Casey Jones Spinoff, Annual 2025 and Peter Laird's return

[neatoman]

I really hope this thing about Peter Laird doesn't turn out to be another Last Ronin scenario, you know, "Peter Laird wrote a first draft synopsis that served as the basis for a new story we made, so let's give him partial writing credit!". I mean, it was cool of them to acknowledge that he was technically the guy to come up with the concept but I've read the parts of the synopsis that IDW themselves published, the final product only vaguely resembles that early draft.

[nidza_maj2000]

Originally Posted by neatoman

I really hope this thing about Peter Laird doesn't turn out to be another Last Ronin scenario, you know, "Peter Laird wrote a first draft synopsis that served as the basis for a new story we made, so let's give him partial writing credit!". I mean, it was cool of them to acknowledge that he was technically the guy to come up with the concept but I've read the parts of the synopsis that IDW themselves published, the final product only vaguely resembles that early draft.

You are right, what do you think TMNT Journeys will be about? Do you think it could be TMNT stories from different maybe?

[Braeden99]

Originally Posted by neatoman

I really hope this thing about Peter Laird doesn't turn out to be another Last Ronin scenario, you know, "Peter Laird wrote a first draft synopsis that served as the basis for a new story we made, so let's give him partial writing credit!". I mean, it was cool of them to acknowledge that he was technically the guy to come up with the concept but I've read the parts of the synopsis that IDW themselves published, the final product only vaguely resembles that early draft.

Or that 4 page story from the 40th anniversary comic, which was all just Eastman. At least Laird was involved with the front cover though.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by ToTheNines

Image #24/25, etc.

And maybe you haven't seen the last of that #24 and #25.

[IndigoErth]

Huh. With his age and past mentions of possibly having some struggles with health (but who doesn't at 70+) I really didn't have any expectations for him doing much more, if anything.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

Huh. With his age and past mentions of possibly having some struggles with health (but who doesn't at 70+) I really didn't have any expectations for him doing much more, if anything.

For all we know he's already written a bunch of new stuff and it's sitting in a drawer.

[IndigoErth]

True, very possible there's stuff that got shelved.

[CyberCubed]

Remember back in like 2014, PL said he wanted Vol. 4 to end in exactly 6 issues and had plans for those final 6 issues. And we're now in 2025 and nothing happened in over 10 years.

I always said he should just give the story beats/ideas to Jim Lawson and let him plot out the last 6 issues based on whatever Peter Laird wanted to happen. They should of done this years ago.

[ToTheNines]

Originally Posted by neatoman

I really hope this thing about Peter Laird doesn't turn out to be another Last Ronin scenario, you know, "Peter Laird wrote a first draft synopsis that served as the basis for a new story we made, so let's give him partial writing credit!". I mean, it was cool of them to acknowledge that he was technically the guy to come up with the concept but I've read the parts of the synopsis that IDW themselves published, the final product only vaguely resembles that early draft.

The pessimistic side of me also thought this immediately. I’m also still feeling a little burned by that debacle. ****ers.

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

And maybe you haven't seen the last of that #24 and #25.

Man, if you’re hinting at that script being used for Journeys… not to take anything away from Arsiney because I loved his work on those books, but the idea of Fosco penciling that story all these years later has me ready to blast a nut.

[AlZarkovski]

TMNT: Journeys will be Vol.4 reprint.

https://comicbook.com/comics/news/tm...dw-publishing/

[Andrew NDB]

That article writer seems obsessed with Image's state of non-canon.

[neatoman]

Originally Posted by AlZarkovski

TMNT: Journeys will be Vol.4 reprint.

https://comicbook.com/comics/news/tm...dw-publishing/

Oh... Well, I guess it's more than logical to credit Laird with writing that one. Even if I was hoping for something brand new, this does mean that those particular comics will finally be easily obtained internationally and I can finally get a trade to put on my shelf. Not really seeing him finish the story just because IDW decided to reprint it though, but we can always hope.

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

That article writer seems obsessed with Image's state of non-canon.

I mean... It is though. Considering that not only was it declared non-canon when volume 4 started but IDW reprinted it with a new ending that makes no sense in the context of volume 4, so it's probably for the best to make it clear that Image's book isn't canon.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by neatoman

but IDW reprinted it with a new ending that makes no sense in the context of volume 4

It was literally written (and then rewritten a little) so as to be compatible with Volume 4.

[CyberCubed]

It's good Vol. 4 will finally be collected, it seems they're doing the same thing as with the Image series and releasing single issues before collecting it though. But with Image they made sure to have a conclusion to the series before it ended, here Vol. 4 will just end on a random issue.

I hope this is a hint a Vol. 4 conclusion is planned when they release issue #32. Also does IDW even have the rights to print the last two issues or so? I remember PL printed them independently or something.

[ToTheNines]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

That article writer seems obsessed with Image's state of non-canon.

Yeah that pissed me off too lol.

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

It was literally written (and then rewritten a little) so as to be compatible with Volume 4.

Yeah and even before the 2011 books or the new Urban Legends issues existed, Peter purposefully called his book volume FOUR and had it take place like 10 years after volume 3 took place.

He never referenced those stories, but he also never contradicted them either. It’s basically no different than saying the Gang Wars arc isn’t canon because Peter didn’t reference it at all. Or any other Tales story that doesn’t fit that criteria.

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

It's good Vol. 4 will finally be collected, it seems they're doing the same thing as with the Image series and releasing single issues before collecting it though. But with Image they made sure to have a conclusion to the series before it ended, here Vol. 4 will just end on a random issue.

I hope this is a hint a Vol. 4 conclusion is planned when they release issue #32. Also does IDW even have the rights to print the last two issues or so? I remember PL printed them independently or something.

I think they’ll reprint the last couple of issues too. This seems to be a special deal they’ve struck with Peter. I just yesterday was reading one of his old blog posts from 2017 and he told someone that IDW wasn’t authorized to reprint volume 4 at all.

Also I’m positive this will lead to the conclusion just like Urban Legends if sales are good enough.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

I hope this is a hint a Vol. 4 conclusion is planned when they release issue #32. Also does IDW even have the rights to print the last two issues or so? I remember PL printed them independently or something.

They do not, but this is almost assuredly being done above board with him and his blessing, so I'm sure he'd OK 32 and so on.

I must admit, it may seem like a small thing, but Kevin doing new covers for Vol. 4 is pretty wild. And cool.

[Zog The Magnificent]

I'm excited. Even if we don't get a conclusion at the end (although I'm hopeful that we will!), I'll finally by able to have a physical copy of those last couple volume 4 issues! The completionist in me is very happy indeed.

EDIT: And for the record, I'm firmly in the "Volume 3 was never directly contradicted, and also it's awesome, So I'm Taking it as Canon" camp.

[neatoman]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

It was literally written (and then rewritten a little) so as to be compatible with Volume 4.

I guess I misremembered exact details and the discussion about how it related to continuity then, but I do maintain that it's a bit weird to insist that the Image should be considered canon or at least as being compatible enough to the point where it might as well be. Yeah, they could have met up with Shadow's biological gangster family, an alleged daughter of Shredder, a Komodo mutant and a seemingly living version of Karai's daughter but it sure as hell is weird that none of it is mentioned or comes back if it actually did happen. Setting aside the official non-canon status it has anyway, just because it doesn't necessarily contradict what came afterwards it's still ignored, by definition the story of the Image run is irrelevant to volume 4 and other Mirage stories that came afterwards so it doesn't add anything important trying squeeze it in there.

If it just comes down to you liking the story and wanting to assume that happened, sure, you can do that if you want to. I like the Mark Martin issues but I'm not going to sit here and claim that the time travel adventures of toddler and Splinter getting up Looney Tunes shenanigans with another humanoid rat should be treated as if it happened just because it technically could fit.

[DK2]

I have doubts we'll get a conclusion to this series via new issues from Peter and Jim. IDW would've said this by now. Urban Legends/vol. 3 reprints they said right from the start it'd lead to all new concluding issues. We've not heard this regarding Journeys reprints. But in that it article also states a new TMNT series coming up too. Could this be it by chance possibly? A separate series to conclude vol 4 instead? Maybe not either. I can only see Peter doing this if he had maybe less workload. Before on vol 4., he was writer, inker, then lettered and toned it too. Later on Eric Talbot took over on the inks. Maybe if he hands the plots to Jim would also make sense. Then let Jim do that work. Just my thoughts.

[Zog The Magnificent]

Originally Posted by neatoman

I guess I misremembered exact details and the discussion about how it related to continuity then, but I do maintain that it's a bit weird to insist that the Image should be considered canon or at least as being compatible enough to the point where it might as well be. Yeah, they could have met up with Shadow's biological gangster family, an alleged daughter of Shredder, a Komodo mutant and a seemingly living version of Karai's daughter but it sure as hell is weird that none of it is mentioned or comes back if it actually did happen. Setting aside the official non-canon status it has anyway, just because it doesn't necessarily contradict what came afterwards it's still ignored, by definition the story of the Image run is irrelevant to volume 4 and other Mirage stories that came afterwards so it doesn't add anything important trying squeeze it in there.

If it just comes down to you liking the story and wanting to assume that happened, sure, you can do that if you want to. I like the Mark Martin issues but I'm not going to sit here and claim that the time travel adventures of toddler and Splinter getting up Looney Tunes shenanigans with another humanoid rat should be treated as if it happened just because it technically could fit.

Taking into account the Original Vol. 3 conclusion (which I maintain is better than the Official one), Vol. 3 adds a lot to the overall tapestry of the story. It's chock full of character development, especially for Raphael, and it pays off a bunch of threads set up by Volume 2, which otherwise go unfulfilled. Also, it's just a darn good story.

Beyond that, I think the standard of how much later stories reference it is somewhat less relevant, because applying that standard, there's a LOT of stories from volume 1, 2, and Tales that we shouldn't bother with, because the Turtle's whole schtick, beside the ninja and cycle of revenge thing, is randomly getting swept up into random fantasitc adventures that come and go and then no one talks about. But it's still something that happened, and it's still something that can inform about the characters. Not every day in anyone's life is always relevent to the overall course, but it's still experience that's a part of it.