Where are the prequel comics?!?!

[StealthNinjaScyther]

Eh, figured I might as well do a rundown on the comics since I have them all now.

Raph: I really liked it. Everything happened pretty quick but I thought it was well paced considering all that they stuck in there. Nice to know for certain that the turtles have already encountered Triceratons and Utroms, though it makes me want to know when and how. Like the Nightwatcher origin too.

I really liked all of the little references to New York related media in the posters and whatnot. I was able to identify Downtown: My Manhattan by Pete Hamill, Escape from New York, and Snatch. I wasn't able to recognize all of them, though. Anybody recognize the posters on pg. 15 and 20 and the picture on pg. 21? Also, on a hunch, I looked up David Merryweather, uh, Catman reference?

Mikey: Not quite as good as the Raph one. Not really a fan of the hatching in the artwork either. I did like Casey's involvement, though. Nice to know that when he's not doing vigilante work that he still manages to do good for the community. It's also nice to know where Mikey stands on the Vanilla Ice issue The chronological continuity with the books is a nice touch too.

Don: Yay, my favorite turtle. I really liked this one too. I always like seeing Don being Don. First the gadget and then him communicating with the bat monster. That and it was really nice to know exactly why the monsters converged upon the city.

Also, it had me wondering about Splinter. It seems that he's been particularly worried about the boys, and not just because they don't have Leonardo around. Did something happen that made him even more cautious about them going above ground?

April: Poor Casey, it's not his fault that he's, well, that he's Casey. Wow, I wouldn't have expected this much violence from the April comic. Art was great, story was great, just all around nice.

Leo: Man, Leo can be so dense at times. Took him long enough to figure it out. There was a lot going on but I think the way one lesson flowed into the next worked well. I'm not sure how I feel about the ninja tribunal being in this one, but it seemed to work.


So, it was overall a really nice series that complimented the movie well. However, I'm still left with the impression that they could have gone deeper into the backstory. Maybe they'll do something more to fill in some of those remaining gaps?

[soccerstud652]

Originally Posted by StealthNinjaScyther

Nice to know for certain that the turtles have already encountered Triceratons and Utroms, though it makes me want to know when and how. Like the Nightwatcher origin too.

Who are the Utroms? Are those the robots with the little Krangs in their bellies or is that the race the Triceratons are at war with? Or is it neither?

[Jon]

Originally Posted by soccerstud652

Who are the Utroms? Are those the robots with the little Krangs in their bellies or is that the race the Triceratons are at war with? Or is it neither?

Right, the Utroms are the small aliens who use robots to get around (typically as a "camoflage" routine - as they put coverings on the robots to resemble the locals).

[soccerstud652]

So are they at war with the Triceratons?

also..

Is Krang (from the 1987 tv series) ever connected to them or is his Dimension X completely unrelated to the Utroms?

[Jon]

Originally Posted by soccerstud652

So are they at war with the Triceratons?

also..

Is Krang (from the 1987 tv series) ever connected to them or is his Dimension X completely unrelated to the Utroms?

The Utroms are another race (and are a normally peaceful one). The humanoid race the Triceratons are at war with is called the Federation.

As for Krang; there is no relation, just resemblance.

[VaughnMichael]

