Year of the Turtle

*Scandia* · 11-08-2007, 06:51 AM

I just got mine yesterday and read them this morning. Awesome- but I have a couple questions.

- When in the Archie timeline do they happen? Or are they an alternate retelling?
- Michelangelo mentions "We need Casey Jones". Yet Casey Jones does not appear in the Archie comics otherwise. Is this a totally different continuity then? I know that just because Casey is not shown does not mean that he does not exist in this universe, but I am still curious.
- Raphael seems to be much more violent and angry than in the usual Archie comics. He starts by beating up thugs for information- which Splinter reprimands him about.

And watch out for the nifty plot twist at the end.

*Roseangelo* · 11-08-2007, 09:04 AM

I never took these books as being part of Archie continuity.

*Andrew NDB* · 11-08-2007, 11:09 AM

It was very much intended to be part of the Archie continuity. Figure just, a year or two after the end of the main Archie series.

It was an attempt to reach a slightly more mature audience by trying to find a middle ground between Mirage and the previous Archie material. Since it was also the very last time the Archie TMNT series ever saw print I think we can assume it was a failure.

*Kendamu* · 11-08-2007, 11:36 AM

I wish it weren't a failure because that's when I actually started picking up the book on a regular basis.

a_big_apple · 11-08-2007, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scandia

- Michelangelo mentions "We need Casey Jones". Yet Casey Jones does not appear in the Archie comics otherwise. Is this a totally different continuity then? I know that just because Casey is not shown does not mean that he does not exist in this universe, but I am still curious.

These books confused me in spite of my affection for them, just because I was a lifelong reader of the Archies and these were so different in style that I wasn't sure what was going on.... But here's my thought about Casey Jones. He did appear a few times in the OT, and the OT universe is what the Archies were based on. He wasn't a vital character the way he is in the other universes, but he did exist, even if he never appeared in the Archies. It's odd for Mikey to suddenly mention him after all that time, but you could explain it away. I'm not sure I hold with that theory, but that's what I told myself back when those issues came out.

*Scandia* · 11-08-2007, 12:40 PM

Yeah, I guessed it was either that, or that it took place in a different universe or continuity than the regular Archie run.

I did notice the more mature style. The Turtles' pupils cannot be seen- unless it is a really up close shot. Which shows the purpose of the Ninja masks. Enemies cannot see emotion, but Splinter can read his sons' eyes.

*CyberCubed* · 11-08-2007, 01:41 PM

"Year of the Turtle" is definitely an apparent climax to the Archie series after the "Forever War" was originally cancelled. It may have been done by different writers, but I always saw it as the perfect end to the series.

Great comics, I love the art style and there's lots of action. Not to mention Shredder's design was excellent.

Scandia, did you order these anywhere online? The official site doesn't have them.

*Scandia* · 11-08-2007, 04:49 PM

I bought them on Ebay from a fellow Technodrome member whose username I am blanking out on at the moment. Yup, fever is still high.

*Roseangelo* · 11-08-2007, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

Since it was also the very last time the Archie TMNT series ever saw print I think we can assume it was a failure.

The series was canceled before these books saw print. These were published with the full knowledge that they would be the last TMNT titles from Archie.

*Andrew NDB* · 11-08-2007, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roseangelo

The series was canceled before these books saw print. These were published with the full knowledge that they would be the last TMNT titles from Archie.

Yeah... but I'm saying "Year of the Turtle" was an attempt to relaunch the Archie series in the same manner the original 3 issue Archie mini launched the original Archie series. It would've, but the sales weren't there.

*Roseangelo* · 11-08-2007, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

Yeah... but I'm saying "Year of the Turtle" was an attempt to relaunch the Archie series in the same manner the original 3 issue Archie mini launched the original Archie series. It would've, but the sales weren't there.

No, it was no such attempt. It was a stand alone story that they published instead of The Forever War. That's it.

*Andrew NDB* · 11-08-2007, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roseangelo

No, it was no such attempt.

Can you list a citation?

It seemed very deliberately tooled as a potential, "OK, that didn't work. Let's try it this way and test the waters" project. And it came out a good 4 months after the final TMNT Adventures issue.

*Roseangelo* · 11-08-2007, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

Can you list a citation?

It seemed very deliberately tooled as a potential, "OK, that didn't work. Let's try it this way and test the waters" project. And it came out a good 4 months after the final TMNT Adventures issue.

Not specifically. But I was reading Previews religiously at the time and I knew when it was being published that it was to be the last story.

*CyberCubed* · 11-08-2007, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roseangelo

Not specifically. But I was reading Previews religiously at the time and I knew when it was being published that it was to be the last story.

Not to mention right in the actual comic Splinter tells Mikey (who was recovering), that, "This is the last Turtles story, and after this one you will have heard them all."

