TMNT #4 Preview and Discussion...

[TomWaltz]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

Don't get too excited, folks... he's talking about the letters on the belts.

If I could ask just one question of Mr. Waltz:

(and you can answer this or interpret this question however makes sense to you)

When all is said and done and the status quo (or whatever will resemble "status quo") of the IDW TMNT is more or less established -- you know, origin told, the players, supporting cast, bad guys, key motivations, all of that is pretty well known -- what will we be looking at in terms of percentages of other universes at the core of this universe?

For example, someone might describe/breakdown what we've seen of the IDW TMNT so far as:

30% Mirage TMNT
45% Fred Wolf Cartoon TMNT
10% 4Kids Cartoon TMNT
10% Archie Comics TMNT
5% Movie TMNT

How would you similarly breakdown [the influences/inspirations/derivatives of] the IDW universe when things get a bit more settled?

Dude, I'm a writer. Math? GAH!!!

Seriously, it's hard to put a number on these things, but I will say that whatever we use from the past, whatever iteration, it'll be for a specific reason (not just because) and it will be done in a way that fits into the story we are telling and in the mood we are establishing.

This much is certain -- we will always lean toward gritty and mature as much as possible, without losing the fun (the sales numbers show us we're bringing in new, younger fans and we would be foolish not to keep that in mind). That said, we will never get goofy or cartoonish. Action/drama/humor/fun? Definitely. Silly? No. Never.

[Powder]

I've just finished #4 and I was as excited reading this issue as I was during #1. Lots of questions were brought up, really intriguing ones.
Fantastic art as usual, maybe even some parts looking better than ever. The shot of our 3 boys at the rescue, for example... Wow.
This whole theme of remembering has got me really worked up too (in a good way), it's quite a thought provoking thing we got goin' on here.
Are these the mirage turtles starting from scratch courtesy Renet? A new beginning? Did these fellas have a normal TMNT life for a while & then get reverted to their animal states by a Shredder character before eventually ending up as lab specimens? Is there more to Hob & Raph, was he a surrogate parent to him for some time? Many more questions follow. I can say this of the IDW series, I've never looked forward to their next issue as much as I am right now. Gonna be great to have some of these things unfold finally.

[CyberCubed]

I'd lol if these Turtles are somehow the Mirage Turtles re-incarnated into a new universe. But...that's too crazy.

[TomWaltz]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

I'd lol if these Turtles are somehow the Mirage Turtles re-incarnated into a new universe. But...that's too crazy.

Well, technically if you think about it, ALL TMNT incarnations since the original Mirage days are a reincarnation of sorts...

[CyberCubed]

Originally Posted by Powder

Is there more to Hob & Raph, was he a surrogate parent to him for some time? Many more questions follow. I can say this of the IDW series, I've never looked forward to their next issue as much as I am right now. Gonna be great to have some of these things unfold finally.

I think one of the upcoming summaries said Baxter and Hob try to re-capture the Turtles again. Also curiously we've seen nothing about Baxter's Mouser robots, which has been a staple of his character in every incarnation. Before Baxter gets turned into a cyborg/mutant fly/whatever, he always has his Mousers first as a normal human.

[Powder]

We have too, though, you see! There's a picture of him with a mouser drawn by Dan somewhere, I think the end of the first issue...
It was his final design pieces, but the fact Stockman is paired with the 'lil bot that needed a new look, clearly they plan to make use of 'em.

[Slap-Happy]

Just read the issue today and loved it. Brings up a lot of questions hat will all hopefully be answered.

Also, I concur with Powder, that shot of Leo, Don, and Mike when the fight starts is amazing.

Another question, when can we expect to see the cover and synopsis for #6?

[Redeemer]

Originally Posted by Jester

Well...got it read it...smiled because my letter got printed.

