Interview w/ Murph!
 

Ok in the next week or so I'm going to be conducting an exclusive interview with Steve Murphy of Tales and TMNT Adventures fame.
I've asked him if it would be ok to have the fans ask him a few questions so think of something good and please only one or 2 questions each.
Thanks!

1. If you were in charge, what kind of stuff would you get the TMNT property into?

2. In your mind, what makes the Ninja Turtles such an embracable show/book?

What keeps your passion for the Turtles alive after all these years?

Any chance to a follow-up to Puma Blues (even if just a one-shot)?

thanks for the questions so far folks, I have to say though I'm a bit dissapointed in the people looking and not asking.
this is your chance to get some things you may want to know cleared up.

Sorry, Vaughn. I can never think of anything good to ask until it's far too late!

Well like I said you guys have a week to ask, ask him anything you like.

Don't forget to cover the simple getting to know you stuff. Like:

How did you come to be with Mirage?

What is your current role in the company?

What do you like on your pizza?

Cause I think there are a number of people who arent sure who steve is other than "the guy who works for mirage doing...something."

Oh trust me I plan to ask him what his hopes and dreams are for the future,etc.

1. Why the nome de plume of Dean Clarrian for your time on TMNT Adventures?

2. What is your most lasting memory from you work on TMNT Adventures?

Oh, come on, like you thought I would ask questions not geared toward my favorite TMNT incarnation...:P

Well, there is a lot of stuff I'd like to say to Murph, but I guess mainly:

1) What do you see in the future for TMNT, and are you planning to be involved in it? (this includes writing more Tales issues--and I'm asking because he seems to have disappeared)

2) How do you suggest fans get involved in the future of the TMNT?


My concern is that Murphy might actually want not much more to do with the TMNT ... as he seems to think the world is coming to an end soon (from his blog). What does he do for a living, besides the TMNT, anyway? Because I get the impression from his blog that he wants to go off with his family until the apocolypse occurs.

I would ask him stuff directly on his blog, but he took the comments away ... :(

hi murph! i am a huge fan of your work both on tales and as discovered recently as dean clarrain.

i would like to ask:

1. why no more blog? i hd been following your other blogs as well and the last two posts your left on the tmnt blog read as though they should have been in your ellegies blog. i like reading them all but i miss your tmnt updates. there are a lot of rumors about these days and your blog would really help get the truth out!

2. what was your favorite story in tales?

OH I got a good one!

If you had to be stuck on an island with another Mirage employee....who would it be? And Why!?

That's why we're doing this interview, he's busy guy and I felt this would get allot out in the open.

Thanks for the great questions so far everyone!

murph how long do u think tmnt will stay on the air? do you think the tmnt anniversary is the end for tmnt?:P

Whoops, is that what you meant to say, because it makes no sense?

The one we all want to know, of course. That's what I was trying to ask, but broader.

i meant tmnt anniversary

Are we asking questions just about the comics or can we ask him about the Neca TMNT toy line?

When is the next set coming out? We have seen pics and Mirage has approved them, what gives?

I will take any hints on future Tales stories. Can we get a Tales of the Foot series? Give the baddies some love!

Okay, here's my questions stemming from the whole Dean Clarrain/ Environmental meltdown thread:

1. We've seen your concern for the environment, both through storylines in the Archies under the Clarrain name and many blog entries. We have the forever war coming out soon, have you considered doing something along the same lines for a Tales of the TMNT issue?

2. Have you considered the idea of doing something like a semi-revival of the Mutanimals and their 'save the earth' campaign, considering the political atmoshere around global climate? Or would you be interested in doing original to bring about more awareness??

and for fun..

3. What's your favorite dessert, and if there was ONE really weird food you could try, what would it be?

Here's a good one:

Ask Murphy where he sees the TMNT franchise headed in the next 5 years in terms of comics and TV.

1. who is your favorite turtle?

2. how exactly do you go about writing for comics?

Do you stil like working for Mirage or are you planning on doing something else in the future?

Where do you see the TMNT franchise going over the next few years?

Sorry for asking more then two questions, feel free to ask him any two of the following questions.


1) Will Mirage explore the possibility of licensing the ninja turtles to another comic book publisher such as IDW, Slave Labor Graphics, etc., in order to produce a comic aimed at older Archie TMNT Adventure/Old Toon fans?

2) If/When the 4Kids TMNT series ends, will Mirage be able to explore the possibility of working with other networks such as Cartoon Network, Spike, Sci-Fi Channel (or any other channel experimenting with adult animation blocks), in order to produce a more adult TMNT animated series?

3) If/When a movie deal is inked, is Mirage open to the idea of producing a direct-to-dvd sequel to the 2007 TMNT movie, with Imagi, Warner Bros, Weinsteins, Playmates, and 4Kids contributing to the production cost (which should be significantly lower then a theatrical release).

4) Any news about the next TMNT videogame?

5) Any news about TMNT (1990) SE DVD?

6)Will he return to The Fifth Turtle Blog and allow comments?


Thanks Michael!

I have a few questions pertaining to writing:

1) Did the use of a pseudonym during your TMNT Adventures days have anything to do with the stigma of writing for a children's publication? Was a kids' series just something you didn't want to have stuck on your resume?

2) As a writer for both kids' and adult comics, as well as children's television, how have you seen views on various types of writing change? Has more or less respect been given to comic and television writers? Children's writers?

3) You've written several episodes for the new TMNT cartoon. How did you get to do so? Did they solicit writers and editors at Mirage? Did you have to go through the same process as any other 4Kids writer?

I want to thank everyone who submitted questions, I've finally found the time to pull this all together and send it off to Murph so the interview will be up very soon.
Thank you all for being so patient and understanding about the wait, trust me it will be well worth it.

You da man, Vaughn!

cant wait to see it!

Can't wait to read it! ^_^
...
What? I paraphrased.

Maybe he will be able to shed some light on the missing April shirt from Hot Topic. I can't wait!

So ... sorry if this was posted somewhere and I couldn't find it. Did the interview with Murph ever happen?

It's done, so it's funny you asked.
He sent it to me this afternoon ;)
I'll have it online by tommrow.

Well folks after months and months the interview and some long over due straight answers are up.
please check it out and comment.
http://vaughnmichael.blogspot.com/

Bravo. A great read. A little confused about his answer to the question about how the fans can help. Was that sarcasm or does he really feel that way?

Well worth the wait and yet... there was so much he couldn't answer (for obvious reasons) :lol: Thanks, Vaughn.

Very revealing interview! Thanks for getting this together, Vaughn.

I see no reason to believe he was being sarcastic.

aye, good on you vaughn. it's commendable of both of you that you arranged such an honest and frank interview.

"Bout damn time... Thanks, guy.

Man, I wish I could find the 3 issue "Stollen Murph Plot" Captain America Books.

Man...he sounds really burnt out. I feel really bad for Steve. Hope he recoops soon.