Volume 4 will be the last Mirage TMNT universe story

*CyberCubed* · 10-26-2009, 03:30 PM

This from Pete's blog made it obvious:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Laird

One thing that is becoming clear to me is that, right now, I need to really step back from Turtle stuff. I am feeling strongly that I need to distance myself from the TMNT to truly grasp what has happened, and become accustomed to it.

With that in mind, I have to say that it is likely that any new TMNT comics coming from me/Mirage (under the "reserved rights" clause negotiated in the sale) are probably not going to be seen anytime soon. Although I do have the right to publish up to eighteen issues of TMNT comics per year, it is highly unlikely that I will do that right away. In all honesty, the idea of doing ANY new Turtle stuff right now leaves me cold.

I need to get away from it.

I can't guarantee when -- or even if -- Mirage will produce new TMNT comics again. It is most likely that the next TMNT comic thing I work on will be the conclusion of TMNT Volume 4, but at this moment I can't even guarantee when -- or if -- I will do that. It's too soon to make those plans. -- PL

If we get any new TMNT comics after Tales ends, it'll likely just be a conclusion to Volume 4, and even for that it looks like it'll take a couple of years.

The comics are done. The Mirage universe is over. If Nick wants a new comic it'll likely be based off the cartoon, (like how Archie and Dreamwave were based on their respective cartoons), but the Mirage TMNT are coming to an end.

The Mirage comics lasted for 25 years, but come May 2010 we'll see the end of it except for whenever Volume 4 is finished.

It's quite possible the Mirage universe will be done forever, and Volume 4 is the last we'll see of the Mirage TMNT. How do you feel?

*plastroncafe* · 10-26-2009, 03:40 PM

I spent all my teeth gnashing/cloth rending energy last week, and am finally at the acceptance stage of the whole "grieving" process.

It happened. What're you gonna do?
I'm glad I made the trek to New York and San Diego for their respective Comic Cons this year. Totally worth the expense for being there at the last big Hurrah. Even the hour and a half trek to the Free Comic Book Day gathering in New Hampshire was well worth it.

*Spitfire* · 10-26-2009, 03:42 PM

It'll be dead for awhile but not forever. The Mirage turtles will see the light of day again, even if not under the Mirage logo. Someone somewhere down the line will revive them. It might be long after Nick is tired of producing a series or Nick's series might last longer then we could imagine and happen during. Nothing seems to stay dead forever even if it appears to be.

Still it makes me sad. As my favorite turtles incarnation it will be missed. It was really the only comic I followed. I follow Moon Knight from time to time but that's it. He made a surprise come back maybe that's why I'm optimistic about turtles.

*Kendamu* · 10-26-2009, 04:00 PM

It feels the same as when the OT was coming to a close: strange because it had been going on for most of my life up to that point. It's not a bad feeling, though. It's just kind of an, "Oh, well, I'll certainly miss them. I can always go back and read 'em again from time to time, though."

I never expected it to last forever. Even before we knew about this Nick deal, I felt that it was going to come to a close soon, anyway.

*Coola Yagami* · 10-26-2009, 07:52 PM

The way Volume 4 was going.... even if Laird did finish it, it was kind of a given that Volume 5 was never gonna happen.

*Cipher* · 10-26-2009, 08:25 PM

I sort of assumed years ago that Volume 4 would be the last story (not chronologically, obviously, but the last finished project). After that I definitely saw a reboot in the works or the comics going on temporary hiatus.

How do I feel about it? That depends entirely on how the ending is handled. The ending is, in my book, the most important part of any story. If it's a good thematic send-off (not necessarily a 'happy ending'), I'll be satisfied. If it's slapdash or unfinished, then boo. Of course, at this point any conclusion is better than none.

PAAATE · 10-26-2009, 08:30 PM

I still wanna see Tristan do his thing in his own title

And if Laird doesn't feel like supervising it, then fine, don't

But on the other hand I wanna see world peace, too

World peace is probably more likely to happen, and for some reason I feel sad about that

*CyberCubed* · 10-26-2009, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cipher Classic

I sort of assumed years ago that Volume 4 would be the last story (not chronologically, obviously, but the last finished project). After that I definitely saw a reboot in the works or the comics going on temporary hiatus.

Yeah, but I think the problem is the longer Pete takes off, the less likely he's going to come back to it. He's 55 now, in a few years he'll be 60, with even less energy to write a comic and get it together.

Also who knows where Jim Lawson will be by then. Seeing V. 4 continue with different art would just be too awkward, makes me wonder if Lawson will still be around for Pete to use in a few years.

*Cipher* · 10-26-2009, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

Also who knows where Jim Lawson will be by then. Seeing V. 4 continue with different art would just be too awkward, makes me wonder if Lawson will still be around for Pete to use in a few years.

From what I've seen, Jim is just as, if not more devoted to the Turtles as Pete. If there's a will for this thing to be finished, there'll be a way.

And I disagree that "the longer he takes off, the less likely he's going to come back to it." Writers are frequently encouraged to put a draft away for a while if they get stuck on it, or even just to help them with revision. It can do a lot for motivation to step back for a while and re-evaluate the story.

*Andrew NDB* · 10-26-2009, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plastroncafe

I'm glad I made the trek to New York and San Diego for their respective Comic Cons this year. Totally worth the expense for being there at the last big Hurrah.

When you put it like that, I am too. You made for good company at the wake, too.

Quote:

I can't guarantee when -- or even if -- Mirage will produce new TMNT comics again. It is most likely that the next TMNT comic thing I work on will be the conclusion of TMNT Volume 4, but at this moment I can't even guarantee when -- or if -- I will do that. It's too soon to make those plans. -- PL

A little odd. Can't he just be like, "I'll finish it at some point"...? So maybe a year or two while he mulls it over, and then a while after that to get the next issue?

Dragon Turtle · 10-26-2009, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

A little odd. Can't he just be like, "I'll finish it at some point"...? So maybe a year or two while he mulls it over, and then a while after that to get the next issue?

Probably speaks volumes about the extent of his TMNT "burnout".

*Mr._Mutant_Man* · 10-26-2009, 10:24 PM

I think the worst thing about this deal is that the old comics probably won't see the light of day again. It sucks that the current stuff is ending, but we probably won't even see reprints of the classic stuff.

*Kendamu* · 10-26-2009, 10:44 PM

Those 18 issues could always be reprints.

*CyberCubed* · 10-26-2009, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goongasnootch

Those 18 issues could always be reprints.

Individual issue reprints?

Nah, only #1 has been re-printed a billion times by Mirage recently.

The Shelf · 10-26-2009, 11:28 PM

As long as Peter finishes Volume 4 within the decade, I'll be satisfied. Surely one issue every couple years isn't asking too much?

*Kendamu* · 10-26-2009, 11:45 PM

That is the usual, but usually Peter Laird doesn't sell the IP, either.

tilallr1 · 10-27-2009, 09:10 AM

Wasn't Issue 31 of Volume 4 complete?

Couldn't that possibly be the last issue ... if its ever released?

*CyberCubed* · 10-27-2009, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tilallr1

Wasn't Issue 31 of Volume 4 complete?

Couldn't that possibly be the last issue ... if its ever released?

There's no way Pete can finish all of Vol. 4's plotlines in a 32 page issue.

He said last time Vol. 4 was going to end in about 6 issues, but at the rate he gets them out, we'll all be in our 30's before it happens.

*plastroncafe* · 10-27-2009, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

When you put it like that, I am too. You made for good company at the wake, too.

There's a silver-lining to every black cloud, it's just a matter of squinting hard enough to find it sometimes.

Quote:

He said last time Vol. 4 was going to end in about 6 issues, but at the rate he gets them out, we'll all be in our 30's before it happens.

Or 40s as the case may be...
Now where'd I put that cane of mine?

*Kendamu* · 10-27-2009, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

There's no way Pete can finish all of Vol. 4's plotlines in a 32 page issue.

He said last time Vol. 4 was going to end in about 6 issues, but at the rate he gets them out, we'll all be in our 30's before it happens.

This is why I wish there were some plans beyond May for other creative people to make use of those 18 issues a year. It isn't going to kill me if that right isn't used, but I'd really like to see it taken advantage of. With only comics on Laird's plate, it shouldn't be so hard to approve a few pitches and let them happen while he goes off to ride motorcycles for the rest of the week or something fun like that.

I feel like I'm asking for a lot at this point, but I'm not going to lie and say that I don't care if there are comics.

10-26-2009, 03:42 PM	#3
Spitfire Writer • Director Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 12,035	It'll be dead for awhile but not forever. The Mirage turtles will see the light of day again, even if not under the Mirage logo. Someone somewhere down the line will revive them. It might be long after Nick is tired of producing a series or Nick's series might last longer then we could imagine and happen during. Nothing seems to stay dead forever even if it appears to be. Still it makes me sad. As my favorite turtles incarnation it will be missed. It was really the only comic I followed. I follow Moon Knight from time to time but that's it. He made a surprise come back maybe that's why I'm optimistic about turtles. __________________ Check out my online portfolio http://www.christopherpelletier.com/

10-26-2009, 07:52 PM	#5
Coola Yagami Overlord Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 15,662	The way Volume 4 was going.... even if Laird did finish it, it was kind of a given that Volume 5 was never gonna happen. __________________ "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/

10-26-2009, 08:30 PM	#7
PAAATE Stone Warrior Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 993	I still wanna see Tristan do his thing in his own title And if Laird doesn't feel like supervising it, then fine, don't But on the other hand I wanna see world peace, too World peace is probably more likely to happen, and for some reason I feel sad about that __________________ I'm a member. I forgot about it, so now I'm a remember.

10-27-2009, 09:10 AM	#17
tilallr1 Foot Soldier Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Great White North Posts: 119	Wasn't Issue 31 of Volume 4 complete? Couldn't that possibly be the last issue ... if its ever released? __________________ TIL ALL ARE ONE

10-26-2009, 04:00 PM	#4
Kendamu Sewerhead Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,890	It feels the same as when the OT was coming to a close: strange because it had been going on for most of my life up to that point. It's not a bad feeling, though. It's just kind of an, "Oh, well, I'll certainly miss them. I can always go back and read 'em again from time to time, though." I never expected it to last forever. Even before we knew about this Nick deal, I felt that it was going to come to a close soon, anyway.

10-26-2009, 08:25 PM	#6
Cipher Foot Elite Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 3,454	I sort of assumed years ago that Volume 4 would be the last story (not chronologically, obviously, but the last finished project). After that I definitely saw a reboot in the works or the comics going on temporary hiatus. How do I feel about it? That depends entirely on how the ending is handled. The ending is, in my book, the most important part of any story. If it's a good thematic send-off (not necessarily a 'happy ending'), I'll be satisfied. If it's slapdash or unfinished, then boo. Of course, at this point any conclusion is better than none.

10-26-2009, 10:24 PM	#12
Mr._Mutant_Man Mad Scientist Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,340	I think the worst thing about this deal is that the old comics probably won't see the light of day again. It sucks that the current stuff is ending, but we probably won't even see reprints of the classic stuff.

10-26-2009, 10:44 PM	#13
Kendamu Sewerhead Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,890	Those 18 issues could always be reprints.

10-26-2009, 11:28 PM	#15
The Shelf Mad Scientist Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,031	As long as Peter finishes Volume 4 within the decade, I'll be satisfied. Surely one issue every couple years isn't asking too much?

10-26-2009, 11:45 PM	#16
Kendamu Sewerhead Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,890	That is the usual, but usually Peter Laird doesn't sell the IP, either.