Mirage Vol. 4 #12 (spoilers) - Page 4

*Andrew NDB* · 08-02-2026, 04:15 PM

They look like they're teenagers there and giving Mikey a stuffed animal? I don't think he has read any Mirage.

*ToTheNines* · 08-02-2026, 05:02 PM

Yeah, Mateus always throws heat but had you shown me this independent from it being a Journeys cover I never would have guessed they were supposed to be the Mirage guys in their 30’s. They don’t even look 15.

*CyberCubed* · 08-02-2026, 05:45 PM

This was the issue those vampires were introduced, he should of drawn an awesome cover of the vampires attacking Raphael instead of just a generic group image in the sewers.

BTW were these vampires supposed to be the same ones we saw from Volume 1 #29 or other various issues/specials before Vol. 4? And I don't mean the same exact people obviously but the same "group" of vampires? I don't even think Mirage ever explained why vampires were roaming around.

*Andrew NDB* · 08-02-2026, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

BTW were these vampires supposed to be the same ones we saw from Volume 1 #29

The Farley ones? I can't remember now but I think there was an extraterrestrial element to those?

*ToTheNines* · 08-03-2026, 07:57 AM

I personally never really considered that one canon. Beautiful art and worth a read, but a pretty stupid story that never had any ramifications down the road.

Heyowakka · 08-04-2026, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

They look like they're teenagers there and giving Mikey a stuffed animal? I don't think he has read any Mirage.

*Andrew NDB* · 08-04-2026, 03:29 PM

Fair enough...

*neatoman* · 08-04-2026, 03:42 PM

Wait a minute... Andrew, did you forget about the stuffed Triceratops?

*CyberCubed* · 08-04-2026, 04:04 PM

The Turtles are 30 in Vol. 4 but Jim Lawson draws them the same as any time period anyway (even in the Tales issues he did which were set during the Vol. 1 era).

*ToTheNines* · 08-05-2026, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neatoman

Wait a minute... Andrew, did you forget about the stuffed Triceratops?

I don’t think he has read any Mirage!

**Barkworm** · 08-05-2026, 11:56 AM

People were giving Lawson so much **** back then but his Turtles looked great.

*CyberCubed* · 08-05-2026, 04:23 PM

His humans got worse as time went on, if you look back at City at War and see how Casey and April are drawn and compare it to Vol. 4 and there's a big difference. And he just stayed like that for the last 25+ years. He's still drawing covers for IDW and whenever a human is there it's the same.

*Andrew NDB* · 08-05-2026, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barkworm

People were giving Lawson so much **** back then but his Turtles looked great.

That page was inked by Laird. The chins/lips are always a giveaway there. And of course he smooths out the linework.

*ToTheNines* · 08-05-2026, 06:24 PM

I know last month I said we were getting into the doldrums of Vol. 4 after #11, but I loved this one. The April stuff was very compelling, the bros splitting up is a big moment, the beginning of Don’s adventure is interesting and Raph hanging out at the local alien-friendly pub was fun.

And Lawson kicks butt, I don’t care what anyone says.

Zog The Magnificent · 08-06-2026, 12:02 AM

I think Lawson is always at his strongest when he's drawing creatures. His turtles look fine, and his work on Paleo is another great example of how well he draws animals. That said, I've always thought his late period people look weird, but I got used to it eventually, so it really doesn't bother me at the end of the day.

*CyberCubed* · 08-07-2026, 05:27 AM

I remember someone said around 15 years ago that his art of humans looks like caveman or tribal cave art, lol.

*Coola Yagami* · 08-07-2026, 09:35 PM

Lawson's art just got more and more 'jagged-looking' over time, especially when he was drawing Mirage-style art for Smash-Up and stuff. I think the comic that came with the game was for many, the first mainstream look at his art. The people buying the games were not buying the Vol 4/Tales 2 comics.

08-05-2026, 11:56 AM	#71
Barkworm Draconian leftist ruler Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Germany Posts: 6,671	People were giving Lawson so much **** back then but his Turtles looked great. __________________ Don‘t be a douche.

08-07-2026, 09:35 PM	#77
Coola Yagami Overlord Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 15,662	Lawson's art just got more and more 'jagged-looking' over time, especially when he was drawing Mirage-style art for Smash-Up and stuff. I think the comic that came with the game was for many, the first mainstream look at his art. The people buying the games were not buying the Vol 4/Tales 2 comics. __________________ "I was down with TMNT once, but then they changed what TMNT was. Now what I was down with is no longer TMNT and what TMNT now is seems weird and scary. And it'll happen to YOU." Check out my blog for Comic Reviews and other things. https://markepicblogofrandomness.blogspot.com/ I also started The AEW Crew, the All Elite Wrestling Fan Club! https://www.facebook.com/groups/637508120044168/

08-02-2026, 04:15 PM	#61
Andrew NDB Weed Whacker Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Auburn, WA Posts: 34,309	They look like they're teenagers there and giving Mikey a stuffed animal? I don't think he has read any Mirage.

08-02-2026, 05:02 PM	#62
ToTheNines Col. Stinkmeaner Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 19,135	Yeah, Mateus always throws heat but had you shown me this independent from it being a Journeys cover I never would have guessed they were supposed to be the Mirage guys in their 30’s. They don’t even look 15.

08-02-2026, 05:45 PM	#63
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,742	This was the issue those vampires were introduced, he should of drawn an awesome cover of the vampires attacking Raphael instead of just a generic group image in the sewers. BTW were these vampires supposed to be the same ones we saw from Volume 1 #29 or other various issues/specials before Vol. 4? And I don't mean the same exact people obviously but the same "group" of vampires? I don't even think Mirage ever explained why vampires were roaming around.

08-03-2026, 07:57 AM	#65
ToTheNines Col. Stinkmeaner Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 19,135	I personally never really considered that one canon. Beautiful art and worth a read, but a pretty stupid story that never had any ramifications down the road.

08-04-2026, 03:29 PM	#67
Andrew NDB Weed Whacker Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Auburn, WA Posts: 34,309	Fair enough...

08-04-2026, 04:04 PM	#69
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,742	The Turtles are 30 in Vol. 4 but Jim Lawson draws them the same as any time period anyway (even in the Tales issues he did which were set during the Vol. 1 era).

08-05-2026, 04:23 PM	#72
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,742	His humans got worse as time went on, if you look back at City at War and see how Casey and April are drawn and compare it to Vol. 4 and there's a big difference. And he just stayed like that for the last 25+ years. He's still drawing covers for IDW and whenever a human is there it's the same.

08-05-2026, 06:24 PM	#74
ToTheNines Col. Stinkmeaner Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 19,135	I know last month I said we were getting into the doldrums of Vol. 4 after #11, but I loved this one. The April stuff was very compelling, the bros splitting up is a big moment, the beginning of Don’s adventure is interesting and Raph hanging out at the local alien-friendly pub was fun. And Lawson kicks butt, I don’t care what anyone says.

08-06-2026, 12:02 AM	#75
Zog The Magnificent Stone Warrior Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 828	I think Lawson is always at his strongest when he's drawing creatures. His turtles look fine, and his work on Paleo is another great example of how well he draws animals. That said, I've always thought his late period people look weird, but I got used to it eventually, so it really doesn't bother me at the end of the day.

08-07-2026, 05:27 AM	#76
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,742	I remember someone said around 15 years ago that his art of humans looks like caveman or tribal cave art, lol.