So, I've Finally Read (Almost) All of Canon Mirage

[Cipher]

I just recieved an order of comics including Shades of Grey and the Return To New York trade paperback, and my parents have ordered and are saving the complete TMNT Vol. 2 for one of my Christmas gifts. At that point, through a mix of the Turtles website, Wowio, and owning issues, I will have read all of the canon Mirage stories.

So my question is, where do I go from here? There are a ton of stories from the Mirage guest artist era and Tales Vol. 2 that I don't have. Any recommendations? I might as well post what exactly I've read:

Vol. 1: #1-12, 19-21, 48-62
Vol. 2: Soon to be #1-13
Vol. 4: #1-29
Tales Vol. 1: #1-7
Tales Vol. 2: #1, 2, 5, 6, 37, 50

I prefer "deep" Turtles as opposed to "ass-kicking" Turtles, if that makes any sense. I was looking at The River, Sons of the Silent Age, Soul's Winter, The Ring and Leonardo: Blindsight. I'd also love to read the rest of the Image volume but they seem to be hard to find now. Suggestions?

[trustno1]

these are the ones i consider most important in terms of story and fitting in with the rest of the canon mirage stuff:


Vol. 1: # 14, 15, 24-30 (though not all of these are officially canon yet) and 45-47.

Tales Vol. 2: # 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 48, 49

i've been reading that 36 is the start of some big things next year like hun coming into the comics and the group of bad guys that were arrested at the end of #50 also return in a connecting story i think

[TristanHuwJones]

Yep. I just handed the script in for that the other night. Andres Ponce on art.

[DrSpengler]

Originally Posted by Cipher

So my question is, where do I go from here? There are a ton of stories from the Mirage guest artist era and Tales Vol. 2 that I don't have. Any recommendations?

I would quite honestly avoid nearly all of the Mirage guest artist era if I were you. The only ones really worth a look are the Veitch (#24-26, 30) and Zulli (#31, 35-36) issues. The rest run the gamut of "below average" to "abysmal".

Tales Vol. 2 is a pretty crazy grab-bag of fluctuating quality. I don't really have the time to pick out my favorite issues at the moment, but if you steer clear of anything drawn by Lawson then you should be mostly alright.

[Cipher]

Originally Posted by DrSpengler

I would quite honestly avoid nearly all of the Mirage guest artist era if I were you. The only ones really worth a look are the Veitch (#24-26, 30) and Zulli (#31, 35-36) issues. The rest run the gamut of "below average" to "abysmal".

I definately want to check those out (and the trades are still available for order, so I will), but I know I've seen a few on the main site that looked pretty interesting, if only for how different they are. I'm completely open to different interpretations of the Turtles, unless all those stories really are garabage.

I don't really have the time to pick out my favorite issues at the moment, but if you steer clear of anything drawn by Lawson then you should be mostly alright.

I really don't mind Lawson as long as his art is coupled with a good story. I know he can write.

i've been reading that 36 is the start of some big things next year like hun coming into the comics and the group of bad guys that were arrested at the end of #50 also return in a connecting story i think

I actually meant to order #36 with this batch, but was sent #37 instead. Maybe I checked the wrong box? I actually really liked it, but I still want to get my hands on #36.

Thanks for the suggestions. I care more about strong storytelling than continuity at this point, so throw any favorites my way.

[thebrownranger]

Originally Posted by DrSpengler

I would quite honestly avoid nearly all of the Mirage guest artist era if I were you. The only ones really worth a look are the Veitch (#24-26, 30) and Zulli (#31, 35-36) issues. The rest run the gamut of "below average" to "abysmal".

Man, thinking about Veitch's "the River" story arc and Zulli's work makes me want to read it over again.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by DrSpengler

I would quite honestly avoid nearly all of the Mirage guest artist era if I were you. The only ones really worth a look are the Veitch (#24-26, 30) and Zulli (#31, 35-36) issues. The rest run the gamut of "below average" to "abysmal".

Farley? McCollum? Dooney?

You heathen...

[odupianist]

I have to agree with Andrew. I really like Farley and Dooney. Not sure what McCollum did, but I'm a big fan of the other two, story wise and art wise.

