TMNT Adventures Vol 8 Cover Art

[Joey Kamikaze]

Since April has been missing from every trade cover thus far, her exclusion just because "nobody in the presumably-male-dominated editorial staff thought about her" can be viewed as the patriarchy in action, even if her absence isn't actively malicious... and it's definitely one interpretation you could choose.

I haven't been paying much attention to these since I own all the singles from this early in TMNTA. Looking at the covers... frankly, now that I look Steven Lavigne's covers look all wrong to me, too action-figurey, but moving on... yeah, April's not on any of them. I'd think volumes 5 and 8 would have been the most logical places to include her thus far. It is pretty ridiculous Scul and Bean got a cover and Maligna didn't, but then Null didn't show up on that era's covers either.

Still. April's back-ups in the last volume lead into this volume's arc, and this arc is a fairly big turning point for her, and her first (good) miniseries is a sequel to this arc. So not having her on the cover is kind of ridiculous. It would be nice to see them include that first April miniseries in the collections at some point since it's a sequel to #28-30 and it sets up the April & Oyuki freelancer thing that comes up again in several TMNTA stories, but I won't hold my breath.

Also: TIL Maligna was inspired by Leona Helmsley, according to Ryan Brown

[Kingoji]

I think that you guys are crediting IDW with giving these covers far more thought than they actually have. It seems far more likely that they've simply approached the artists with an issue that represents the arc contained and just let them do what they want (and I suspect that what they wanted was to just bang something out in an evening).
Don't get me wrong, I'm phenomenally happy that these issues are being collected and I especially look forward to discovering material that never got reprinted in the UK (such as the first Mutanimals mini), but the actual quality of the reprints has been low and the covers have all been incredibly poor in general. It very much feels like the stamp of approval for these books has read "that'll do".

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by Kingoji

I think that you guys are crediting IDW with giving these covers far more thought than they actually have. It seems far more likely that they've simply approached the artists with an issue that represents the arc contained and just let them do what they want (and I suspect that what they wanted was to just bang something out in an evening).
Don't get me wrong, I'm phenomenally happy that these issues are being collected and I especially look forward to discovering material that never got reprinted in the UK (such as the first Mutanimals mini), but the actual quality of the reprints has been low and the covers have all been incredibly poor in general. It very much feels like the stamp of approval for these books has read "that'll do".

My thoughts exactly. Thank you for your cool-headed but honest logic, Kingoji.

[Kingoji]

I am often accused of both.

[The Big Bad]

Originally Posted by Kingoji

I think that you guys are crediting IDW with giving these covers far more thought than they actually have. It seems far more likely that they've simply approached the artists with an issue that represents the arc contained and just let them do what they want (and I suspect that what they wanted was to just bang something out in an evening).
Don't get me wrong, I'm phenomenally happy that these issues are being collected and I especially look forward to discovering material that never got reprinted in the UK (such as the first Mutanimals mini), but the actual quality of the reprints has been low and the covers have all been incredibly poor in general. It very much feels like the stamp of approval for these books has read "that'll do".

This seems likely. It doesn't make the absence of the female characters any less glaring or worthy of being called out, and arguably makes it more so. Because again, if you're choosing elements at random and consistently skip over the fifth most prominent character--who is made more so by being the only woman and non-mutant hanging out with the turtles--then something's up. If they've been doing it intentionally, they need to be called out. If they've been doing it without noticing, then they need to be told, because there's a greater possibility that it'll get fixed.

[Powder]

It's entirely possible they feel they're not that great at drawing women.

[darthsmozers]

Originally Posted by Powder

It's entirely possible they feel they're not that great at drawing women.

Like Jim Lawson?

[darthsmozers]

Originally Posted by The Big Bad

This seems likely. It doesn't make the absence of the female characters any less glaring or worthy of being called out, and arguably makes it more so. Because again, if you're choosing elements at random and consistently skip over the fifth most prominent character--who is made more so by being the only woman and non-mutant hanging out with the turtles--then something's up. If they've been doing it intentionally, they need to be called out. If they've been doing it without noticing, then they need to be told, because there's a greater possibility that it'll get fixed.

Appreciate your honest thoughts. But honestly, the poster above is right on - probably little thought and a quick buck are put into the covers (rightfully so...its just a cover for a tpb of a kiddie comic - though we happen to love this kiddie comic!).

[RatKingLeo]

Nickelodeon ultimately has the final say as to what goes on the covers. I'm pretty sure they give the artist a guideline that they must follow. I don't think they have as much say into the design as you would think.

[Joey Kamikaze]

Originally Posted by Kingoji

Don't get me wrong, I'm phenomenally happy that these issues are being collected and I especially look forward to discovering material that never got reprinted in the UK (such as the first Mutanimals mini), but the actual quality of the reprints has been low and the covers have all been incredibly poor in general. It very much feels like the stamp of approval for these books has read "that'll do".

Yeah, this, basically. Which is about what I expect for this series as it's the "other" TMNT comic from the 90's. But I'm also with The Big Bad--sexism doesn't have to be (and often isn't) on purpose. April plays a huge role in the Archie universe.

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by Powder

It's entirely possible they feel they're not that great at drawing women.

Outside of Berger and Dooney, I never thought any of the old Mirage masters had much skill for rendering women in art.

[darthsmozers]

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

Outside of Berger and Dooney, I never thought any of the old Mirage masters had much skill for rendering women in art.

true.
By the way, it's interesting to compare the 2 splinters in your sig and avatar.

[Joey Kamikaze]

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

Outside of Berger and Dooney, I never thought any of the old Mirage masters had much skill for rendering women in art.

To be honest the way they drew humans in general looked funky to me in a lot of the Mirage books.

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by darthsmozers

By the way, it's interesting to compare the 2 splinters in your sig and avatar.

Thanks so much!