Mirage Continuity (split from Image comic FAQ)

[Bry]

Not that I'm saying Laird is in the wrong here. I'm just saying that just because a good deal of people approve of his decision (which is still debatable) doesn't necessarily make it the "right" one.
Well, what we think of the issue is really irrelevant.

Peter Laird is the co-creator and sole owner of the TMNT property, so whatever he decides is the 'right' decision. The Mirage universe is totally his baby, and whatever he decides is the law. ;)

Pete has said that the Image series isn't a part of the Mirage storyline. Thus, the Image run fits in as another 'alternate reality' series (like the Archie comics, or the movies, or the cartoons). That doesn't mean we can't enjoy it or anything, it just means it doesn't apply to the stories he's writing now. And there's no reason it should, frankly.

'Nuff said?

[heretic888]

Laird does the book for fans

LOL!! That's a laugh!! :lol:

Laird has said countless times in the letter columns for Volume 4 that he would continue doing the TMNT for as long as "I enjoy doing the series". Nothing at all about "the fans". Laird has, in fact, been quite critical of some "fans" in the letter columns (and often for good reason, too).

if most fans are happy the choice is right.

Once again: popularity does not confer legitimacy.

Besides like I said in my earlier post, Mirage has never continued any canclelled/ended licensed products, no matter how popular or "good art" they were. So the decision shouldn't have been a suprise to anyone.

Oh, its not. I suspected he wasn't going to continue the Image storyline from the very beginning.

Most of the Image plot-points were so ridiculous, they literally made me Laugh out loud! I'm SO glad Laird didn't continue down that path.

Yes, but the Image series did have its high points.

While Laird's new volume clearly has a better plot (and overall better graphical art), I feel the character portrayal and development (for the TMNT at least) was handled better under Image. Of course, Laird seems to be going deeper and better with every issue, so my opinion on the matter may change quite soon.

For the record, If I were Laird, I'd have made Vol. 4 Issue 1 begin with one of the Turtles waking up and realizing the image series was just a weird dream. Thus wrapping up any loose ends.


I actually thought that's how #23 was going to end!! :lol:

How was the mutagen going to heal Don? Wasn't his entire body gone, and replaced by that cyborg-thingie?

Probably the same way it turned four baby turtles into anthropomorphs with human-level intelligence and anatomy. Fictional boundaries grant people great creative licenses. :P

Well, what we think of the issue is really irrelevant.


Not necessarily. Every viewpoint has a certain degree of validity to it.

Peter Laird is the co-creator and sole owner of the TMNT property, so whatever he decides is the 'right' decision. The Mirage universe is totally his baby, and whatever he decides is the law.

I find such an attitude repugnant. This leads to "blind faith" sheepishness in which people find themselves unable to question the decisions made by artists (which greatly disrupts the creative process in the first place).

Anyways... laterz.

[Karpo_007]

LOL!! That's a laugh!!

Laird has said countless times in the letter columns for Volume 4 that he would continue doing the TMNT for as long as "I enjoy doing the series". Nothing at all about "the fans". Laird has, in fact, been quite critical of some "fans" in the letter columns (and often for good reason, too).

It's funny if you really you think he makes them only for himself. obviously the books aren't making huge profits, so if he would write stories only for himself, he would not publish them as a comic book. Nor would he care what the fans have to say about it. He obviously does care, you can see that from the letters page, right in the critique. But he also answers the questions of fans who don't whine about this or that. Now there is even a second title in form of new Tales, you think Mirage publishes that for Laird's own pleasure too?

Of course he does it as long as he enjoys it, thats what indie comic book artists do. But again, it's useless to debate about this, you think you are right and so do I. Get Laird's direct quote where he says "I do not make this book for TMNT fans" if you want to prove me wrong. Anything other is just speculation.

[Roseangelo]

It's funny if you really you think he makes them only for himself. Obivously the books aren't making huge profits, so if he would write stories only for himself, he would not publish them as a comic book.

Not necessarily. He can finance the book without worrying about profit. He's not publishing it for the money. It's quite similar to how George Lucas operates.

It's not that he doesn't make the comic for the fans, but what he's writing is HUGELY influenced by his own interests. Compare Vol. 2 to Vol. 4 and you'll see huge differences in themes.

Peter loves dinosaurs, motocycles, and Star Trek. Vol. 4 is full of all of them (all the nanobot stuff is straight out of Star Trek). He and Jim Lawson did a comic about motorcycles (Planet Racers), but I have a feeling not too many have read it. So now he's throwing these elements into a book that people do read.

I have great admiration and respect for Peter, but I refuse to be a Lemming who considers ever decision he makes to be the best decision possible, just because he happens to be one of the creators. There are several elements of Vol. 4 that I am not happy with. But I'll still buy it and enjoy it for what it is. It just doesn't happen to be what I wish it would be.

[Coola Yagami]

not[/b] happy with.


that being..?

