Michael Reaves has passed away

*Original TMNT Cartoon Fan* · 03-23-2023, 09:34 AM

American television writer Michael Reaves passed away on Monday. He was born on 14 September 1950, and wrote many episodes of the Fred Wolf Studios TMNT cartoon. He also wrote episodes for Blackstar, He-Man, Ghostbusters, Star Wars, Tiny Toon Adventures, Starcom, Transformers, Batman, Superman and Spider-Man.

He was married to Brynne Chandler, and together, they had a daughter named Mallory. Do I need to mention that he (and Brynne Stephens) co-wrote the episode April Fool...

http://www.multiversitycomics.com/ne...l-reeves-obit/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Reaves

~~TurtleManiac~~ · 03-23-2023, 10:15 AM

Always sucks to hear of the passing of someone involved with my favorite cartoon of all time. Thanks for all those great memorable episodes. RIP

I remember Princess Mallory from that episode and they made April look real pretty maybe we’ll get a NECA figure of that April.

*CyberCubed* · 03-23-2023, 10:18 AM

Oh God no. Please God no.

Why is everyone constantly dying? He wrote some great episodes across a lot of shows I liked.

Stop dying everyone, stop dying.

*Coola Yagami* · 03-23-2023, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

Oh God no. Please God no.

Why is everyone constantly dying? He wrote some great episodes across a lot of shows I liked.

Stop dying everyone, stop dying.

It's almost like people are mortal or something

*triplexxx* · 03-23-2023, 01:48 PM

RIP to another contributor of the best cartoon/comic franchise in existence. Thank you Michael Reaves for your contributions to my childhood and millions of others'. May you rest well in heaven.

*CyberCubed* · 03-23-2023, 01:50 PM

What was your favorite Michael Reaves ep in TMNT? Mine was the Alpha-1 episode with the smart Foot Soldier. Always wish he came back for a second ep.

*Original TMNT Cartoon Fan* · 03-23-2023, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

What was your favorite Michael Reaves ep in TMNT? Mine was the Alpha-1 episode with the smart Foot Soldier. Always wish he came back for a second ep.

Turtles on Trial

*triplexxx* · 03-23-2023, 05:57 PM

Hard to pick an overall favorite, though was just rewatching Rebel Without A Fin. Very interesting with the silent moments, the frequent fadeouts, Ray's moody monotonousness, April as "Tina Tuna", and of course all the Dr. Polidorius mispronounciations.

*CyberCubed* · 03-23-2023, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Original TMNT Cartoon Fan

Turtles on Trial

Yeah that was one of the best eps of Season 3.

*ZariusTwo* · 03-26-2023, 08:34 AM

Just found out about this.

Reaves was a massive contributor to every show we watched as kids in the 80s and 90s, and was recognized for it with the Emmy award. The peak of his career had to have been with Batman: The Animated Series, which he served as story editor on, and he co-wrote Mask of the Phantasm

His TMNT episodes were very memorable, probably the best episodes of season three largely came directly from him.

Aaronardo · 03-26-2023, 10:39 AM

This dude was one of my inspirations growing up. I always admired his work on Batman and, of course, Turtles.

My fav from him is also The Foot Soldiers Are Revolting, Alpha-1 is such a memorable character despite only appearing in the one episode.

~~Sumac~~ · 03-26-2023, 10:59 AM

RIP.
His TMNT episodes were some of my favorites...

jignat · 03-26-2023, 08:26 PM

RIP Mr. Reaves.

My favorite 1987 TMNT ep from him is "Splinter No More"

*ZariusTwo* · 03-27-2023, 01:50 AM

Return of the Technodrome probably was one of the best season finales, and he contributed to "The Big" trilogy also, making Rocksteady and Bebop incredibly competent.

*CyberCubed* · 03-27-2023, 12:26 PM

Shame he never wrote anything after early Season 4

*Wesley* · 03-27-2023, 06:09 PM

RIP Michael Reaves. My fav tmnt ep of his is Return of the Fly.

*ToTheNines* · 05-14-2025, 02:55 AM

I missed this news when it happened. RIP.

I just went to look him up because the rumor around the fanbase right now is the that TMNT: Journeys comic book starting in August will be following up on some old TMNT stories from different mediums (Peter Laird writing #1, Ciro sharing new TMNT art on insta). Probably unrelated, but Renae Jacobs hinted at the surviving voice cast is working on something too.

Saturday Morning Adventures is a fun book, but doesn’t quite nail the true spirit of the ‘87 show. I would have loved to see one more story from David Wise or Mr. Reaves, but they’re both on the other side now.

Luckily his work is still finding new life to this day and probably always will. My kid LOVES Turtles at the Earth’s Core and The Making of Metalhead.

03-23-2023, 01:48 PM	#5
triplexxx Mad Scientist Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,809	RIP to another contributor of the best cartoon/comic franchise in existence. Thank you Michael Reaves for your contributions to my childhood and millions of others'. May you rest well in heaven. __________________ Please don't shoot me Mr. Big Mike. I'm too young and good-looking to die, well too young. I got a father, I got a mother, I got a grandmother, I got a little sister...and a little brother this high (raises hand), and a little brother this high (lowers hand), and little brother this high (lowers hand), and a little brother this high (lowers hand), and a little brother this high (lowers hand) and then I got a great big brother this high (slaps gun and runs). "Fright Night" - Three Stooges

03-23-2023, 05:57 PM	#8
triplexxx Mad Scientist Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,809	Hard to pick an overall favorite, though was just rewatching Rebel Without A Fin. Very interesting with the silent moments, the frequent fadeouts, Ray's moody monotonousness, April as "Tina Tuna", and of course all the Dr. Polidorius mispronounciations. Last edited by triplexxx; 03-23-2023 at 06:21 PM.

