Kevin Eastman Goes Solo With "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Annual 2012"

[CBR News]

CBR News spoke with TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman about his work writing and drawing IDW's "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Annual 2012," plus updates on the ongoing series, Nickelodeon cartoon and Michael Bay film.


Full article here.

[Alex A Sanchez]

Sorry Kevin, I'm still not going to pay to see a movie about the Teenage Alien Ninja Aliens.

The majority of the current Transformer movie fans were never fans of the original characters (comics toys or animation). When talking about the Turtles, almost ALL of the target audience will be familiar with previous versions. Maybe I'm wrong, but it will be hard to get them to buy into it.

[Thad]

I don't love all his stuff, but man I love his enthusiasm. Try reading an interview with the guy and not feeling at least a LITTLE excitement.

Oh wait, this guy did:

Sorry Kevin, I'm still not going to pay to see a movie about the Teenage Alien Ninja Aliens.

The majority of the current Transformer movie fans were never fans of the original characters (comics toys or animation). When talking about the Turtles, almost ALL of the target audience will be familiar with previous versions. Maybe I'm wrong, but it will be hard to get them to buy into it.

Wow, thanks for that, man.

I mean, I don't have high hopes for the new movie either, but I can express it without doing my best impression of Comic Book Guy.

Worst. Movie. EVER.

[Schmakt]

I couldn't be less excited about the movie reboot if the details we've been hearing are true...

but I'm definitely looking forward to this book. The current series has been... mediocre at best. The art, coloring, and storyline have all been subpar enough such that I'm not reading it for fun but only to keep up with the TMNT. Between that and the ridiculous number of multiple covers, TMNT is something I'm considering dropping for the first time since that Archie mess. This annual has a chance to renew my faith. *fingers crossed*

[Alex A Sanchez]

I couldn't be less excited about the movie reboot if the details we've been hearing are true...

but I'm definitely looking forward to this book. The current series has been... mediocre at best. The art, coloring, and storyline have all been subpar enough such that I'm not reading it for fun but only to keep up with the TMNT. Between that and the ridiculous number of multiple covers, TMNT is something I'm considering dropping for the first time since that Archie mess. This annual has a chance to renew my faith. *fingers crossed*

See, I'm a HUGE fan of the current series. Artwise, Duncan is knocking it out of the park (IMO), and I have to strongly disagree that the storyline is subpar. There have been some fantastic character moments with Splinter, Casey, and Mikey. Of course, many of these have occurred in the Micro-series, so it's possible you missed them. I am totally digging the new Donatello/Leonardo dynamic (something that makes a lot of sense and doesn't seem forced- they could have done this in the original series too).
While we've all been introduced to new versions of each of these characters many times over the years, the new origin twist is a fresh perspective that makes everything else more exciting.

My problem with the new movie is that it sounds like it will depart so much from the original concept that it will share a name only. My suspicion is only confirmed by Bay's handling of the Transformers (nothing resembled the original except for Cullen's voice). I'll spare you my general rant about "Bay flicks".

[Schmakt]

See, I'm a HUGE fan of the current series. Artwise, Duncan is knocking it out of the park (IMO), and I have to strongly disagree that the storyline is subpar. There have been some fantastic character moments with Splinter, Casey, and Mikey. Of course, many of these have occurred in the Micro-series, so it's possible you missed them. I am totally digging the new Donatello/Leonardo dynamic (something that makes a lot of sense and doesn't seem forced- they could have done this in the original series too).
While we've all been introduced to new versions of each of these characters many times over the years, the new origin twist is a fresh perspective that makes everything else more exciting.

I think you're more in the majority than I am... I was just really really into the stories that Peter was telling, and these things just feel so... juvenile.
Part of that is definitely the coloring. Jim Lawson is, for me, the definitive TMNT artist. And B&W is the definitive TMNT color. The coloring is, by far, the most distracting thing about the art. I don't really hate Duncan's art or anything, but it does nothing to excite me. And the color washes over anything I'd feel like looking at. I want to read a comic, not watch a cartoon that doesn't move.

I did read all the micro-stuff... I agree that those definitely helped with the character building. It also helped that I hadn't been reading TMNT for the last 4 months b/c I wasn't interested in anything that was going on. Reading eight issues in one sitting certainly helped, but I'm still just missing... something.
When Splinter died in vol.4 (#10?) I was genuinely affected, but I can't bring myself to care one way or another about any of the cast right now. And maybe that's my biggest problem and I've just not really known it before. If Splinter (or anyone else) died right now, I wouldn't care at all. (and I kind of want Casey Jones to kick the bucket ASAP)

Then again, it all might be subconscious... In the back of my head I know that this is now just another corporate money making machine, which means that the status quo must always be maintained. Splinter's not going to be dying anytime soon.


Really wasn't trying to bitch about the series all that much... I do have high hopes for Kevin's story; it would be nice to enjoy these characters again instead of feel burdened by them. (And oh how I wish Dark Horse had gotten these rights... or *someone* whose business model doesn't rely on doubling their sales numbers for every issue by way overprinting and calling it a "variant")

My problem with the new movie is that it sounds like it will depart so much from the original concept that it will share a name only. My suspicion is only confirmed by Bay's handling of the Transformers (nothing resembled the original except for Cullen's voice). I'll spare you my general rant about "Bay flicks".

*thumbs up*

[Alex A Sanchez]

I read Peter's series (vol. 4) from issue #10 (yes, it was Splinter's death) until the last mass-published issue (I am KICKING myself for not ordering the limited print series finale). Similar to the way that you feel the current series is missing something, I felt that Peter's series has something missing (for me, that is, because obviously there were fans that didn't). Perhaps it was that juvenile "let's get together and kick-ass!" element that you can either have or not have. I think I also missed seeing the turtles interact as brothers: Peter's series featured a lot of solo tales. I loved the premise of it (having the turtles integrated in society as adults), but it compromised epic ninja battles and brainless fun.
Regardless, I'm just thankful to have had awesome Turtles comics in the past and now again in the present.