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Original TMNT Cartoon Fan
03-23-2023, 09:34 AM
American television writer Michael Reaves passed away on Monday. He was born on 14 September 1950, and wrote many episodes of the Fred Wolf Studios TMNT cartoon. He also wrote episodes for Blackstar, He-Man, Ghostbusters, Star Wars, Tiny Toon Adventures, Starcom, Transformers, Batman, Superman and Spider-Man.

He was married to Brynne Chandler, and together, they had a daughter named Mallory. Do I need to mention that he (and Brynne Stephens) co-wrote the episode April Fool...

http://www.multiversitycomics.com/news/michael-reeves-obit/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Reaves
TurtleManiac
03-23-2023, 10:15 AM
Always sucks to hear of the passing of someone involved with my favorite cartoon of all time. Thanks for all those great memorable episodes. RIP

I remember Princess Mallory from that episode and they made April look real pretty maybe we’ll get a NECA figure of that April.
CyberCubed
03-23-2023, 10:18 AM
Oh God no. Please God no.

Why is everyone constantly dying? He wrote some great episodes across a lot of shows I liked.

Stop dying everyone, stop dying.
Coola Yagami
03-23-2023, 10:45 AM
Oh God no. Please God no.

Why is everyone constantly dying? He wrote some great episodes across a lot of shows I liked.

Stop dying everyone, stop dying.

It's almost like people are mortal or something
triplexxx
03-23-2023, 01:48 PM
RIP to another contributor of the best cartoon/comic franchise in existence. Thank you Michael Reaves for your contributions to my childhood and millions of others'. May you rest well in heaven.
CyberCubed
03-23-2023, 01:50 PM
What was your favorite Michael Reaves ep in TMNT? Mine was the Alpha-1 episode with the smart Foot Soldier. Always wish he came back for a second ep.
Original TMNT Cartoon Fan
03-23-2023, 04:30 PM
What was your favorite Michael Reaves ep in TMNT? Mine was the Alpha-1 episode with the smart Foot Soldier. Always wish he came back for a second ep.

Turtles on Trial
triplexxx
03-23-2023, 05:57 PM
Hard to pick an overall favorite, though was just rewatching Rebel Without A Fin. Very interesting with the silent moments, the frequent fadeouts, Ray's moody monotonousness, April as "Tina Tuna", and of course all the Dr. Polidorius mispronounciations.
CyberCubed
03-23-2023, 05:59 PM
Turtles on Trial

Yeah that was one of the best eps of Season 3.
ZariusTwo
03-26-2023, 08:34 AM
Just found out about this.

Reaves was a massive contributor to every show we watched as kids in the 80s and 90s, and was recognized for it with the Emmy award. The peak of his career had to have been with Batman: The Animated Series, which he served as story editor on, and he co-wrote Mask of the Phantasm

His TMNT episodes were very memorable, probably the best episodes of season three largely came directly from him.
Aaronardo
03-26-2023, 10:39 AM
This dude was one of my inspirations growing up. I always admired his work on Batman and, of course, Turtles.

My fav from him is also The Foot Soldiers Are Revolting, Alpha-1 is such a memorable character despite only appearing in the one episode.
Sumac
03-26-2023, 10:59 AM
RIP.
His TMNT episodes were some of my favorites...
jignat
03-26-2023, 08:26 PM
RIP Mr. Reaves.

My favorite 1987 TMNT ep from him is "Splinter No More"
ZariusTwo
03-27-2023, 01:50 AM
Return of the Technodrome probably was one of the best season finales, and he contributed to "The Big" trilogy also, making Rocksteady and Bebop incredibly competent.
CyberCubed
03-27-2023, 12:26 PM
Shame he never wrote anything after early Season 4
Wesley
03-27-2023, 06:09 PM
RIP Michael Reaves. My fav tmnt ep of his is Return of the Fly.
ToTheNines
05-14-2025, 02:55 AM
I missed this news when it happened. RIP.

I just went to look him up because the rumor around the fanbase right now is the that TMNT: Journeys comic book starting in August will be following up on some old TMNT stories from different mediums (Peter Laird writing #1, Ciro sharing new TMNT art on insta). Probably unrelated, but Renae Jacobs hinted at the surviving voice cast is working on something too.

Saturday Morning Adventures is a fun book, but doesn’t quite nail the true spirit of the ‘87 show. I would have loved to see one more story from David Wise or Mr. Reaves, but they’re both on the other side now.

Luckily his work is still finding new life to this day and probably always will. My kid LOVES Turtles at the Earth’s Core and The Making of Metalhead.