Have There Been TMNT Novels?
 

I got to thinking about this the other day, and my research into it (AKA Google) didn't yield anything, so I figured I'd just ask here.

I know that there have been kid's books for TMNT over the years, but have there ever been any full-length novels for the franchise? Not novelizations, like the original live-action film at least got (I know that exists only because I have a copy), but a novel that's either an original story or an adaptation of a comic storyline, or something? Other comics have had them over the years, I've read/seen a few different Marvel comic ones. And there's even one or two for Hellboy.

So has TMNT ever had anything like that? And if not, why do you think that is, per say? And as a final question(s), would you like to see something like that? If so, any particular authors you'd like to see tackle it, or subjects perhaps, that you think would be better tackled in written word rather than comics?

No, there's never been any adult TMNT novels.

We've gotten novel adaptions of the movies but they were for kids.

there were also novelizations of OT eps. i used to carry around "sky turtles" with me everywhere when i was 8.

You're thinking of "Sky High," which is a new story and not an episode adaptation. It is set in the cartoon universe, though.

Does IDW release any novels for any of their other properties? If so, they would probably be the best bet to releasing TMNT novels at some point.

No, no, and no.

Well, there's fanfics. :P

I honestly think that a TMNT Book series with a more 13+ tone would be a great idea!

There are so many authors that could take The Turtles and add onto the lore in many great ways.

Awesome question man, this one really got my creative brainstorming going.

I would probably read a TMNT novel if it was based out of Mirage and didn't cause any continuity hiccups. But with that said, it would take a masterful writer already well versed with the series, if not one of the actual comic writers. Eh, maybe that wouldn't work at all. I dunno.

I'd buy a Murphy written TMNT novel.

Yeah that's the kinda thing I had in mind. Didn't he do the novelization of the TMNT film?

Of the fourth one at least, as I own it. He also wrote several of the children's storybooks based on the 4th film and helped flesh out the 13 monster concept a bit more.

I never thought about it, before. I'm not sure why this hasn't happened, but I suppose it's not terribly common. I have a Spider-Man novel that's not tied to any movie or show, but I can't think of anything else I have like that.

I wouldn't mind reading a novel length story about the Turtles. I like the comics, but buying weekly/bi-weekly/monthly issues has never really appealed to me (too much likelihood of me missing an issue). But a novel? I'd buy that in a heartbeat.

And yeah, Shark Blade mentioned the fanfics, but that brings up another issue: Which universe to write in? I like Powder's idea of having it set in the Mirage universe, but the feature film universe wouldn't be a horrible choice either. I wouldn't even mind a return to the Archie-verse, to be honest.

At any rate, I would like a proper novel, and I'm mildly surprised we haven't had one yet.

I base most of my fanfic novellas in the old cartoon universe, though I set them long after the show had ended because it's just more fun.

It would be nice to see an expanded range of books similar to what they have for Trek and Star Wars, but as pointed out by others here, factoring in which canon to follow is the tricky part. TMNT has been reinterpreted quite a bit now.

Hmm...thinking about it like the Star Wars novels, if enough of them got done, maybe there could be a little thing on the back noting what universe they're supposed to take place in? Though actually, if it were me, I wouldn't mind seeing a novel that was kind of it's own thing too - yet another universe of Turtle stuff to work with. That way they wouldn't be beholden to any particular comic or show mythos to stay 100% true to.

Why would fanfics or novels have to take place in an established universe? Why not make an original one, like they do for new movies and comics?

EDIT----
I mean, for Star Wars, of course. If it didn't connect to the films, who would care? But people already accept different TMNT universes.

Because only about 50 people would buy it.

Exactly. Adults will not want to buy a novel called "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles". It sounds like the stupidest title on the planet.

And how do you know that? I'd buy it in a heartbeat, and I know of a lot of people who like the Star Wars novels. Heck, my BF has a lot of them on his bookshelf, and he loves them. If something like that were to come out for TMNT, I'd definitely get it. It wouldn't have to be set in any sort of universe but it could be its own thing. Either way, I'd definitely read it.

And yes, I understand we have fan fics, but there are good and bad writers out there alike, and sometimes it's hard to find any good writers among the bad ones.

No it should be based on the Mirage universe since it would be aimed at adults.

Are you an adult? The fact of the matter is a TMNT novel wouldnt bring in any New fans. For decades the name "teenage mutant ninja turtles" has been ridiculed as one of the most hairbrained titles of all time, of any genre. You've gotta admit, it sounds f'n ridiculous. I understand you'd buy it, and i'd buy it, but after all the costs of writing and publishing it I doubt they'd make a profit. Star Wars novels were dead, and I mean DEAD until Timothy Zahn's "Thrawn Trilogy". The Star Wars franchise itself was practically dead til then due to a flooded market of crappy novels mixed with a fanbase that had grown tired of reliving the same 3 films over and over again. The reason Star Wars got a second life in the 90s was because Zahn understood the characters, and respected them enough to create a coherent trilogy that effectively expanded the series while staying true to the character traits that were established in the films. He didnt just take "this planet name" and "this obscure character" that were mentioned only once or twice in the films and try to build a story around that (like so many of the previous novels did), he instead created his own characters/ events to make his books feel like a natural extension of the franchise. THATS why there was a second star wars boom in the 90s which led to the production of the special editions, the Power of the Force toy line, the huge increase in EU novels, and yes eventually the making of the prequels.

Now Star Wars already had a Huuuuuuge fan base to work with. And as much as it may hurt to hear, TMNT doesnt have anywhere near that size fanbase, a tenth of it if we're lucky. It would take a HUGE, "trilogy" type arc with original ideas and characters set in a tmnt universe to make a successful novel line. And isnt that the job of the comics anyway?

Dont get me wrong, Id love a tmnt novel as much as you (especially with as much traveling as I do). But Its just not going to happen.

So anyone who writes a fanfic based around any other universe is automatically writing a story aimed for children?

False.

Any novel should be done in a serious manner with little to no jokes and no silly cartoon characters.

Otherwise it's just a children's storybook.

That has absolutely nothing to do with what universe an author decides to set their story in. And since when are only children allowed to laugh?

Way to narrow your audience to 200 people. No one knows that stuff. :roll:

Better to do like the movies, and start fresh in a way all kinds of fans can appreciate, regardless of their reading/viewing background.

I thought these were adult novels, not novels geared towards kids.

Why would any adult pick up a novel about the Kraang invading the Earth and Dogpound kidnapping April? Leave that to the children's storybooks.

Oh right, because adults never read about alien space monsters terrorizing humans or girls being kidnapped. Try telling that to all the adults who've read and enjoyed IT or Gingerbread Girl. Better yet, go tell that to Steven King.

Because adults grew up on OT? 40 year olds grew up on Mirage. I'm not saying they can't have books, but again, narrow market.

When I think of adult novels I think of realistic stories with the Turtles fighting Foot Soldiers, gang members, or street thugs in a "City at War" type setting.

I don't think of the Turtles hanging out with Mondo Gecko while battling Fishface and Slash on an alien planet shouting, "Cowabunga."

^You should check out what IDW's doing.

If those are the only types of things you think 'adults' should read about, then you're certainly cutting yourself off from a HUGE range of well written novels with mature themes. That's kind of sad to me. To each his own I guess.

Cybercubed, just say that you prefer adult novels which are gritter and darker (if that's what you are insinuating) rather than belittling any extreme fantasy/sci-fi themed adult novel as being juvenile. Because your first sentence is an oxymoron, "realistic stories with the Turtles", if the Turtles mutated flawlessly how can there not be other "mutants" like Mondo Gecko and Fishface? The Turtles existing are already a "willing suspension of disbelief". If you wanted "realism" the Turtles would have been dead upon exposure of the carcinogenic mutagen and TMNT wouldn't exist.

Shreddhead, I'm thirty years old, so yeah, that would classify me as an adult. I agree that the TMNT fanbase isn't as big as the Star Wars one, but I do think it'd be cool to have novels out.

And, Cybercubed, you are so narrow-minded if you think that we wouldn't read anything with lighthearted humor. Considering that the Nick cartoon has that, and we watch it as adults, I really don't think you know jack about what we as adults would read. Stop acting like you know what adults would read. Hell, stop acting like you know everything and presenting it as fact when really it's more of your harebrained opinion.

That stuff is fine in the cartoons, and even in the IDW/Archie comics, but its kept out of the movies for a similar reason. Movie 2 was made to be like the cartoons hence Rahzar/Tokka, but Movie 1 especially was kept very realistic.

CyberCubed, your last sentence proves you don't know the literary concepts of "gritter and darker" versus "realistic". Movie 1 isn't "very realistic", the whole Turtles' mutation process (and TMNT itself) to fully functioning Turtle humanoids is basically impossible in real life, the tone of the movie was just significantly more serious and darker than Movie 2.

Movie 2 used the same "willing suspension of disbelief" as with Movie 1, with the mutagen by making Rahzar/Tokka into humanoid versions of animals. The reason the movie wasn't "very realistic" (in your unusual terminology) was because the movie was designed to be humorous.