#tmnt is a tragedy from the beginning

[brightlotusmoon]

The Ninja Turtles pack bond with the ones they trust - and that always means something powerful, because they literally cannot trust too many people.

One of my favorite headcanons since the early 1990s is that Michelangelo in particular vets all their friends because he's actually empathic on a psychic level, they just don't talk about it.

Side B of that headcanon includes why 2003 Mikey fears betrayal and abandonment the most and why 2012 Mikey retreats into his imagination when reality becomes too much and why 1987 Mikey can talk to animals and why 1990 Mikey is so talkative and why 2007 Mikey connects to children and why 2016 Mikey likes to flirt and why 2018 Mikey has literal superpowers and

i think there's something very interesting about the fact that irl, turtles aren't very social or familial in any sense but the ninja turtles are incredibly social and love caring for others and this is arguably the greatest example of their humanity

[misteria247]

You ever think about a crossover with the 2012 tmnt but during the post kraang invasion. Like the crossover turtles see the 2012 turtles so exhausted and not having a fun time with Leo being down and severely injured and Splinter missing, still back in New York. You ever think about how they’ll help the 12 turtles, April and Casey both mentally and in getting New York back from the kraang and how eventually they’ll find 12 Splinter having lost his sanity because he thought that he failed his sons and that them, Karai, April and Casey are all dead and that he has nothing else to live for? Would that be messed up or what?

The other variants of the turtles and their human companions arrive in the 12 verse amidst the confusion afterwards. They're greeted with hostility at first because the 12 boys had just lost their city, their father and their oldest brother is down and comatose and unable to fend for himself. After some explanations the 12 gang reluctantly trust the other groups, carefully watching them with sharp gazes in the beginning and they'd all get a front row seat of just what the 12 gang is facing.

They see 12 Raph struggling to be the temporary leader of his family, barely leaving the bathroom as he silently watches over 12 Leo ready to protect him at all costs because he wasn't there for him before and he'll be damned if he's not here for him now.

They see 12 Donnie working himself to the bone, riddled by guilt as he replays his and 12 Leo's argument before everything went to hell, as he tends to his wounds and his comatose state feeling completely useless.

They see 12 Mikey trying to put on a brave face and a fake smile in the hopes of raising his family's spirits but he's breaking down because his father and brother are gone and he feels so completely lost and terrified of what's going to happen next.

They see 12 April and 12 Casey desperately trying to make sure that things are running and that their small family or what's left of it sticks together and doesn't fall apart in this tragedy.

They see all of this and it breaks them in ways they never knew that they could be broken. Rise Raph would start to keep a closer eye on his little brothers as well as the 12 boys, especially the Leo's given that 12 Leo's out of commission and with Rise Leo he fears for his very life because seeing 12 Leo so broken and still haunts him. 03 Raph is filled with nothing but anger and frustration as he's once again in the position of watching a blue clad brother fight for his life. 87 Raph, Bayverse Raph and Rise Cassandra silently become the watchful eyes ready to attack anything that comes too close to the farmhouse. 03 Mikey, 87 Mikey, Bayverse Mikey, Rise Mikey and Rise Leo do whatever they can to distract the 12 gang from the hopelessness of the situation that they're feeling. 03 Leo, 87 Leo and Bayverse Leo help them train to become better prepared for anything that should come their way. Rise Donnie, 87 Donnie, 03 Donnie and Bayverse Donnie stick with 12 Donnie and 12 Casey to help them try to fix this disaster.

87 April, 03 April and Bayverse April tend to the group and offer whatever they can to be of assistance to make the 12 gang's struggles more easier to bare. 87 Casey, 03 Casey and Bayverse Casey help the Aprils out by getting the farmhouse more fixed up. Rise April sticks close to 12 April offering her support when she's close to breaking as well as support to the 12 boys.

They'd be there for it all and witness it all, the tears, the heartache, the recovery and preparations to take back NYC and see the shadow of a man that 12 Splinter has become because his family is gone and there's no point in trying to keep his sanity, not when the things he lived for are no longer with him. They'd see Karai, mutated into a snake afraid, angry and confused with everything and blindly attacking anyone and anything that gets to close.

