"Finkle is Einhorn, Einhorn is Finkle"
 

Today in an environmental post on his blog Steve Murphy admitted that he is none other than Archie TMNT Adventures writer Dean Clarrain!
http://the-5th-turtle.blogspot.com/2...and-waste.html
Dean Clarrain is Steve Murphy, Steve Murphy is Dean Clarrain!

Dang. Why didn't this cover get blown sooner?

BTW, Murph is pretty broken up about the environmental crisis. I know we have a big problem on our hands due to decades of human irresponsibility, but he seems absolutely devestated. That video is pretty disturbing.

Which is odd because I spoke with him earlier and he seemed fine, and yes that video is a huge wtf moment.

Well, he isn't the only one

Well dang... this was a shock. :o

I liked "Dean"'s drawing style, and even the storylines with the travelling to South America and all those characters..

I just hope he doesn't get suicidal on us with all this environmental stuff that he posts in his blogs.. :(

Amen. We need a new Mutanimals instead of despair. Get kids thinking about eco-friendliness at a young age!:)

Writting style, and I'm with you I don't think he would he's to smart for that.
I hope he takes this in another direction and does something about it, killing yourself isn't doing anything.

As I said else where:
:o What a twist! It's worthy of M. Night!

and I too wish him the best...Dean's art you say, Machi?

Come on, I can't be the only one who figured this out before today?

I'm much too naive.:P

Here's one other person who put the pieces together:
http://www.blogger.com/profile/04052981421298174847

From Ryan Brown's blog:
"Holy cowlick!!!!...

...

I am still a little surprised that so few people realized it before Murph «went out» with it. I myself made a few tongue-in-cheek comments about "Dean Clarrain" (on this and Murph's blog.

To be honest, the fact that Clarrain didn't own a single character from the comic he was supposed to write always bugged me, even as a kid (and who was that Murphy guy creating all the characters?!?). I didn't put too much thought into it for a long time, but when Murph started his blog, I quickly became convinced that Clarrain didn't exist at all.

Plus, you guys made a few mistakes... Like that Ninjara ad in Furrlough where Murphy & Allan were credited, instead of Clarrain & Allan. Or TMNTA #26, with edits by Murphy.

Not to mention the stylistic similarities between Murph's writing style in Puma Blues or Sons of the silent ages, and some of «Clarrain's» writing in some of TMNTA more serious issues."

I never thought about it to be honest.

I'm actually shocked I never put 2 and 2 together. :P

Does this mean Ryan Brown is Chris Allan, Clarrain's "Partner in Crime"?

I know both their art styles well enough to answer NO! on that one. Too bad I'm not so discerning with writing style.

But could Brown be Steve Lavigne? I don't remember Lavigne's style since he mostly does lettering.

No. Ryan and Steve are most definitely different people. There's endless evidence of that.

However, there's zero evidence of Dean Clarrain existing beyond the pages of Archie.

Yeah, I didn't really think Lavigne=Brown. I believe I have seen some of Lavigne's art. But thanks for clearing that up, Rose. I'd love to see that rare one of a kind photo of "Clarrain" that you said you have.

I still have to dig out the book it's in, but I'll definitely get it posted sometime tonight. The photo looks like it's from the same photo shoot as the "Butterdog" photos Murph (and Ryan?) posted earlier this year/late last year (I ferget when exactly).

gahddamn computer... *throws it out the window*

Writing style, I meant... I looked back at the digests I had (#4 and 5), and the pencils were done by Ken Mitchroney. See how good my memory is...? :roll:

But all those stories... the mutated birds that put waste into the town's water, South America with Jagwar and Dreadmon, the Southern fisheries with Manray and Glublub - Maybe if Murph could talk with Mirage about doing some sort of revival of some sort (TBP? TPB?)... It'd be a small step towards Murph's original mission, even if HE may not believe there's any hope..

((Edit: Blasted typos!))

Manwar? You mean Jagwar?

I agree. I'd loved to see those characters back and fighting the good fight of environmental responsibility.

Yeah, Jagwar... this was the third attempt to write the post after two BSOD's...

