IDW Publishing and Nickelodeon have revealed the first images tied to their upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot series, kicking off this August!
The creative team of the series is being led by original TMNT co-creator, Kevin Eastman, with Tom Waltz (Silent Hill: Past Life, Infestation: Outbreak) coming on as co-writer, and new artist Dan Duncan will provide interiors. Sam Keith and Walter Simonson will produce the cover images to issues #1 and #2, respectively. This is really cool, too: Kevin Eastman will be picking up the pencil again as he’ll be providing layouts for Duncan’s art, as well as variant covers!
Check out the cover of issue #1 below:
The series is being described to be much in the vein of Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s original TMNT run, but then terms like, “Heroes in a half-Shell” and “turtle power” were used in the press release, which would seem to contradict that intention. I do like the choice to go with the original logo and lettering. Here’s what the official press release from IDW had to say:
This first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series will feature new and exciting storylines that maintain the “turtle power” core beloved by millions of fans. Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael reunite to bring their ninja aptitude and teenage attitude in these all-new, action-packed adventures based on the original series. The first story arc will tell the origin story of the Turtles and introduce a new villain, the fearsome mutant alley cat, Old Hob. Featuring a cast of familiar characters, including Master Splinter, April O’Neill, Casey Jones, and true to the spirit of the original comics created by Eastman and Peter Laird, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are bigger and badder than ever, and ready to rock old and new fans alike.
IDW and Nickelodeon have a long-term partnership to offer an all-new installment of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics and graphic novels. IDW’s new comics are part of a larger initiative to bring Turtles to a new generation of fans, starting with these new storylines from the original series that recapture the magic of the original Turtles comics. Additionally, in fourth quarter 2012, Nickelodeon will premiere a new CG-animated version of the wildly popular Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise.
I’m pumped for this book. Ever since Mirage Studios sold the rights of the TMNT to Nickelodeon, we have been without a Turtles comic on the shelves, which is an injustice. I applaud IDW in attempting to present the franchise to a new generation of fans, however, if this series is supposed to be to the tune of the original run, and not that of the late 80s/early 90s “Cowabunga dudes!” cartoon show, I wonder how they expect to keep the gritty, violent edge of the original and still make it kid-friendly.
It’s also worth noting that this series will be in full color! This hasn’t been the norm with recent TMNT books, as they have been in the more traditional black and white format. IDW is hinting that they will be reprinting all of the original stories in new graphic novels, which needs to happen sooner rather than later. That stuff has been impossible to find for years, and it shouldn’t be. Hopefully, the Teenage Mutant Turtles Adventures series, originally published by Archie in the 80s-90s, is included on the list of old school Turtles titles to be republished. I loved that run, as it featured many fresh stories and original characters added into the Turtles mythos.
Look for IDW’s new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 in August 2011, with the cover price of $3.99!
Experience even more Turtle Power!
Andy Liegl
andy@comicattack.net
SOOOO STOKED!!
Simonson! Nuff said! 🙂
Kevin Eastman- ’nuff said!
Who’s Kevin Eastman? 😉
Who are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Do they live on Utopia?
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They should keep the wussy kids’ stuff separate from the real Turtles, period! That’s what ruined it in the first place! The original fans deserve to have things set right again after years of poorly-done garbage…IDW can have one series for the originals and make another for kids if needed. I’ve waited 20 + years for the true Turtles to come back and can’t wait for the new comic.
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Be sure to check out our review of #1!
https://comicattack.net/2011/08/idw-tmnt-1-review/
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