I thought it was obvious that this was the finale of Archie. They couldn't do the Forever War so they ended it with this three-parter instead. I thought it was a great note to go out on and I loved that Shredder both began and ended the Archie run.

Still, I'm also extremely happy the Forever War is finally seeing print, so its all good anyway.

tablesalt · 11-08-2007, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scandia

I bought them on Ebay from a fellow Technodrome member whose username I am blanking out on at the moment. Yup, fever is still high.

I think it was me. I was always kind of bitter towards the series because loved the Archie run, and felt (at the time, at least) that this sort of stole it's place. So I don't think I ever really gave it a fair shot.
I'm happy you liked it, though.

*Andrew NDB* · 12-24-2007, 11:39 PM

From Mr. Murphy's blog:

"Archie decided that they wanted a more direct-sales oriented version of the TMNTA comic, while also keeping the book aimed at the child or parent who might casually pick the book up at a newsstand."

"the mini-series “The Year of the TURTLE” – tanked both in the direct sales market and at the newsstand, thus causing Archie to abandon the TMNT license.)"

This seems to directly imply that "Year of the Turtle" was very much intended as a new direction/relaunch, not an ending. It just happened to fall flat on its ass... so it ended up being an ending anyway.

11-08-2007, 06:51 AM	#1
Scandia Mad Scientist Join Date: May 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 2,265	Year of the Turtle I just got mine yesterday and read them this morning. Awesome- but I have a couple questions. - When in the Archie timeline do they happen? Or are they an alternate retelling? - Michelangelo mentions "We need Casey Jones". Yet Casey Jones does not appear in the Archie comics otherwise. Is this a totally different continuity then? I know that just because Casey is not shown does not mean that he does not exist in this universe, but I am still curious. - Raphael seems to be much more violent and angry than in the usual Archie comics. He starts by beating up thugs for information- which Splinter reprimands him about. And watch out for the nifty plot twist at the end. __________________ Turtles fight with honor!!!

11-08-2007, 09:04 AM	#2
Roseangelo Emperor Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: California Posts: 9,116	I never took these books as being part of Archie continuity. __________________ www.ninjapizza.net www.colorsbyrosemary.com

11-08-2007, 11:09 AM	#3
Andrew NDB Weed Whacker Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Auburn, WA Posts: 34,506	It was very much intended to be part of the Archie continuity. Figure just, a year or two after the end of the main Archie series. It was an attempt to reach a slightly more mature audience by trying to find a middle ground between Mirage and the previous Archie material. Since it was also the very last time the Archie TMNT series ever saw print I think we can assume it was a failure. __________________ [ ODYSSEY \| ORIGIN \| THE IMAGE/VOL. 3 CONCLUSION \| THE SHELLSHOCKED PODCAST \| ON FACEBOOK ]

11-08-2007, 12:40 PM	#6
Scandia Mad Scientist Join Date: May 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 2,265	Yeah, I guessed it was either that, or that it took place in a different universe or continuity than the regular Archie run. I did notice the more mature style. The Turtles' pupils cannot be seen- unless it is a really up close shot. Which shows the purpose of the Ninja masks. Enemies cannot see emotion, but Splinter can read his sons' eyes. __________________ Turtles fight with honor!!!

11-08-2007, 04:49 PM	#8
Scandia Mad Scientist Join Date: May 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 2,265	I bought them on Ebay from a fellow Technodrome member whose username I am blanking out on at the moment. Yup, fever is still high. __________________ Turtles fight with honor!!!

11-08-2007, 11:36 AM	#4
Kendamu Sewerhead Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,890	I wish it weren't a failure because that's when I actually started picking up the book on a regular basis.

11-08-2007, 01:41 PM	#7
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,835	"Year of the Turtle" is definitely an apparent climax to the Archie series after the "Forever War" was originally cancelled. It may have been done by different writers, but I always saw it as the perfect end to the series. Great comics, I love the art style and there's lots of action. Not to mention Shredder's design was excellent. Scandia, did you order these anywhere online? The official site doesn't have them.

12-24-2007, 11:39 PM	#16
Andrew NDB Weed Whacker Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Auburn, WA Posts: 34,506	From Mr. Murphy's blog: "Archie decided that they wanted a more direct-sales oriented version of the TMNTA comic, while also keeping the book aimed at the child or parent who might casually pick the book up at a newsstand." "the mini-series “The Year of the TURTLE” – tanked both in the direct sales market and at the newsstand, thus causing Archie to abandon the TMNT license.)" This seems to directly imply that "Year of the Turtle" was very much intended as a new direction/relaunch, not an ending. It just happened to fall flat on its ass... so it ended up being an ending anyway. __________________ [ ODYSSEY \| ORIGIN \| THE IMAGE/VOL. 3 CONCLUSION \| THE SHELLSHOCKED PODCAST \| ON FACEBOOK ]