Steve Murphy on "The Forever War"
 

My question:

Will "The Forever War" be completed?


His answer today:

Hi. We're still trying to figure that out but my guess right now is "no." Should know by week's end... and then I'll make sure Dan posts the final word.

My second question:

That's terrible news. What has been the challenges in getting it made?

His second answer:

Too many to mention. Writer (me) missing a few deadlines. Artist is no longer a full-time artist, so making time to draw after a full-time day job and two kids to raise has been difficult. And now Mirage no longer owns the TMNT and our comic book rights may not extend outside the "Mirage universe."

Not a surprise at all at this point, but I'll keep my fingers crossed, anyway.

No, not a surprise at all.

If anything, this is positive... because (at least until the end of the week) there apparently is still some modicum of a chance it gets made. From my understanding of things it didn't even sound like there was this until now.

But can't it still be released under Mirage's "18 comics a year" rule?

Only 5 issues of Tales come out in 2010, and that's it. Why can't 3 issues of "The Forever War" come out then as well?

My impression has been that the only thing holding back "The Forever War" from getting published is simply it getting completed. I'd assume that's still the case now.

I'm glad we're going to get a definitive answer, though.

Exactly... 5 issues of Tales of the TMNT, and maybe 1 or 2 of Vol 4.... heck they could easily expand Forever War to more than 3 issues....Problem is they wouldn't be able to do a TPB....ah well

You can always do what Andrew suggested to me: buy extra copies, hole punch, and throw 'em in a binder for your own collected "reader copies."

I doubt any issues of Volume 4 come out next year. Peter Laird said he was going to step away for awhile before deciding whether or not to continue with Vol. 4.

I think the potential problem with "The Forever War" is that it does not take place in the "Mirage continuity" and so it may not meet the conditions of Mirage's agreement with Viacom.

Oh, I seriously doubt "But the 18 issues must take place in the established Mirage Universe!" is in the contractual caveat.

The problem is that Mirage can still make 18 issues a year, but they don't want to. Regardless of wether or not Nick bought them, they were still gonna end Tales next year when they don't have to. I'm saying this cause some of the guy that had more ideas with Hun and King Cobra and was wondering if he was gonna have the time to finish it or not. Then Laird is burnt out and might never return to Volume 4. Ths Source book is cancelled. Forever War might take Forever to be released....


So it doesn't matter wether or not Mirage can make 18 comics a year or not.... they just don't want to. What in the god damned hell is holding them back, really????

I was under the impression that while Mirage closes as an employer by the end of this year, it'll still function as a company at least until May 2010.

After all, it has to so they can print copies of the 5 Tales issues coming out next year. So if they still have the printers and all the materials, Murphy could theoretically have them come out after May, assuming that they all don't disband immediately after May.

Its not like they're selling off the building or all their materials or anything.

Ugh, I give up with you people.

I wonder what the outcome will be. At least we will know for sure so we don't have to keep speculating.

I know I sound like a broken record, but I posted this elsewhere:

"The Forever War has been teased, hinted, previewed, then outright advertised over the span of the last 7 or 8 years. We bought the Future Tense reprint/lead-in hoping that those dollars would translate into a delivery on the promise of TFW. While we can't assume it won't happen, we've hung onto every word from you (PL), Murphy, Dan, and those preview write-ups for Future Tense. Please, please don't snatch it away again."

Sounds a bit desperate, I know. But from a basic "fulfill your word" point of view, it got to the point of being marketed by the Future Tense TPB, and being announced as a long-anticipated project. The sale aside, Steve Murphy's overall negative attitude about it, even making money off it by selling his Forever War preview prints on eBay, and now possibly closing it again is a very big slap in the face.

More from Steve.

My second question:

That's terrible news. What has been the challenges in getting it made?

His second answer:

Too many to mention. Writer (me) missing a few deadlines. Artist is no longer a full-time artist, so making time to draw after a full-time day job and two kids to raise has been difficult. And now Mirage no longer owns the TMNT and our comic book rights may not extend outside the "Mirage universe."

Wow, interesting about the "Mirage Universe". Also, seemingly valid points all around. Quite a shame though. Any chance you could ask him if he would, if all else fails, be willing to post his thoughts on how he would have ended it to possibly close the story in our imagination?

Well, if we can get Dark Horse or someone to pick it up maybe he can publish it there. That doesn't help with all the other problems holding it back, though.

If Mirage IS actually barred from the TMNTA universe, wouldn't Nick own it?

That's the stupidest thing I ever heard. Why would Mirage be prevented from releasing comics outside the "Mirage universe?"

Does Nick even know what the hell is part of the Mirage universe or not? If Mirage decided to re-print some old Image issues, would they be stopped from doing that?

Well there's always hope that Archie does it... or maybe even IDW (who are producing several Archie TPB's in 2010)... Who knows... I just hope that SOMEDAY it'll be released.