]

So clearly I cannot choose the tea in front of me.

[wpugh2424]

So clearly I cannot choose the tea in front of me.

PB
Haha love it !!!

Are they definitively going to finish this run

[AquaParade]

PB
Haha love it !!!

Are they definitively going to finish this run

Sales aren’t too great but it should be one of their cheaper comics to produce. Just a guess.

[wpugh2424]

Don't know why sales aren't good
It's finally in color and it's a great story.And it means I don't gotta shell out for the expensive ones I am missing from original run

[AquaParade]

Don't know why sales aren't good
It's finally in color and it's a great story.And it means I don't gotta shell out for the expensive ones I am missing from original run

Yeah, it’s really a fresh take on the TMNT and a lot of fun. Was hoping sales would be higher to show a desire for adult tmnt content. I suspect a lot of people aren’t really aware of it.

[Ninjinister]

I'm reading through some of my original Image issues I found and it's funny to see some names I recognize in the letters section. In just this one there's Rosemary Reeve, Michele Ivey, and "Andy" Modeen. Even at the age of 15 he was "damning" the cartoon.

[Rooish]

Yeah, it’s really a fresh take on the TMNT and a lot of fun. Was hoping sales would be higher to show a desire for adult tmnt content. I suspect a lot of people aren’t really aware of it.

It’s pulpy but surprisingly good. And the art is fantastic. The new covers rock. The crossovers that show up later are lame but everything else is great. I like it almost as much as the IDW series, more in some ways as it’s willing to go darker.

[Andrew NDB]

and "Andy" Modeen. Even at the age of 15 he was "damning" the cartoon.

Somebody had to do it.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Somebody had to do it.

Damn straight.

[miru]

Once they finish this, could they look into tying up Obligado and Gang Wars? It doesn’t seem like Laird will ever finish them.

[member_removed]

Don't know why sales aren't good
It's finally in color and it's a great story.And it means I don't gotta shell out for the expensive ones I am missing from original run

I'm waiting for the collected trades myself.

[Andrew NDB]

Once they finish this, could they look into tying up Obligado

That's already being tied up in "Origin." It gets one final 6 page story, right at the beginning, and completes the loop. Murphy gave it the thumbs up.

[miru]

That's already being tied up in "Origin." It gets one final 6 page story, right at the beginning, and completes the loop. Murphy gave it the thumbs up.


Thank you. Maybe one day the Gang Wars will also be finished...

[Andrew NDB]

Thank you. Maybe one day the Gang Wars will also be finished...

I'd imagine that'd be connected to how well Tales of the TMNT Vol. 2 TPB sales end up, as well as Tristan's interest. I imagine he'd jump at it, the talks we've had. If it happened, though, I wish it would come out at Mirage under Laird's 18 comics a year deal... though that's probably not realistic.

[miru]

I'd imagine that'd be connected to how well Tales of the TMNT Vol. 2 TPB sales end up, as well as Tristan's interest. I imagine he'd jump at it, the talks we've had. If it happened, though, I wish it would come out at Mirage under Laird's 18 comics a year deal... though that's probably not realistic.

Cool! Now we just have to figure out what other plots Laird has no plans of finishing...

April’s sisters in the Kirby dimension? The Foot Clan massacre by that Aztec dude? April as Nobody? Those cat folk?

On-topic, I think i’ll pick up at least one to get a taste of Image.

[CyberCubed]

Finally caught up on issue 5 colored. Man, this series is far more enjoyable in color for some reason, I'm not sure what it is.

I really enjoyed this opener. Pimiko is Shredder's daughter (which would wind up being Karai in every future incarnation, but Pimiko started this), and we get a nice story arc about a Dragon Lord, a Monitor lizard mutant, and of course Don becoming a cyborg.

I always thought Splinter becoming Man-bat was a bit ridiculous, but it was an easy way to keep Splinter out of the story for awhile and have the Turtles figure things out on their own.

[bushido]

Preview for issue 006: http://www.adventuresinpoortaste.com/2018/10/19/exclusive-idw-preview-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-urban-legends-6/

[neatoman]

Alright, even though issue 6 is a bit dull, the part where Shadow tricked Mikey so she could play video games was amusing.

[Ninjinister]

It feels like forever since the last one.

[CyberCubed]

This was a nice aftermath and transition issue. We see Donnie still come to terms with being a cyborg and seeing what he can do, the computer CPU can still take over his body, and the reintroduction of Casey/April/Shadow. Interesting enough the way it's colored makes it look like Raph's injury isn't so bad, it seems like it's healing already.

Never understood why people were so turned off about Don being a cyborg, it was clearly a series long arc and they were going to have him back to normal by the conclusion anyway. I think it was a nice change.

[bushido]

Better late than never. Preview for issue 007: https://previewsworld.com/Catalog/SEP180683?Prevue=1

[neatoman]

So how is it gonna go for this? It's only 6 issues in and it's already selling very poorly. I realise that this being a series of reprints might cushion the sales data a bit but still, if this is concluded it won't happen until a year and a half from now. What are the sales going to look like then?

[CyberCubed]

They already announced the first trade that collects the first 13 issues for August 2019. So they're obviously going to continue putting out the single issues till then.

[pferreira]

They already announced the first trade that collects the first 13 issues for August 2019. So they're obviously going to continue putting out the single issues till then.Wow, that's a bit of a wait. Still at least they're being collected.

[CyberCubed]

Issue 7 is out, the coloring is pretty good. Story wise I love how mysterious the Foot Council is here and the uneasy truce with the Turtles. Image really was Mirage Volume 3, I love how all the plot points from City at War and Volume 2 continue directly into this.

[bushido]

It's tuesday. Here is the preview for issue 008: http://www.comiclist.com/index.php/news/comiclist-previews-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-urban-legends-8

[frank_one]

Some of the pages look a bit rough in this one.

[bushido]

Preview for issue 009: https://13thdimension.com/sneak-peek-tmnt-urban-legends-9/

[CyberCubed]

Ah, the issue where, "not Batman" appears in to fight Man-bat Splinter. They knew what they were doing.

[Ninjinister]

Ah, the issue where, "not Batman" appears in to fight Man-bat Splinter. They knew what they were doing.

That's the entire point of the book where the character originated ("Big Bang Comics")

[bushido]

Preview for issue 010: https://13thdimension.com/sneak-peek-tmnt-urban-legends-10/

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Preview for issue 010 : https://13thdimension.com/sneak-peek-tmnt-urban-legends-10/

Ah yes, the issue where Raph gets drunk at a strip club and Mikey does his hardest to get laid with Horridus.

Good, family-friendly Ninja Turtles at its finest. :tlol:

[CyberCubed]

Read the last few issues, honestly the crossover with the Image superheroes is kinda my least favorite part of this run. Granted I don't read Savage Dragon so I don't know about him outside the crossovers, but these just kinda feel like Turtles guest starring in another book. Thankfully issue #13 is when the Raph/Foot Clan/New Shredder arc starts so it gets really good from there till the end.

[Galactus]

I don't really mind the crossover with the Dragon so much, while I'm not a follower of the character it makes sense for the turtles to crossover with one of Image's top characters who they have crossed over with before and share some creative staff. It was a innocent enough diversion and from what I've read it was done to increase sales by getting fans of Erik Larsen's Savage Dragon series to but TMNT so I can't fault them there.

It's the crossover with Vanguard that bothers me. One of Larsen's defunct characters so I'm not sure how that was going to increase sales and the whole thing was done to resolve a dangling plot line in the cancelled Vanguard book.

That too might have been an innocent enough diversion but since it was an A/B plot with the turtles helping Vanguard hunt Deathwatch and the far more interesting Raph and the Foot story one got the short end of the stick and it was the one TMNT fans would be most into.

On a separate note I wondered how they would handle the colour when Fosco seemed to adjust to drawing a black and white book largely without tones. I must say I'm quite impressed.

[Andrew NDB]

One thing I still wish they'd have done (and I'm pretty sure I have letters in the lettercol to this end) was make a bigger effort utilizing the rest of the Image universe to really make the TMNT at home, and attract interest.

Like, a Spawn crossover where Tony Twist teamed with Puzorelli or something could have been great. I bet tons of Spawn fans were TMNT fans, TMNT fans that had no idea there was even an Image TMNT comic on the shelves. I don't think Todd McFarlane would have said no. I'm not saying he'd draw the thing, but he'd probably sign off on it.

They'd already done Savage Dragon crossovers and that didn't move the meter much.

[neatoman]

Uh yeah, even though I have a Savage Dragon trade I haven't read it. I'm honestly kind of lost here in regards to who these characters are and why they're important.

Regardless, I find it a bit... Odd that there's a TMNT story, that is not Fred Wolf, in which the Turtles can just walk around freely amongst humans sometimes but other times still feel the need to hide. Even though I doubt it's intentional, I didn't the Image series would remind me of Fred Wolf and definitly not in that aspect.

I wonder though, if the idea is that they have to hide in New York but can move freely in Chicago, why not just move to Chicago?

[CyberCubed]

That has always been weird in Mirage as well when all the superheroes are flying around and respected, but I guess it depends where you live.

As for the new coloring it's pretty good, I assume all the Image characters are colored correctly, like all the minor ones from the Vicious circle? Sara is orange, Dragon is green of course, Ms. Wells is dark skinned, etc. One thing I like about the coloring is it really shows how much Raph's face has healed since the first few issues, it was never as noticeable in black and white.

[Abnormal Freak]

Haven't posted here in forever, only recently found out Vol. 3 was being collected and completed.

The most recent previews illustrate something that worries me about collecting the series in color. It's my understanding that for the first few issues, it was assumed they'd be printed in color during the original Image run. There were some pages in the first issue that were so dense with detail that it became muddled in B&W. Those previews from the color issue 1 look good because the scenes are easier to discern.

However, since the series had been published in B&W, Fosco soon developed a simplistic, high-contrast style that I can only imagine working in B&W. I'm worried how much of this stuff is going to look in color because I think it's kind of a disservice to the artistic intent. I suppose I'll get used to it (I'm waiting for the trades) but the mindset of colorizing everything is disappointing.

The following is one of my all-time favorite TMNT drawings. There's no way this could ever look so striking in color.

http://whooties.homestead.com/files/tmnt-image-01-800.jpg

[bushido]

The following is one of my all-time favorite TMNT drawings. There's no way this could ever look so striking in color.

http://whooties.homestead.com/files/tmnt-image-01-800.jpg

Judge by yourself:

https://img.purch.com/o/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5uZXdzYXJhbWEuY29tL2ltYWdlcy9pLzAwMC 8yMzYvMjk0L29yaWdpbmFsL1RNTlRfVXJiYW5fTGVnZW5kc18w NV8yLmpwZw==

[Abnormal Freak]

The color choices definitely work well with the art, so that assuages my worries greatly. I'll be happy to finally have the whole series collected.

[Shedder]

Plus the 3 issues at the end to officially close the volume

[pferreira]

Plus the 3 issues at the end to officially close the volumeSo apart from those has every issue of Volume 3 now been completed and released?

[Chet]

So apart from those has every issue of Volume 3 now been completed and released?

10 is out, 11 is sometime this month

https://www.idwpublishing.com/product-category/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-urban-legends/

[Rooish]

Ah yes, the issue where Raph gets drunk at a strip club and Mikey does his hardest to get laid with Horridus.

Good, family-friendly Ninja Turtles at its finest. :tlol:

Lmao yeah this issue was a bit over the top hardcore extreme in trying to show how grown up the Turtles had become.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Lmao yeah this issue was a bit over the top hardcore extreme in trying to show how grown up the Turtles had become.

I don't MIND it, but I can't not laugh at it. Raphael at a supervillain titty bar. Yup, no cowabunga or pizza HERE, Turtles fans. :tlol: