Tales of the TMNT 45

[TristanHuwJones]

It's interesting when you take into account what he says about Leo earlier in the issue. I think Raph is lying, but only in regards to Leo...

[Scandia]

I did not particularly like this Tale. It was mediocre IMHO.

[TristanHuwJones]

I'm a Lovecraft fan, so I dug! I liked the little nuances too, particularly the bit about them carrying their weapons now (or in the not too distant future).

[oldmanwinters]

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing about Raph and Leo too. Why the disdain?

A couple of things I noticed:
1. Dooney's frontspiece reminded me of the Cloverfield monster. Just look at that! (You can see a tiny Don and Raph on the mountainside trying to figure out how to beat this thing)

2. Donatello's a Red Sox fan? Who knew he followed baseball? Either that or he's a poser.

And for the record, what are the Lovecraft references?, as I am unfamiliar with his work.

EDIT: This is my 250th post which now makes me a "Hench Mutant." My life now has fulfillment.

[DrSpengler]

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

And for the record, what are the Lovecraft references?, as I am unfamiliar with his work.

The hideous fish people are a reference to "Dagon" and "The Shadow Over Innsmouth". While the lead villain is more or less an homage to the Old Ones like Cthulhu; primordial gods that slumber where man can't reach but influence the world through dreams and other methods.

The title of the pin-up on the last page was a reference to Abdul Alhazred, the Mad Arab who wrote the Necromonicon (in Lovecraft's fiction, I mean).

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by DrSpengler

The hideous fish people are a reference to "Dagon" and "The Shadow Over Innsmouth". While the lead villain is more or less an homage to the Old Ones like Cthulhu; primordial gods that slumber where man can't reach but influence the world through dreams and other methods.

The title of the pin-up on the last page was a reference to Abdul Alhazred, the Mad Arab who wrote the Necromonicon (in Lovecraft's fiction, I mean).

Thanks, DrSpengler. And speaking of your namesake, I know the Real G-busters made references to Lovecraft. I may have to check him out someday!

[Raph's Girl]

Ok... so this issue supposadly takes place in Vol 4 but where??? Raph and Leo don't seem to be getting along. Leo's off to who knows where. Probably either doing stuff with Karai, Shredder, or Radical (depending on when it takes place).

The ending seems to indicate that the creature will return at some point. Which is kewl. Another storyline going on.

Now the Dudleytown Donatello was talking about is a real place in Connecticut.

From Wikipedia (there's several links to footage from ghost hunting shows at the bottom):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dudleytown%2C_Connecticut

In addition to the economic factors in its decline, Dudleytown developed a reputation as a haunted place. Tales of several suicides, mass hysteria, ghost sightings, and demonic contacts have been mistakenly attributed to the small settlement of Dudleytown, leading to many modern-day rumors. In a 1993 interview in Playboy Magazine, comedian Dan Aykroyd claimed that Dudleytown, "Massachusetts" was "the scariest place on Earth". Dudleytown is actually located in Connecticut. While it has been speculated that the fear generated by such legends contributed greatly to the decline of Dudleytown, the town's ultimate demise more likely occurred due to poor choices of location by its original founders. The settlement, in addition to being sequestered from the town proper in a difficult-to-reach area, and having very poor soil for crop-growth, lay in the shadows of three mountain peaks which minimized its exposure to sunlight, hence the name of its largest avenue, Dark Entry Forest Road.

The "Curse of Dudleytown" is said to have been begun in the 1940s, but in actuality has its origins in 1938 with the publication of a book by Iveagh Hunt Sterry and William Garrigus entitled "They Found A Way: Connecticut's Restless People". The book's authors allude to the Dudleytown curse and refer to many of these myths and legends as historical fact. From the Connecticut Heritage: "Sterry, Iveagh H., and Garrigus, William H. They Found a Way: Connecticut’s Restless People. Brattleboro, 1938. This is the sort of popular history that should be kept out of the hands of children and unwary adults. It is full of legend and long-exposed myths put out as though they were true. One would do much better with Peals, Lee, or Roth." The curse was revived in a 1970s National Enquirer article whose headline proclaimed, "Deadly Curse Turned New England Village Into A Ghost Town!". The uncredited article caught the attention of The Warrens of Connecticut, who proceeded to shoot a Halloween special on the paranormal at the site of the former settlement. After proclaiming that Dudleytown was "demonically possessed", paranormal groups and amateur ghost hunters from all over the world began to descend on the small Connecticut town of Cornwall. The "curse" allegedly had its beginnings in England where the court of King George II took action against the Barons Dudley for supposed malfeasance against the crown. Their father was supposedly descended from these Dudleys who had fled England in the 1700s to escape accusations of high treason. The Dudley family was said to be cursed for its political opposition to the king. However, the Dudleys of Dudleytown appear to have no genealogical descent from the Barons Dudley of England. According to the actual town records of Cornwall, no murders or suicides ever took place in Dudleytown. As for the ghostly sightings and demonic activity, no town records of such occurrences exist to support such claims.

Due to its "haunted" reputation, the area has attracted many ghost hunters, as well as adolescents willing to cause trouble. In the late 1990s, vandals visiting the area committed arson, resulting in a large forest fire that threatened many of the private residences on the property. Following this episode, the Dark Entry Forest Association (which owns the property that includes the site of the former settlement) closed the area down to unauthorized visitors to protect the assets of the community. Still, multiple arrests are made every year, prompting the DEF to continue to keep the area off limits to visitors.

In 2006, Red Barn Films, a small production company in Massachusetts initiated an investigation into the "Curse" and the reported paranormal phenomena in Dudleytown, as the basis for a feature film. The film is planned for 2009.

[PAAATE]

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

Based on what was said about the consequences of lies, are we led to believe Raph intentionally lying to Mike on the last page?

Maybe Mike and Raph'll have some kind of a fight.. I just read the issue and when I saw the last page I was like "Well, that's a little too cute..", then I noticed the crack in the rocks and got all excited

[Ninjinister]

Lovecraftian (or is it Lovecraft-esque?) references can be a good thing if done correctly, instead of just used in the sort of tone of "hey look, we finally read some of Lovecraft's work, so we can reference it!"... which this story, unfortunately, is a case of the latter. A better take on the Lovecraft mythos would be something like Stockman pulling a Herbert West. Or hell, The Darkness Within even did it better - and had references to Dante to boot!

[odupianist]

So I picked up my issue today (I know, I'm late). I know they were playing baseball, but did any one else think of future Don and Raph with that cap on and them running together? I have to agree with Scandia, kind of mediocre issue. I also figure this issue takes place before the TMNT get their tats from the Utroms (hope that helps DrS).

[***First of Two Latin Kings***]

Originally Posted by Putrescent

oh boy lol I hate when people do that like when the spell Utrom Uthrom.

Don't you spell things wrong all the time?

[Shark]

Well my town finally got a comic store for the first time ever, so now my town finally sells comics, though TMNT wasn't one of them. But they told me I could become a member, and order comics (Sonic the Hedgehog, and TMNT being the only one's on my list). So now I get TMNT comics, this issue being the first time I got a TMNT comic since the Archie days. Anyway I never see this series much (so far the black and white gets on my nerves, as I can barely ever tell one turtle from the other unless a name is mentioned, or a weapon is shown), but I liked this issue. And if you guys are saying it wasn't very good, then I can't imagine how I'll feel about a good issue. Damn I can't wait now...

[VaughnMichael]

Originally Posted by Darth_CJJ

Don't you spell things wrong all the time?

Let me tell ya John I missed you just so much, and I think spelling a characters name that's talked about all the time on a site about said characters is a bit differnt.
If I was going to do an english paper I'd make sure my spelling was perfect thanks.

[Sage Ninja]

can I ask who the heck Radical is and what her connection to Leo is?

[VaughnMichael]

Originally Posted by Sage Ninja

can I ask who the heck Radical is and what her connection to Leo is?

A Super Mutant Human I guess she gained Super Powers via lignting if I recall, some one please correct me if I'm wrong.
And I guess her connection with Leonardo is that they had been seeing one another later in their lives.

[VaughnMichael]

Sorry to double post but I just got this issue today and I enjoyed this one quite a bit.
I thought Jim's art was much better in this issue than #46

[Revan]

Originally Posted by Putrescent

A Super Mutant Human I guess she gained Super Powers via lignting if I recall, some one please correct me if I'm wrong.
And I guess her connection with Leonardo is that they had been seeing one another later in their lives.

yup and the same bolt hit carnage. they both had to gain powers or neither of them would have.

[discordiatookie]

Finally picked up this issue, and I dug!

Lawson does awesome 'turtles in the woods' art, methinks.

And great, ominous ending.