Has anyone else lost interest with the IDW series?

[Redeemer]

Originally Posted by thelouisguy

A lot of the micro series issues are serving that purpose in the IDWverse. I am hoping to see a second round of micro series issues focusing on each Turtle in the coming year.

Agreed, I feel like this is one reason the micro's are special and sets them apart, but for the individual that just wants to see the fearsome four go on a random venture then we need something else besides the micros bc they usually focus on a single individual.

But also IDW only has 22 pg issues and unfortunately just isn't enough to put out a good solid one shot, so I feel maybe the 2 or even 3 issue arcs could work well for some awesome adventures.

[VaughnMichael]

I buy the trades so I'm patient and wait.
Everything I've been getting is fantastic and I thought the series was crap at first and was like wtf are they doing.
But I'm so hooked at this point and I loved the Secret History of the Foot Clan!

[ChaoticGood]

I haven't lost interest at all, but I'm finding the micro-series and stuff like Secret History of the Foot Clan to be a lot more engaging than the ongoing series. Maybe TMNT stories just work better with short arcs.

[Konchadunga]

Sad to say it, but I kind of have. My problem isn't that it borrows from Mirage, or from the OT, or from the 4Kids show--it's that it isn't doing it particularly well. This quote from Curnow, earlier in the thread, elucidates my problem:

I'm amused that the "How Mirage is it?!?!?" debate is still going on. I'd have hoped that we'd be done with that by now, but it's fair that almost 30 years of TMNT casts a long shadow. We do strive to incorporate from all iterations (Fugitoid will be playing a big part soon— that's a solid check mark in the Mirage column), but let's face it... if you're going to divide it into percentages, OT has the biggest piece of the pie. That's the Turtles that has the most pop-culture reach AND is the most ripe for re-invention. That's a potent mix, and we'd be silly to ignore it.

But just because we're borrowing ideas from OT doesn't mean we're executing them in any way that's close to resembling OT. We're treating those silly characters seriously, and hopefully doing new and fun things with them. And we'll do that with Mirage and Archie stuff too. But again: the aim is to have it all blend into a hearty IDW soup.

This series, from up to what I read (which was the Secret History of the Foot Clan) relies entirely too much on nostalgia-baiting. As a very open-minded fan, I really like the idea of a new universe that incorporates something for everyone and then some, but when they try to do it all so quickly, there's no room to develop much of it.

It hurts even more that in a way, they're reversing development. See; "treating those silly characters seriously" isn't necessarily a good idea, Curnow. I was on board for the turtles making jokes, I didn't mind the colored bandanas, I was willing to see where Krang, Rocksteady and Bebop would go, and I will admit, I love what they did with the Fugitoid, but when it came to the Neutrinos as a whole (my go-to example and the first place this book really disappointed me), I'm sorry; it just doesn't work like that, guys. The Neutrinos are an inherently silly concept. I don't mind their being there, and I like that they can fight better now, but they were designed to be silly-looking in order to look like dated beatniks, and you need to keep that sort of character funny, and make their mannerisms somewhat unique, or all you end up with is embarrassment. I can't read a story of heroic freedom fighters fighting an evil dictator and take it seriously when the former look like that. You mean to tell me there's some tactical purpose to wearing flashy clothes and not cutting your hair? Please.

You've got it all wrong if you think that just taking the humor out of Fred Wolf characters brings them up to Mirage standards. Look at Renet; she originated in Mirage and is definitely a silly, goofy character. Mirage Baxter was also a ham, though not stupid or a butt monkey. The Mirage series is far from universally serious, and hence you can have a Mirage-caliber story with this sort of character--the key is knowing which characters work for which mood, and which don't.

