Anyone remember Vol. 4? - Page 2

*Spitfire* · 12-30-2008, 04:29 AM

They're stopping Tales after 2009? When did this happen?

*VaughnMichael* · 12-30-2008, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spitfire

They're stopping Tales after 2009? When did this happen?

When you left to become a big time hollywood movie producer.

*Spitfire* · 12-30-2008, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VaughnMichael

When you left to become a big time hollywood movie producer.

Hell I wish, I'd give up a monthly turtles comic if it meant getting that status. Course if the series was better I wouldn't be so inclined. It hasn't been doing much for me lately. Mainly because the issues Lawson does look like barf and have decent stories and the ones he doesn't do have great art and bad stories.

*VaughnMichael* · 12-30-2008, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spitfire

Hell I wish, I'd give up a monthly turtles comic if it meant getting that status. Course if the series was better I wouldn't be so inclined. It hasn't been doing much for me lately. Mainly because the issues Lawson does look like barf and have decent stories and the ones he doesn't do have great art and bad stories.

Ooooo Burn *stitz*

*CyberCubed* · 01-05-2009, 04:06 PM

I think we'll get at least two Vol. 4 issues next year, some of his posts on his blog made it obvious at least the next issue is fairly far along. We've seen the cover too.

*Roseangelo* · 01-05-2009, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

I think we'll get at least two Vol. 4 issues next year, some of his posts on his blog made it obvious at least the next issue is fairly far along. We've seen the cover too.

The art on both issues #29 & #30 was complete before #29 was published. We've been waiting this whoooole time for Peter to "tone" (if you can really call it that) and letter it. Seeing two issues this year would be the overly optimistic end of the scale.

*Mr._Mutant_Man* · 01-05-2009, 08:58 PM

I kind of forgot about volume 4. I actually don't really remember too much about it at this point, except that

Spoiler:

I don't really miss it too much. Tales on the other hand I would miss if it gets canceled. I'd rather have mediocre TMNT comics than none at all (and I have to disagree with that assessment, I've found many of them to be very enjoyable). I'd like to see them release some kind of comics for the future, even if they have to start the story over again.

*Cipher* · 01-05-2009, 10:47 PM

I just want to see the damn thing finished at this point. I was enjoying the story (for the most part), and I'd hate to leave the Mirage universe with a dangling plotline.

**Jester** · 01-05-2009, 11:01 PM

Hey, if the Forever War series sells well, we may see a 3rd TMNT book, TMNT Adventures. That would be awesome!

*Andrew NDB* · 01-05-2009, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jester

Hey, if the Forever War series sells well, we may see a 3rd TMNT book, TMNT Adventures. That would be awesome!

I'd love to see that happen, but you and I both know that's not in the cards. Maybe if it was in color and had super good buzz throughout the comic scene.

As such it's pretty literally a gift to the fans. And I'm OK with that.

*Kendamu* · 01-07-2009, 08:36 PM

I'm not sitting around and waiting for the next issue of Vol. 4 to come out. If it gets announced, I'll get it when it comes out. If nothing comes up, oh well. No disrespect to Vol. 4, but I like Tales better, anyway, because I'm a big fan of one-shots.

Another thing that's keeping me so patient is that I generally buy TMNT comics only once or twice a year and I buy them directly from Mirage over the phone when I do. Today I put in an order for the nine issues of City at War I don't have, all four issues of the new Michelangelo miniseries, and Tales 43-53. That's 24 comics that I haven't read yet and it'll probably be August before I give them another call unless the Forever War trade comes out before then.

So, for me personally, Peter Laird can take all the time he wants making his book. I have plenty of other books to look at in the meantime. Outside of comics, I have other TMNT-related things to keep me entertained as well. Plus, I'm also into Batman and Dragonball so it's not like TMNT Vol. 4 is all I have going for me in my life.

*Candy Kappa* · 01-08-2009, 04:15 AM

maybe hes been inspired by Shirō Masamune with taking his sweet time finishing each issue.

If I remeber correctly he was slow to fininsh each book

*CyberCubed* · 01-08-2009, 10:30 AM

Vol. 4 started in December 2001 and we're now in 2009, its actually scary knowing its almost been a complete decade and this comic is still going on, but it only has 29 issues in all this time.

~~Leo656~~ · 01-17-2009, 12:13 PM

I remember a few years ago Laird saying he was gonna have to cut back on publishing b/c the books weren't selling well.

I've never been surprised at that, since late books with bad/mediocre art just don't often sell very well, and TMNT Vol. 4 just didn't come off the way it should've. Tales has been far and away the better book IMO. But I am annoyed that the main TMNT book got derailed so badly.

