TMNT #88 Preview and Discussion

[AlZarkovski]

First Look:

https://is2-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple128/v4/09/2e/79/092e7947-48fd-0946-b7de-871cf334c81f/source/360x480bb.jpghttps://is2-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple118/v4/00/3e/bd/003ebd8a-7f31-9a85-6e48-ad5c40109450/source/360x480bb.jpghttps://is4-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple128/v4/34/2f/94/342f94f1-9ed1-bdee-08f4-e02af203964b/source/360x480bb.jpg

[Utrommaniac]

https://media.giphy.com/media/l0K4jNBPxZf2g2TtK/giphy.gif
This issue is kicking @$$ already!!!

[Igglet]

Holy ****, this issue is going to be nuts.

By the way, isn't it a bit early for this preview to drop? Are the Leo Macro and this issue going to be released on the same day? Man I hope so.

[AlZarkovski]

Holy ****, this issue is going to be nuts.

By the way, isn't it a bit early for this preview to drop? Are the Leo Macro and this issue going to be released on the same day? Man I hope so.
Yes. #88 & Leo will be released 11/28/18.

[Utrommaniac]

I think this is going to be next Wednesday, so it's just in time. It's showing 28th on Comixology, but we usually don't get previews until the Friday before release.


Also, so far it looks like Ch'rell is doing all the work ahead of Kleve and Montuoro. They're going to end up looking like this in front of everyone else :lol:

https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/240/075/90f.png

[AlZarkovski]

I think this is going to be next Wednesday, so it's just in time. It's showing 28th on Comixology, but we usually don't get previews until the Friday before release.
Sorry, but 28th.
It's not preview, it's "first look" from ITunes. They always come out earlier, then full preview.

[Utrommaniac]

Ah, that makes sense (also why the preview is so small; I think there is a way to get a wider read through it)

[Igglet]

Sorry, but 28th.
It's not preview, it's "first look" from ITunes. They always come out earlier, then full preview.

I believe the Leonardo Macro was supposed to be released on the 21st, right? I'm guessing something changed.

[AlZarkovski]

Yes, the date has been changed. This often happens.

[Utrommaniac]

I did realize that the normal release date would be happening right before Thanksgiving (and Black Friday) in the US, so it makes sense that they would postpone it a little bit.

Happy Thanksgiving TMNT fans, have some D E A T H from a character that's been getting the short end of the stick from the time he set his big ol' foot in the series.

[Igglet]

I did realize that the normal release date would be happening right before Thanksgiving (and Black Friday) in the US, so it makes sense that they would postpone it a little bit.

Happy Thanksgiving TMNT fans, have some D E A T H from a character that's been getting the short end of the stick from the time he set his big ol' foot in the series.

Thank you Mr. IDW, may I have some more?

[80gmrp]

Sorry, but 28th.
It's not preview, it's "first look" from ITunes. They always come out earlier, then full preview.

Well, that's a shame. I was hoping for and expecting it to be this coming Wednesday, though I suppose the likelihood that Slash will die in this issue is a good reason to not make it the day before Thanksgiving...

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

Why? Not like it's Thanksgiving in the comic...

[Utrommaniac]

I mean...it could be, but given the way everything has gone one, especially in New York, things probably aren't going as smoothly as typical.


For us though, I think it's more a matter of taking advantage of sales. Better to do it in the region of time after Black Friday when people will be buying more.

[Rooish]

How does everyone know Slash is going to die instead of someone else?

[bushido]

How does everyone know Slash is going to die instead of someone else?

Because of Archie comics I guess where Slash died while sacrificing himself to save the day.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Because of Archie comics I guess where Slash died while sacrificing himself to save the day.

Yeah, exactly. It seems like the kind of symmetry IDW will really lean into here, especially considering how bad it's gotten for Slash...

[Utrommaniac]

I mean, there's no coming away from this for Slash, with all the trauma he had already gone through. And there's plenty of baggage to carry over.


If I may unleash my inner AP English student and roll out a Crazy Board...


The turtles have known Slash from near the beginning of his story. He was one of their first big moral dilemmas and first big arguments. The "To Fight Shredder or to Stop the Technodrome" before that was a thing. Or, "To kill or not to kill". Mike was one of the first to break through to him before Hob gave him the serum to stabilize his mind.


Speaking of Hob, Slash has enormous significance to him. Slash was his first real friend after the human mob fell apart. Slash was there through the founding of the Mutanimals, as every new member was gathered. His leaving the family over Hob's business with Hun was enough of a deep cut.
Basically, the emotions of that will never be resolved. There won't be closure for Hob, and that's going to cause some of the problems hinted at in #90. Their friendship ended with foul air and that will never be cleared.


In another thread, I mentioned something along the lines of everyone's emotions from it bleeding into each other.


It's a shame we won't get a fight of Leatherhead and Slash teaming up to fight Bebop and Rocksteady, because that would be absolutely bad@$$, but I think Leatherhead and the Mutanimals might end up clearing up their own baggage together as much as they can.

[Igglet]

I mean, there's no coming away from this for Slash, with all the trauma he had already gone through. And there's plenty of baggage to carry over.


If I may unleash my inner AP English student and roll out a Crazy Board...


The turtles have known Slash from near the beginning of his story. He was one of their first big moral dilemmas and first big arguments. The "To Fight Shredder or to Stop the Technodrome" before that was a thing. Or, "To kill or not to kill". Mike was one of the first to break through to him before Hob gave him the serum to stabilize his mind.


Speaking of Hob, Slash has enormous significance to him. Slash was his first real friend after the human mob fell apart. Slash was there through the founding of the Mutanimals, as every new member was gathered. His leaving the family over Hob's business with Hun was enough of a deep cut.
Basically, the emotions of that will never be resolved. There won't be closure for Hob, and that's going to cause some of the problems hinted at in #90. Their friendship ended with foul air and that will never be cleared.


In another thread, I mentioned something along the lines of everyone's emotions from it bleeding into each other.


It's a shame we won't get a fight of Leatherhead and Slash teaming up to fight Bebop and Rocksteady, because that would be absolutely bad@$$, but I think Leatherhead and the Mutanimals might end up clearing up their own baggage together as much as they can.