They'd see it and then they'd see the Kraang and the Shredder, the ones who caused it all and for the first time in their lives the turtles such as the Rise boys would be filled with a nasty feeling of anger and hatred towards these beings who had caused so much pain and grief and trauma to this alternative family of theirs.

And it's this unholy wrath that drives them to protect and help. In anyway they can.

I'm imagining it Anon and yes it'd be hella messed up.

[cocogum]

Casey is lost.

It’s tragic to realize that the original timeline was supposed to truly end with everyone dying on their own by sacrificing themselves to protect what’s left of their home planet.

Despite the low numbers and chances of survival from this whole experience, the brothers did not care and still kept trying to live until their last breaths.

Because of this movie, we come to find out that all the funny shenanigans and good memories that the Hamato family experienced were for it to all end in tragedy and loneliness.

It’s strange to think that THIS was in actuality the original timeline (and demise) for the turtles. Because it’s a bit hard to believe that they had created so many memories together during missions that they finally can’t complete one. And yet, it’s the most realistic ending for these four.

With so many good things happening to you, you’re bound to receive some bad ones later on. Yes, the turtles had a long life and managed to get so many adventures before it all came crashing down on them. And maybe that’s fine. Maybe that’s acceptable. They died in tragedy but a good sleep will do them good.

Not to mention that it’s quite ironic and poetic that all of those horrific tragedies happened because of Leo’s cockiness.

It all started with Leo. And it ended with Leo.

There is a reoccurring theme in the movie that keeps on supporting Leo no matter what action he presses on the team to do.

And that is the theme of time.

Throughout the movie, there was a repeated conversation about the same topic going on between Leo and Donnie that introduces the idea that no matter how a situation may look impossible, anything is possible. Donnie seems to reject that way of thinking while Leo completely adopts it. We have Donnie explaining why this belief of his brother is deeply flawed based on the reality of things and how not everything just coincidentally goes according to him.

This theme took place in two scenes.

The first was right in the beginning with the pizza box challenge and the second was when they were about to sneak into Krang’s ship.

But it looks like whatever type of danger was thrown at the family, it seems like Leo’s perseverance and unbelievable luck were right all along while Donnie’s logic and realistic views were mistaken.

Or as Leo delicately puts it:

“Donnie’s WRONG!”

Yeah, sure everything went fine after Leo put Krang back in the prison dimension but this success means that a new timeline has been added to the original one.

Saving the world before Krang could have had access to his army meant that the timeline split itself and now has a second-time branch.

This not only reinforces the fact that rise!tmnt is inconspicuously darker than it intends to be, but it also means something big for Casey.

He’ll never actually see his timeline again.

He’ll never see his masters and his mother.

And he’ll never know what happened to the rest of his comrades who were fighting before Casey entered the portal made by Mikey.

Your choices are what shape you as a person over time. Now that the events of the past have been altered, it’s highly likely that the Hamato family will not act the same way Casey once knew them as.

Just because Casey knows these people, that doesn’t mean they’ll grow up to act the same way they did in his timeline.

Even though everyone had a happy ending, Casey is, unfortunately, the only one who doesn’t have one whether he realizes it or not. His friends and family aren’t there. They were long gone in a future that has been unwillingly abandoned by him.

He would literally never see the people he cares about ever again.

Casey might not even meet himself in this timeline.

It is unclear who his father could be but the chances of Cassandra meeting him again without the apocalypse could be very thin.

The krang invasion is what brought people from everywhere together. This is where she must’ve met him and had Casey. So since the krang’s attack never happened in this timeline, Cassandra might never meet Casey’s father and have him.

Leo was so caught up in the events of the potential threat of the Krang invasion that he, along with everyone else, did not think about the consequences that it would bring.

Everything comes with a price.

Whether they won or lost the battle, there would always be good things and bad things trailing their actions.

This is one of them.

Defeating the Krang before the invasion could happen has likely made sure that Casey won’t exist in this timeline.