03-26-2023, 08:34 AM	#10
ZariusTwo Overlord Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Britain, DINO THUNDER...POWER UP! Posts: 22,323	Just found out about this. Reaves was a massive contributor to every show we watched as kids in the 80s and 90s, and was recognized for it with the Emmy award. The peak of his career had to have been with Batman: The Animated Series, which he served as story editor on, and he co-wrote Mask of the Phantasm His TMNT episodes were very memorable, probably the best episodes of season three largely came directly from him. __________________ Spider-Man: The Rescue Spider-Man: The Galloping Cat Spider-Man: Scarlet Mirror Doctor Who: Child of the Daleks

03-26-2023, 10:39 AM	#11
Aaronardo Mad Scientist Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: :noitacoL Posts: 1,043	This dude was one of my inspirations growing up. I always admired his work on Batman and, of course, Turtles. My fav from him is also The Foot Soldiers Are Revolting, Alpha-1 is such a memorable character despite only appearing in the one episode. __________________ "Shredder, you gotta listen to reason!" - Leonardo "Oh Turtles! Oh Turtles! Chew your gum properly." "If I miss this week's Kirby, heads are gonna roll." - Raphael "The Biosites have almost finished healing my flesh." - Shredder "Because we're takin' the heart and you're goin' to jail!" - Donatello

03-27-2023, 01:50 AM	#14
ZariusTwo Overlord Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Britain, DINO THUNDER...POWER UP! Posts: 22,323	Return of the Technodrome probably was one of the best season finales, and he contributed to "The Big" trilogy also, making Rocksteady and Bebop incredibly competent. __________________ Spider-Man: The Rescue Spider-Man: The Galloping Cat Spider-Man: Scarlet Mirror Doctor Who: Child of the Daleks

03-23-2023, 09:34 AM	#1
Original TMNT Cartoon Fan Overlord Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sweden Posts: 10,478	Michael Reaves has passed away American television writer Michael Reaves passed away on Monday. He was born on 14 September 1950, and wrote many episodes of the Fred Wolf Studios TMNT cartoon. He also wrote episodes for Blackstar, He-Man, Ghostbusters, Star Wars, Tiny Toon Adventures, Starcom, Transformers, Batman, Superman and Spider-Man. He was married to Brynne Chandler, and together, they had a daughter named Mallory. Do I need to mention that he (and Brynne Stephens) co-wrote the episode April Fool... http://www.multiversitycomics.com/ne...l-reeves-obit/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Reaves Last edited by Original TMNT Cartoon Fan; 03-23-2023 at 01:12 PM.

03-23-2023, 10:15 AM	#2
~~TurtleManiac~~ Banned Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: KALI Posts: 1,008	Always sucks to hear of the passing of someone involved with my favorite cartoon of all time. Thanks for all those great memorable episodes. RIP I remember Princess Mallory from that episode and they made April look real pretty maybe we’ll get a NECA figure of that April.

03-23-2023, 10:18 AM	#3
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,742	Oh God no. Please God no. Why is everyone constantly dying? He wrote some great episodes across a lot of shows I liked. Stop dying everyone, stop dying.

03-23-2023, 01:50 PM	#6
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,742	What was your favorite Michael Reaves ep in TMNT? Mine was the Alpha-1 episode with the smart Foot Soldier. Always wish he came back for a second ep.

03-26-2023, 10:59 AM	#12
~~Sumac~~ Banned Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 6,129	RIP. His TMNT episodes were some of my favorites...

03-26-2023, 08:26 PM	#13
jignat Foot Soldier Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 161	RIP Mr. Reaves. My favorite 1987 TMNT ep from him is "Splinter No More"

03-27-2023, 12:26 PM	#15
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,742	Shame he never wrote anything after early Season 4

03-27-2023, 06:09 PM	#16
Wesley Mad Scientist Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Republic of Ireland Posts: 1,597	RIP Michael Reaves. My fav tmnt ep of his is Return of the Fly. __________________ Donatello: The tracker! It might work. Donatello goes to the back of the Turtle Van Raphael: Shrewd move, Donatello. If we ignore the problem, it might go away by itself. (from The Mean Machines)

05-14-2025, 02:55 AM	#17
ToTheNines Col. Stinkmeaner Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 19,130	I missed this news when it happened. RIP. I just went to look him up because the rumor around the fanbase right now is the that TMNT: Journeys comic book starting in August will be following up on some old TMNT stories from different mediums (Peter Laird writing #1, Ciro sharing new TMNT art on insta). Probably unrelated, but Renae Jacobs hinted at the surviving voice cast is working on something too. Saturday Morning Adventures is a fun book, but doesn’t quite nail the true spirit of the ‘87 show. I would have loved to see one more story from David Wise or Mr. Reaves, but they’re both on the other side now. Luckily his work is still finding new life to this day and probably always will. My kid LOVES Turtles at the Earth’s Core and The Making of Metalhead.