I know people are gonna get mad about it, but I have always blamed Lawson's art for it, along with Laird not quite knowing or caring what the audience wants. Tales works b/c the stories and art are more what fans expect and want from the characters. And I simply can't understate how important the art is in a visual medium like comics. Yes, story is more important, but it's not the 80s anymore and the people who grew up with Lawson's TMNT art and like it are definitely the vast minority. When Vol. 4 launched, I talked to SO many fans who wanted to get into it but just didn't want to spend 4 bucks on a book that looked like that book did. I bitched about it. A lot. I remember Laird even had the audacity to half/quote me in his lettercol during one of his rants defending Lawson's art, just before telling the fans that he didn't "owe" them anything.

But the fact remains: People didn't dig the book, so it stalled. It's such a shame. Tales seems to do ok, and hey, it's usually not drawn by Lawson. See a pattern?

Given the state of comics these days, I'm just glad we get any TMNT product at all...

DK2 · 01-17-2009, 11:23 PM

Just seen Jim Lawsons blog a few days ago and I can't understand this bit on TMNT Vol. 4's hiatus/delays. Jim showed TMNT V4 #31's cover he just finished. Yet he says the art for the issue was done since June last year. So art wise, the book is 2 issues in the can. So if #31's already in near solid completion, why is #30 still not out? We've seen #30's painted cover art already, Peter said he needed to finish lettering it and Eric Talbot ink it back in late summer '08. I just don't get why Peter hasn't released #30. What is he waiting for? Again I wonder if he's waiting for a few issues in the can for 2009 to bring out a couble for the year of the 25th anniversary?

Oh for the previous poster that thought Tales is more popular than TMNT V4 here: TMNT Vol. 4 actually had slightly better numbers in sales/orders than Tales if I'm correct from the Diamond sales charts back in 2006. Tales isn't a money maker for Mirage anymoreso than TMNT V4 wasn't. Both books don't make Mirage any money at all. Laird stated he hasn't made money off these current TMNT comics TMNT V4 #1 & 2. 'Cause one book went to hiatus doesn't mean that the other book was more popular. Laird chose to put TMNT V4 on hold while Tales continued. The only people buying the TMNT comics are us the hardcore TMNT fans. I think given the current comics market of now the TMNT aren't a popular comic to the general comic reader.
I too ain't crazy about Lawsons art today, but his art actually can amaze me at times. On his blog the TMNT groupshot ain't bad. The one Tales cover with Nobody was bad due to Nobodys upper body size. And theres something nice about his pencils to his own inked work. So I'm 50/50 on his style at times. But it nowhere looks as kickass as his art from the late '80's. He was number 3 to me behind Eastman & Laird as the best TMNT artist. Its the way his characters look thats bad today. People with horrible faces, baseball glove sized hands, Pinochio noses. The TMNT running around like rubber bands, disfigured body parts. That kills me to look at. What also killed the art in TMNT V4 to me was Laird stopped the duotoning ink effects after V4 #8. That toning effect was a staple of the old TMNT comics and it gave substance to Jims art. The duotones are sorely missed. Why can't V4 get the B&W coloring effects that the pages of Tales gets? Anything like this would help the art, characters, back/foregrounds stand out.

*CyberCubed* · 01-18-2009, 08:36 PM

Laird also said the original reason Vol. 4 went on hiatus is to help work with Kevin Munroe on the 2007 TMNT movie.

I thought once the movie finished production he'd get back into Vol. 4 full swing...but it hasn't happened. As a whole, what IS PL doing now?

There are no new eps of the cartoon being produced at the moment, so its not like he's with 4kids approving scripts or tweaking character art. The new movie deal still isn't finalized, so there's nothing happening there. The toy approval process obviously isn't that time consuming. The 25th anniversary stuff seems like its being handled more by other Mirage staff members from what we know.

So apparently the only thing PL is doing TMNT wise is approving of scripts for Tales. I honestly wonder why Vol. 4 is not his priority especially now that nothing much is happening.

*Roseangelo* · 01-18-2009, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

As a whole, what IS PL doing now?

He made mention of his typical daily schedule in a Newsarama interview last year:

Quote:

I get up around 9 or 9:30am, eat breakfast (almost always three waffles, some fruits, a cup of green tea, and a glass of water), and then head to my home office to check emails and do various internet related things, one of which lately is to work on my blog, which is a lot of fun. (Maybe too much fun...!)

Then I head downtown to the Mirage offices, maybe talk Turtle business with Steve Murphy or [CEO] Gary Richardson, check in with/say hello to the Mirage artists (Jim Lawson, Michael Dooney, Dan Berger, and more rarely Eric Talbot -- he works at home a lot) and see if I have any mail at my Mirage office. Occasionally Murph will have something he wants me to autograph for one of our business partners -- lately it has been sets of those cool NECA TMNT figures.