Sure, the Casey from the timeline where they lost against the Krang can still live in the second timeline. But he’ll be aware that he’ll never exist in this one. In a timeline where people don’t have to live in caves, don’t have to eat rats for every meal of the day, don’t have to constantly hide in fear of getting killed, don’t have to listen to horrifying stories about the invaders, and don’t have to hear the cries and wailing of the people who lost their loved ones during missions.

His existence never belonged in a happy carefree one.

“Our future isn’t written until WE write it!”

Leo’s quote may be the cruellest thing Casey has ever heard.

Can you imagine being in one of the turtles’ shoes?? Like they have to eat rats for dinner that’s like trying to eat your dad’s ancestry. And they eat that for EVERY SINGLE MEAL for the rest of their lives??? Who even decided that they should all eat rats?!!!?!

[akesdraws-blog]

Time to let go

Reader x Turtle of your choice

Warnings: mentions of death, accidents, drama, tragedy

I worked thinking about the TMNT 2012 version, what version did you imagine it with?

•°•°•°•°•

Having learned so many years about the art of Ninjutsu had also given the turtles certain abilities, such as being able to communicate with people who were far, far away from their physical reach.

-Oh wow, see you early today- you spoke with a little emotion in your voice

-Yes, I suppose I needed to see you- the turtle spoke, laughing slightly -You can't imagine what we went through today- she began to speak to tell you about her day

-Well, I'm ready to listen to you, just like always- you told him as you sat down.

-Yes, just like always- added the turtle while she squeezed her hands -Just like always- she repeated again lowering her gaze

°•°•°•°•

The turtles as always were patrolling the city, stopping thieves and supporting the policemen.

But even though they were physically stronger than any human, they still had their limitations and they understood that when they met a young man.

They had saved him from some bullies who were beating him in an alley, just the presence of the turtles was enough for everyone to run away, when they helped him this little boy was not afraid of them, he had just given them a big smile full of gratitude.

Time passed and each of the turtle brothers kept in touch with that little one.

Mikey skated next to him when there was no one else on the ramps, he was the first to take him to the den where they cooked or planned pranks for the rest of the brothers, and sometimes the little one took him to places where there was an empty wall, perfect for the party boy to leave his mark of art.

Raph taught him to knit, it started as a mere curiosity of the little one but for both of them it was quite relaxing, but they didn't only do that, sometimes they got together to watch some games on a projector, when they were from opposing teams they both made fun of each other when they lost some, but when they were from the same team, the victory dance that both created was simply present.

Donnie played online video games with him, together they were the best team that could connect to the network, in addition to the genius boy being a great help when the little one had homework, and for Donnie to be able to read books from the school library It was a really pleasant experience, of course the little one always scolded him when he started to be late with the delivery date.

At the beginning Leo just tried to keep his distance, not get too involved, but over time the little boy gained his trust, both could talk for hours about Japanese culture or even watch a good anime of possibly 100 chapters or more, but the leader could Being himself, he didn't have to be a leader, he could let off steam, or even complain, and the little boy was there to listen without criticizing him, he found a little refuge next to him.

The relationship that was built with the new friend was something unique for everyone, so much so that he even gained the affection of the teacher Splinter, maybe it was because he helped him take care of some bonsai or maybe because Splinter's favorite audience to tell the stories most shameful of turtles.

The team agreed that his friendship with the human was something as unexpected as it was also special, if they needed a word to describe it it would be "Unique".

Because they knew that nothing was perfect, because they had their ups and downs.

How the arguments they had sometimes, from the fact that his friend didn't defend himself against the bullies at school

-I showed you a wrestling hold last time, why didn't you apply it?-Raph asked while he watched as Donnie healed your wounds again

-I did it the first time and they sent me to the address- he replied after complaining a bit about the cotton that rubbed on his broken lip

-That's unfair, what do they teach in the institutions? - Leo said a little outraged by what he heard

-Well, that happens when the bully is the captain of the school team- he added with a slight smile on his face.

-And with this it's over- Donnie said sticking a bandage on your forehead -And your parents haven't talked to the director?- I ask a little curious

-If he were Master Splinter, that principal would get a good ninja-style lecture- Mikey added as he ruffled his friend's hair.

-They don't have time for that, and they're never home, so... they don't notice it- I finished saying as if nothing had happened.

