Why do you think the TMNT franchise had so few bombs?
 

The only true bomb of the TMNT franchise was of course the Next Mutation series. A grand total of 1 season that crashed and burned the moment it started and most of its characters were rendered non-canon. If it weren't for the recent DVD releases the show would have all but faded away into obscurity as if it never happened.

The franchise has 3 successful cartoon series which went well above and beyond the number of episodes most cartoons last nowadays. In the days where it's rare to see a cartoon go beyond 65 episodes, to have two cartoons nearing almost 200 episodes is a feat. The Nick cartoon confirmed for at least 3 seasons and 78 episodes and probably more after that is in addition to this fact.

The Mirage comic run spanned nearly 30 years and the Archie TMNT run went on for over 100 issues with the specials combined. The IDW comic reboot has already gotten off to a good start and sales are strong enough to last years to come.

While the 2007 movie was a bit under the radar, it made back its production costs and pulled a profit for Imagi. Too bad the company went out of business after Astro Boy. The original movie trilogy also made millions despite the mixed reception of Movie III.

Why do you think the TMNT franchise has so many successful incarnations?

There are TMNT versions for everyone. Dark Mirage comics for teens/older people, the more children and family-friendly 1987 show, and some universes between them.

You don't know what that means.

NM is canon to the Power Rangers universe, so it's valid somewhere

TMNT franchise doesn't bomb because it's the exact same story told over and over again. If you want to make money, you don't screw around tremendously with something that was successful. Take a look at Spider-Man, X-Men, Batman, and Superman. Same story... told again and again over dozens of iterations. People just don't get tired of things they like.

Why do you think everyone believes the Michael Bay movie will bomb? Because all indications are he's going to screw around with the material too much.

Bays film isnt going to bomb, it'll make to much money, think of transformers, fans didn't think it was great, but it made money.

Rumor has it TNM didn't even really bomb that hard but rather costs were too high to keep it running based on it's basically average ratings.

If I remember correctly, TNM did well, but got canned in favor of Power Rangers due to cost issues.

Yes, Dark broody Mirage, just like the average Spider-Man or Avengers issue..,

This. TNM was actually very successful the year it was on. Peter Laird threw his hissy fit about it only after he bought out Kevin.

Multiple versions of the TMNT franchise have not done this. At all.

The concept is very strong, so it always had a hook.

I think it's meant that basically, it's the same concept. Four turtles fall into the Manhattan Island sewers, are mutated along with a rat, fight some gangs, befriend April, fight off Baxter Stockman and Shredderm encounter aliens.

The only real big "bomb" was the movie franchise with the third movie, since it contained a story that the average casual fan had no clue about (Time travel, ancient Japanese origins, along with poor costumes/unfunny plot). You could consider the "Gettin Down in your Town" follow-up to "Coming Out of Their Shells" as another bomb, though it wasn't promoted as much as COOTS. There was also the poor-selling and poor reception "Turtle Tunes" and "Turtle Xmas", which all were poor in numerous ways that tend to get a pass as they were released during MMPR's popularity and casuals saw anything TMNT as "so early '90s".

But part of the formula that keeps TMNT its longetivity is Eastman & Laird; at least one helped approve each comic, animated series, and some movies to ensure that it would be a success, and the criticism of last year's leaked Michael Bay script proves his testament. They are more than just the creators; they are the moral guardians to prevent a silly project from passing through. The core characters are also very easy to relate to and all possess real world abilities and lessons. Its also easy enough to understand how one universe relates to another via shout-outs and art styles.

I don't really count those Turtle Christmas stuff or singing nonsense as "bombs" since they're such low-key stuff to begin with that nobody would remember them besides the very oldest fans.

The Dreamwave series bombed.

Actually, I think quite a few bombed...

Vol 2 got cancelled after 13 issues, Vol 3 lasted a tad longer but eventually got plugged, Vol 4 was put on indefinite hiatus by Laird 15 issues short of its conclusion (maybe less I'm not sure). The DW comics based on the 4kids toon also floundered and died prematurely.

I'm not really sure what is to be considered as 'bomb', but all this series had trouble and got plugged. And this is the stuff I know about, I never got to watch TNM or the second and third movie (yeah I'm a heretic). Again, I might be misinterpreting what constitutes 'bomb', but none of these series ended their run on their own terms.

Thank you, Martinf. You can't claim there were few bombs if you don't give an example of a "bomb" or try to write off those that many would consider bombs, like Turtle Tunes and Christmas.

I think it was the other day that we were discussing the fact that, after Vol 1 ended, things were pretty much downhill for the comics.

Here's the thread if you are interested: http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showthread.php?t=41363

I wouldn't consider any of these bombs at all. Volume 2 ended quickly but it came directly after Volume 1 and they didn't have to restart the episode count at all. The Image series lasted 23 issues and Vol. 4 is PL's own personal pet project.

Not to mention these are all the same Mirage universe. The Mirage-verse lasted 30 years, does it matter if it took a hiatus every now and then?

Dreamwave did bomb but it was just a cartoon adaption so it doesn't matter.

Because this series is much better then most other things on tv...