The Ultimate Visual History (June 2014)

[Andrew Farago]

Originally Posted by Rooish

This looks amazing. Does it have Image? Volume 4? Next Mutation? The new movie images look amazing and in violation of some NDA.

In answer to your questions--yes, yes, and yes. Every volume of the comic gets covered. I spent a little more time on the early Eastman/Laird comics than the others, but everything gets some time in the spotlight.

I haven't watched the flip-through video, since I'm holding out for having the actual book in my hands (any day now, hopefully), but the TMNT #1 replica was shot directly from the original art. My recollection on the "second print" page is that since we had access to the original art from the dedication page in the second print, we wanted to make sure it was included somewhere in the book. Since it's shot from the original art and isn't an exact replica of the first printing of the first issue anyway, we took a few small liberties for the sake of including some cool, rarely seen art.

[TigerClaw]

How many pages are devoted to each incarnation of the Turtles? Like for example, How much does the book cover the Archies Series comics?

[TheMasterTurtle]

Originally Posted by Andrew Farago

In answer to your questions--yes, yes, and yes. Every volume of the comic gets covered. I spent a little more time on the early Eastman/Laird comics than the others, but everything gets some time in the spotlight.

I haven't watched the flip-through video, since I'm holding out for having the actual book in my hands (any day now, hopefully), but the TMNT #1 replica was shot directly from the original art. My recollection on the "second print" page is that since we had access to the original art from the dedication page in the second print, we wanted to make sure it was included somewhere in the book. Since it's shot from the original art and isn't an exact replica of the first printing of the first issue anyway, we took a few small liberties for the sake of including some cool, rarely seen art.

Andrew how can I get myself an autographed copy

Really I've waited for something like this for a long time now.

[Andrew Farago]

I don't know the page count for each chapter, offhand, but I interviewed multiple artists and writers for each section, tracked down a lot of original artwork and rarities, and did my best to give each version of the Turtles a decent amount of coverage. The first draft of the book was nearly twice as long as the final cut, so I didn't quite get everything I wanted in there, but if sales are good, maybe I can get my publisher to go for an update when the Turtles turn 35. And 40. And 45. And...yeah, I could have spent another two or three years researching the Turtles and still missed out on a few things.

As far as autographed copies go, when I get my copies from the publisher, I'll sell a few signed and sketched copies, and I'll probably announce that here when the time comes: https://www.facebook.com/andrewfaragocartoons

I'll also mention it here when I've got my copies ready to sell. I'm planning to make up some bookplates that I can send to people who don't buy the book directly from me or don't want to ship their copy back and forth.

If you're in California, I'll be doing a booksigning at the Cartoon Art Museum on June 14 (we'll have copies there ten days before it goes on sale anywhere else), plus I'm planning to sign copies at the Insight Editions booth at the San Diego Comic-Con in July, hopefully alongside Kevin Eastman. I'll also be at the Alternative Press Expo in San Francisco in October. On top of that, I'll probably be in Pittsburgh sometime this fall, signing books at the ToonSeum, which will host a TMNT original art exhibition later this year.

I'm always up for travel, so if you know any convention organizers, bookstore owners, or comic shops that would like to host me for a talk or a signing, please have them contact me through Facebook or Twitter (@andrewfarago). I'd love to do a few of the big TMNT fan conventions if I can.

[CyberCubed]

This book definitely looks amazing and very well done. Hopefully it will sell very well as every TMNT fan should pick it up.

[Shark_Blade]

With the movie coming out, I'd say it'll help promote each other both ways.

[TomWaltz]

Originally Posted by marcelangelo

hi ya tom!
I know you and the other guys and gals put heart and soul into these books, thats what I wrote in my last comment.after all I have also seen your interviews on cowabunga corner and bobby on the turtles podcast etc.it was impressive to see how much you guys are fans and thinking through all of the existing stuff to spin your tale.what I meant with 'heart and soul for the mirage team' was:
when they moved the guys to northhampton for example it was their hometown, their personal memories and loved people and places that spilled into these panels.maybe a thousand different in jokes that went mostly above the readers head but one could feel it.thats the things I meant...it was their babies.their lives.their comics.
I just feel one can't beat that.
when you or anybody else in the future will place the tmnt in northhampton I think it just happens because it is part of the turtles history and doesn't mean the same anymore..
anyway, I didn't want to snarl at you guys at idw.also the way you react SHOWS you are emotinaly involved very much and that is nice.

No worries, my friend. I fear my post may have come off more defensive than I actually intended it, to be honest, and I get what you're saying about the Kevin and Peter's direct emotional link to that first Northampton story way back when. For the record, that's some of my favorite stuff they did in those days, hence our homage in the IDW series.

So, like I said, no worries at all. Stay green!

Talk soon…

Tom W.

[rich]

Originally Posted by Andrew Farago

...but the TMNT #1 replica was shot directly from the original art. My recollection on the "second print" page is that since we had access to the original art from the dedication page in the second print, we wanted to make sure it was included somewhere in the book. Since it's shot from the original art and isn't an exact replica of the first printing of the first issue anyway, we took a few small liberties for the sake of including some cool, rarely seen art.

Gotcha. Thanks Andrew. If it's not designed to be an exact replica of the first printing then that makes sense.

[Rooish]

Donatello looks a little derpy on the cover... but I need this book nonetheless.

[JonesyKitty]

considering Andrew Farago said the #1 reprint is not an exact replica is it safe to assume that its not an oversized comic like the original?

[Dawnatello Turtle Chick]

I'm getting even more excited about this book the more I read about how much passion you have for it, Andrew. I've had it pre-ordered since I think it was originally available for pre-order on Amazon (my nearest comic shop is over 50 miles away... ). I did a brief look-up on your body of work and thought based on that, that you'd do a great job. But hearing how much you care about the franchise, I know, now that you'll do a phenomenal job! Also I don't understand how we haven't had a book like this before- so excited!!!

[Andrew Farago]

Originally Posted by CaseyJonesFan

considering Andrew Farago said the #1 reprint is not an exact replica is it safe to assume that its not an oversized comic like the original?

I wasn't part of the decision on that, but I'm pretty sure it's printed at standard comic book size. If you want to see the original art, you can visit the Cartoon Art Museum this summer, and there's a very good chance of something along the lines of a portfolio reprinting the originals at full size in the near future.

[Andrew Farago]

Originally Posted by Dawnatello Turtle Chick

I'm getting even more excited about this book the more I read about how much passion you have for it, Andrew. I've had it pre-ordered since I think it was originally available for pre-order on Amazon (my nearest comic shop is over 50 miles away... ). I did a brief look-up on your body of work and thought based on that, that you'd do a great job. But hearing how much you care about the franchise, I know, now that you'll do a phenomenal job! Also I don't understand how we haven't had a book like this before- so excited!!!

Thanks very much for the kind words! I got a chance to meet lots of TMNT fans at the Emerald City Comicon in Seattle in March, and the fun thing about that was hearing everyone's "origin story" as a fan. For me, it was seeing the TV commercials in December 1987 announcing the first TMNT mini-series, and counting down the days until the show first aired. Some people discovered it with the first movie, a lot jumped on with the 4Kids series, my nephew discovered the Turtles with the Nickelodeon series--and there are some folks like Ciro Nieli who bought the first print of the first issue at his local comic shop.

[JonesyKitty]

Originally Posted by Andrew Farago

I wasn't part of the decision on that, but I'm pretty sure it's printed at standard comic book size. If you want to see the original art, you can visit the Cartoon Art Museum this summer, and there's a very good chance of something along the lines of a portfolio reprinting the originals at full size in the near future.

Awesome thank you for answering, either way I am still super excited for this book and am pre-ordering it I can't wait to get it in hand!

[John Pannozzi]

Here's some more images and excerpts from the book.

[marcelangelo]

Originally Posted by John Pannozzi

Here's some more images and excerpts from the book.

hey, great!thanks for sharing!....I am so fond that this book is giving us what many have been waiting for from the new nickelodeon cartoon:ciro's character sheets!!I made this thought known on ciros fb page and elsewhere and talked to others of how kooool it would be to one day publish these with his commentaries in a making off book about the show.sweet that now we'll be seeing some of them treated this way sort of(from the looks of it)....

[ABrown]

Yeah, I kinda have to have this. I've been waiting years for something like this to come out about the TMNT.

[KirkyMonster]

I'm definitely buying one of these.

[AlZarkovski]

New review with foto. Many foto!

[Casey]

I still say it should be the 1990 film for Leo or Raph and have the other be early Mirage.