The boys knew about the relationship you had with your parents.

They were business people, always busy and never at home, you were always alone in your room with your books or some games.

But that changed when you met the boys, you didn't spend so much time locked in your room anymore, now you spent all your time in the turtles' den or on the rooftops.

The relationship with the boys simply grew more and more, until from that friendship arose the infatuation with one of the turtles.

It was something so unique and special, they both complemented each other.

They were the type of couple that even though they couldn't fit the definition of “perfection”, they could be called an “understanding” couple, you understood your partner's priorities, and the responsibilities they had in being a hero.

But maybe you understood it too well.If they had planned a date with your tortoise in love, and suddenly had to cancel because of some mission, normally he expected a reprimand but you just told him "Okay", there was no anger or hints behind those words.It was a good thing, or so your partner thought for a while.

That "understanding" began to make noise in your turtle's mind, so much so that she asked you to meet in the place where you became a couple.

-So... what did you want to talk about?- you asked after there was too much silence between you

-I think it doesn't work- your turtle spoke while she looked at any point of the place

-What do you mean?- you asked, trying to sound as calm as possible, but you knew what your partner was talking about.

-I mean us- he put his hand up to his neck rubbing -Don't get me wrong, I love being with you, but... We don't do anything as a couple, we don't even see each other often- he sighed to look towards the ground I didn't feel the courage to see you, I didn't even understand why I was saying that

-Oh, I understand- when you said that you noticed how your partner wrinkled his nose a little and you just played with your fingers and then smiled slightly -Can we have one last date? This weekend, what do you think?- you asked with certain hope, you didn't want things to end like this

Your turtle was about to respond until his radio rang for a security alarm, so they just agreed to agree later.

You didn't say anything, you just left until you got home and once you were in your room you just sat in a corner where you started to cry, but you didn't make a sound, not a single noise, it was just a silent cry.

You knew that asking for a date after what your partner said was something that would only hurt both of you, but you just didn't want it to end that way, maybe you just wanted one last memory of that relationship.

The days passed until the weekend arrived, they had agreed to meet in a nearby building in Times Square.

You had arranged yourself as on your first date, it generated a bit of nostalgia.

The moment of that day came to your mind, how your turtle was so nervous that it got tangled up with its own words, you even remembered how because of the nerves some things that your turtle prepared had fallen to the ground, you remembered everything and you could not help but laugh slightly , you only remembered the moments that followed afterwards.

There were not many as you thought but each one you remembered with great affection.

But when the phone rang you only saw the message from your turtle, he had another important mission, so the appointment had been cancelled, you didn't want to know anymore, so you just turned off the phone.

Maybe you should have read the rest of the messages.

The Turtles were after some Shredder followers who had hidden bombs around the city.

So far they had managed to find and defuse 3 bombs in time, they captured some ninjas for interrogation to discover the last bomb before it was too late.

-We thank you very much for your collaboration- thanked one of the officers -We will continue trying to get an answer- he added while other officers took away some ninjas

-We must hurry, there is still a bomb and Donnie still can't find it- Leonardo spoke with concern in his voice

-They won't arrive on time- spoke one of the ninjas while he laughed inside the patrol

-You'd better start talking before you can't!- Raph threatened, taking him by the collar of his shirt, pulling him slightly out of the vehicle.

-Time's up- was the only thing the ninja said.

Saying that, soon the sound of a distant explosion was heard, they listened to the radio of one of the officers and with fear your turtle heard that the bomb had exploded in a building in Times Square.

The turtles ran as fast as possible, while each one tried to contact you, but they did not achieve anything, you did not respond, much less you answered the messages.

They just hoped that you had gone home, or maybe with April, or anywhere, but far from that place.

Upon arrival they only saw people running in panic, some firefighters and officers had arrived to help the people who managed to get out, each turtle separated to help the rest of the people and get some out of the rubble.

Again your turtle tried to call you, and he felt relieved when he heard the ringtone you had, that characteristic tone song you had, he moved carefully following the sound, but when he arrived at the place he froze.

Everything around him seemed to have slowed down.

Your phone was ringing but from among the rubble of the building that had recently exploded, the place where they would have their last date.