[Cipher]

Originally Posted by odupianist

I have to agree with Andrew. I really like Farley and Dooney. Not sure what McCollum did, but I'm a big fan of the other two, story wise and art wise.

He did The Ring. I have Turtle Soup #1, which contains a one-shot story that inspired the issue, and I'd really love to check out the whole issue.

[Ninjinister]

Originally Posted by Cipher

He did The Ring.

I thought that was Gore Verbenski....

[DrSpengler]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

Farley? McCollum? Dooney?

You heathen...

Okay, okay, okay.

I had more in mind Mark Martin's "Time Travellers" trilogy and the Hedden/McWeeney "Spaced Out" trilogy.

McCollum's "Twilight of the Ring" was pretty good and I've always considered A.C. Farley's "Men of Shadow" to be in Mirage canon, anyway. Dooney's "Dreams of Stone" is definately part of Mirage canon, so it wasn't part of my generalization, to be sure.

[Spitfire]

It's not cannon but I recommend the Image series. If you like deep turtles I think Image conveyed this well.

[CyberCubed]

Basically:

Volume 1: Issues 1-23, and issues 45-62 are worth reading. There are a few guest issues worth reading as mentioned above.

Volume 2: All 13 issues are worth it and are continued with one another.

Tales V.1: All 7 issues are great.

Tales V.2: Varies in quality but I think all of them are worth reading at least once.

Volume 4: By now everyone has their own opinion on this series but I think its alright.


For specials though, I really enjoyed the 4-part "Turtle Soup" series, as well as the 5 issue movie prequel comics.

[thebrownranger]

Originally Posted by Spitfire

It's not cannon but I recommend the Image series. If you like deep turtles I think Image conveyed this well.

Yeah I think Image did a fine job at the story as well. The turtles seem to be more individually focused in each issue along w/ Casey and April.

[Cipher]

Originally Posted by Spitfire

It's not cannon but I recommend the Image series. If you like deep turtles I think Image conveyed this well.

The only Image issue I have is #3. I like the art, and from the summaries I've read, the story sounds really cool (hyper-violence and character depth). The only off putting things are it's lack of a real ending and unaivalability of the series. If I ever see it somewhere, I'll be sure to snatch it up, though.

Tales V.1: All 7 issues are great.

To be honest, the only ones I really enjoyed were #4 and #5.

Volume 4: By now everyone has their own opinion on this series but I think its alright.

Having re-read it once or twice, I'm starting to really like it. Maybe I'm just opposite most fans.

[CyberCubed]

Originally Posted by Cipher

To be honest, the only ones I really enjoyed were #4 and #5.

You didn't enjoy the halloween, Leatherhead, or time travel issue? I thought those were fairly good too.

Issue 1 was ok.

[Cipher]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

You didn't enjoy the halloween, Leatherhead, or time travel issue? I thought those were fairly good too.

Issue 1 was ok.

They were just fair. Neither the writing nor action jumped out at me. I felt like #3 and #7 were better done in the new cartoon, honestly.

Issue 1 could've been good, but I'm not sure what was up with the art on that one. It's like someone spilled ink all over it by accident. Really hard to tell what was happening.

[Cipher]

I'm not sure if this is an acceptable time to double post, and may fire reign down upon me if it's not. But thanks for all the suggestions. I'm home for a long weekend and stopped by a comic shop in Minneapolis that had tons of old and new TMNT comics. I made a decent haul. I know I'm, like, twenty years too late to weigh in on some of these, but couldn't the comics section always use a little more discussion?

• Vol. 1 #8 - Decent. I just thought I'd get it seeing as how it can apparently never be reprinted. Renet is always fun, and Cerebus seems like an interesting character. I can almost see why Laird doesn't want to run this is part of the main series, since for non-Cerebus readers his motives are little confusing. His commentary on the Turtles shouting "Let's go!" is, however, hilarious.

• Vol. 1 #27 "Dreams of Stone" - Good. I love Complete Carnage, what a terrifying, and underused villain he makes. Got a little cheesy, but good art and basically the presense of Carnage made it really fun.

• Vol. 1 #28 "Sons of the Silent Age" - Fantastic. It's all about the writing on this one. This is the kind of reflective story that makes me enjoy reading Turtles. It really is an action comic for the thinking man, ain't it?

• Vol. 1 #37 "Twilight of the Ring" - Also fantastic. I couldn't wait to read this one. It was creepy, symbolic, and while it may have tried to appear deeper than it really was, I couldn't help but enjoy it. Made even better since I've read McCollum's one-shot story in Turtle Soup #1.

• Vol. 1 #42 "Juliet's Revenge" - McCollum ditches the heavy handed symbols for a really fun read. I like it just as much as #37, but in a totally different way. It was exciting, Juliet was a neat idea, and I always love the concept of normal people stumbling onto the Turtles' world like the cryptozoologist did. The Turtles vs. historical and literary figures was boss, as was Splinter's interaction with Edgar Allen Poe. Oh, and "Donatello feels close to the Great Turtle."

• Vol. 1 #43 "Hall of Lost Legends" - Decent. It showcased some nice action, and I love Farley's art, but it didn't feel like it really said anything. The "twist", for what it was, didn't quite seem to deliver.

• Vol. 1 #45 "Leatherhead Too" - Loved it. Again, not the thinking man's issue, but Berger's art is quirky and terrific, the fights were good, and every character, from Leatherhead to the Turtles to the Foot ninja, was well written. Much better than Leatherhead's first issue.

• Tales Vol. 2 #19 "A Ghost Story" - Good. I bought it just because it was Chris Allan, but it delivered on action and was a great nod to continuity. Not much else to say.

• Tales Vol. 2 #40 - Decent. For a book made entirely of visual action, I didn't feel like it was conveyed all that well. Too many small panels? Also, Karai's motivation was...what?

• Tales Vol. 2 #41 "Swan Song" - Fantastic. Leo and Radical seemed pretty spiritual, so the shock of human on turtle love passes quickly. It was a great revenge tale for old Leonardo, and I love the bittersweetness of him realizing that some people couldn't be forgiven. The action was well done, and I loved the portrayal of Complete Carnage.

• Tales Vol. 2 #48 "The Decider" - Decent. I thought this one looked fun, but it just didn't quite deliver. It wasn't the art, it was the writing. The villain was a paper-thin Bush attack and the issue delivered some totally contrived moral about believing in yourself. On the other hand, I really, really don't mind Lawson's art. In alot of ways, I like it better than his transitional City At War style. I'm sure no one will agree with me.

• Tales Vol. 2 #49 "Mined Games" - Blah. Now, I haven't read Volume 2 yet (I soon will), but I'm sure that the explanation offered here totally cheapens whatever cool open ending it had. Beyond that, it was a really generic psychic vs. psychic conspiracy type story.

I would've gotten "The River", but they didn't have the final issue, and while they had all of "Soul's Winter," I'd rather get the trade paperback, since it's still available. If anyone has a burning desire to talk about comics they probably read long ago, let 'er rip.

[Mr._Mutant_Man]

Originally Posted by Cipher

• Vol. 1 #8 - Decent. I just thought I'd get it seeing as how it can apparently never be reprinted. Renet is always fun, and Cerebus seems like an interesting character. I can almost see why Laird doesn't want to run this is part of the main series, since for non-Cerebus readers his motives are little confusing. His commentary on the Turtles shouting "Let's go!" is, however, hilarious.

Supposedly it can be released again, but Laird doesn't want to. Dave Sim is kind of weird on the rights to his character at times, but supposedly he told Laird he could go ahead and reprint the issue, but Laird won't.

I don't get why Laird doesn't just re-release the comics as they are. It would save him a lot of work. Work that a lot of fans think is kind of pointless. I understand he can do with it what he wants, but I just don't get it.

[AquaParade]

Originally Posted by Mr._Mutant_Man

I don't get why Laird doesn't just re-release the comics as they are. It would save him a lot of work. Work that a lot of fans think is kind of pointless. I understand he can do with it what he wants, but I just don't get it.

Will someone please confirm that I didn't go insane and Pete said he will probably be releasing the future canon tpb's in both untouched versions, and in his new inking style? I really hope I didn't make that up

While I'm on the subject, does anyone know if he plans to release everything canon in tpb form eventually? I've read a lot of canon tmnt comics, but this post really gives me an urge to finally get the whole story.