Was Shredder A Human In The Original Comics?
 

I never read the original comics so I don't know.

Yes, he also dies in the very first issue.

After that they use worms to clone him.

The original live action movie is probably the best representation of how things are in the comics. There are some episodes that come close in the recent animated series though.

Yes Shredder was definitely human. Everything else you need to know has been pretty much said in the above posts.

I think it's rather obvious that Shredder was human in the Mirage comics considering that he's human in the original tv series, and also human in the first two movies. It's general basic TMNT knowledge that every veteran fan ought to know.

Also, I strongly recommend you start collecting the Mirage comics. Particularly the first 11 issues. It's pure gold and you'll love it.

Well you wouldn't have to search the net very hard to find dabates of new toon vs old toon and often people siding with the 2k3 show will use the argument that the show is "true to the comics" or "it's an adaption of the comics" which of course is mostly true.

It'd be fairly natural for someone who has never read Mirage to hear this and assume that Shredder may be an Utrom or a tengu like in the new cartoon instead of a new twist the cartoon added to the old stories.

Shredder was a human, clone of the human, a shark.....

One could wait for the Collected book on its way in July. It has the first eleven issues plus the four one-shots.

Or one could just seek out the collected book collecting that same stuff that's been available for the past 15 years or so.

If you can find and/or afford it. For example, the only one I see on eBay right now is $51 with 2 days to go

http://cgi.ebay.com/NINJA-TURTLES-TM...3%3A1|294%3A50

You're assuming he's familiar with the OT and the original movies, which Luke may not be, and his question makes it pretty clear that he isn't a veteran fan (nothing wrong with that by the way). I still speak to heaps of people that only know the 2k3 universe, or the recent movie continuity, or the OT universe. The veteran/hardcore group isn't that large a fanbase (otherwise the comics would be selling better!).

I whole heartedly agree! Start with this month's issue of Tales though! :lol:;)

I suggest holding off until the new collection is released. The better sales for that book, the better the chances of seeing City At War, Return to New York, etc. collected. It's only a couple of months away.

I think the four color graphic novels might be a little easier to find. They are missing the Michelangelo, Raphael, and Donatello comics though.

It's probably best to wait for the collected book in July. It would be great if sales of that book had really impressive numbers. I'm thinking of getting it even though I have those old color graphic novels, so I can have the comics in the original black and white too.

I guess I can understand the confusion with Shredder. Wasn't he not human in the 2003 series (I never got that far in the cartoon)?

He was an Utrom in the 2k3 series, then a Demon from ancient Japan, and then a cyborg/computer virus.

lol, don't ask, you have to actually watch the show to realize why they did this.

I would be absolutely stunned and amazed if he has never seen the old series (and to a lesser extent, the movies).
I mean, unless you're 15 or yonger, or lived among the amish with no access to tv and such, just about everyone has either seen the original series or is aware of it through popculture.
TMNT was HUGE in the late 80s and through out the 90s. There's no excuss not to have been submerged in it for one who's in their 20s and up.
It's not like the original series was an obscured show that lasted one or two seasons and had little fame. We're talkin' TMNT, dude. It was even bigger than Jesus at the peek of its fame.

And I'm really quite surprised that you say you've spoken to "heaps of people that only know the 2k3 universe, or the recent movie continuity". Were all these people young children? I ask because there's no bloody way adults (especially the Generation X'ers) have no idea of the original TMNT series.

Human Shredder
 

Shredder is a human in every TMNT version, except the 2003 cartoon.

I saw the OT when I was a kid and I know he's a human in the OT and I know that the OT isn't completely like the comics from what I heard. I also saw the live action movies, the live action tv show, CIG movie and the NT too.

He's a male human in every TMNT media except the NT where Shredder is a female human when Karai is Shredder.

2003 cartoon
 

I would like to see a male human Shredder, Oroku Saki, in the 2003 cartoon too instead of that Utrom. If you want an evil alien, use Krang.

When you write comic books and speak to editors and all sorts of other people you would be genuinely shocked by how ignorant some people who you would think would know better have no clue about the TMNT beyond what was presented in popular media. Not everybody takes to things. Star Wars is FAR bigger than TMNT could ever hope to be, but there's still no shortage of people who have no clue as to what is what when it comes to Star Wars.

There are adults I've spoken to and know who thought Shredder was a robot, purely based on the fact that he looked like one at a glance.

Luke also just explained his position, so I'd say it was a pretty valid question.

To reiterate everyone else's posts, Shredder was human in the Mirage comics. After being killed in the first issue, he returns (briefly) as a clone made from mystically cultivated worms (and he may or may not have possessed minor regenerative powers in this form).

Also, I highly recommend you begin collecting the Mirage comics, and not just the first eleven issues. If you're open-minded, there are a ton of great stories to be read. Best version of the Turtles by far.

I think now is a good time to point out that www.ninjaturtles.com has alot of the early issue's online... for free.