IDW's Secret History of The Foot Clan

[Metallicabmc]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

People keep piping up with, "But it's so nice and so much fun to see all these Fred Wolf things changed into serious and cool things in IDW TMNT!"

I don't dispute that it's probably possible to change (in some cases detrimentally to the character... for example, if they remove Bebop and Rocksteady's stupidity, they cease to be Bebop and Rocksteady because that's their thing... and yet if they don't remove it, why would you want them in your supposedly serious comic?) Fred Wolf elements and alter them so as to make less campy or less inherently kiddy. I don't, it's possible.

But by the same light, is it probably possible for a team that was so inclined to make an ultra-serious, no-nonsense revival version of Grape Ape? Of Marvin the Martian? Of Popeye? Of course. But why would I want to sit down and see that?

I'd rather calories be burned coming up with new ideas and characters than spending so much time and energy trying to reverse engineer goofy ones into not-so-goofy ones.

Because it is fun to see old familiar characters get rebooted and it creates a draw for new readers. I like new ideas too and there will no doubt be plenty of those. I just dont think the ot references are so numerous as to even worry that the writers are out of ideas.

[corvus]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

People keep piping up with, "But it's so nice and so much fun to see all these Fred Wolf things changed into serious and cool things in IDW TMNT!"

I don't dispute that it's probably possible to change (in some cases detrimentally to the character... for example, if they remove Bebop and Rocksteady's stupidity, they cease to be Bebop and Rocksteady because that's their thing... and yet if they don't remove it, why would you want them in your supposedly serious comic?) Fred Wolf elements and alter them so as to make less campy or less inherently kiddy. I don't, it's possible.

By the same light, is it probably possible for a team that was so inclined to make an ultra-serious, no-nonsense revival version of Grape Ape? Of Marvin the Martian? Of Popeye? Of course. But why would I want to sit down and see that?

I'd rather calories be burned coming up with new ideas and characters than spending so much time and energy trying to reverse engineer goofy ones into not-so-goofy ones. I know there's folks around here that value simple nostalgia and "Ooooh, I can't wait to see who shows up from the Fred Wolf show next! Let it be the Punk Frogs !" kind of twists over anything else, but I'm only interested in pound for pound the best possible storytelling and characters.

Pretty much yeah. Making bebop and rocksteady more ignorant instead of stupid may work but how the hell are they gonna name them bebop and rocksteady without it sounding completely stupid and out if place? But I get your whole point, people wanted to have the mutimals in ths universe. I mean why? What purpose would that serve besides making the whole series more cartoonish.

[dkram230]

Erik Burnham just had a fairly large post on this thread that went up and then vanished. hmm...

[Metallicabmc]

Originally Posted by corvus

Pretty much yeah. Making bebop and rocksteady more ignorant instead of stupid may work but how the hell are they gonna name them bebop and rocksteady without it sounding completely stupid and out if place? But I get your whole point, people wanted to have the mutimals in ths universe. I mean why? What purpose would that serve besides making the whole series more cartoonish.

What if they dont name them in the comic. Yeah we would know they are Bebop and Rocksteady but was Slash ever mentioned by name? I dont see the big deal in changing their characters. The same people complaining about OT characters being in the comic because they are too cartoony complain that changing them is pointless? Theres no pleasing these people. Whats so wrong with having an actual threatening version of Bebop and Rocksteady...they can still be slightly dumb without being complete morons. Whats wrong with having a Technodrome that is an actual deathstar like threat instead of a generic castle greyskull type hideout. Whats wrong with this menacing version of Krang? Why is taking things from the OT any different than taking things from the Mirage comic? I think the writers are doing an excellent job at combining things from the different universes while still putting a new twist on it.

[Erik Burnham]

I removed my post because I wanted to reconsider how I posted it. (:

The reader's digest version:

The best of the concepts from the entirety of the TMNT universe can be used in ways that are silly or serious, and whether Mirage or Archie or the cartoon iterations are the ones that are most identifiable to one as "the right one," that holds true. The Triceratons and Cudley the Cowlick, to name two. I can certainly imagine "dinosaurs from space" as a silly, cartoony, comedic gimmick. And I can imagine a giant, grotesque, disembodied head that can transport things through space by swallowing them as something that'd work in a serious story.