[Roseangelo]

Alright, well...

* Don't like the art (but I'm not even going to bother complaining about it because I know that's pointless).
* Really didn't end up liking anything about Splinter's death. This is a story element that I've been anticipating, well, pretty much since I became a fan, and how Peter did it was just unsatisfying.
* I don't like how every issue seems to open up at least two more plot points without ever resolving plot points from past issues.
* Don't like the current Raph thing ... too close to the mutation thing from the last seasons of the old toon, which I hated; could just be a bad association thing going on (ironically, Peter has probably never even seen those episodes).
* I'm worried about that Gore coin.. simply because I hopehopehope that Peter doesn't start to express his political thoughts through the book.
* Not quite decided yet on the outing of the TMNT to the public.. it's rather odd and seems unnatural.
* Too many dinosaurs, motorcycles, and Star Trek (and I happen to love Star Trek).

[Bry]

Well, what we think of the issue is really irrelevant.
Not necessarily. Every viewpoint has a certain degree of validity to it.
Perhaps. But in this case, what you or I personally think about the issue doesn't affect anything - Pete writes what Pete wants to write, and that's all there really is to it.

Peter Laird is the co-creator and sole owner of the TMNT property, so whatever he decides is the 'right' decision. The Mirage universe is totally his baby, and whatever he decides is the law.
I find such an attitude repugnant. This leads to "blind faith" sheepishness in which people find themselves unable to question the decisions made by artists (which greatly disrupts the creative process in the first place).
No, that's not what I'm saying... It isn't about blind faith. I'm not saying everyone has to like it. But the fact is that Pete's totally in charge, and whatever he decides to do with his property is his choice and his choice alone. Like it or not, what he decides is what's 'right' for the universe - it's his creation, and it follows his path.

So officially, the Image series didn't happen. You can still enjoy it, but it's just not part of the Mirage storyline, and unless Pete changes his mind, it never will be. But that's cool! We've got a good six different TMNT universes, and we can enjoy 'em all. :)

[Karpo_007]

It's funny if you really you think he makes them only for himself. Obivously the books aren't making huge profits, so if he would write stories only for himself, he would not publish them as a comic book.

Not necessarily. He can finance the book without worrying about profit. He's not publishing it for the money. It's quite similar to how George Lucas operates.



You have a point there, but who are we kiddin? Lucas does make the movies for profit because Star Wars sells. With Phantom Menace, the sales of every licensed product combined made 5 times the money the movie cost to make and the movie certainly did not flop at the box office either.

[Barkworm]

* I'm worried about that Gore coin.. simply because I hopehopehope that Peter doesn't start to express his political thoughts through the book.

What's so bad about that?
BTW, am I the only one who likes the new books a lot more than Vol. 2?

[bufo]

Nope, I think it's way better than vol.2

[Roseangelo]

You have a point there, but who are we kiddin? Lucas does make the movies for profit because Star Wars sells.

No, that's not the reason he's making the new movies. It's a nice bonus, but it's not the reason. And don't you dare say otherwise without providing source information.

[Karpo_007]

How can you say he isn't making it for the money? He has never denied it.

[impetus]

For the record, If I were Laird, I'd have made Vol. 4 Issue 1 begin with one of the Turtles waking up and realizing the image series was just a weird dream. Thus wrapping up any loose ends.


I actually thought that's how #23 was going to end!! :lol:

would've been to much like Vol 2.

[Cascadia]

all of the mirage volumes are very good....some of them tend to have better qualities than others when people talk about the different volumes.

[MTN889]

hmmm w/w the worst volu?

[impetus]

L/T Type Legibl

[heretic888]

You have a point there, but who are we kiddin? Lucas does make the movies for profit because Star Wars sells.

Yes, but Peter Laird is not George Lucas.

He has stated time and time again that he will continue making the TMNT comic as long as *he* is having fun with it and enjoying doing the series. Irregardless of whether anyone else thinks it should have been cancelled 10 months ago or whether it should be continued for 10 more years, Laird is going to keep doing it as long as he enjoys it.

That's definitely artistic chutzpah, in my opinon. :wink:

[kicknz]

I love the art in Volume 4, although I liked the art in the earlier Volume 4 issues better because the toning was so prevalent.

At first I found the writing pretty tiring but I think it's getting better and better each issue to the point where I'm pretty interested in what will happen in the next issue.

As far as Splinter's death, I for one LIKE how it was a very low-key, life-goes-on thing rather than some huge overdone storyline. A lot of writers would have gone on a 5 issue storyline with the Turtles sitting around dealing with their feelings and then taking their frustration out on some convenient robots.

[heretic888]

As far as Splinter's death, I for one LIKE how it was a very low-key, life-goes-on thing rather than some huge overdone storyline. A lot of writers would have gone on a 5 issue storyline with the Turtles sitting around dealing with their feelings and then taking their frustration out on some convenient robots.

HAH!! Comedy. :lol: