Mirage/Archie/Sci-fi/Fantasy/Grit/Whatever

[TristanHuwJones]

I was just thinking as I write, and thought I'd see how everyone felt about this...

I know a lot of people here hold the Archie stuff very close to heart, and a lot do the same with the Mirage stuff. I've noticed a lot of people commenting on how they hope the Forever War would mean a culmination of the two continuities, and this got me wondering "Why?".

There are a lot of Archie-esque ideas played around with in the recent Tales stories, and the events of Vol.4 aren't far off something that could happen in the Archie-verse, but people don't seem to go for them as much, preferring the darker, grittier material.

Do you guys prefer there a distinct difference between the two universes (ie; what happens in Mirage should stay there, and vice versa) or does the idea of the two continuities merging in a sense appeal?

[StealthNinjaScyther]

Keep them separate. My biggest concern is that merging them would lead to more crossover of concepts and stories, which is occasionally nice, but when done in excess it seems lazy.

Like with the things from the current cartoon appearing in the comics, most notably the ninja tribunal and battle nexus. I like the different universes for the things that make them unique. When you start swapping the things that make them unique it gets kind of boring. I want to see new things, not just some rehashed concepts.

As for merging the original comic continuity with Archie I just don't see how it would work or make sense. The tone of each is just too different.

[Roseangelo]

Separate, separate, separate.

I absolutely hate the random merging of universes that has happened recently with 2K3 stuff finding its way into the Mirage comics with no explanation.

[Ninjinister]

This is the way that I like to look at it:

All of the the TMNT universes co-exist. With the advent of the Battle Nexus showing up Mirage, this made me think: this is the same Battle Nexus in 2K3. Not a Mirage version of it, but the exact same thing (just done in Jim Lawson's style). Battle Nexus is accessible via all dimensions, and as such, the Battle Nexus is accessible by every universe of the TMNT.

Combine this with Cudley about to appear in the Mirage universe, gives me the idea that any of the TMNT universes could cross over to another at any time, but not necessarily in excess.

[TristanHuwJones]

The Battle Nexus idea does open the floor to some pretty cool/hilarious ideas for cross dimensional stuff. I'm sure there's some part of everyone that would get a kick of some sort out of seeing the Archie Turtles vs the Mirage Turtles vs the Zulli Turtles vs the OT Turtles vs the 2007 Movie Turtles and so forth. Everyone knows the Mirage Turtles would dominate

Like with the things from the current cartoon appearing in the comics, most notably the ninja tribunal and battle nexus. I like the different universes for the things that make them unique. When you start swapping the things that make them unique it gets kind of boring. I want to see new things, not just some rehashed concepts.

Uh-Oh...





Still, I'm not sure I got my point across clearly enough. What I'm referring to is more about the story content. There have been a number of Mirage Tales in Vol.2 that wouldn't be out of place in either continuity, but my impression is that people would generally be more accepting of them in the Archie stories. To what extent do you think the Mirage stories should be reaching into that realm of extreme possibility/fantasy/sci-fi? I know a lot of people really dig Hall of the Lost Legends from back in the day, but that is potentially more extreme in it's fantasy elements than any of the Tales we've had in Vol.2.

I just want to get across that I'm not taking jabs at anyone here, so don't read it that way at all, it's more fanboy/writer curiosity getting the better of me in moments of writer's block!

[Ninjinister]

I've always liked the Mirage TMNT issues (and actually, anything) that were related to world religions and mythologies. As for sci-fi... everything after the initial "Turtles in Space" arc early on in the series haven't been too exciting.

I like the fact that a couple of the Tales issues have sort of the environmentalist theme of the Archie comics, but some of them feel a little preachy and forced. Keep them the opposite, and have them occur sparingly, and we're gravy.

[ToTheNines]

Yeah, I see no point in combining them.

[TristanHuwJones]

Again, I'm not talking about combining them, I'm talking more about the story content and ideas.

[Raph's Girl]

Well..not combining them completly but maybe just on occasion adding characters from it.

Like what they're doing with Cudley they could um you know have Ninjara appear in the Battle Nexus and at first think she's sees Raph talking with Shredder....then be all confused when she realizes it's Leo wearing a red mask.

[Ninjinister]

Originally Posted by TristanHuwJones

Still, I'm not sure I got my point across clearly enough. What I'm referring to is more about the story content. There have been a number of Mirage Tales in Vol.2 that wouldn't be out of place in either continuity, but my impression is that people would generally be more accepting of them in the Archie stories. To what extent do you think the Mirage stories should be reaching into that realm of extreme possibility/fantasy/sci-fi? I know a lot of people really dig Hall of the Lost Legends from back in the day, but that is potentially more extreme in it's fantasy elements than any of the Tales we've had in Vol.2.

Originally Posted by TristanHuwJones

Again, I'm not talking about combining them, I'm talking more about the story content and ideas.

Seriously folks, his first post may have been a wee bit vague, but he clarified himself... twice! Reading is our friend, dudes.

[TristanHuwJones]

thanks S. I put all my effort into writing my stories, so I start rambling when it comes to some of these posts. You should hear me talk sometimes!

[Andrew NDB]

Wholly seperate.

But I wouldn't mind like a TMNT Multiverse, somewhat akin to what DC does.

Like, Earth-1 would be the Mirage universe, Earth-2 would be the Archieverse. Every so often there would be crossovers, etc..

[TristanHuwJones]

Yeah, that I could dig. And it makes sense with the Battle Nexus and prior to that the fact that Glurin had developed the interdimensional transportation device.

In terms of fantasy elements and sci-fi elements, do people have favourites from the recent Tales that they feel manage to hit the perfect (or near perfect) balance between what's believable (in a world of five foot talking mutant turtles) and what's not?

[Andrew NDB]

I've always thought it would be fun to organize a TMNT Multiverse into "Dimensions" with letter designations.

Dimension A: Mirage
Dimension B: Original Cartoon
Dimension C: Archie Universe
Dimension D: Movies
Dimension E: Current Cartoon

And so on.

And, of course...

Dimension X: Where Krang comes from. Krang visiting both Dimension B and C at different times.

[PAAATE]

Originally Posted by TristanHuwJones

In terms of fantasy elements and sci-fi elements, do people have favourites from the recent Tales that they feel manage to hit the perfect (or near perfect) balance between what's believable (in a world of five foot talking mutant turtles) and what's not?

I like all stories that has a connection to Lovecraft's stories

Though, I guess it's more because of that connection, than it is because I feel it's believable..

Buuut, believable... Thinking, thinking..

I liked #42.. With the "men in black" and all that...

But I tend to not like the stories that takes place in space.. I've never had any interest in such stories, with the exception of the TV-series Farscape (and TMNT vol1 #4-7 )... I don't like Star Wars, I don't like Star Trek et.c.