There's Only One Man Who Could Save the Turtles...

[Andrew NDB]

Body Count was awesome. Just good, random fun with Casey and Raphael in balls-out fashion. Though as even Kevin would probably agree, it never really was intended to convey any kind of "definitive Mirage TMNT" in any way, shape, or form. Just picking up the comic, shutting off your brain, and getting ready for a slick, gorey, violent and stylish orgy (if you're into such things) I think you'll enjoy it.

[Jester]

I guess as styles come...I'm a Laird style fan. As many of you know I'm a huge movie fan...but when it comes to my personal tastes I loathe action movies (hated the latest Rambo flick) and like a lot of sci-fi. Heck, maybe that's why I came to Peter's defence eariler...since I'm more sci-fi over action.

[Andrew NDB]

I'm a fan of good, solid storytelling over action or sci-fi. Whoever can make me care about the TMNT on the page and tell a well-crafted story from beginning to middle to end... that guy wins. As as far as pigeonholing TMNT into this genre or that genre, one of the things that I'd always loved about the earlier Mirage TMNT was how they seemed to transcend genres... one issue could be a fairly urban, gritty ninja-type fare... the next, maybe they'll be in outer space, or the next maybe caught in something supernatural in the woods. You know?

Back on point...

We've seen how Peter Laird is as a writer on his own for which people can draw their own educated conclusions. Now, apart from stuff that really doesn't count like "Body Count," we haven't seen how Kevin Eastman is as a writer on his own, however.

We've seen how they write together... and that seems to gel beautifully. Every time.

[DK2]

I think Kevin returning to the TMNT isn't the overall solution. Its a matter of marketing the books and the commitment of quality. No Jim Lawson and bring back the duotone shades. All the somewhat downgrading of the TMNT Vol. 4 series has been whatever Peter Laird decides he doesn't want to to do on it anymore. He's gone from no more duotones, not inking the pages himself, no more Diamond Dist., no more released issues. But if Kevin and Peter worked together again one last time would be great. To think Peter almost thought of asking him to reunite on TMNT for the anniversary, but then changed his mind due to Kevins comments about Peter in an online interview. But would Kevin even had said yes to the notion? Yet Kevin has stated in his arto bio book that he still has TMNT stories to tell. But when we will we ever see these? He could simply do these in the Tales series. He's left the TMNT and I just don't see him coming back. Back in the early '90's they mentioned a story for a TMNT graphic novel of middle aged ninja turtles. I wished they'd do this, or if Peter had asked Kevin, would it even have been this story? The two have always acknowledged that things between them had changed by the time of City at War storyline, how they worked together, how they think. They drifted apart.
But if they ever did reunite I'd like to see this graphic novel, some sort of last piece of work from them. Maybe the 30th anniversary?

[Venom]

Originally Posted by Jester

That may just be it...only one man can save the TMNT...by coming back and working once again with the other co-creator to bring the TMNT back to what they were a wonderful mix of ninja action/grit and sci-fi/character progression.

This was basically my point. The Turtles were at their best, story-wise, was when the two worked together.

Originally Posted by DK2

if Kevin and Peter worked together again one last time would be great. To think Peter almost thought of asking him to reunite on TMNT for the anniversary, but then changed his mind due to Kevins comments...Yet Kevin has stated in his arto bio book that he still has TMNT stories to tell..

You know, I've actually thought of joining Heavy Metal's forum to ask Kevin that very question: "Would he DO another Turtle story if Peter asked. Would he work together with Pete again on another story?" And bring up his response in his SuicideGirls interview and book stating he still had other Turtle stories to tell and perhaps mention how close Peter was to contacting him regarding doing something for the 25th Anniversary. It would be interesting to see his response, if any.

Andrew mentioned also that we haven't seen a pure Eastman story, but if memory serves correctly, wasn't "Stompers" in Shell Shock Kevin's first solo story? Talbot lettered/toned I think but Kevin wrote/drew it. "Unmentionables" was also Kevin's story (both are two of my favorite Turtle stories), so we have seen Kevin's writing style.

And for Next Mutation not being dark as Kevin hyped it to be, perhaps that was the plan but when Saban took ahold of the license he had to rework it to fit their particular campy style.

[Samhain]

well kevin is one of my favorite comic book artists of all time so id love to see him come back. maybe someday....

[Sage Ninja]

And for Next Mutation not being dark as Kevin hyped it to be, perhaps that was the plan but when Saban took ahold of the license he had to rework it to fit their particular campy style.

thats what I think probably happened with Kevin's TNM project. Imagine if he would have been able to deliver a live action tmnt tv series as gritty and mature as he planned it to be that was darker in tone than the actul movies. That would have been seriously badass, and probably what the franchise really needs than another cartoon or some fancy--shamancy CGI show.

[BoggleKng]

Originally Posted by DK2

I think Kevin returning to the TMNT isn't the overall solution. Its a matter of marketing the books and the commitment of quality. No Jim Lawson and bring back the duotone shades. All the somewhat downgrading of the TMNT Vol. 4 series has been whatever Peter Laird decides he doesn't want to to do on it anymore. He's gone from no more duotones, not inking the pages himself, no more Diamond Dist., no more released issues. But if Kevin and Peter worked together again one last time would be great. To think Peter almost thought of asking him to reunite on TMNT for the anniversary, but then changed his mind due to Kevins comments about Peter in an online interview. But would Kevin even had said yes to the notion? Yet Kevin has stated in his arto bio book that he still has TMNT stories to tell. But when we will we ever see these? He could simply do these in the Tales series. He's left the TMNT and I just don't see him coming back. Back in the early '90's they mentioned a story for a TMNT graphic novel of middle aged ninja turtles. I wished they'd do this, or if Peter had asked Kevin, would it even have been this story? The two have always acknowledged that things between them had changed by the time of City at War storyline, how they worked together, how they think. They drifted apart.
But if they ever did reunite I'd like to see this graphic novel, some sort of last piece of work from them. Maybe the 30th anniversary?

So what were these comments that Kevin said? You have a copy of that interview? Just curious....

[Kendamu]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

Body Count was awesome. Just good, random fun with Casey and Raphael in balls-out fashion. Though as even Kevin would probably agree, it never really was intended to convey any kind of "definitive Mirage TMNT" in any way, shape, or form. Just picking up the comic, shutting off your brain, and getting ready for a slick, gorey, violent and stylish orgy (if you're into such things) I think you'll enjoy it.

Exactly! In all actuality, the guy who worked with Kevin on Bodycount had never seen a John Woo movie before. So, one weekend they watched a bunch, then came to the conclusion that they wanted to make "the longest-running gunfight in comic book history." That was the whole reason for writing it. Why did they use Casey and Raph? I dunno. But, I still thought it was pretty cool.

[Venom]

Originally Posted by BoggleKng

So what were these comments that Kevin said? You have a copy of that interview? Just curious....

Go here for the main one that miffed Pete:
http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=127540

Interestinly enough, here's another interview from this past August, conducted by RGB Filter, where he mentions making a clean break from Turtle ownership:
http://www.rgbfilter.com/?p=168 (video interview)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvht_iwPSlo (Same interview, but easier to navigate the timeline; Mirage is talked about during the first 3.5 minutes)

In it he mentions yet again that he still has a Turtle story "or two" to tell, but maybe when he's older because for now he is happy.

And here is his SG interview from mid-'07:
http://suicidegirls.com/interviews/Kevin+Eastman/

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Michelangelo83

And for Next Mutation not being dark as Kevin hyped it to be, perhaps that was the plan but when Saban took ahold of the license he had to rework it to fit their particular campy style.

Probably, but as the intellectual rights holder in charge of the deal Kevin had the right to go -- at any time prior to contracts -- "Oh, Saban, you want to make TNM a toddler crapfest? Go F yourselves... I'm pulling the TMNT out of the deal."

And before you say, "Well, after the contract was in place Saban fooled Eastman and just went and did their own thing!" the obvious rebuttal is... what was stopping Eastman from putting precautions in the contract(s) to avoid that from happening and to ensure he maintained a strong level of creative quality control in the beginning?

[BigApple3AM]

I used to think Kevin's turtles were better than Laird, but I've changed my mind completely the last few years (this was back when the only TMNT thing was Laird's comic, which I actually like now). I have to say that both guys working together brings a great balance and their best work. It's like yin and yang. Like Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. On their own they skew a little towards one certain genre, and the fix for this was to let other people in on TMNT with Tales. If they ever collaborate on another project it could be the greatest thing to happen to the Turtles in a long time.

Peter is the one who brought us some pretty great stuff in the past few years, but it's nice to know Kevin still has some interest (the movie deal). Both have some marks on their track record, but when all is said and done it's the freakin Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles... it's awesome by definition.

I don't want to side with either, but I'd stand behind both.

[Candy Kappa]

Originally Posted by Ectocooler

It's like yin and yang.

they completed each other combining what they do best and make a grand dish of awesomeness

[Chrissie Terrapin]

I have't read much comics to have a valid opinion I guess, but I like the laird\eastman stories

[Golden ShredHead]

The man seen in the image is Kevin Eastman?

[Jester]

"Bingo! We're dealing with a real mind here..."

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Jester

but when it comes to my personal tastes I loathe action movies (hated the latest Rambo flick)

That's it -- you're dead to me.

[ZariusTwo]

"Saban's particulary campy style"

...Oh, you mean the kind of "camp" where Zordon pressures Andros into assisted suicide so he can murder a whole contingent of terrorists and "purify" selected humans in the most racist display from him as a character yet?



Yeah, THAT kind of campy?

[VaughnMichael]

Originally Posted by ZariusTwo

"Saban's particulary campy style"

...Oh, you mean the kind of "camp" where Zordon pressures Andros into assisted suicide so he can murder a whole contingent of terrorists and "purify" selected humans in the most racist display from him as a character yet?



Yeah, THAT kind of campy?

[ZariusTwo]

Such a lonely gay in the village.