With his hands he began to remove stone by stone, as quickly as possible while asking with all his strength that you be okay, that you will look at him with that smile that you loved so much and tell him that he was okay, his brothers also came to help until that they finally managed to reach you.

Unfortunately not on time.

It had been a few years since you left, they not only lost a friend, they lost a part of their family.

And your turtle had not been the same as before.

But who would be?

She had gotten so into protecting people and training that she had reached a new level.

A level where communication with you was allowed.

Splinter had told him that he shouldn't mess with the world of the dead, it wasn't good for his son, but he just needed it.

He needed you.

He could still remember the first time he made it, when he could see you again, when he could see your smile and he could hug you, you were there again.

And there they were, speaking again from an astral plane.The same as always after so many years.

-It's not healthy that you always remember that- you spoke to get him out of his head

-I forgot that in this plane, minds are completely connected- said your turtle while massaging his neck

-That's right- you spoke calmly -You look tired- you commented as you gave him a smile

-Yes, I look horrible, you can't imagine what the streets of New York are like- said the turtle with an amused tone -It seems that the bad guys come out of any corner now- she added while laughing

-I wasn't talking about that- you spoke while you shook your head -You must stop- when you saw how you managed to make me look at you, you just smiled the same as you always did -You must stop- you repeated once more

-Stop talking? Sure, it doesn't matter just to be silent, like the first time we connected- a smile formed on his face, one that seemed so difficult to maintain until he felt your soft hands on his cheeks.

-I died- you spoke while caressing his cheeks with your thumbs -I died and you must let me go- you finished saying

-I just... I need more time- the turtle took your hands while trembling

-Years have passed... You must let me go- I was trying to make your partner see reason

-I can't... I can't do it- she denied several times with her head -I can't go on without you- tears began to well up in her eyes

-Of course you can- you approached to hit your forehead with that of your turtle -I know you can... I love you and I will always love you- the shine on your body was decreasing with each word

-Please... Not yet- the turtle hugged you tightly, trying to keep you from leaving his side.

-It's time- you returned the hug while little tears began to come out of your eyes too -You won't see me, but I'll be there, as long as you keep moving forward- the shine on your body was less and less, beginning to be a transparent image

Once you completely disappeared from her arms, your turtle began to cry bitterly, she hadn't been able to cry since you left.

Now the only thing left to do is move on for everything they had lived together and for what he now had to live.

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

Tags:

@post-apocalyptic-daydream . @turtle-babe83 . @turtlesmakemehappy . @dilucsflame33 . @thelaundrybitch . @scholastic-dragon . @leosgirl82 . @tmnt-tychou . @mackbunny . @happymoonangel .@lazyafgurl

[brightlotusmoon]

Apparently, some folks hate that. The rest of us ignore them. Diversity is vital in this franchise.

I love how none of these look remotely the same

[thecomicsnexus]

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES / FLAMING CARROT CROSSOVER NOVEMBER 1993 - FEBRUARY 1994 BY BOB BURDEN, JIM LAWSON, NEIL VOKES, ERIC VINCENT AND MARY WOODRING

SYNOPSIS (FROM TMNT ENTITY)

A super storm has recently ravaged the eastern coast of Central America. The Turtles and Col. Blade are on their way to the decimated town of Santa Baloona to help the locals. To get there, they’re travelling in a blimp they absconded with after a team-up adventure in which they defeated Mr. Cadaverous and his Blue Santas.

After fishing the cow from “Bonanza” out of a tree, they set down on the roof of the US Embassy and the Ambassador takes Col. Blade aside for a debriefing. They meet with Professor Daub, an archaeologist. The Ambassador explains that a unit of the US Military called the I-Team went missing somewhere in the Abecero Peninsula and they need to be found. Col. Blade reconvenes with the Turtles and says that they and Professor Daub are deploying immediately for a special mission.