OK I got the movie comic and the Donatello prequel today.
I'll post my thoughts on the movie adaptation in the thread for that now onto Donatello!
Great story bad art...it's a shame really I really want to like lawsons art and as always I'm going to say it again.
They need to stop having people who do thick borderline inking on his art work his art looks best when the inking is done thin.
I don't know if this comic was rushed just like the movie adaptation was but it really seems as if it was this has got to be some of Jim's sloppiest work I think I've ever seen.
I'm used to just the humans looking odd We have one Human Max Winters shown on page 23 and he looks better than what we usually see from him human wise but that's one panel out of an entire comic book.
I think the reason I get so disappointed is because I know Jim is a great artist and writer at that.
I finally just got all of his Bade Biker and Orson comics and those blow this steaming pile out of the water any day.
While I'll give him that the fact that this comic is more detailed than the usual we get from the volume 4 comics it would seem to me that the detailing is out of place if anyone can understand that comment.
I really don't know if everything comes as so off set to me because we have 4 people inking this one mans art but it very well could hold true.
I don't think anyone can ink Jim Lawsons art better than himself the only person in my opinion that ever came close was Michael Dooney during City At War.
My favorite panels in this comic would have to be the towers on pages 6 and 7 they are both really well done.
I also like top panel on page 8 I think that has to be some of the best art concerning Jim Lawson that I've seen in years!
I like the idea and the detail in the surroundings of pages 16-17 but the characters within the surroundings are really lacking in my opinion.
Pages 21, 23, & 26 both have very nice building art again but this isn't the teenage mutant ninja building comic is it?
OK and I know I can't be the only who said what the hell? When the Vampire Said "Damn You!" and then a few pages later was speaking some alien tongue no one could understand.
But like I said at the start of all of this The art isn't so hot but I really enjoyed the story sort of how I am with Vol. 4

[Roseangelo]

Originally Posted by Putrescent

I'll post my thoughts on the movie adaptation in the thread for that now onto Donatello!
Great story bad art...it's a shame really I really want to like lawsons art and as always I'm going to say it again.

I finally just got all of his Bade Biker and Orson comics and those blow this steaming pile out of the water any day.

I don't think anyone can ink Jim Lawsons art better than himself the only person in my opinion that ever came close was Michael Dooney during City At War.

I agree that Donatello was a good story with bad art. It didn't help any that Jim drew them with rounded faces in an attempt to follow the movie's style.

Dooney didn't ink City at War - some guys who haven't worked on TMNT since did. They're names can be dug up on ninjaturtles.com.

I recently had my Bade Biker and Orson books out, too and that art is fantastic and puts all his recent stuff to shame.

[Ecto Jedi]

Originally Posted by Putrescent

OK I got the movie comic and the Donatello prequel today.
I'll post my thoughts on the movie adaptation in the thread for that now onto Donatello!
Great story bad art...it's a shame really I really want to like lawsons art and as always I'm going to say it again.
They need to stop having people who do thick borderline inking on his art work his art looks best when the inking is done thin.
I don't know if this comic was rushed just like the movie adaptation was but it really seems as if it was this has got to be some of Jim's sloppiest work I think I've ever seen.
I'm used to just the humans looking odd We have one Human Max Winters shown on page 23 and he looks better than what we usually see from him human wise but that's one panel out of an entire comic book.
I think the reason I get so disappointed is because I know Jim is a great artist and writer at that.
I finally just got all of his Bade Biker and Orson comics and those blow this steaming pile out of the water any day.
While I'll give him that the fact that this comic is more detailed than the usual we get from the volume 4 comics it would seem to me that the detailing is out of place if anyone can understand that comment.
I really don't know if everything comes as so off set to me because we have 4 people inking this one mans art but it very well could hold true.
I don't think anyone can ink Jim Lawsons art better than himself the only person in my opinion that ever came close was Michael Dooney during City At War.
My favorite panels in this comic would have to be the towers on pages 6 and 7 they are both really well done.
I also like top panel on page 8 I think that has to be some of the best art concerning Jim Lawson that I've seen in years!
I like the idea and the detail in the surroundings of pages 16-17 but the characters within the surroundings are really lacking in my opinion.
Pages 21, 23, & 26 both have very nice building art again but this isn't the teenage mutant ninja building comic is it?
OK and I know I can't be the only who said what the hell? When the Vampire Said "Damn You!" and then a few pages later was speaking some alien tongue no one could understand.
But like I said at the start of all of this The art isn't so hot but I really enjoyed the story sort of how I am with Vol. 4

I agree Lawson's art in Donatello (especially the heads/mouths) was spotty on certain pages, but I still prefer it over the art found in Raphael. It just blows chunks, through and through.

[VaughnMichael]

Originally Posted by Roseangelo

I agree that Donatello was a good story with bad art. It didn't help any that Jim drew them with rounded faces in an attempt to follow the movie's style.

Dooney didn't ink City at War - some guys who haven't worked on TMNT since did. They're names can be dug up on ninjaturtles.com.

I recently had my Bade Biker and Orson books out, too and that art is fantastic and puts all his recent stuff to shame.

oh my bad about Dooney it's very reminiscent of his style I do recall Jim Lawson saying some place he was trying to copy his style at some point and thats why he draws the way he does now...I say just go back to his old style before tmnt and the roll playing books his style in that is just fine.
And yeah I finally got through them all I sort of wish the series would have went on more now cause I've sort of grown attached to bade and Orson.

Originally Posted by Ecto Jedi

I agree Lawson's art in Donatello (especially the heads/mouths) was spotty on certain pages, but I still prefer it over the art found in Raphael. It just blows chunks, through and through.

I guess we'll have to dissagree on that one My favorite comics out of these are the Raph and April ones I think they have the best art as well as storys.

[Ecto Jedi]

Originally Posted by Putrescent

I guess we'll have to dissagree on that one My favorite comics out of these are the Raph and April ones I think they have the best art as well as storys.

Here's how I'd rate the prequel comics, from best to worst...

Leonardo
April
Michelangelo
Donatello
Raphael

I really like the art in Leonardo. It's neat, it's crisp, and the storyline is awesome, as well. I really do enjoy them all, though.

[Roseangelo]

I didn't like the Raph book at all. So many things about the story just don't make sense. First, why are the movie universe Turtles looking for Triceratons in the sewers? WTF? And how is it an old guy who used to fight crime has a suit fit for a giant turtle? And even though it is Raph's book, I didn't like that Splinter sent Leo away in all of one panel. I would have preferred for that not to have been in the book at all than to have it covered crapily. The art was extremely awkward, but not horrible, IMO.

I did find a copy of April today, and I have to say that I think it's the strongest of all of 'em.

My order:
April
Leonardo
Michaelangelo
Donatello
Raphael

The only thing I didn't like about Leo was the Ancient One showing up. Why so much mixing of the universes?!

[VaughnMichael]

Yeah I enjoyed them all for different reasons.
Let's see what would my order be.
April
Leonardo
Raphael
Donatello
Michaelangelo

I really think it would have helped if these things would have either had more issues or more characters besides the 4 turtles and april had comics.

Originally Posted by Roseangelo

Why so much mixing of the universes?!

I don't know Ro but it's really starting to bother the hell out of me and I'm glad I'm not alone on this.

[Ecto Jedi]

Originally Posted by Putrescent

I don't know Ro but it's really starting to bother the hell out of me and I'm glad I'm not alone on this.

Doesn't bother me one bit. I find it pretty darn cool.

[VaughnMichael]

Originally Posted by Ecto Jedi

Doesn't bother me one bit. I find it pretty darn cool.

That's fine once again we have a difference of opinion.
It bothers me because they refuse to acknowledge other things yet bring in things that happened in recent years.
There are allot of wasted characters and storylines out there in my opinion and I think it's a bit ignorant to just ignore the past especially when you can take from it whatever you want because it's your creation.
And yeah I'm talking about Armaggon and the Future Archie series amongst other things I really feel that it's all lost potential and could have been leaps and bounds better to be used as a story line for Fast Forward than what we've been given.
I get bothered by the addition of 2k3 characters to the comics because 2k3 as closely related as it is to the mirage comics is it's own world.
I also just really hate the Ancient One so I could be a bit biased on that.

[The Shelf]

Originally Posted by Putrescent

I get bothered by the addition of 2k3 characters to the comics because 2k3 as closely related as it is to the mirage comics is it's own world.
I also just really hate the Ancient One so I could be a bit biased on that.

The Ancient One technically hasn't been in the comics. The prequel comics are only tied to the movie, not the TMNT comic continuity. As such, they can pick and choose whatever they feel like from any of the continuities since they're not bound to any one continuity except the new movie (which itself is its own continuity since it pays tribute to so many different ones). But I agree with your overall statement. For example, I don't really like the Battle Nexus appearing in Vol. 4, but it's nothing I would spill beans over... so to speak.

EDIT: After reading a little more of this thread, I think there's something that needs to be clarified. The new movie is only loosely based on the other movies. It is, for all intents and purposes, its own continuity. They tried to please fans of every continuity by paying tribute to each. For example (note that this isn't an exhaustive list of different TMNT universes, but merely an example):

Old 'Toon: Cowabunga Carl mask
Old Movies: Various objects from Turtles 3 (note that this obviously isn't a strict sequel to the old movies because the only object from Turtles 3 would be the time scepter since nothing was brought back from the past)
New 'Toon: Karai, Triceratons, the Ancient One, and the TCRI canister
Mirage Comics: Karai, Triceratons, and the TCRI canister

I'm sure there are more things to add to that list, but that's all I can think of right now.

[VaughnMichael]

Originally Posted by The Shelf

The Ancient One technically hasn't been in the comics. The prequel comics are only tied to the movie, not the TMNT comic continuity. As such, they can pick and choose whatever they feel like from any of the continuities since they're not bound to any one continuity except the new movie (which itself is its own continuity since it pays tribute to so many different ones). But I agree with your overall statement. For example, I don't really like the Battle Nexus appearing in Vol. 4, but it's nothing I would spill beans over... so to speak.

EDIT: After reading a little more of this thread, I think there's something that needs to be clarified. The new movie is only loosely based on the other movies. It is, for all intents and purposes, its own continuity. They tried to please fans of every continuity by paying tribute to each. For example (note that this isn't an exhaustive list of different TMNT universes, but merely an example):

Old 'Toon: Cowabunga Carl mask
Old Movies: Various objects from Turtles 3 (note that this obviously isn't a strict sequel to the old movies because the only object from Turtles 3 would be the time scepter since nothing was brought back from the past)
New 'Toon: Karai, Triceratons, the Ancient One, and the TCRI canister
Mirage Comics: Karai, Triceratons, and the TCRI canister

I'm sure there are more things to add to that list, but that's all I can think of right now.

No but he's now part of the movie world and personally I say it's only a matter of time that we start seeing other characters from 2k3 show up in vol. 4 I wouldn't be suprised at all.
And yes I know all this.
I don't mind it because it's been differnt so far but it just sort of seems like it cheapens the book by doing such things. Trying to apeal to fans of the new toon...why should they be so lucky when he's not trying to apeal to anyone else. I can't say I blame him though if it's gonna help his sales I'm sure.
And some of the things in themselves shown in the trophy room bother the hell out of me also.
The turtles didn't bring the outfits back from the past with them.
It sucks now we will never get an epic movie battle with the triceraton war or baxter stockman or the utroms because this wall of stuff is showing us it's all happend allready.
I really do pray though that they don't make shredder in the movie world an Utrom.

[Keno]

is there any place online to buy the prequel comics??

[Cascadia]

http://www.milehighcomics.com might be your best choice. Maybe the official website ninjaturtles.com might still have some however I do not see them on their catalog.

[The Shelf]

Originally Posted by Scientific freak

Maybe the official website ninjaturtles.com might still have some however I do not see them on their catalog.

They probably do. I think it takes them a while to put new issues on their catalog, but he could try calling them and placing the order over the phone. The number should be listed on their catalog page somewhere. I think I heard someone say that they ordered something over the phone before it was actually listed on the catalog.

[Ninjinister]

I just got all six books (previews 1-5, movie adaption), and I got curious on a certain note, so I emailed Dan Berger about it. Check the answer he gave:

Spoiler:

S:I just got all of the movie prequel comics (awesome stuff, by the way), and was surprised to see Triceratons, The Ancient One, and the Ninja Tribunal.

Since these are prequels to the movie, does that mean those characters are canon to the movie? What about Hun's appearance in the Game Boy Advance game, and the mention of Bishop and Lord Simultaneous in the same game?

Dan:Seems logical to me that they would be considered as part of the movie's canon - but bear in mind that Kevin Munroe probably had nothing to do with those projects, so his opinion may differ.

Not concrete, but interesting, to say the least.