And I think with the fervor about climate changes and cycles, there'd be a BIG market for those stories.

Yeah, it'd sell like hot cakes. It was way ahead of its time back in the early 90s. TMNT/Mirage properties has been one of the few franchises which has pushed environmental responsibility and accountability almost almost 20 years non-stop since it's inception.

Examples:
"Turtle Tips"
Mighty Mutanimals
Conservation Corps

Dean Clarrain = Steve Murphy = Captain Planet

The mystery is solved!

"Captain Planet.. he's our hero!"

I truly had no idea. Why did he use an alias?

My respect for Steve Murphy has now doubled, since it appears he's written twice as many great Turtles stories as I previously thought.

As for his environmental messages in Adventures, while they may have been heavy handed, I think it's truly admirable that they're present. If you're in creative control of a hugely popular children's series, it almost seems irresponsible not to get them thinking about those issues in some facet.

Now, could someone clarify for me what the point is in using two different pen names for one property?

Wow, I never knew this.

A 10 year plot-twist in the making?

Yeah, I had kinda figured that Mr. Clarrain was actually Murph when I tried researching him about 3 years ago (when I got back into TMNT full swing). I found tons of info on all the other TMNT artists/writers but this guy... nothing. So who was he? I just looked at his stories, compared them to the styles of all the other writers, and he just had Murph's voice. It just made too much sense not to be true.

I was actually surprised about all this hubbub, 'cuz I thought this was more or less common knowledge:lol:

So, um...Let's see if I understand this properly.

The planet, the species, everything we know and love and hold dear is utterly and irrevocably doomed to utter annihilation because of massive amounts of methane gas bubbling up from underneath the Artic sea. Millions will die, entire species will be wiped out, the planet as a whole is going down the can faster than a bad case of the Tijuana Trots, and there's nothing we can do about it because it's already too late.

And we're all talking about is Ninja Turtles Adventures?

Like you said...what can we do?

F*ck it. I'm going to bed.

It's because that's what this topic is about - Murphy revealing he used a pen name while writing Adventures. This topic is not about global warming.

Not to be a massive dick or anything, but the irony here is atrocious considering your tirade was presented at no other place than an internet forum, sitting in front a computer in your apartment/dorm/house. And hey, I'm guilty of it too, but at least I'm not typing on the proverbial soap box. We may be in for some slow and nasty changes in the next few decades, but all you can do is your small part and try to be happy.

As for, you know, the issue at hand, an excerpt from Tales of the TMNT #6, which I just happened to glance at earlier tonight -

"This issue...is by Dean and Chris! We hope you like it...and we hope it marks a return to comics by the elusive duo! Until then you can check out Chris' blog at ak-studios.com. Dean, on the other hand, claims he doesn't even own a computer, never mind have a website."

Uh, huh. How did I ever swallow the idea that a writer wouldn't have a computer? And while the script of that issue was attributed to Clarrain, Murphy was credited with the plot.

Cool Archie stuff in the 2003 show
 

If so, why not bring more cool Archie stuff into the 2003 show.

Well, the scripts would have to be approved first...

Wow, so I've actually met Steve before, when I thought it was Dean. I may have noticed this sooner had I actually thought about it hard, but I haven't. This happens quite often with writers, though...so it's not a big surprise.

Two words: Peter. Laird.

Peter Laird
 

But Peter Laird didn't dislike Archie? I thouht it was the 1987 cartoon he didn't like, except for the first two seasons.

PL didn't really dislike the original toon either, its just not his vision.

Laird has stated profusely that he "doesn't hate" either Archie and the Old Toon. However, since they aren't a part of "his vision", he will never include them in the New Toon outside of cameos and in-jokes. One of the pitches for proto-Back to the Sewers was for the series to incorporate lots of Archie and Old Toon characters, but Laird swiftly shot it down.

Quite frankly, it's a miracle beyond miracles we're getting the Forever War next year.

Armaggon and Verminator X
 

I would like to see Armaggon and Verminator X in "Fast Forward".

Well that won't happen now that FF is over.
They could have done so many things but stubborn people won't allow it.