At Mystery men HQ, following a shrunken head/protein shake/ice cream incident, the team receives a top secret call to arms. Apparently, thousands of years ago, there was a highly advanced, nigh-mythical city called Botaquaxal, hidden in the Abecero Peninsula. It vanished somewhere around 948 AD and all attempted expeditions to locate it ended in tragedy, as the investigators all vanished. Recently, a dentist bought an artifact at a flea market and after x-raying it, found "something". That clue incited the Pentagon to send the I-Team into the Abecero Peninsula. When the super storm hit, it caused an earthquake, revealing a lost city. However, the I-Team’s last transmission wasn’t very hopeful, as the radioman screamed about flaming people burning everyone to death.

Flaming Carrot rallies the Mystery men (Screwball, Bondoman, the Shoveler, Mystic Hand, Mr. Furious, Star Shark, the Zeke’s and the Spleen) and they take off in their aircraft, the Flying Wing (after donning sombreros suitable for a Central American vacation). As the other Mystery men take turns flying the Flying Wing, the Shoveler does some meteorological investigation. He determines that the super storm didn’t follow any natural weather patterns but appears to have originated right from the Abecero Peninsula.

Via blimp, the Turtles, Col. Blade and the Professor find the I-Team’s campsite (but only after Raph wails on a saxophone he found in a locker). They investigate and find no signs of life, save some meals that appear to have been suddenly abandoned. The surrounding jungle appears likewise abandoned, without any traces of animals. What they DO find are the personal effects of the I-Team (rings, watches, fillings) sitting atop small piles of ashes, indicating they were incinerated almost instantly.

Searching, they eventually come across the unearthed city. Oddly, all the ancient buildings appear to be made of a strange plastic substance with magnetic properties. As Mikey skateboards the ruins, he spots a tower jutting out of the sea not far from the coast. Spying through binoculars, Col. Blade notices equipment abandoned outside the entrance to the tower, indicating people had recently been there.

They decide to break for pizza and investigate the tower the next day. Sleeping, Mikey has a strange dream about a prospering city, shadowy halls and a flaming man. He’s awoken by Leo’s screaming. Leo exclaims that while he was taking watch, a tiny man made of green flame attacked him. Leo wasn’t lying, as the flaming man pops out of the bushes and attacks again. Leo attempts to cut it in two, but his swords have no effect. Col. Blade pulls out his gun and aims for what looks like a heart in the center of its chest. Blade shoots the heart and the flaming man vanishes. Professor Daub laments that they didn’t try to communicate with the creature. Suddenly, Raph is startled and points to the sky as lights approach.

As the Flying Wing zooms over the TMNT’s camp, Mr. Furious suddenly loses power on all the instruments. He order all the Mystery men to bail save for himself, Flaming Carrot and Bondoman, who stay behind to manually work the wings. Once they glide far enough away from the camp (and the ancient ruins) the instruments begin working again. Mr. Furious sets the Flying Wing down and, after reconvening with the Spleen and the Zeke’s, they decide to hoof it toward the camp.

Meanwhile, the Turtles and Col. Blade are pretty spooked after the buzzing their camp received from the strange plane. The Turtles split up and journey into the jungle to check things out. Raph winds up getting into a tussle with the Shoveler, who proceeds to trick him into jumping off a cliff. Raph lands right next to Screwball, who panics and flies away on his rocket-boots.

Elsewhere, Donatello has a run-in with the Mystic Hand, who scares him off with his flying, disembodied hands. Star Shark rolls into camp and meets up with Col. Blade. Recognizing the Colonel as an American soldier, the Mystery man explains everything. Raphael, meanwhile, has begun trailing another green flame-man. The flame-man escapes, but leads him to the Flying Wing. Mr. Furious and the Zeke’s are about to open fire when Flaming Carrot stops them. He and Raphael know each other and the two trade information.

Back at camp, all the Mystery men have been rounded up and both groups brought to speed. The Shoveler, taking watch, sees activity off in the distance. Mr. Furious concocts a way to draw all the little green flame-men toward them so they can deal with them all at once. They set the area with traps and drive the Flying Wing and all its weapons near a clearing. They then throw all their green flares into a bonfire, hoping to attract the flame-men. Meanwhile, Flaming Carrot opens a lemonade stand to serve all the thirsty flame-men.