Mostly just referencing your first paragraph but I'd argue that the fact that Slash will be so far gone is why I WOULDN'T want him to be killed off. I mean, let's be real here, he's totally getting killed off but helping him deal with this trauma and maybe getting him back on track as a changed person would be quite interesting. Personally, I'd prefer if someone like Old Hob sacrificed themselves to save someone else from Slash. Slash sees that he killed Old Hob and snaps out of the brainwashing, realizes what he did and kills Bishop, and then spends a good portion of time dealing with this trauma, feeling self-hatred, and finally being able to forgive himself. Would be quite emotional in my opinion.

[80gmrp]

Mostly just referencing your first paragraph but I'd argue that the fact that Slash will be so far gone is why I WOULDN'T want him to be killed off. I mean, let's be real here, he's totally getting killed off but helping him deal with this trauma and maybe getting him back on track as a changed person would be quite interesting. Personally, I'd prefer if someone like Old Hob sacrificed themselves to save someone else from Slash. Slash sees that he killed Old Hob and snaps out of the brainwashing, realizes what he did and kills Bishop, and then spends a good portion of time dealing with this trauma, feeling self-hatred, and finally being able to forgive himself. Would be quite emotional in my opinion.

While it's certain that someone will die what with the synopsis of #90, I myself wouldn't rule out the possibility that it's actually Slash that kills someone, as opposed to getting killed.

[Rooish]

*sigh* It's kind of annoying that they keep hinting at plotlines months in advance and then everyone guesses what they are and is correct because the series is kind of predictable.

[CyberCubed]

They haven't been hinting anything will happen to Slash, it's just assumptions even if they are correct. He's been low-key this entire arc with nothing pointing toward him in series.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

*sigh* It's kind of annoying that they keep hinting at plotlines months in advance and then everyone guesses what they are and is correct because the series is kind of predictable.

Ah, they manage to surprise us sometimes. Krang being a snack for Leatherhead, Bishop 'jacking Slash, Splinter killing Shredder and assuming Foot leadership...

But yeah, a lot of the times it is pretty predictable. But I think that's more to do with solicitations and the comics industry in general?

[Utrommaniac]

I do wonder why Slash would be killed off after everything giving him the short end of the stick with a brief period of happiness, and in such a precarious spot. It seems needlessly cruel, not just for him, but for his friends.

Hob has much more going on for the series, so it really can't be him. Especially since he's been there since the first page!

It's so clearly Slash, it's just a question of how.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

I do wonder why Slash would be killed off after everything giving him the short end of the stick with a brief period of happiness, and in such a precarious spot. It seems needlessly cruel, not just for him, but for his friends.

Hob has much more going on for the series, so it really can't be him. Especially since he's been there since the first page!

It's so clearly Slash, it's just a question of how.

Anybody but Hob. It CANNOT be Hob.

I'll frickin' riot if they kill Old Hob!

[ChosenOne]

I do wonder why Slash would be killed off after everything giving him the short end of the stick with a brief period of happiness, and in such a precarious spot. It seems needlessly cruel, not just for him, but for his friends.

Because the IDW crew are actually Joss Whedon in disguise...? 8)

[Utrommaniac]

Hob's not going freakin' anywhere, and I can't imagine a point where it would be even remotely reasonable for him to be killed off.

He'd probably just...shrink into the shadows of the woods like a cryptid and live like a woodsman in a 1700's German fairytale.

[CyberCubed]

Hob's not dying because he's the breakout character of the IDW run from the very first issue in 2011. He's the "Harley Quinn" of the IDW run, if that makes any sense. :lol:

[Utrommaniac]

Boy, is that EVER the perfect way to describe him :teek:

[Igglet]

Hob's not dying because he's the breakout character of the IDW run from the very first issue in 2011. He's the "Harley Quinn" of the IDW run, if that makes any sense. :lol:

There's a big difference between IDW TMNT and something like Marvel and DC, though. IDW can get away with killing off someone like Old Hob, and, as a matter of fact, the fact that he's the breakout character of the IDW run just gives his death such a large impact, something that the writers seem to be hyping up for #88.

[80gmrp]

There's a big difference between IDW TMNT and something like Marvel and DC, though. IDW can get away with killing off someone like Old Hob, and, as a matter of fact, the fact that he's the breakout character of the IDW run just gives his death such a large impact, something that the writers seem to be hyping up for #88.

Preach. It seems fully agreed on by everyone that Slash hasn't had as significant an impact as Old Hob, so, if it isn't Slash that dies, I wouldn't rule out the possibility of Old Hob dying instead.

[CyberCubed]

Is there any reason this issue is coming out so late? We're literally at the end of this month and the issue isn't coming till 2 days before the end of November?

[Utrommaniac]

I'm still pretty sure it was because of Thanksgiving.


And we should have the rest of a preview by now.

[daggio]

While it's certain that someone will die what with the synopsis of #90, I myself wouldn't rule out the possibility that it's actually Slash that kills someone, as opposed to getting killed.

I agree with that, especially when you see the two regular covers. One has Slash with his hands covered in a red substance, maybe blood, and the other cover with Slash possibly standing over people he's badly beaten, one being a Triceraton. Maybe Zom and/or Ma'Riell will be the ones to bite the dust, especially since Ch'Rell is now on the loose.

[Utrommaniac]

The assumption that it's Slash comes from the synopsis of #90 describing the TMNT and their allies falling apart over a "tragedy".

The only one who would deeply care if Zom or Ma'riell died would be Don, considering how long he had been working with them to get a treaty together. Either one of them dying is not going to affect anyone in Don's circle. They might say "that's rough buddy, we'll help you deal with Ch'rell when we can", but it's not something that's going to have the whole group so emotionally vulnerable that it would hinder them during whatever the hell is going on with the Foot, Karai, and Kitsune.

Sure, 88 describes "devastating consequences for many", but I think Ma'riell is just going to be IDW Ch'rell's Mortu. With a deep-set anger that makes more sense after he spelled it out at the start of 87. I don't think the writers are going to skip out on the chance for a great conflict between Ma'riell and Ch'rell, especially for how polarized they are in how they would handle leadership of the Utroms. And that's why the 20 Years Later comic has the Utroms at war with each other.

[daggio]

Plus, the whole flashbacks about Bishop will presumably come to conclusion. I guess we're gonna find out he is a cyborg so that he would survive his early days. And the whole thing about what Sally is doing that prevented her from being present on Burnow Island. These make me a little anxious to find out what's gonna happen.

[Utrommaniac]

There really isn't any time for anything to happen to Ma'riell besides looking on in horror at what has happened and probably yelling at Churk and Yot as they're hauling out a woodchipper in the plant field.


We do see what she was getting up to at the start of the preview though; she and Pete were preparing an aircraft of their own to bring to the fight.



My one disappointment is that Ch'rell is probably going to go back on ice through the whole of City at War for the next several issues...unless there's a mini or micro focusing on him at some random point. That after a very long series of short glimpses and bookending.
Come on man, get to it.
mwMQ1PD-eXs

[daggio]

There really isn't any time for anything to happen to Ma'riell besides looking on in horror at what has happened and probably yelling at Churk and Yot as they're hauling out a woodchipper in the plant field.


We do see what she was getting up to at the start of the preview though; she and Pete were preparing an aircraft of their own to bring to the fight.



My one disappointment is that Ch'rell is probably going to go back on ice through the whole of City at War for the next several issues...unless there's a mini or micro focusing on him at some random point. That after a very long series of short glimpses and bookending.
Come on man, get to it.
mwMQ1PD-eXs

With Sally, I see that now, though what Hob said last issue about her knowing exactly where the fight was, and then him and Ray giving each other a look makes me think something else may happen, though I might be looking too much into it.

And you never know. Maybe Ch'rell and crew will play some sort of role in City at War albeit maybe from a distance. After all there's still the probability of a Ch'rell/Leatherhead confrontation in the future judging by the unflattering comment about him Ch'rell said last issue.

[Utrommaniac]

That's probably one of the least things Leatherhead has to worry about in a confrontation with Ch'rell :lol: . Pretty sure he wasn't anticipating anyone coming back around to avenge Krang.

[Ninjinister]

*sigh* It's kind of annoying that they keep hinting at plotlines months in advance and then everyone guesses what they are and is correct because the series is kind of predictable.

Not... really? There's a lot that if you said you saw it coming I'd either say you're a liar or you did a shakedown on someone in the writers' room for info. What people "guess" is what they usually have purposely telegraphed with foreshadowing.

[Utrommaniac]

It's pretty common in a long-running series anyway. Typically it's unavoidable for moving on to the next storyline.

[daggio]

That's probably one of the least things Leatherhead has to worry about in a confrontation with Ch'rell :lol: . Pretty sure he wasn't anticipating anyone coming back around to avenge Krang.

And, hey, if in fact Slash does die in this issue maybe Bishop will find Leatherhead and start mind-controlling him :lol: (I say that mostly jokingly, but it was shown in #85 that Bishop and the EPF saw Leatherhead escape into the sewers, so you never know. That could be a portent for the future.)

[MikeandRaph87]

Not... really? There's a lot that if you said you saw it coming I'd either say you're a liar or you did a shakedown on someone in the writers' room for info. What people "guess" is what they usually have purposely telegraphed with foreshadowing.

Agreed. For example many of thought that Casey's father would have died in City Fall not become Hun. Another example is one of two beefs I have, after all that happened in Trial of Krang could have predicted Leatherhead would eat Krang? Sure some things can be figured out, but not much. For what can be figured out its about the journey that it takes to go from point A to point B.

[80gmrp]

And, hey, if in fact Slash does die in this issue maybe Bishop will find Leatherhead and start mind-controlling him :lol: (I say that mostly jokingly, but it was shown in #85 that Bishop and the EPF saw Leatherhead escape into the sewers, so you never know. That could be a portent for the future.)

While you’re right that that happens in #85, if LH does end up working for Bishop (and I hope he doesn’t), I’d much prefer it be unwillingly (I.e. the mind control method on Slash). Which I suppose is possible: it could go down that Bishop takes advantage of his seeing Krang all over the place.

What I do know about LH’s future in the comics is that hints may be provided in the Ninja Notes of this issue thanks to a message I sent, which Bobby Curnow was gracious enough to tell me will be published, so I’d prefer to wait until this Wednesday before making any further assumptions where he’s concerned.

[Utrommaniac]

I imagine there would be a storyline where there's a "two dates to the prom" scenario where the Mutanimals and Bishop are both trying to sway Leatherhead to their side. Eventually with the Mutanimals winning out in the end.

[AlZarkovski]

First look (3 pages) in hi-res here (http://www.idwpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/TMNT_88-pr.pdf) (pdf).

[Utrommaniac]

Oh lord he got inside :o .


But his eyes are white instead of red?

[bushido]

Full preview here (https://graphicpolicy.com/2018/11/27/preview-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-88/).

[Igglet]

Ooooooh boy. The new character that's been built up for dozens of issues is fighting the dude who's in focus of this arc. At this point I'd say that whoever wins, it's gonna be interesting.

Or they'll just have the fight get interrupted. I wouldn't be too surprised if that was the case.

[ChosenOne]

Oh, crap. Slash is going to die. And it's going to be devastating for everyone.

[CyberCubed]

This issue feels like it's taken an eternity to come out. We're 3 days before November ends and novembers issue hasn't come out yet, does that mean we get Decembers in like 2 weeks after?

[bushido]

This issue feels like it's taken an eternity to come out. We're 3 days before November ends and novembers issue hasn't come out yet, does that mean we get Decembers in like 2 weeks after?

According to Comixology, next issue is for December 19.

[Utrommaniac]

Well now, Ch'rell be flexing. I was wondering how he'd be fighting Slash without having to deal with Bishop at the same time. Turns out "autopilot".

In the meantime...I've finally found something to make an absurdist signature out of, so...have fun with that for a while.

[80gmrp]

Welp, at least in my time zone, this issue has been out for nearly an hour. While I won’t discuss spoilers about the main plot just yet for the sake of those who may not have access yet, I will say one of the Q&A’s in the Ninja Notes have effectively put my mind slightly more at ease.

[Utrommaniac]

Whaddya get when you combine the plot twist of Men in Black with the ending of The Iron Giant? This issue!

The reveal of Bishop's true form was...uncomfortable. I really hope Marie divorced Wayne at some point down the line, because that's just...really fvcking uncalled for. Even completely cruel. Yeah, he could have died as a baby, but there was a line in the sand, and Wayne pole vaulted across it and did a flip. He's the only monster in Bishop's story, and I think he had started to realize that at the end of his life. Even worse, he put a six-year-old into the form of a grown man, which negates the fact that he was still mentally a child. Give him something that looks his age, for crying out loud, if you want him to look normal. And then he doesn't even have a body built that would look like his own form if he were normal, he instead makes an "old fashioned" demand that the kid look like him.

How did they even manage to keep him alive, anyway? Did they stick some Utrom in there and that's how he managed to have such high intelligence for his age? (Sh*t, just watch him turn out to be below average by Utrom standards :lol: . "Uh yeah, most of us could figure out a puzzle that size in eight minutes at that point of development. Ma'riell did it in five. Taking fifteen minutes is a red flag."
But does that mean that if you compared an Utrom's anatomy to a human's, that's how they'd come out proportionally? A large head the same size as the torso? It works for them though because they're better balanced; they're horizontally aligned and have a lot of legs. Put those proportions on a human and you get a horrific chibi.

This has been my "Screw you, Wayne Bishop" TED talk.


At least we got something really bittersweet in the ending for Slash.
Interestingly, I'd go so far to say that Burnow now has yet another layer of protection from outsiders - that being from the nuclear radiation. A great big backfire on Bishop's part.



Of course I'm excited for Ch'rell's next big thing though. I knew is armor would surpass Slash in size...enough so that I'm surprised Slash wasn't already killed. Pretty sure it'll be a long while before we see him again. After Bishop left, the rest of his time is spent with this kind of energy:
Va5_rn3vG3A
Once he's actually put in frame with the other characters, even being seen behind the glass...he is huge! He had always been large - he seemed to barely fit in his stasis tank; but when you remember how small Ma'riell is next to Zom and then have Ch'rell in comparison, I'm disappointed we have to wait so long for him to be in a walker. It's a wonder that between his own mass and his much bigger armor, he didn't try to overthrow Krang and Quanin himself. He could've easily overpowered Krang if he found the right moment, but instead chose to be his most loyal soldier and right hand. The best answer I can guess is that they were already close before either of them came to military power, otherwise, I don't think Ch'rell would have tolerated Krang's attitudes around the rebellion and Quanin.

Overall, it was a nice issue. Got the next big thing with Bishop, and now we can open a whole new can of beans with Slash's sacrifice. With which the final image of him is absolutely gorgeous. Slash's return to stability felt short-lived, but it was good. Of course he wouldn't want to live with the memories of the things he'd done. I'm surprised he didn't have a moment of remembering attacking his family - ripping off Mondo's tail and Herman's arm, and smashing Seymour's life support tank - but he remembered attacking the Triceratons and smashing Wayne's...everything. It definitely seemed like he felt that the best way to make up for being used as a weapon, that he would sacrifice himself to save hundreds - if not thousands - more lives than he had been taking for so long. And went out with candy in his hand. Something seems a bit strange about Sally being the last person he saw, though? Pretty sad that he didn't get to say goodbye to Seymour and Lindsey...especially since Lindsey was one of the first people in the "family" after him and Hob, even though she was technically kidnapped.

Anyway, in an image...
https://66.media.tumblr.com/bbec1138807b31caf5336e92021bf485/tumblr_inline_piw7k3dpSy1rw8miz_540.png

[ChosenOne]

Well, I'm kinda numb right now. :( RIP Slash.

I was okay with his backstory, but Bishop flying off in that detachable pod was weird as f*ck. No antagonist-turned-ally for this iteration of the character.

[Igglet]

Man, I wish these issues were longer. I think the reason why I've been loving the Macros so much so far is because you have time to do everything. Here, you had to stuff in the showdown with Bishop and also take the time to do Slash's death justice. Until #75 I never really noticed this that much but since then it has nearly always been something that's bugging me. Still a well done issue, though.

That reveal was so ****ing unforeseen. Like, they gave us so many hints and I swear to God if you say you called this you're either a liar or you're holding Bobby at gunpoint. I don't have to say what the twist is because you all know already.

The second twist that happened was way less weird all things considered (the Slash-nuke one) but for some reason it felt MORE out of place for me. Still interesting nonetheless.

Oh, and also, I really want more of Ch'rell.

Finally, this does give us a pretty good idea about what City at War is going to be like, all things considered.

[80gmrp]

I guess from these responses that enough time has passed for my own two cents. Hopefully I can use the spoiler code properly, that said (it'll be the first time I've used it in a long time, if ever).

As disturbed as I am knowing even Bishop isn't human despite what he preaches, I guess I'm not excessively surprised given the last issue suggested he didn't feel any pain from the attacks on him. -cue Terminator music-

Seriously, though, while it does appear the pessimists were correct and Slash seems to have gone, I wouldn't 100% rule out the possibility that he's dead for good. After all, I just realized how similar the end of the issue is to the end of The Dark Knight Rises, and even aside from that, there have been cases in this very franchise when assumed deaths turned out to be false. 2003 Leatherhead and even IDW Donatello being good examples.


There is, however, one thing I think I can say without excess use of the spoiler tag because it doesn't have to do with the main plot. Rather, as briefly mentioned earlier, I do feel better about this issue than I might otherwise have thanks to the Ninja Notes, particularly its addressing my concern about the future of Leatherhead in the series. While not the perfect answer part of me hoped for, it does assure me that it's not planned for him to simply be a villain, plus, the reality that, as the person who asked admitted, there's only so much that can be revealed about a story in advance.

[Powder]

That reveal was so ****ing unforeseen. Like, they gave us so many hints and I swear to God if you say you called this you're either a liar or you're holding Bobby at gunpoint.

I did, after #87, but it became obvious at that point, to me.

Aaaand Bishop Jr. is a fetus in an Utrom exoskeleton?



I mean, I wasn't 100% right, but close enough.

:tlol:

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

I think that Bishop reveal is the first major letdown I've had from IDW. :tgrumble:

It just looks so weird and dorky. Here's a tiny little deformed baby piloting a grown-ass mannequin robot. And yeah, I get he's mentally all grown. But WTF, compared to 4Kids... I dunno, this felt like Robot Chicken or Rick and Morty or something equally preposterous.

Nah. Sorry, I still really enjoy IDW TMNT, but I think this is where I call foul. Not a good adaptation of the character.

In spite of that, Slash's fate was exceptional. And I loved his final moments with Hob--did NOT see that coming! :tgrin:

[ChosenOne]

Seriously, though, while it does appear the pessimists were correct and Slash seems to have gone, I wouldn't 100% rule out the possibility that he's dead for good. After all, I just realized how similar the end of the issue is to the end of The Dark Knight Rises, and even aside from that, there have been cases in this very franchise when assumed deaths turned out to be false. 2003 Leatherhead and even IDW Donatello being good examples.


Quite true, quite true. There are plenty of ways (given what we know of TMNT lore, not just limited to IDW) to roll back the direst consequence of this issue's events. But first there's still City at War, which said consequence clearly and directly helps (more like shoves...) put in motion.

[neatoman]

I seriously doubt you can survive being incinerated from within.

[CyberCubed]

Very good issue, tying back to nearly the start of the series.

Weird thing about Ch'rell though:

I know he has no reason to hate the Turtles right now, but the way he was standing with the others at the end made him feel more like an ally. Could Ch'rell not be an enemy like we all originally thought?

As for Bishop, I guess he will probably stay a villain forever in this series, unlike 4kids and Nick where he was an ally.

[ChosenOne]

I seriously doubt you can survive being incinerated from within.

You can if you're not there anymore when the bomb goes off. ;) This is comics, anything is possible. (Why am I thinking of the Turnstone? Hmm...)

[Utrommaniac]

I think Ch'rell's place as an "ally" stops here. Especially once he starts understanding the role the turtles had in everything to do with Krang being gone. Might even all start here. Probably with Ma'riell. A situation best brought down to:
"So you're paying respects to the monster that killed many of our people and could easily have killed us all, but you won't do the same for Krang after saving us from extinction?"
"I can't even begin to start with all the things wrong with what you just said."
The name of the game would be finishing what Krang started and revenge.

His presence in standing with the group is pretty significant. Zom even had some remorse and she didn't know the guy, in fact, I'm pretty sure he nearly clobbered her at one point, but Ch'rell seemed...honestly, a little hard to read, but he didn't have the presence of someone who was going to keep respecting Slash's sacrifice once the mutants were gone. He'd be going right back to what he started with Ma'riell and they'll probably end up screaming at each other in public.


Anyway, the Christmas issue seems weirdly timed for this ending, but my best jab at the idea is that while Splinter is going to maintain not being really into Christmas at the end, he'd mostly just let the Turtles do their Three Ghosts thing to humor them while they're grieving.


As great as City of War is going to be...please, just a little more Ch'rell. We've waited so long...

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

As great as City of War is going to be...please, just a little more Ch'rell. We've waited so long...

Gurl, do you even REMEMBER how long it took to get Bishop or Leatherhead!? How long it took to find out what in tarnation Kitsune was doing? How long we've STILL been waiting for Null to do anything??? :teek:

We can wait a little longer for Ch'rell. Because we're gonna have to. :tlol:

[Utrommaniac]

Yeah that's true...for cripe's sake, they haven't even gone back to what the hell was going on in #50's epilogue or even hinted at going back to it.

[Igglet]

Gurl, do you even REMEMBER how long it took to get Bishop or Leatherhead!? How long it took to find out what in tarnation Kitsune was doing? How long we've STILL been waiting for Null to do anything??? :teek:

We can wait a little longer for Ch'rell. Because we're gonna have to. :tlol:

God, I just realized, IDW TMNT has been going for like 7 years now.

Some people reading this series weren't even in their preteens when it started coming out.

I can just imagine, in 20 years, dropping off my future kids at school, getting into my spaceship and going off to a space resort, pulling out my iPhone 94 to read through this forum and going, "Oh, wow, they finally namedropped Null in the on-going series."

[CyberCubed]

LOL, we'll all be middle age before Null's subplot starts going. :lol:

Man, I think I had just turned 25 when IDW TMNT started...lol. I hope IDW does something special when we hit the 10 year anniversary.

[Igglet]

LOL, we'll all be middle age before Null's subplot starts going. :lol:

Man, I think I had just turned 25 when IDW TMNT started...lol. I hope IDW does something special when we hit the 10 year anniversary.

And the subplot will be 2 issues long and is only there to tease another arc in which Null won't appear, much like the next 3 arcs after that one.

[TomWaltz]

God, I just realized, IDW TMNT has been going for like 7 years now.

Some people reading this series weren't even in their preteens when it started coming out.

I can just imagine, in 20 years, dropping off my future kids at school, getting into my spaceship and going off to a space resort, pulling out my iPhone 94 to read through this forum and going, "Oh, wow, they finally namedropped Null in the on-going series."

I was in my preteens when I started writing it!

Talk soon...

Tom W.

[CyberCubed]

Time flies, it's weird to think we're almost at the 10 year anniversary. Old Hob and the Turtles from issue 1 way back in 2011 sure have grown up.

[Utrommaniac]

His presence in standing with the group is pretty significant. Zom even had some remorse and she didn't know the guy, in fact, I'm pretty sure he nearly clobbered her at one point, but Ch'rell seemed...honestly, a little hard to read

Ahh...this basically how he was coming off, at least to me. Having not been present for Krang's death, I think being around for Slash's made him bitter.
https://i.imgflip.com/1bv930.jpg

[daggio]

I guess from these responses that enough time has passed for my own two cents. Hopefully I can use the spoiler code properly, that said (it'll be the first time I've used it in a long time, if ever).

As disturbed as I am knowing even Bishop isn't human despite what he preaches, I guess I'm not excessively surprised given the last issue suggested he didn't feel any pain from the attacks on him. -cue Terminator music-

Seriously, though, while it does appear the pessimists were correct and Slash seems to have gone, I wouldn't 100% rule out the possibility that he's dead for good. After all, I just realized how similar the end of the issue is to the end of The Dark Knight Rises, and even aside from that, there have been cases in this very franchise when assumed deaths turned out to be false. 2003 Leatherhead and even IDW Donatello being good examples.


There is, however, one thing I think I can say without excess use of the spoiler tag because it doesn't have to do with the main plot. Rather, as briefly mentioned earlier, I do feel better about this issue than I might otherwise have thanks to the Ninja Notes, particularly its addressing my concern about the future of Leatherhead in the series. While not the perfect answer part of me hoped for, it does assure me that it's not planned for him to simply be a villain, plus, the reality that, as the person who asked admitted, there's only so much that can be revealed about a story in advance.

To your point about Slash, I agree that you never know because since we saw Slash was put under so that he could be examined, who knows what could have been done. The EPF may have done something that he could be brought back as a clone or something, or even like what happened with Don in Metalhead. Maybe the EPF downloaded his brainwaves or something (comic stuff) and as a result be brought back down the road when needed. Only time will tell on that.

[Utrommaniac]

We have to remember that the EPF capture Raphael in his macro issue, so I doubt that they have a Slash clone sitting around.

[80gmrp]

Thanks for the responses to my own thoughts, first of all.

I actually had not thought of Slash’s fate that way, daggio, which further proves my point: there may very well be a curveball involved, so I hesitate to believe Slash is truly dead just yet. It’s best we wait and see, at the very least, how the others take it in the next few issues.

[ChosenOne]

Remember in the 2003 cartoon season 3(?) finale, when the Turtles decide to lay down their lives to stop Ch'rell from accomplishing his goal, and with only nanoseconds away until the ship they're all in explodes, they're zapped out by (IIRC) the other Utroms? Remember how, to the outside observer, the ship did explode and they're all dead? Yeah... Just gonna leave that here, for no particular reason. 8)

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Slash is dead. Barb is dead. Ned Stark is dead.

Sometimes, fellas, PEOPLES IS DEAD.

[ChosenOne]

Slash is dead. Barb is dead. Ned Stark is dead.

Sometimes, fellas, PEOPLES IS DEAD.

Donatello was dead. Jon Snow was dead. Who's Barb?

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Donatello was dead. Jon Snow was dead. Who's Barb?

Stranger Things.

And nobody honestly thought Donatello was dead for realsies. Bad example.

I'll give you the Jon Snow one, though! :twink:

[ChosenOne]

Stranger Things.

And nobody honestly thought Donatello was dead for realsies. Bad example.

I'll give you the Jon Snow one, though! :twink:

The older girl with the glasses, right? I only watched season 1 but it was clear she wasn't gone for good.

They totally did for a moment there, that's what the cliffhanger was all about! :D

Seriously, though, do I think Slash died for real? Yes. Do I think he could very, very easily be brought back either by saying he didn't actually die (let's say he had the bomb magicked/zapped out of him by someone at the very last moment or somesuch) or was resurrected somehow? Also yes.

Man, I think I had just turned 25 when IDW TMNT started...lol. I hope IDW does something special when we hit the 10 year anniversary.

Funny how the 10 year anniversary coincides with August 2021, aka issue #121, which if the current 5-issue trade format holds, could be the start of a new arc leading up to December 2021's even further landmark issue #125. Funny... Funny, funny, funny...

[daggio]

We have to remember that the EPF capture Raphael in his macro issue, so I doubt that they have a Slash clone sitting around.

I'm not saying I think Slash is coming back, because I don't believe that he will. Hypothetically, if he were to, it definitely won't happen for a few years. What I am getting at is if that were to happen, the explanation for HOW is an easy one as I laid out about cloning/downloading.

[daggio]

Yeah that's true...for cripe's sake, they haven't even gone back to what the hell was going on in #50's epilogue or even hinted at going back to it.

I always thought that that whole epilogue acted as a good possible explanation for why they were reincarnated, but it may have nothing to do with it.

Maybe that whole epilogue from #50 will be revisited in the epilogue for #100:lol:

[Utrommaniac]

It's mostly the idea of what Krang wanted from the Hamato DNA/QNA that's raising so many questions. And how Ma'riell was involved with that besides picking up the samples.

[Igglet]

I was in my preteens when I started writing it!

Talk soon...

Tom W.

Quick, people. Tom said something. Get everyone to over-analyze it.

[ChosenOne]

Maybe that whole epilogue from #50 will be revisited in the epilogue for #100:lol:

It's an ongoing story told in the epilogues once every 50 issues! Boy, if folks complain about the time some characters and plots take to pay off now... :D

Quick, people. Tom said something. Get everyone to over-analyze it.

Hmm... I'm pretty sure he implied there's a preteeen coming into the series soon. Time skip after #100? :lol:

[Rooish]

As disturbed as I am knowing even Bishop isn't human despite what he preaches

He is human though. He’s just wearing an exoskeleton.

Anyway, it was all a bit anticlimactic with Slash being brainwashed for so long and his acceptance of death being so rushed. It was a disturbing way to go out, though.

[wpugh2424]

Wicked episode with bishop being deformed and slash being nuked. Keep the good story rolling !!

[shredder orokusaki]

This bishop is a mutant human with Utrom dna and it seems the utrom dna prevented him for growing up like a human and that why he has the apperance and body of a chil while he is a adult. Maybe that why they put him in that robot? They could had created a clone human body for him like the 2003 Bishpp is doing to make him a normal human instead of just creating a robot and put him inside it.

[martinitolove]

So, now that Slash is gone, there is space to have Tokka in IDW. And what would it be without Rahzar? But please not the 1990-ies one and not Dogpound - real Rahzar is the razor skeleton - scarry and evil!

With Groundchuck (Chi-You) and Dirtbag (Ocho) almost all chess peaces would be in the game!

And now we have B.I.S.H.O.P. - boy in suit has one prejudice. Immagine a showdown between him, Marvel's M.O.D.O.K. and Street Fighter's F.A.N.G.!

I was awaiting this. And I think it's a very good implementation of 2003's C'hrell-Shredder and agent Bishop into the IDW-Universe!

Only thing I would suggest more is chess - we have Bishop, we have Knight - we need pawn, queen, king and rook.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

And now we have B.I.S.H.O.P. - boy in suit has one prejudice. Immagine a showdown between him, Marvel's M.O.D.O.K. and Street Fighter's F.A.N.G.!

Superb, my good man. Absolutely superb. :tlol:

[CyberCubed]

I think Slash also went to make room for Leatherhead, to be honest. I don't think Leatherhead will join the Mutanimals but just having another big reptile mutant there with emotional problems has a lot of overlap. Same reason IDW killed off Krang before reviving Ch'rell, if Krang and Ch'rell were both here at the same time they'd feel too similar.

We know Leatherhead is going to have more of a major role soon too.

[80gmrp]

I think Slash also went to make room for Leatherhead, to be honest. I don't think Leatherhead will join the Mutanimals but just having another big reptile mutant there with emotional problems has a lot of overlap. Same reason IDW killed off Krang before reviving Ch'rell, if Krang and Ch'rell were both here at the same time they'd feel too similar.

We know Leatherhead is going to have more of a major role soon too.

Speaking as a Leatherhead fan, you do raise a good point about his emotional issues possibly having overlap with Slash: heck, I do remember reading a theory someone else (Utrommaniac, maybe?) wrote before this issue came out that Slash would help LH through his own troubles due to both of them having PTSD of sorts.

Personally, though, I do hope he does eventually join the Mutanimals, even if it must be reluctantly.

[TomWaltz]

Here's some behind-the-scenes TMNT #88 trivia for anyone who's interested:

I had already written the Slash death scene -- and, yes, he IS dead -- and turned it in to Bobby for his review. I was actually on vacation with my family in lovely Sedona, AZ and I was feeling a bit sad after finishing the script. Poor Slash. But then Bobby shot me an email and suggested we have Mikey give Slash a candy bar before he leaves for that final, fatal flight if I thought I could fit it in. It was genius. And it was a gut punch. I sat down and re-wrote the scene and literally got misty-eyed as I was typing it all out. It was far more poignant and heartbreaking the second time around with that little sugarcoated callback to when we all first met Slash in our IDW TMNT run. Sometimes it's the littlest details that make something so big, so dramatic. Poor Slash.

More surprises to come on the Road to 100.

Talk soon...

Tom W.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Here's some behind-the-scenes TMNT #88 trivia for anyone who's interested:

I had already written the Slash death scene -- and, yes, he IS dead -- and turned it in to Bobby for his review. I was actually on vacation with my family in lovely Sedona, AZ and I was feeling a bit sad after finishing the script. Poor Slash. But then Bobby shot me an email and suggested we have Mikey give Slash a candy bar before he leaves for that final, fatal flight if I thought I could fit it in. It was genius. And it was a gut punch. I sat down and re-wrote the scene and literally got misty-eyed as I was typing it all out. It was far more poignant and heartbreaking the second time around with that little sugarcoated callback to when we all first met Slash in our IDW TMNT run. Sometimes it's the littlest details that make something so big, so dramatic. Poor Slash.

More surprises to come on the Road to 100.

Talk soon...

Tom W.

Whatever my thoughts are on the Bishop stuff, you and Bobby totally nailed Slash's fate. I loved it. His dialogue with Old Hob just wrecks me, man. :tlol: Good stuff!

[Rooish]

Here's some behind-the-scenes TMNT #88 trivia for anyone who's interested:

I had already written the Slash death scene -- and, yes, he IS dead -- and turned it in to Bobby for his review. I was actually on vacation with my family in lovely Sedona, AZ and I was feeling a bit sad after finishing the script. Poor Slash. But then Bobby shot me an email and suggested we have Mikey give Slash a candy bar before he leaves for that final, fatal flight if I thought I could fit it in. It was genius. And it was a gut punch. I sat down and re-wrote the scene and literally got misty-eyed as I was typing it all out. It was far more poignant and heartbreaking the second time around with that little sugarcoated callback to when we all first met Slash in our IDW TMNT run. Sometimes it's the littlest details that make something so big, so dramatic. Poor Slash.

More surprises to come on the Road to 100.

Talk soon...

Tom W.

The Mikey candy bar moment had to happen! It was very sweet. Loved the final shot of Slash holding the bar.

[Utrommaniac]

In regards to call backs, I also remembered this was a thing that happened:

https://i.imgur.com/gokoCl2.jpg

So yeah, that was a big gut punch. Candy for a hero.

I think Slash also went to make room for Leatherhead, to be honest. I don't think Leatherhead will join the Mutanimals but just having another big reptile mutant there with emotional problems has a lot of overlap. Same reason IDW killed off Krang before reviving Ch'rell, if Krang and Ch'rell were both here at the same time they'd feel too similar.

We know Leatherhead is going to have more of a major role soon too.

The thing about Ch'rell and Krang is that they had a close personal history. They would have been through a great deal together; Krang was more than likely there for "the" injury, and we'll see how they were as a team in flashback. Ch'rell had already been established as a dangerous force while he was working with Krang; his "danger value" would have increased with the knowledge that Krang was imprisoned, and now he's dead, while Ch'rell himself was held in stasis through the entirety of that.

I also think that Ch'rell so far isn't very much like Krang. He seems more subdued and eloquent for someone whose own sister thought hell would be raised if he were released from stasis at the wrong point in time. I'm not so sure Krang would have held off if Zom told him to leave the mutants alone until he was expressly told "there's a bomb in the big turtle".
It makes more sense for Ch'rell to act alone, so he can be more dangerous with revenge (gotta keep perpetuating that Revenge Cycle!) and completing Krang's ambitions in mind, and also so he won't be in Krang's shadow, which is ironic given that he's seemingly bigger than Krang.

[Igglet]

Here's some behind-the-scenes TMNT #88 trivia for anyone who's interested:

I had already written the Slash death scene -- and, yes, he IS dead -- and turned it in to Bobby for his review. I was actually on vacation with my family in lovely Sedona, AZ and I was feeling a bit sad after finishing the script. Poor Slash. But then Bobby shot me an email and suggested we have Mikey give Slash a candy bar before he leaves for that final, fatal flight if I thought I could fit it in. It was genius. And it was a gut punch. I sat down and re-wrote the scene and literally got misty-eyed as I was typing it all out. It was far more poignant and heartbreaking the second time around with that little sugarcoated callback to when we all first met Slash in our IDW TMNT run. Sometimes it's the littlest details that make something so big, so dramatic. Poor Slash.

More surprises to come on the Road to 100.

Talk soon...

Tom W.

Man, knowing the context behind this somehow makes it even sadder. Poor Slash.

Honestly, I can't wait to see what Old Hob will do about this. The dude always hated humans, now it's gotten even more personal.

[MikeandRaph87]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/bamsmackpow.com/2018/12/02/ninja-turtles-no-88-review/amp/

This is a,pretty good review and write up about #88. It brings up something that I had considered, did the IDW team have a solid idea of Agent Bishop's true nature when #67-#70 was written? Blood showing on Agent Bishop then and not in #88 makes me think he had a placeholder concept of mirroring ths 2003 cartoon until IDW figured out everything later.

