TMNT x Stranger Things #1. Preview and Discussion

[AlZarkovski]

Preview here (https://graphicpolicy.com/2023/07/11/preview-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-x-stranger-things-1/).

[Cowabung-Gal]

Who even watches Stranger Things anymore? Seriously, is that still a thing?

[Andrew NDB]

Who even watches Stranger Things anymore?

Are you kidding me? Everybody watches Stranger Things, and the last season was huge. They're even running a Stranger Things Experience here in Seattle and even now the radio is still playing that damn Kate Bush song from last season.

[Donnie]

Who even watches Stranger Things anymore? Seriously, is that still a thing?

... do you live on planet Mars? ... Stranger Things is as popular as it's ever been. Whether or not you like it because the masses do now, is another story. It's been a great show since Season 1.

Are you kidding me? Everybody watches Stranger Things, and the last season was huge. They're even running a Stranger Things Experience here in Seattle and even now the radio is still playing that damn Kate Bush song from last season.

Exactly...

I'm looking forward to checking this comic out. The art looks cool, makes sense to use the Mirage TMNT for the timeline.

[oldmanwinters]

Are you kidding me? Everybody watches Stranger Things, and the last season was huge. They're even running a Stranger Things Experience here in Seattle and even now the radio is still playing that damn Kate Bush song from last season.

I own the BluRay sets from the first two seasons but... I haven't actually got around to watching them. :lol:

[Cowabung-Gal]

... do you live on planet Mars? ...

No, but moments like these sometimes make me wish I did:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m798MhCac3w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBtlI8oXHgM

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wgnOaY1attg

Also, we had a hostage situation with a swat team and everything at my work couple of years ago so yeah life on Earth isn’t that great sometimes.

I don’t have Netflix, and I don’t plan to sign up for it since they still haven’t apologized for promoting that p*do film “Cuties”, so excuse me if I’m not up-to-date on that.

I own the BluRay sets from the first two seasons but... I haven't actually got around to watching them. :lol:

I have the first two seasons on DVD. But that’s it.

[Andrew NDB]

I'm looking forward to checking this comic out. The art looks cool, makes sense to use the Mirage TMNT for the timeline.

They kind of had no choice, really. IDW TMNT don't exist in 1984, 1985, and Stranger Things is pretty locked into its 80s dates. I'm very keen to see just how much they'll lean into Mirage with this or if it'll just be surface level, or even end up being compatible at all.

[CyberCubed]

Unless I'm forgetting something, and not counting that 30th anniversary issue IDW put out a few years back, is this the very first time IDW used the Mirage Turtles in a new story since they got the license back in 2011?

IDW purposely did not touch the Mirage Turtles (most likely because at the time we had no idea if Peter Laird would continue to do anything with them or not), all this time.

[lonewarrior20]

Anyone else reminded of tremors shriekers?

[Andrew NDB]

Unless I'm forgetting something, and not counting that 30th anniversary issue IDW put out a few years back, is this the very first time IDW used the Mirage Turtles in a new story since they got the license back in 2011?

Yeah, which makes me think the idea for Mirage TMNT here is maybe coming from the Dark Horse side of the aisle, not IDW.

[Zulithe]

I like the art. I think it strikes a really good balance between adapting the stranger things character looks while stylizing them for comic form.

[Donnie]

They kind of had no choice, really. IDW TMNT don't exist in 1984, 1985, and Stranger Things is pretty locked into its 80s dates. I'm very keen to see just how much they'll lean into Mirage with this or if it'll just be surface level, or even end up being compatible at all.

Yeah, this thought crossed my mind, too. Hopefully it goes beyond surface level and fleshes out some nice characterization of the Turtles during that time, at least as much as it focuses on adding depth to the ST characters.

[Raptor86]

Unless I'm forgetting something, and not counting that 30th anniversary issue IDW put out a few years back, is this the very first time IDW used the Mirage Turtles in a new story since they got the license back in 2011?

IDW purposely did not touch the Mirage Turtles (most likely because at the time we had no idea if Peter Laird would continue to do anything with them or not), all this time.

Weren't they in the third TMNT x Batman crossover?

[Andrew NDB]

Weren't they in the third TMNT x Batman crossover?

Not really. Just a weirdo B&W version of them, like in Turtles Forever.

Yeah, this thought crossed my mind, too. Hopefully it goes beyond surface level and fleshes out some nice characterization of the Turtles during that time, at least as much as it focuses on adding depth to the ST characters.

The presence of Mousers makes me think we might get Baxter Stockman, who'd be in prison if this is post Vol. 1, #2, so that worries me a little bit. But honestly, if they went out of their way to use the Mirage TMNT then I'd tend to think they would know what they're doing.