The plan works and the flame-men converge on the bonfire, creating a rainbow in the night with their weird energies. Michelangelo tries to scare them off with a flamethrower, but finds that by feeding flame-men mass quantities of fire, they only get bigger. Luckily, shooting the flame-men in the “heart” still causes them to snuff out and the giant is destroyed.

Col. Blade takes charge and hands out artillery to everyone, including the Turtles. However, it may not be enough as hundreds of flame-men storm the clearing with no signs of slowing down.

In the clearing, the group is struggling to gun down the army of flame-men, but they’re running out of ammo. Suddenly, flame-men reinforcements arrive via river, riding giant leaves. After sinking a few, the Mystery men and the Turtles realize that water can extinguish the flame-men. After cannibalizing the fuel pump from the Flying Wing, they hose down the flame-men and send them into retreat.

In the aftermath, all that’s left of the extinguished flame-men is protoplasmic goop which the Professor describes as being like giant amoebas (and which the Zeke's describes as smelling like Corn Flakes). The Shoveler and Star Shark, who were attacked by the flame-men, say that they weren’t burned but instead drained of energy, like they were being absorbed. Screwball panics when he can’t find his pet shoelace Sherman, but it turns up in a bag of Fritos. In the morning, Mystic Hand, Bondoman and the Spleen decide to stay behind and try to reassemble the Flying Wing while the others return to the I-Team camp and search for more clues. Shortly after they leave, the Spleen sees something lurking in the woods and Mystic Hand goes to investigate.

Fiddling with the I-Team’s radio, the Professor determines that the electromagnetic static that brought down the Flying Wing is spreading out from the ruins and may soon envelope the whole world. They also find Polaroids of the I-Team getting along with the flame-men and keeping them as pets. Flaming Carrot presumes that once the I-Team ran out of things to feed them, the flame-men turned on them. The group decides to head to the ancient ruins, leaving Screwball, Leo and Don behind to guard the camp. Searching the tents, they find one of the flame-men sleeping on a cot.

At the ruins, Mikey recalls the dream he had about the ancient city and follows his memories to a hidden opening in one of the buildings. At last inside the previously impenetrable buildings, Col. Blade orders Star Shark to stay and guard the door while they split into groups: He, the Professor, Raph and Mike will go in one direction while Flaming Carrot, Mr. Furious, the Zeke’s and the Shoveler go in the other. Col. Blade’s group stumbles upon paydirt quickly, finding skeletons of strange creatures, albeit ones with gold fillings that imply a greater intelligence.

At the camp, the flame-man introduces himself as P.F.C. Layton Sykes of Anniston, Alabama. He says that he was once a member of the previous investigation into the ancient ruins. His team encountered the flame-men, who ate anything but plants. When they ran out of food to feed them, the flame-men devoured him and his men. They were absorbed into the flame-men who ate them, merging their consciousnesses. Don asks if he remembers eating himself and, if so, then what do humans taste like? Sykes says “like chicken”.

Back at the ruins, Col. Blade’s team finds a chamber with a hole blasted into it by a flamethrower (indicating the I-Team had been there). Inside are hundreds of glowing eggs, each containing a flame-creature. The Professor joyously announces that they must certainly be looking at beings from another planet.

And at the Flying Wing, Mystic Hand returns with news that he found nothing. Suddenly, a trio of cloaked, spectral figures comes floating their way.

And back again at the ruins, Flaming Carrot’s team finds a huge pod with a glass lid. Inside is what looks like a 9 foot-tall werewolf clad in a jumpsuit and boots. Ignoring their better judgment, they open the pod and release the werewolf. The monster chucks Flaming Carrot, the Zeke’s and the Shoveler out a window and into the sea. Tearing a pipe off the wall, Mr. Furious charges the werewolf.

Mr. Furious dukes it out with the alien werewolf only for the beast to back off once it sees his Free Masonry ring. Being a Mason itself, the werewolf runs away. The Mystery men, the Turtles and Col. Blade eventually catch back up and ask Mr. Furious what the deal with the werewolf is.

Back at the Flying Wing, the Spleen, Bondoman and Mystic Hand are under siege from the spectral figures. The spirits are blasting beams of ice at them, encasing the jet. The Mystery men flee into the jungle with the specters close behind.