[AquaParade]

Here's some behind-the-scenes TMNT #88 trivia for anyone who's interested:

I had already written the Slash death scene -- and, yes, he IS dead -- and turned it in to Bobby for his review. I was actually on vacation with my family in lovely Sedona, AZ and I was feeling a bit sad after finishing the script. Poor Slash. But then Bobby shot me an email and suggested we have Mikey give Slash a candy bar before he leaves for that final, fatal flight if I thought I could fit it in. It was genius. And it was a gut punch. I sat down and re-wrote the scene and literally got misty-eyed as I was typing it all out. It was far more poignant and heartbreaking the second time around with that little sugarcoated callback to when we all first met Slash in our IDW TMNT run. Sometimes it's the littlest details that make something so big, so dramatic. Poor Slash.

More surprises to come on the Road to 100.

Talk soon...

Tom W.

Thanks for sharing, Tom!

[bushido]

Tom Waltz deserves more consideration for his extraordinary work from the beginning.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

This is a,pretty good review and write up about #88. It brings up something that I had considered, did the IDW team have a solid idea of Agent Bishop's true nature when #67-#70 was written? Blood showing on Agent Bishop then and not in #88 makes me think he had a placeholder concept of mirroring ths 2003 cartoon until IDW figured out everything later.

I'd agree with you, except we already see that Bishop's face is a machine underneath. That's not mirroring the 2003 cartoon; if Tom and Bobby had already made it as far as "cyborg/exosuit", then I doubt they "figured everything out later."

Especially considering how late in the run we are, and how they consistently plan everything out.

I may not LIKE what they've done with Bishop, but I'd bet a cookie it was always their plan since they brought him into play in the first Universe issues and the Desperate Measures arc.

[miru]

If anyone still thinks Bishop’s redeeemable after THIS...

I don’t know what will make him irredeemable in their eyes.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

If anyone still thinks Bishop’s redeeemable after THIS...

I don’t know what will make him irredeemable in their eyes.

Because surgically implanting a nuke into a mutant turtle's skull is worse than curb-stomping your crippled wheelchair-bound octogenarian father?

[ChosenOne]

If anyone still thinks Bishop’s redeeemable after THIS...

I don’t know what will make him irredeemable in their eyes.

Redeemable? No. Do I think he will be forced to team up with the Turtles, and vice-versa, at some point in the future? Hell, yes! I have some theories on just what might force their hands in that regard as well.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Redeemable? No. Do I think he will be forced to team up with the Turtles, and vice-versa, at some point in the future? Hell, yes! I have some theories on just what might force their hands in that regard as well.

Do you spell those theories "N-U-L-L?" :twink:

[ChosenOne]

Do you spell those theories "N-U-L-L?" :twink:

One half of them, yeah. :tcool:

(I just really, REALLY want to see an alliance of Turtles, Mutanimals, Bishop and the Burnow aliens standing against Null/Maligna with the line "We're the Earth Protection Force." Cheesy af and little more than wishful thinking in the wake of #88's events, but hey... So was Shredder and Splinter having such emotional parting words, once upon a time, and the possibility that Saki might be brought back as an ally is now very real. 50/50 at the very least.)

[Igglet]

One half of them, yeah. :tcool:

(I just really, REALLY want to see an alliance of Turtles, Mutanimals, Bishop and the Burnow aliens standing against Null/Maligna with the line "We're the Earth Protection Force." Cheesy af and little more than wishful thinking in the wake of #88's events, but hey... So was Shredder and Splinter having such emotional parting words, once upon a time, and the possibility that Saki might be brought back as an ally is now very real. 50/50 at the very least.)

I wanted to say "We some kinda Earth Protection Foooooooorce?" but then I remembered how much I hate that movie and now I'm sad.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

I wanted to say "We some kinda Earth Protection Foooooooorce?" but then I remembered how much I hate that movie and now I'm sad.

Stay evil, dollface.

Did that make you feel better? :tlol:

[MikeandRaph87]

I'd agree with you, except we already see that Bishop's face is a machine underneath. That's not mirroring the 2003 cartoon; if Tom and Bobby had already made it as far as "cyborg/exosuit", then I doubt they "figured everything out later."

Especially considering how late in the run we are, and how they consistently plan everything out.

I may not LIKE what they've done with Bishop, but I'd bet a cookie it was always their plan since they brought him into play in the first Universe issues and the Desperate Measures arc.

Speaking of redemption, perhaps Bishop's true nature twist can be too. I mean, maybe he could clone himself a new body as his body begins to breakdown and he uses Sr.'s DNA? Wishful thinking.

Tom does deserve some kind of trophy for his long ongoing plots. The big two don't do this. Aside from Tom King's story ending in #105 of volume 3 its hard pressed to think of any. I saw Slash's demise coming,but was in denial because I begged Tom the day I registered to Slash's debut for the character to appear. I just did not expect it to culminate to a sacrifice. Perhaps its Slash's karma? I would have actually preferred Old Hob give his life for Slash. Unexpected yet in character. Slash's last line to Old Hob telling him he was right about humans overall after everything that has happened. Slash could not mean that, but was bitter after what the sort of human Bishop did to him. This also makes one question why Agent Bishop had Sr. killed? "No human should be senile and frail so they should die?" , was that his logic?

[Igglet]

Stay evil, dollface.

Did that make you feel better? :tlol:

The movie...

It haunts me.

[AquaParade]

Tom Waltz deserves more consideration for his extraordinary work from the beginning.

He does deserve a lot of credit, as does the whole IDW team. There's really only a handful of comic book writers I can think of that are maintaining a good, consistent story like this throughout nearly 100 issues (way more, if you want to count non-ongoing-issues).

I haven't kept up with the book in a couple years, but I still respect the heck out of what they're doing.

[Allio]

Hmm... I'm pretty sure he implied there's a preteeen coming into the series soon. Time skip after #100? :lol:

Damn. TMNT is going to put a Loli in the series?

[ChosenOne]

Damn. TMNT is going to put a Loli in the series? It’s Angel

Oh, no, I was just kidding about the whole preteen thing because Tom Waltz used that word in his post a couple of pages back and the fandom does have a tendency to overanalyze every little thing. (And don't I know it...?) I am leaning towards the possibility of a time skip in the series' near future, though.

[jadenova]

Such a shame about Slash but at least I don't have to read about him going through a 'Flowers for Algernon' situation.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Such a shame about Slash but at least I don't have to read about him going through a 'Flowers for Algernon' situation.

That would've arguably been a better fate for him than going out with a... well, with a BANG. :tgrin: