Future of the TMNT website?

[oldmanwinters]

Without Mirage involvement and without the rights to the franchise, is there any chance this site will even exist after all the rights are finalized?

If so, this will be a very great loss to TMNT fans. It's a great archive for toys, comics, and the tv shows (with their DVD episode listings). Dan Berger has done a great job with this in both content and communication; without him I don't see a future for it.

If this site goes away, will we lose a definitive TMNT archival source?

Any thoughts or reliable information?

EDIT: Official statement by Dan Berger October 23, 2009

Howdy folks,

If you haven't heard the news, Peter Laird has sold all intellectual property rights to the TMNT franchise to Nickelodeon. So Nick now owns the TMNT lock, stock and barrel. Of note, Peter did retain the right to publish up to 18 TMNT comics per year should he choose to do so - thus Mirage Publishing will remain in business at least until May, 2010.

Check out the press release from Viacom (they own Nick and numerous other entertainment companies) here.

Check out Peter Laird's comments about the deal here.

At some point, Nick will assume control of the ninjaturtles.com domain name and Mirage will no longer be involved. Let me say it's been an honor and pleasure talking with all of you over the years and I'll miss this job more than I can say - but all good things come to an end and when doors close, doors open...

Speaking of which, I will be creating a new Mirage Studios web site for us to continue posting news and info about our comics. This site will be up and running soon and hopefully there will be a link here before any major changes take place.

I'm tempted to say "So long, and thanks for all the fish" - but we'll still be here for a bit and we'll definitely be around at the new Mirage site once it's established. So please keep checking back here to find the new Mirage Studios URL over the next few weeks - and have an awesome weekend.

Cheers!
- Dan