What of the Mirage influences themselves? They're similarly neutered by the no-kill policy. We're supposed to buy that these are the reincarnated heirs from an era of cutthroat civil war, they're up against serious threats to themselves and the world all the time, and they tie arms behind their back for some outdated code? No. I don't care how much you try to claim that killing is the way of weak, anger-driven minds; killing happens in war because it can be quick and effective. If avoiding killing was possible all the time in war without sacrificing effectiveness and efficiency , more people would do it. Obviously, that's not the case. I wish all incarnations had turtles willing to kill at times, but in cartoons they at least have an excuse not to and a surreal sense of fun to compensate. Yet here, once again, they beg us to take this series seriously, yet there's this bit constantly preventing it.

That's not a hearty IDW soup in my opinion. I won't say that they try too hard to please everyone, until they don't please anyone, because obviously a lot of people still love it, but my enthusiasm has dimmed. Do I think this could be done right? Yes, but doing so requires more than acknowledgement of past elements that were fun; it requires an acknowledgement of why they were fun. That's the difference between a tasty tomato and beef soup, and a soup made up of tomato stems and hooves.

[JoshDA7X]

I am still enjoying the series thus far. I agree with points both sides have made such as the killing and such mentioned above but the lack of such topic doesn't really effect the story overall. I think the thought of four children having their heads cut off should be plenty blood thirsty enough without it been shown in all its graphic glory!

[Konchadunga]

But see; that's the problem. I don't demand buckets of blood, but when villains are that ruthless, the attitude of heroes should be "them or me"; not "holier than thou."

[Bobby Curnow]

You can call me Bobby, no need to be so formal with the 'Curnow'. Makes it sound like i'm a robot from the future or something. (am I??)

At the end of the day, we're guys trying our best. No way it's going to please everybody, and sorry it's fallen out for you. While I definitely think we have some ways we can improve, I dig what we're doing, and obviously have a different view on some of it than you. But I get where you're coming from. I think it's largely a matter of what kind of story each individual is looking for.

[Coola Yagami]

I think a problem the turtles are always gonna face when trying to be child-friendly is that they're ninjas. And ninjas kill. And ninjas are usually villains. Or a grey area where they're good and/or bad depending on who hires them. Splinter could send them to kill Shredder today, and rob a rich man tomorrow.

Ninjas are awesome, I get that, but wow, maybe they should have been called karate turtles or whatever so they could keep the martial arts aspect without having to dance around the subject of what they're really supposed to be.

[AquaParade]

Originally Posted by Konchadunga

What of the Mirage influences themselves? They're similarly neutered by the no-kill policy. We're supposed to buy that these are the reincarnated heirs from an era of cutthroat civil war, they're up against serious threats to themselves and the world all the time, and they tie arms behind their back for some outdated code? No. I don't care how much you try to claim that killing is the way of weak, anger-driven minds; killing happens in war because it can be quick and effective. If avoiding killing was possible all the time in war without sacrificing effectiveness and efficiency , more people would do it. Obviously, that's not the case. I wish all incarnations had turtles willing to kill at times, but in cartoons they at least have an excuse not to and a surreal sense of fun to compensate. Yet here, once again, they beg us to take this series seriously, yet there's this bit constantly preventing it.

Bobby,

I think the series has done exceptionally great in a few areas. The first arc shines the brightest for me. Issues #1-5 felt wonderous, unpredictable, and a tad dangerous.

That aside, I think there are some really excellent points being made in this post (Not just the section I've quoted). "Konchadunga" has probably hit the nail on a head for a fair amount of fans on this board.

I haven't lost interest. I'm enjoying this story. I think this series can do way better.

[HeroTurtlesFan]

I would be very put off this book if the Turtles ran round killing the villains. Yes, I know, "Mirage this, Mirage that", but those weren't the Turtles I grew up enjoying. Those aren't the Turtles my 5 and 7 year old son enjoy so much now. Maybe I'm not a "true fan"in some people's eyes, but the Turtles to me just aren't killers.

I am very pleased with how things are progressing, even though I'm a TPB or two behind! I am SO tempted to start with the monthlies, but want to maintain my TPB collection too, and am not fond of double-dipping...

But bottom line, I love this incarnation of the Turtles!

[TomWaltz]

Nope, I haven't lost interest. Still having fun.



Talk soon...

Tom W.

[Coola Yagami]

Originally Posted by TomWaltz

Nope, I haven't lost interest. Still having fun.



Talk soon...

Tom W.

LOL I hope not. If you lost interest, then we're really in trouble. LOL

[CyberCubed]

Originally Posted by Coola Yagami

LOL I hope not. If you lost interest, then we're really in trouble. LOL

Or something like changing the writers of the series, that's something DC and Marvel do with their ongoings and change the head writers.

Hopefully that doesn't happen here. Both Tom Waltz and Bobby are the reason the IDW series is as good as it is so far, and hopefully they stay with the series up until the time it ends.

And its obvious the series is discovering itself and they're learning from some of the mistakes at the beginning of it. I can only imagine how great IDW will be in Years 3 and 4 and beyond.

[AquaParade]

I like what Tom is doing but I wouldn't be opposed to another writer taking the torch at some point down the line.

If it were me, I'd destroy the great new origin that Tom has come up with, chalking up all those memories of their past life as hallucinations due to the drugs they were injected with. It's not that I don't adore the new take on their origin, but I just think there'd be a ton of material to mine from that revelation. Yeah, I'm clearly influenced by Alan Moore's run on Swamp Thing.

Don't worry, it won't be me.

[Toby Barrett]

You'd need an explaination for Shredder possessing the same memories of their lives as them.

[Plasticplayhouse]

Why on earth would you want to change writers!? In another 3-5 year's maybe...if toms getting burned out by then. He's been doing a fantastic job. That's like turning off a movie during the best part. It's way too early for that kind of thought process.

[CyberCubed]

Originally Posted by Plasticplayhouse

Why on earth would you want to change writers!? In another 3-5 year's maybe...if toms getting burned out by then. He's been doing a fantastic job. That's like turning off a movie during the best part. It's way too early for that kind of thought process.

Uh, people were arguing against any writer changes. People want Tom and Bobby in it for the long haul.

[Tazi]

Originally Posted by AquaParade

If it were me, I'd destroy the great new origin that Tom has come up with, chalking up all those memories of their past life as hallucinations due to the drugs they were injected with. It's not that I don't adore the new take on their origin, but I just think there'd be a ton of material to mine from that revelation.

Heh, yeap, that idea came to my mind too. I mean what if it's really not a reincernation, they just posses those memories because someone organised it for a reason.
I actually think it might be a big reveal in the future (or maybe at the end of City Fall), that Kitsune has a role in their resurfaced memories, and it was intended, not just a coincidence.

[Coola Yagami]

Originally Posted by Tazi

Heh, yeap, that idea came to my mind too. I mean what if it's really not a reincernation, they just posses those memories because someone organised it for a reason.
I actually think it might be a big reveal in the future (or maybe at the end of City Fall), that Kitsune has a role in their resurfaced memories, and it was intended, not just a coincidence.

Why would Kitsune arrange these memories for them AND Shredder too? And how would Splinter have these memories when he was still a normal rat? He was still saving April and protecting the Turtles before he was mutated.

It's fine as is and adds an extra layer. It works well for Leo in this Cityfall story.

[Tazi]

Well, we have no idea about who Kitsune was for Krang, and what are her long term goals, or what she did between Saki going into sleep, and she going into sleep.
What she gained by Shredder is getting rid of Krang (or the unnamed utrom, who's very likely Krang), and reaching immortality by resting in ooze for a few hundred years. Also, seems like she foresee the future, she had knowledge of New York while living in the medieval period of Japan.
I honestly wouldn't be suprised, if she did these things for herself, not for Saki, and if it's the case, she might want to get rid of him later, so she might had a plan for that too, in a way that she influenced the time and place of the reincernation of Yoshi and his sons souls from the past. (remember, she sees the future) How can she do something like that? Magic, maybe.
Now it's just a prediction, but I think it's a possibility.

At the same time, I wonder if she had anything to do with Takeshi Tetsuo reincernating as the son of the man who killed him, was it her revenge?