It's an action franchise, so comedy or drama can be turned up or down and things can still work -- like Bebop & Rocksteady; stupid doesn't necessarily equal less dangerous. (Less dangerous was a byproduct of the cartoon.)

New concepts are tricky, since so much has been done many fans would ask "this thing you're presenting as new is a lot like this other thing with a franchise history -- why didn't you just use that?" There's a lot to mine. Why not use a toy that's there?

It all comes down to the concept and liking what you like. If you associate exhibit A with something you want to keep in the silly box, it will never work for you in a serious way. And vice versa.

The post just got me thinking, as a writer -- I took down my other comments (and these are rather unfocused, I admit) but I didn't want to sound like I was saying liking or not liking a particular iteration was right or wrong.

[corvus]

Originally Posted by Metallicabmc

What if they dont name them in the comic. Yeah we would know they are Bebop and Rocksteady but was Slash ever mentioned by name? I dont see the big deal in changing their characters. The same people complaining about OT characters being in the comic because they are too cartoony complain that changing them is pointless? Theres no pleasing these people. Whats so wrong with having an actual threatening version of Bebop and Rocksteady...they can still be slightly dumb without being complete morons. Whats wrong with having a Technodrome that is an actual deathstar like threat instead of a generic castle greyskull type hideout. Whats wrong with this menacing version of Krang? Why is taking things from the OT any different than taking things from the Mirage comic? I think the writers are doing an excellent job at combining things from the different universes while still putting a new twist on it.

I've never been a fan of the OT. Honestly I didn't know what the hell neutrinos were til this comic came so l really don't care about changing the characters. They do mention slash by name, I like the new version of Krang and I just said making Bebop and Rocksteady ignorant instead of stupid would work. The names Bebop and Rocksteady are silly and I don't see how they'd get those names. Having unnamed versions just wouldn't work.

[Erik Burnham]

Lots of ways to get a nickname that sticks, and lots of ways to pick a nickname.

Think about internet handles; everyone has a reason for picking the one they do, but for an outside observer, without any additional info, some handles can seem to not make sense without explanation.

[Redeemer]

I really loved this issue, I like the art style.
But....

Spoiler:

I have mixed emotions about krang being the (Iron Demon), I was wondering if they were going to make another demon shredder like in the 2k3 series, but I thought Krang's exosuit was fitting. I am just glad it didn't look nearly as rediculous as it did in the OT. I am hoping they will use more mirage material in the future.

Great issue overall, really enjoyed the art work and style.

[corvus]

Originally Posted by Erik Burnham

Lots of ways to get a nickname that sticks, and lots of ways to pick a nickname.

Think about internet handles; everyone has a reason for picking the one they do, but for an outside observer, without any additional info, some handles can seem to not make sense without explanation.

Yeah like why the Hell do they call you Erik Burnham?

[Master Splinter]

What a great story!

Oh wait I didn't get my copy today because my flipping LCS didn't put it in my pull and hold like I asked them and they sold all the copies on the floor. I am fuming, I only get 3 comics, 4 if there is a micro-series going. I see people come in and grabbing their p&h's with like 20 books. This isn't the first time either, I am about ready to find another outlet...

-ms

[Ninjinister]

Originally Posted by Vegeta

Then you must find pretty much every comic book in existence sad then. I think April is better as a woman than a child. Sorry this seems to always scare everyone here. Probably a lot of virgins on this board.

What the actual f**k does that even mean? If anything it would seem to me that a virgin would be more likely to objectify a fictional female character, on the whole.

Besides, "I've had sex and you haven't" is a stupid way to put one's self on a pedestal and trust me, so many others around here have tried that angle and gotten the banhammer for it.

Originally Posted by Oculus Orbus

No one really ever say such things about male characters.

It must be nice to live in your world. If you want to stay there, keep away from DeviantArt, Google Image Search, and whatever blog client kids are using these days.

Aaaaaaaaaaanyway....

I really liked the story, this is quite a gripping tale, so far. As a fan of Japanese mythology (and mythology in general) it was nice to see things like the kitsune hit up.

Did I miss what Masato's family name is? I assume it's not Hamato since Splinter called him master and not father. Or is Masato his family name and his given name's what I'm not seeing?

And is it me, or does the Tetsu Oni look like Rocksteady tried to make his own version of the 80's Krang robot?

[oldmanwinters]

Finally read it just now.

So much info coming at me that my brain didn't really comprehend it.

Art looked beautiful on every page.

Gonna have to go through this one again.

[Ninjinister]

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

Finally read it just now.

So much info coming at me that my brain didn't really comprehend it.

Art looked beautiful on every page.

Gonna have to go through this one again.

I had to read it twice to process a couple of things

(BTW currently smashing heads with you, if you catch my drift)

[Erik Burnham]

Originally Posted by corvus

Yeah like why the Hell do they call you Erik Burnham?

Because of Magneto and American Beauty?*






*Not really. (;

[Erik Burnham]

Originally Posted by Prefight Doughnuts

Did I miss what Masato's family name is? I assume it's not Hamato since Splinter called him master and not father. Or is Masato his family name and his given name's what I'm not seeing?

And is it me, or does the Tetsu Oni look like Rocksteady tried to make his own version of the 80's Krang robot?

He's just Masato. Never gave his full name in the Splinter micro. Thought about doing it here, but he's a relatively minor character.

And now I'm going to imagine the hilarity of him being called Hamato Masato. Sounds like a Disney song. (;

[DrSpengler]

Here's my review of Secret History of the Foot Clan #1 at TMNT Entity.

Admittedly, I'm a sucker for world-building and self-indulgent forays into internal mythology, so a book like this was right up my alley. But even if others aren't into that sort of thing, there was a motherload of action in this issue, so it felt pretty balanced in regards to appeal.

While the personalized bandanas were a little much, I naturally loved Santolouco's art. I enjoy the economical and always on time art of the ongoing series, but these Microseries and Minis are great for getting the lavish, detail-heavy art to us. Santalouco's stuff is just great to look at. I was a bit bummed he didn't apply more of the physical uniqueness to the Turtles as seen in his Deviant Art stuff, as that would make sense for this incarnation of the characters more than any other (seeing as how they're all different ages), but it's really no big deal. Great, great stuff (Batman-bandana Leonardo and all).

It's such a small thing, but I loved the origin given for the Foot Clan' symbol. Minute details like that just bring the whole story to life for me. Dunno why the 4Kids version of the Foot symbol was smattered all over the book, but whatever.

Anyway, I'm dying to get some answers and looking forward to all the new questions, which seems to be "the usual" when it comes to IDW's TMNT series. Always keeping you guessing...

[ToTheNines]

Wow. I've been pretty pleased with the IDW Turtles run since it started, but I must say this was the most satisfying individual issue of the whole run. I love love love the ancient Japan stuff, and would like to see the ongoing spend more time there, so this book was destined to be right up my alley from the get go.

Dr. Miller seems like a super interesting character, definitely obsessive. I read his dialogue hearing Bryan Cranston's voice in my head, so I hope he sticks around after the mini is done.

The art was gorgeous! I loved the Winter setting back in Japan, and really dig most of MS's designs. His Mikey and Donnie were a bit too stylized for me, as I ended up hearing Cipes as Mikey and Mitchell Whitfield for Don (instead of the usual 4kids voices I do in the ongoing, with the exception of Nolan North as Raph). Aside from that I loved everything else, particularly Karai, April and Splinter. Shredder's lair was awesome looking, too.

Crazy to think that Shredder was raised by such a stand up guy, but I bet Magi doesn't have much more life to live. I too loved the subtle inspiration for the Foot Clan's name (every version has their own explanation, I think I like this one the best). As for the ending...

Spoiler:

Called it!... kinda... I was 100 percent expecting Ch'rell but I guess that pretty much has to be Krang. I never would have thought we'd be seeing an IDW version of the old Captain Cold glasses/red underwear Krang exosuit but here it is lol.

This raises a ton of questions though, as far as the ongoing is concerned. Makes me wonder how far in advance this was plotted too.

So yeah, I'm phsyched about this. This book (at least, part 1 of it) is what I've been waiting for ever since we saw Oroku Saki in feudal Japan in #5 way back in December 2011. Thankfully, it's only a two week wait until #2!

9.8/10

[Vegeta]

Santalouco's art was gorgeous and this book was so good. As another poster said, so much information! Can't wait til the next issue.

[Venom]

Since we've met Saki's dad, Maji, I wonder if his older brother Nagi will ever show up?

[Plasticplayhouse]

great issue, story was excellent. 99% love the art, hate the individually stylized masks.