Mirage's "Future Turtles" stories

[DrSpengler]

Over the years, Mirage has done a few stories about the Turtles in the distant future in what may be a possible future for their timeline.

We've had stories for Don, Raph and Leo, but to my knowledge, nothing for Mike.

Anyway, here's what we've got...

Don (Plastron Cafe #1 "Old Times"). Apparently, in the early part of the 21st century, Don has gone to live in the Honda Province of Japan. He's still into technology and has a computer AI named "Chet" who simulates battles for him. It is implied that Don has either had a falling out with his brothers or his brothers might be dead (he cries at the sight of himself and his brothers in their prime). It's a little interprative, though, as Don's biggest focus was on the hologram of himself in his youth, so he might just be crying over what he once was. He's also ditched his old bandana and picked up a full one (one that covers the skull) with the image of the rising sun on it.

Raph (Palladium Source Book "Road Hogs"): In a post apocalyptic future 100 years from now, Raph has become the sensei to three new teenage mutant ninja turtles and leads them in battles against various mutant gangs and what-not. He seems to be rather senile and has taken to wearing a black cloak.

Leo (Tales Vol. 2 #13-14 "Loops"): Leo has learned various meditation techniques, including levitation. On his 100th birthday, he received a techno katana from Don as a gift which can deliver energy concussions shocks. He apparently lives in Japan now. He's also ditched his bandana all together and wears nothing on his face.


After AndrewNB posted "Road Hogs" I started getting curious about these brief glimpses of the future Mirage has been giving us over the years. I'd like to see a Tales issue cover this future, honestly. I think it's interesting that the Turtles don't seem to be as close as they used to, and have all gone so far as to drop their clan bandanas and adopted individual looks.

Well, we don't know what Mike's future is. He's only ever mentioned in Raph's story, and in sad senile delusions, no less. Maybe he's dead?

One can only hope.

[Andrew NDB]

Raphael's future is really what interests me. Yeah, in the ridiculously distant distant future we get the Road Hogs story... but prior to that (or is it after?) it seems he is destined to head to the bayou by himself.



Drawn by Peter Laird.



Drawn by Eric Talbot.



Looks like drawn by Lawson.

(can anyone identify where this panel is from? I scanned it years ago but can't place it at the moment, not without going through my boxes)

[Roseangelo]

You can also consider the backup story in the reprint of the Michaelangelo micro-series to fit into the relm, where Raphael is visited by the three ghosts of Christmas and gets a glimpse of his future. Of course, this is only a possible future, but still something to get you thinking.

I think it'd be awesome if there were a fully-fleshed out future story, 100 or so years in the future. Something that involves all four Turtles instead of just one.

I think your last picture there is probably from that back-up story, Andrew.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Roseangelo

You can also consider the backup story in the reprint of the Michaelangelo micro-series to fit into the relm, where Raphael is visited by the three ghosts of Christmas and gets a glimpse of his future.

Hm, which reprint? I have two copies of Michaelangelo and neither contains the story. Is it somewhere within Shellshock?

[Roseangelo]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

Hm, which reprint? I have two copies of Michaelangelo and neither contains the story. Is it somewhere within Shellshock?

It's in this one:

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Roseangelo

It's in this one:

Hm, I used to own that one. It's not collected elsewhere?

[Roseangelo]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

Hm, I used to own that one. It's not collected elsewhere?

Not to my knowledge. I just checked Shell Shock and it's not in there.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Roseangelo

Not to my knowledge. I just checked Shell Shock and it's not in there.

Hm, at least I know where it was I saw it. Thought for sure it'd been in Shellshock.

Thanks for the confirmation, Rose. Already eBayed the reprint sucker, just now.

[DrSpengler]

Yeah, the back-up story for that printing was never reprinted anywhere, MUCH to my chagrin, as it's one of the few Mirage short stories I have not read.

I'll have to try and eBay it.


Anyhow, what do you all think Mike's future was? I figure he probably died in battle which was the catalyst for the Turtles falling apart and ditching their clan colors.

[Roseangelo]

Originally Posted by DrSpengler

Yeah, the back-up story for that printing was never reprinted anywhere, MUCH to my chagrin, as it's one of the few Mirage short stories I have not read.

I'll have to try and eBay it.

I actually have an extra copy if you're interested.

Anyhow, what do you all think Mike's future was? I figure he probably died in battle which was the catalyst for the Turtles falling apart and ditching their clan colors.

This is hard for me to speculate on. I like to think that Mike's still around, just that no one's bothered to tell his story yet (of the ol' Mirage crew, is Mike anyone's favorite? That seems to have a lot to do with what stories get told. )

[DrSpengler]

Originally Posted by Roseangelo

I actually have an extra copy if you're interested.

PM comin' yer way!

This is hard for me to speculate on. I like to think that Mike's still around, just that no one's bothered to tell his story yet (of the ol' Mirage crew, is Mike anyone's favorite? That seems to have a lot to do with what stories get told. )

It is very possible that Future Mike's story just hasn't been told. But given the bitter future that seems to be in store for the guys, I wouldn't put aside a possible death. Something caused them to disband, anyway.

Though given the timeframe, Don and Leo may have made up. "Old Times" takes place in the early part of the 21st century, so before any of the Turtles turn 100. In "Loops", Leo says that Don gave him that fancy katana for his 100th birthday. So maybe they aren't as bitter toward each other as it would appear on the surface.

[Andrew NDB]

Though we've seen very little of any Turtle futures (and can't even be certain how much of what we've seen is in any way set in stone), I see it more or less like this :

Leonardo : Beyond Volume 4, the Turtles do drift apart. In many ways, he probably blames himself -- he failed to be the leader/replacement Splinter always trained him to be to hold his brothers together. He wanders around, eventually joining Donatello in Japan.

Donatello : After being restored to his normal size after Volume 4, he drifts to Japan and tinkers away at technical and scientific projects. Deep down, he mourns the "Good Old Days" when his brothers were united (maybe even the death of Michelangelo). Eventually he's joined by Leonardo.

Raphael : When the Turtles drift apart, Raphael finds his way to the bayou, making his lonely home there. Hunting, living off the land. As the years pass, his mind begins to become more animal-like while he acclamates to his new life/existance. When a worldwide, catastrophic nuclear war (from "After the Bomb"/"Road Hogs") starts, his home in the bayou is a safe haven from it... he lives. Eventually he finds new Turtles mutated by the radioactive fallout from the war and begins to train them.

Michelangelo : We know nothing, as we've seen nothing. Could very well be dead, and perhaps his death could have even been the catalyst that caused the rather lasting seperation/drifting apart of the Turtles. Maybe something happened between Mike and Raphael, or something that Raphael blamed himself for... and that's why Raph drifted to the bayou.

[Roseangelo]

I actually have an outline for a fanfic that involves the future Turtles. However, I'm a horrible writer and the chances of me ever finishing it are slim to none. But in it I basically have all four Turtles being past whatever it was that drove them apart and they're back to living together.

[Time Mistress]

I think the reason the Raph Christmas story wasn't in Shell Shock is that it was written after Shell Shock came out. It's a little odd it hasn't been reprinted though. I'm lucky enough to have a copy of both.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Roseangelo

I actually have an outline for a fanfic that involves the future Turtles. However, I'm a horrible writer and the chances of me ever finishing it are slim to none. But in it I basically have all four Turtles being past whatever it was that drove them apart and they're back to living together.

Would like to see it. I'm guilty of one as well that does just about that.

http://www.ninjaturtlesempire.com/ntr.html

Wrote it almost 10 years ago with Dawnatello, Horsetechie, Kimnardo (think that's what she calls herself now), Gizmo, and Duane Giddings.

[Time Mistress]

This is so weird. I once started trying to do a really depressing future fic as well with Raph loosely based on the Image timeline (back before Vol. 4 had started) and I was partly inspired to write it because of your very fic, Andrew (really good fic btw). I only got one page of it written though, so I didn't get very far. It's strange, I love writing fanfic, but I've rarely been inspired to write TMNT ones for some odd reason, hopefully that will change one day. I'll share my abandoned fic if you will yours Rose.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Time Mistress

This is so weird. I once started trying to do a really depressing future fic as well with Raph loosely based on the Image timeline (back before Vol. 4 had started) and I was partly inspired to write it because of your very fic, Andrew (really good fic btw). I only got one page of it written though, so I didn't get very far. It's strange, I love writing fanfic, but I've rarely been inspired to write TMNT ones for some odd reason, hopefully that will change one day. I'll share my abandoned fic if you will yours Rose.

I'm flattered the story inspired you. If you ever finish your own, I'll certainly give it a look.

Oh, did anyone pick up on something contradictory?

In Vol. 2, #1, Donatello sees himself travelling to Chihaya Village in Japan to bury Splinter in the future. In Vol. 4, #11, though, after Splinter dies they just burn him on a river in Northampton. Having burned him on open water, there's not even any gatherable ashes to take to Japan to bury, let alone a body.

What gives?

My own theory...

Donatello ends up cloning Splinter at some point from the hair/skin sample he retrieved at Splinter's funeral, but something goes wrong. This new Splinter goes gonzo, and has to be taken down and killed by the Turtles (ala the other flashforward in Vol. 2, #1). Donatello takes this Splinter to Japan and buries him there.

[DrSpengler]

I'm wondering how many of those visions were straight up precognition and how many were simply metaphorical.

Perhaps Splinter being buried in Chihaya was symbolic of the Turtles going there to pay respects after his death? Or the image of the Turtle standing bloody-handed over Splinter's corpse signified that Turtle's feeling of responsibility for Splinter's death?

Dreams are crazy like that.

[Roseangelo]

Originally Posted by Time Mistress

I'll share my abandoned fic if you will yours Rose.

Well, I'm not quite yet ready to abandon mine. I have parts written. It's really frustrating since the thing that usually keeps me from writing is simply having no clue what to write. Stories just don't come to me. In this case I actually have a story where I know the beginning, middle, and end, but putting it into text is still incredibly difficult.

I do think that what we have seen is most likely metaphorical of the future, and not so much set in stone. The only thing I'm willing to set in stone is that Raph loses an eye! Poor Raph, in every version of the future he loses an eye.

[Raph's Girl]

Raphael living alone in a swamp appears to be a common theme with how he ends up. Even in the Archie series Future Raph (sometime in the early 22nd century) has a nightmare about being alone in a swamp and tells his wife, Mezcaal (oddly a descendent of Ninjara), about it.

Another common theme is him losing an eye (Archie, Michelangelo christmas special, Image, Same As It Never Was).

As for Michelangelo. Doesn't he become a successful author?? I seem to remember reading that somewhere.