Peter Laird reacts to IDW TMNT preview/press release

*Andrew NDB* · 05-20-2011, 11:02 AM

"Andrew NDB said...
What are your reactions to this: http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/0...2; Kevin Eastman basically launching the new IDW TMNT series."

Peter Laird:
Not to be too nit-picky, but -- at least from what I got from reading the press release -- I don't think it's really accurate to say that Kevin is "basically launching" the new TMNT comic series. It seems more like he is collaborating with the new creative team

That said, I hope he has a lot of fun with it. He hasn't really done any new TMNT comics stuff in a long time, as far as I know, and it might be a real blast for him to get back to it. Maybe he has some really great ideas for TMNT stories. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

And because you asked for my reaction to the press release -- not just the part about Kevin's involvement (which I actually already knew about) -- I have to put my two cents in about the artwork shown, at least the stuff in color which I assume are covers (or cover mock-ups). It's got a nice energy and captures a lot of that essential mutant turtle vibe, but there are -- at least to my eye -- some really awkward bits (Michelangelo apparently having two knee joints on his right leg, Donatello's huge bulbous shell, and an odd stylization which makes the Turtles' plastrons look like untucked-in shirts, particularly noticeable in the Raphael cover).

But the weirdest thing (again, to my eye) is the replacement of the Turtles' brown leather knee and elbow pads and wristbands with what appear to me pale green bandages -- that, I just do not get.

Not that I would be a staunch defender of those accessories for any logical reason -- I mean, Kevin and I gave the Turtles those knee and elbow pads and wristbands when we created them back in 1983, and the Turtles kept them pretty much unchanged for 25 years, even though they never made THAT much practical sense to begin with (why DO ninjas need elbow pads, anyway?)… we just thought they looked kind of neat and they became a part of the whole iconic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles "look". And given that IDW -- from what I see in this artwork -- is keeping the basic look of the Turtles pretty close to the originals, I don't see the point in changing this particular detail. I suppose it could be a design directive from the new owners of the property. Who knows? But in my opinion, it looks kind of goofy. -- PL

P.S. I do think it is sort of funny that in Kevin's drawing, he DID leave the classic elbow and knee pads on the Turtles… I wonder if that will have to be changed?

05-20-2011, 11:02 AM	#1
Andrew NDB Weed Whacker Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Auburn, WA Posts: 34,594	Peter Laird reacts to IDW TMNT preview/press release "Andrew NDB said... What are your reactions to this: http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/0...2; Kevin Eastman basically launching the new IDW TMNT series." Peter Laird: Not to be too nit-picky, but -- at least from what I got from reading the press release -- I don't think it's really accurate to say that Kevin is "basically launching" the new TMNT comic series. It seems more like he is collaborating with the new creative team That said, I hope he has a lot of fun with it. He hasn't really done any new TMNT comics stuff in a long time, as far as I know, and it might be a real blast for him to get back to it. Maybe he has some really great ideas for TMNT stories. I guess we'll have to wait and see. And because you asked for my reaction to the press release -- not just the part about Kevin's involvement (which I actually already knew about) -- I have to put my two cents in about the artwork shown, at least the stuff in color which I assume are covers (or cover mock-ups). It's got a nice energy and captures a lot of that essential mutant turtle vibe, but there are -- at least to my eye -- some really awkward bits (Michelangelo apparently having two knee joints on his right leg, Donatello's huge bulbous shell, and an odd stylization which makes the Turtles' plastrons look like untucked-in shirts, particularly noticeable in the Raphael cover). But the weirdest thing (again, to my eye) is the replacement of the Turtles' brown leather knee and elbow pads and wristbands with what appear to me pale green bandages -- that, I just do not get. Not that I would be a staunch defender of those accessories for any logical reason -- I mean, Kevin and I gave the Turtles those knee and elbow pads and wristbands when we created them back in 1983, and the Turtles kept them pretty much unchanged for 25 years, even though they never made THAT much practical sense to begin with (why DO ninjas need elbow pads, anyway?)… we just thought they looked kind of neat and they became a part of the whole iconic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles "look". And given that IDW -- from what I see in this artwork -- is keeping the basic look of the Turtles pretty close to the originals, I don't see the point in changing this particular detail. I suppose it could be a design directive from the new owners of the property. Who knows? But in my opinion, it looks kind of goofy. -- PL P.S. I do think it is sort of funny that in Kevin's drawing, he DID leave the classic elbow and knee pads on the Turtles… I wonder if that will have to be changed? __________________ [ ODYSSEY \| ORIGIN \| THE IMAGE/VOL. 3 CONCLUSION \| THE SHELLSHOCKED PODCAST \| ON FACEBOOK ]