Spoiler:

I'm not sure what I think about what I read from Splinter. So the Turtles and Splinter have been a family in the past and are now a family again, with new names? Is ninja mysticism the key? Reincarnation? Like Splinter himself said in the 4kids series, every answer just seems to raise more questions. I'm a little leery, but I'm growing to like Tom because of his hearty jests here so I'm willing to see where he's going with this...but I'm just so confused.

how do u get ur letter printed!!!! lol that be so awesome, and I do have some Q

Like are splinter and the turtles actaully blood????? Were they humans before hand??Bc at the end when Splinter refers to being a family again makes me wonder in all honesty. I do really enjoy the work you guys r putting into this series and I gotta know when r we gonna get to see some shredder??????

[Powder]

Originally Posted by Redeemer

how do u get ur letter printed!!!! lol that be so awesome, and I do have some Q

Like are splinter and the turtles actaully blood?????

Many think that due to the red bandanas the turtle wear, as well as Splinter being seen in a red robe on occasion.
Truth is, however, that they're Crips. Rumors imply April was once a Latin King.

[Venom]

Originally Posted by TomWaltz

I will share this, though, as far as mish-mashing is concerned... in issue #7, we're bringing in something from the 80's TV Toon in an all-new and exciting (and dare I say, gritty) way that I know will surprise folks and I think a way folks will dig -- old and new, novice and elite fans alike.

The Turtle Van's coming back!!


jk

[CyberCubed]

Originally Posted by Powder

We have too, though, you see! There's a picture of him with a mouser drawn by Dan somewhere, I think the end of the first issue...
It was his final design pieces, but the fact Stockman is paired with the 'lil bot that needed a new look, clearly they plan to make use of 'em.

I remember those, but they didn't quite look like Mousers to me. They had no big mouths, but I realize they could be redesigned.

[Matches Malone]

Originally Posted by Venom

The Turtle Van's coming back!!


jk

But it will be brought back in a gritty way. The origin will include its car manufacturers being murdered in a backalley drug deal and the van taking an oath against crime at their gravestones.

[Andrew NDB]

Just a random guess: the Technodrome.

I wouldn't be against it, really. We already have Krang... and a Krang without his Technodrome, folks would be constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop anyway. I've never really had a problem with the Technodrome on paper... it's a sound idea, but just never realized. Turtles Forever gave a glimpse at how a fully realized, weaponized Technodrome could be and that was pretty cool.

[ToTheNines]

Great stuff in this issue. I'm certainly interested in this past lives thing, except it makes me wonder why Mike and Don were so willing to forget about Raph in issue #3.

That big panel of Leo, Mike and Don after they hit Hob with the shuriken was epic. As was the following spread page. Then the fight with Raph and Hob was intense, loved when Raph bit him on the arm.

The last panel was very touching. Can't wait for next months book.

[AquaParade]

Originally Posted by Powder

I've just finished #4 and I was as excited reading this issue as I was during #1. Lots of questions were brought up, really intriguing ones.
Fantastic art as usual, maybe even some parts looking better than ever. The shot of our 3 boys at the rescue, for example... Wow.
This whole theme of remembering has got me really worked up too (in a good way), it's quite a thought provoking thing we got goin' on here.
Are these the mirage turtles starting from scratch courtesy Renet? A new beginning? Did these fellas have a normal TMNT life for a while & then get reverted to their animal states by a Shredder character before eventually ending up as lab specimens? Is there more to Hob & Raph, was he a surrogate parent to him for some time? Many more questions follow. I can say this of the IDW series, I've never looked forward to their next issue as much as I am right now. Gonna be great to have some of these things unfold finally.

Ah! It's nice to see that I am not the only one speculating that a former tmnt universe has something to do with this - basically what you suggested with
Renee and the mirage turtles. Definitely some awesome potential in that possibility.

[ToTheNines]

Originally Posted by AquaParade

Ah! It's nice to see that I am not the only one speculating that a former tmnt universe has something to do with this - basically what you suggested with
Renee and the mirage turtles. Definitely some awesome potential in that possibility.

I hate to burst your creative bubbles, but when Splinter tells them their names, he says that they are new names.

[AquaParade]

Originally Posted by ToTheNines

I hate to burst your creative bubbles, but when Splinter tells them their names, he says that they are new names.

Good point. Must have slipped my mind, but I remember reading that today and considering the same thing.

[Matches Malone]

Originally Posted by ToTheNines

I hate to burst your creative bubbles, but when Splinter tells them their names, he says that they are new names.

Good point! Though it was more a passing thought than a real theory, the idea that they were the mirage turtles reincarnated did enter my mind. Though my bubble has now been promptly and thoroughly burst.

I enjoyed #4 and it was a satisfying conclusion. There are some unanswered questions, but that's what keeps you hooked. I know this discussion is regarding #4, but I'm taking this opportunity to kind of feel out my impression of the story arc overall now that it has concluded. While the pacing is good throughout, there indeed wasn't a whole lot of plot, but it made for a compelling introduction. The only real driving plot in this arc was finding the long lost brother Raphael, which is an interesting idea, though it did start to falter a bit by #3. Art is great and the writing is steady enough, even though I felt Splinter scratching out TWO eyes in one incident was a bit unnecessarily redundant.

I only have two real complaints. First is the fact that Casey is such a... goody two-shoes. The dialogue in #3 about keeping his promise to his mom was a bit hammy, but "nice boy" Casey isn't so bad, just not my preference. Even if he is such a good guy, I hope there is still opportunity to delve into his character a bit darker since he does beat the daylights out of criminals for fun. What was intriguing about his character in the beginning was that he gave Raph a real bond through their struggles with their anger. True they have their similarities in this series (they are both loners), but it hasn't really come through in Casey's personality yet since he has been so cheerful and optimistic.

My only other disappointment and side effect of the accelerated mutation is that their relationship with humans isn't all that jarring for the turtles; they no longer seem like true outsiders. In the original Mirage story, they were hidden isolated for 15 years and then meet April, a member of a human race that they've never really encountered. Now we have them running away from ninjas to beating up gangs and making friends scarcely a year later. It's not going to ruin the series, but it is disappointing. Hopefully they can work the "freaks unaccepted by society" angle into the story at some point. Starting even with the first issue, I've always really liked Raphael's longing to be part of a world that would never accept him (TMNT clearly had a lot of themes derived from Marvel). Overall, I'd say this first story arc is pretty solid and I would give it an overall "B" or "B-".

[Abnormal Freak]

Originally Posted by TomWaltz

I will share this, though, as far as mish-mashing is concerned... in issue #7, we're bringing in something from the 80's TV Toon in an all-new and exciting (and dare I say, gritty) way that I know will surprise folks and I think a way folks will dig -- old and new, novice and elite fans alike.

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

Just a random guess: the Technodrome.

I was thinking maybe Dimension X, but the Technodrome coinciding with Dimension X makes more sense. ;) I strangely find the idea of another dimension more pleasing than aliens populating the vast regions of space, regardless of how cheesy "Dimension X" kind of is. And hopefully Krang will be the mass-murdering, planet-wiping villain that he is in the earlier Archie issues.

So the Utroms would be from this other dimension, supposing Krang is an Utrom (since the basic components for the mutagen came from him). I dunno. :o I think it's kind of a cool idea. Interested to see where things go.

I'm still not diggin' the idea of the Turtles once being humans, so...I dunno... I'll try not to rip my hair out if that's one of the big reveals next issue.

Spoiler:

But the first thing that popped into my head when Splinter said something like, "there are many things you don't yet remember," was that maybe they were once previously regular turtles, but having bumped into Krang somehow were mutated, but being formidable foes, Krang "got rid of" them by using them as test subjects for the super soldier serum or whatever, being the source where the serum came from...and so they were reduced to regular, small animals again—except Splinter retained some level of memory and intelligence throughout the whole ordeal.

Farfetched? :D Heck, I dunno.

Whatever. I've enjoyed the story so far, so I'll probably dig whatever has been thought up.

[Powder]

Originally Posted by Abnormal Freak

Farfetched? Heck, I dunno.

I was thinking along those same lines...