Then I'll try to do a bicycle ride for a few hours, eat lunch somewhere, do some errands, and head back home. Or if weather and time permit, I'll go on a motorcycle ride. Then the night is spent reading, watching TV, doing more email and internet stuff (which also includes reading comic plots and scripts submitted via email).

You'll notice I didn't include "drawing" anywhere. That's because, for a variety of reasons, I hardly draw anymore. Occasionally, I will do a piece of Turtle art, but I haven't actually drawn a whole comic book in many years.

He doesn't seem that devoted to actually working, IMO.

*Kendamu* · 01-18-2009, 09:25 PM

If I'm not mistaken, I've read in other places that there's stuff that's already done in regards to future Volume 4 issues. Like a lot of other things, could Vol. 4 have been held back so there would be more to release this year?

*Roseangelo* · 01-18-2009, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goongasnootch

If I'm not mistaken, I've read in other places that there's stuff that's already done in regards to future Volume 4 issues. Like a lot of other things, could Vol. 4 have been held back so there would be more to release this year?

My understanding is that Jim's art is complete for at least a couple issues, but Peter hasn't finished lettering/scripting or "toning."

*Cipher* · 01-18-2009, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roseangelo

He doesn't seem that devoted to actually working, IMO.

That's cool, but he should simply hand his duties off to someone else if that's the case. As far as I understand it, his sole creative job as far as Volume 4 is concerned is to come up with concepts and scripts. He should just stick to concepts and have Lawson or Murphy write the scripts. With all due respect, I believe them to be more capable script-writers anyway.

Bottom line, anything to get Volume 4 off the press faster.

12-30-2008, 04:29 AM	#21
Spitfire Writer • Director Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 12,035	They're stopping Tales after 2009? When did this happen? __________________ Check out my online portfolio http://www.christopherpelletier.com/

01-05-2009, 08:58 PM	#27
Mr._Mutant_Man Mad Scientist Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,340	I kind of forgot about volume 4. I actually don't really remember too much about it at this point, except that Spoiler: aliens reveal themselves to humans, Splinter dies, and April finds out she was a drawing. I don't really miss it too much. Tales on the other hand I would miss if it gets canceled. I'd rather have mediocre TMNT comics than none at all (and I have to disagree with that assessment, I've found many of them to be very enjoyable). I'd like to see them release some kind of comics for the future, even if they have to start the story over again.

01-08-2009, 04:15 AM	#32
Candy Kappa The Agenda of Existing Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vikingland Posts: 14,596	maybe hes been inspired by Shirō Masamune with taking his sweet time finishing each issue. If I remeber correctly he was slow to fininsh each book __________________ devianArt Instagram Youtube Tumblr Art Blog Patreon

01-05-2009, 04:06 PM	#25
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,831	I think we'll get at least two Vol. 4 issues next year, some of his posts on his blog made it obvious at least the next issue is fairly far along. We've seen the cover too.

01-05-2009, 10:47 PM	#28
Cipher Foot Elite Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 3,454	I just want to see the damn thing finished at this point. I was enjoying the story (for the most part), and I'd hate to leave the Mirage universe with a dangling plotline.

01-05-2009, 11:01 PM	#29
Jester Rat-faced Dude-guy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 26,298	Hey, if the Forever War series sells well, we may see a 3rd TMNT book, TMNT Adventures. That would be awesome! __________________ "Clearly, you're Ninja Turtling incorrectly." - Leo656

01-07-2009, 08:36 PM	#31
Kendamu Sewerhead Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,890	I'm not sitting around and waiting for the next issue of Vol. 4 to come out. If it gets announced, I'll get it when it comes out. If nothing comes up, oh well. No disrespect to Vol. 4, but I like Tales better, anyway, because I'm a big fan of one-shots. Another thing that's keeping me so patient is that I generally buy TMNT comics only once or twice a year and I buy them directly from Mirage over the phone when I do. Today I put in an order for the nine issues of City at War I don't have, all four issues of the new Michelangelo miniseries, and Tales 43-53. That's 24 comics that I haven't read yet and it'll probably be August before I give them another call unless the Forever War trade comes out before then. So, for me personally, Peter Laird can take all the time he wants making his book. I have plenty of other books to look at in the meantime. Outside of comics, I have other TMNT-related things to keep me entertained as well. Plus, I'm also into Batman and Dragonball so it's not like TMNT Vol. 4 is all I have going for me in my life.

01-08-2009, 10:30 AM	#33
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,831	Vol. 4 started in December 2001 and we're now in 2009, its actually scary knowing its almost been a complete decade and this comic is still going on, but it only has 29 issues in all this time.

01-17-2009, 12:13 PM	#34
~~Leo656~~ Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nWo Country Posts: 27,703	I remember a few years ago Laird saying he was gonna have to cut back on publishing b/c the books weren't selling well. I've never been surprised at that, since late books with bad/mediocre art just don't often sell very well, and TMNT Vol. 4 just didn't come off the way it should've. Tales has been far and away the better book IMO. But I am annoyed that the main TMNT book got derailed so badly. I know people are gonna get mad about it, but I have always blamed Lawson's art for it, along with Laird not quite knowing or caring what the audience wants. Tales works b/c the stories and art are more what fans expect and want from the characters. And I simply can't understate how important the art is in a visual medium like comics. Yes, story is more important, but it's not the 80s anymore and the people who grew up with Lawson's TMNT art and like it are definitely the vast minority. When Vol. 4 launched, I talked to SO many fans who wanted to get into it but just didn't want to spend 4 bucks on a book that looked like that book did. I bitched about it. A lot. I remember Laird even had the audacity to half/quote me in his lettercol during one of his rants defending Lawson's art, just before telling the fans that he didn't "owe" them anything. But the fact remains: People didn't dig the book, so it stalled. It's such a shame. Tales seems to do ok, and hey, it's usually not drawn by Lawson. See a pattern? Given the state of comics these days, I'm just glad we get any TMNT product at all...

01-17-2009, 11:23 PM	#35
DK2 Stone Warrior Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 621	Just seen Jim Lawsons blog a few days ago and I can't understand this bit on TMNT Vol. 4's hiatus/delays. Jim showed TMNT V4 #31's cover he just finished. Yet he says the art for the issue was done since June last year. So art wise, the book is 2 issues in the can. So if #31's already in near solid completion, why is #30 still not out? We've seen #30's painted cover art already, Peter said he needed to finish lettering it and Eric Talbot ink it back in late summer '08. I just don't get why Peter hasn't released #30. What is he waiting for? Again I wonder if he's waiting for a few issues in the can for 2009 to bring out a couble for the year of the 25th anniversary? Oh for the previous poster that thought Tales is more popular than TMNT V4 here: TMNT Vol. 4 actually had slightly better numbers in sales/orders than Tales if I'm correct from the Diamond sales charts back in 2006. Tales isn't a money maker for Mirage anymoreso than TMNT V4 wasn't. Both books don't make Mirage any money at all. Laird stated he hasn't made money off these current TMNT comics TMNT V4 #1 & 2. 'Cause one book went to hiatus doesn't mean that the other book was more popular. Laird chose to put TMNT V4 on hold while Tales continued. The only people buying the TMNT comics are us the hardcore TMNT fans. I think given the current comics market of now the TMNT aren't a popular comic to the general comic reader. I too ain't crazy about Lawsons art today, but his art actually can amaze me at times. On his blog the TMNT groupshot ain't bad. The one Tales cover with Nobody was bad due to Nobodys upper body size. And theres something nice about his pencils to his own inked work. So I'm 50/50 on his style at times. But it nowhere looks as kickass as his art from the late '80's. He was number 3 to me behind Eastman & Laird as the best TMNT artist. Its the way his characters look thats bad today. People with horrible faces, baseball glove sized hands, Pinochio noses. The TMNT running around like rubber bands, disfigured body parts. That kills me to look at. What also killed the art in TMNT V4 to me was Laird stopped the duotoning ink effects after V4 #8. That toning effect was a staple of the old TMNT comics and it gave substance to Jims art. The duotones are sorely missed. Why can't V4 get the B&W coloring effects that the pages of Tales gets? Anything like this would help the art, characters, back/foregrounds stand out.

01-18-2009, 08:36 PM	#36
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,831	Laird also said the original reason Vol. 4 went on hiatus is to help work with Kevin Munroe on the 2007 TMNT movie. I thought once the movie finished production he'd get back into Vol. 4 full swing...but it hasn't happened. As a whole, what IS PL doing now? There are no new eps of the cartoon being produced at the moment, so its not like he's with 4kids approving scripts or tweaking character art. The new movie deal still isn't finalized, so there's nothing happening there. The toy approval process obviously isn't that time consuming. The 25th anniversary stuff seems like its being handled more by other Mirage staff members from what we know. So apparently the only thing PL is doing TMNT wise is approving of scripts for Tales. I honestly wonder why Vol. 4 is not his priority especially now that nothing much is happening.

01-18-2009, 09:25 PM	#38
Kendamu Sewerhead Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,890	If I'm not mistaken, I've read in other places that there's stuff that's already done in regards to future Volume 4 issues. Like a lot of other things, could Vol. 4 have been held back so there would be more to release this year?