TMNT #4 Preview and Discussion...

[Matches Malone]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

TomWaltz keeps saying the Turtles only being mutated for 15 months will be addressed at some point...so I wonder what it is. Because as said they can't possibly be "teenagers" if they are baby turtles instantly mutated.

The only thing I can think of is some bizarre time warp where the Turtles get sent off to for 15 years while time passes slowly on Earth, so when the Turtles return April/Casey are still the same age or something like that.

I doubt time traveling will be a part of the turtles' origin, but hopefully it will be part of some future adventures (no pun intended)!

I get the creeping feeling the explanation will be more along the lines of "the turtles were already 15 years old (or some other teenage year) by the time they mutate" since the writers seem to be advocating the idea that their sentience and self-awareness predate their mutation; Raphael, Splinter, and Old Hob have all displayed recognition of memories that occurred before they were mutated. I'm actually okay with this since at least the logic will be consistent and I kind of like the idea that their lives did not begin with mutation. The teenage issue isn't even really a big deal for me, though I'm sure it is for others; I am simply curious how it will be addressed.

Also of note, the question was asked with Volume 4 about whether Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles would continue to be considered "Teenagers" since they were in their 30's in that series to which Peter Laird responded that he essentially just like the title and won't be changing it. Thinking of them as teenagers is an iconic part of their comic book identity, so even though they are now in their 30's, he probably just considered it a continuation of their adventures that begin with their teen years. That's how I'd like to think of it, anyway.