[Donnie]

The presence of Mousers makes me think we might get Baxter Stockman, who'd be in prison if this is post Vol. 1, #2, so that worries me a little bit. But honestly, if they went out of their way to use the Mirage TMNT then I'd tend to think they would know what they're doing.

One can hope!

[Andrew NDB]

Maybe he escaped prison by opening a portal to the Upside Down, where his mousers became fused with the veiny stuff from Vecna. As long as he ends up back in prison by the end of it I guess it'd line up fine.

[Wentos]

This first issue was great. The Mirage influence is more than just skin-deep. The turtles' characterizations are pretty consistent with the early Mirage material and the artist does a really admirable job emulating early Eastman and Laird. Mirage fans will feel some serious nostalgia seeing some of the panels of the turtles fighting. Would recommend for Mirage fans or if you happen to like Stranger Things.

[Andrew NDB]

This first issue was great. The Mirage influence is more than just skin-deep. The turtles' characterizations are pretty consistent with the early Mirage material and the artist does a really admirable job emulating early Eastman and Laird. Mirage fans will feel some serious nostalgia seeing some of the panels of the turtles fighting. Would recommend for Mirage fans or if you happen to like Stranger Things.

That's great to hear. I will absolutely buy this.

[Donnie]

That's great to hear. I will absolutely buy this.

Very good news indeed, I'm looking forward to getting to my LCS.

[Allio]

It is a simple crossover with a simple set up (I mean with Kid’s in school, getting a field trip to New York seems like the easiest way.)

I can see the biggest flaw with some people that there is a lot of exposition that takes up the comic.

And there did feel like an unnatural amount of referring to turtles by names, but I guess that’s the trade off when they are all wearing red.

[Andrew NDB]

I'm reading it now. They actually address Stockman being in prison. "Except he's in prison after we stopped his last scheme." But the things is... there was no "last scheme." He only had the one. Also, the Turtles refer to Stockman as a "homicidal maniac." He didn't kill anybody in Vol. 1, #2. He was trying to kill April at one point, and then he had his mousers demolish a building that he said was vacant.

Anyway. It's pretty good.

[Allio]

I mean he did send the mousers to kill April in the sewers after learning his secret. I’m sure that counts as a homicidal maniac. I wouldn’t call that a homicidal sound of mind.

[neatoman]

I'm reading it now. They actually address Stockman being in prison. "Except he's in prison after we stopped his last scheme." But the things is... there was no "last scheme." He only had the one. Also, the Turtles refer to Stockman as a "homicidal maniac." He didn't kill anybody in Vol. 1, #2. He was trying to kill April at one point, and then he had his mousers demolish a building that he said was vacant.

Anyway. It's pretty good.

Well, by definition, if your first scheme is your only scheme, then it is your last scheme by default.

[Donnie]

I bought Cover D, the Donatello & Will variant cover. I really enjoyed this book. Cameron Chittock did the homework. The team's approach captured the grit & spirit of the early Mirage issues. I liked how Donatello knew right away that Dustin was one of the smartest ones; since he's sort of a goofball people might have thought him a proper companion for Michelangelo but he's more suitable to Donatello.

I'm looking forward to the next issue!

[Andrew NDB]

Well, by definition, if your first scheme is your only scheme, then it is your last scheme by default.

Except that's not how we really talk. Like if I continually stole a biscuit from a tray at work, you'd say "Oh, Andrew's LAST biscuit steal was ridiculous" and not "when Andrew stole the biscuit the one time."

A nit. Sure. Obviously as a Mirage guy I'm looking for it be airtight. :)

[Donnie]

Did you guys notice the little Easter eggs in the background? "Second Time Around" antiques shop on the first page of Chapter One, then later in the Turtles lair, behind Lucas you can see the titles: "KIRBY ART" & "LAST RONIN" on the book shelf. Pretty cool. :D

[Coola Yagami]

https://markepicblogofrandomness.blogspot.com/2023/09/tmntstranger-things-1.html

Here's my review on the first issue as I finally got around to reading it. I just noticed the Stranger Things action figures had the Mirage Turtles teamed up with them too, so this might have been planned in advance.

So can we expect a TMNT/Cobra Kai crossover comic any time soon? LOL

[Coola Yagami]

I'm reading it now. They actually address Stockman being in prison. "Except he's in prison after we stopped his last scheme." But the things is... there was no "last scheme." He only had the one.

Yeah I caught that too when reading it.

The Mirage Turtles seem pretty spot on. I mean, they don't really act all that different from say, the 2003 versions (Leo being the most ninja-ish, Don being the science guy and Raph being pissy). The main one to watch out for was Michealangelo, and he so far, does not seem like the Cowabunga Party Dude in this iteration, so.... so far, so good.

[MikeandRaph87]

How is this doing in the sales charts? I have a feeling this would do top 50 like how the Power Rangers crossovers were top 25.