TMNT RPG book we never got

[oldmanwinters]

I wasn't really sure this was thread worthy at first, but I shot this by DrSpengler, and he thought it might be worthy of public viewing. If you are not familiar with the Palladium series of TMNT RPG books published between 1985-1990, then check out this thread:
http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showthread.php?t=32860

The thing is, Palladium planned to put out at least one more major TMNT sourcebook, an extensive revision of the original volume that would feature some kickin' new art capturing the Turtles & company in their "new" Next Mutation era appearance. It appears to have been completed sometime around 1997, yet continuously delayed until Palladium dropped the license after 2000. The following is my account of how I learned of this fact.

Anyhoo, while at my local comic shop on Wednesday to pick up Darkwing Duck and Ghostbusters, I spotted a surprising sight. It appeared to be yet another Palladium RPG book featuring the TMNT! Alas, this was not quite the case, rather it was an issue of Palladium's "The Rifter," which I assume functioned as their fan-zine/newsletter/gaming supplement back in the late 90s-early00s. It featured an awesome Simon Bisley cover (even if he can't correlate the weapons with the right turtle) with some original TMNT artwork inside. Apparently, this may have been the last TMNT-associated product that Palladium ever put out, as it announces why they decided to discontinue the license and cancel the proposed TMNT RPG, 2nd Edition.















It's a shame that book never saw the light of day, Paulo Parentes Studio had drawn up some niiiice work; I never knew the "Next Mutation" designs could look so awesome! I started to wonder if the rest of their work is still out there somewhere buried under somebody's stack of papers.

Here's what little I was able to find about the never published "TMNT RPG, 2nd Edition" on the internet:

An extensively revised, updated, and expanded second edition of the TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG, now being titled TMNT & More Strangeness, is being readied by Palladium Books, with new material from the Image Comics series (Volume 3) and Simon Bisley (of Lobo & Body Count fame) art (will somebody remind him that the comic book TMNT do not have different colored bandannas & lettered belts already?). After missing an expected release date of "Fall 1997," then missing another release date of "May 1998," then again missed its scheduled release of "late October or November 1998," was slated for release on January 29th, 1999, was slated for release in "late February," and was yet again slated for release on "April 30th," and currently has a much more broad "late summer 99" release date.

Alas, it was not meant to be. Paladium canned this 2nd edition when sales began to dip in the Image TMNT series during 1999.
http://members.fortunecity.com/neode...e/tmntrpg.html

Official Palladium site, courtesy of Internet Archive:

The expanded edition of this best-selling RPG will include character & world updates, new villains, the mutant underground, new artwork, new cover, and over 20 pages of additional material.
Don't underestimate the popularity of the Second Edition among old fans of the first edition, and the suitability of its use with Heroes Unlimited, 2nd Edition.
We regret the frequent delay of this title and we will slot it in for a summer release -- probably August.

Cat. No. 502-2
Retail Price: $12.95
Page Count: 128 pages
Cover by: Simon Bisley
Interior Art: The Parente Studio, Jim Lawson, Eastman, Laird and others.
Written by: Erick Wujcik and Kevin Siembieda
Compatible with Heroes Unlimted™, 2nd Edition.
Date of Release: Summer 2000.
http://web.archive.org/web/199910090...ess/press.html

Looking back over a decade after the fact as a person who has next to no interest in RPG gaming, I have to admit I'm really disappointed the book never saw the light of day, as the sample art in "The Rifter" looks amazing; I can only dream of what treats might have awaited in a 128 page volume! The saddest part of the story is how Palladium only got about 30 pre-orders for a book that was solicited for a long, long time. I'm guessing some of you long-time, hardcore TMNT fans out there were among that small but faithful group. Can anybody else shed some more information on this lost piece of TMNT lore?

The editor's explanation for cancellation:
http://web.archive.org/web/200002291....com/tmnt.html