At the ruins, the werewolf is desperately trying to communicate with the team via dance, but they can’t interpret him. Don, Leo, Screwball and the flame-creature Sykes show up. After a brief bit of exposition, Sykes has a chat with the werewolf in its native language. The werewolf then devours Sykes and collapses. Star Shark comes down from his lookout post and tells everyone that the Flying Wing is under attack. Leaving the werewolf behind, the Turtles and the Mystery men return to camp.

They reach the Flying Wing, but have no idea what happened. The werewolf then catches up with them and explains everything… in English! He says his name is Chontre Mac and he’s an alien from a planet that exists within the center of the Sun. He says that there are a diverse number of races from that planet and all have the ability to absorb the minds of those they devour (hence how he was able to learn English by eating the flame-creature that ate Sykes). Chontre says that long ago, his people came down to Earth to set up a colony and built this great city. However, civil war erupted and most of his people retreated back to the Sun. Chontre was chosen to sink the city deep into the Earth so that its technology and culture could be preserved, putting himself in cryogenic stasis so he could keep watch.

Chontre is happy to be awake again and, seeing that there are no more warring Sun people on Earth, feels that now is the time to share the technology of the lost city with humanity. Suddenly, Mystic Hand’s disembodied hands float over and motion everyone into the jungle. They find Mystic Hand and Bondoman frozen in cryogenic ice (which Chontre assures them will defrost to no ill effect in a day or two). The Spleen, who fainted, wakes up and describes the ice-blasting specters. Chontre says that the specters are the Eikers, the faction who incited the civil war. When the city was unearthed, it sent a signal into space. Responding to it, the Eikers traveled down from the Sun to regain the lost technology and invade the Earth. The electromagnetic beam that has been shutting off all technology on Earth was a homing beam from their mother ship. Chontre explains that the only way to stop the invasion is to re-sink the city so the Eikers have nothing to home in on.

Screwball then calls down from his lookout post that the Eikers are coming. Chontre says that they’re an early scout patrol. He urges the Mystery men and the Turtles to lead the aliens to the nearby river where the additional humidity will react with their freezing powers and force them to take tangible form. The plan works and with the Eikers finally solid, Col. Blade is able to kill them all with machine-gun fire.

Chontre leads Col. Blade, the Professor and Mr. Furious back into the main hub of the ruined city where they found him in cryo-sleep. Chontre mans the controls to re-sink the city, telling the others to leave so they don’t become trapped, too. The controls malfunction and Chontre laments that the only way to re-sink the city now is for two individuals to man separate emergency controls simultaneously. The Professor volunteers to stay behind, jumping at the chance to go into suspended animation and awaken centuries from now in a brave new world.

Blade and Furious escape the building just as it and the rest of the city sink back into the Earth. Everyone’s electronics begin working again, proving that the Eikers have lost the signal and retreated from their invasion. Col. Blade gives a salute, praising the selfless sacrifice of the Professor.

REVIEW

While I usually enjoy Flaming Carrot, this story seems too focused on the Mystery Men, and while the typical team-up tropes show up, this is a very regular team-up. The Turtles are too normal and I think this drags the story down a bit. I was actually expecting more weirdness.

Not only they are too normal, they are a bit out of character (without their weapons, you cannot guess who they are by reading their dialogues).

The good thing is there is enough weird stuff to satisfy die-hard flaming carrot fans. As I mentioned before, most of my writing stuff is pretty much like Flaming Carrot, so for me, it was a trip down memory lane (but a lane that is not connected to this one).

The art is better than usual for Jim Lawson (apparently color really makes his style stand out more). And at the same time, the Turtles look good with other artists as well. Flaming Carrot looks as good as usual.

In the end, I feel like this story could have gone wilder.

I give the story a score of 5.

[sage-wilde-va]

Gargoyles X TMNT: The Shadows of New York Chapter 5: Foreigners

“Fans, at this time, we ask you all to please rise. Three weeks ago, Americans’ hearts were filled with sorrow. Tonight, America is standing tall. We salute all the heroes who have spent tireless days and nights keeping America’s hopes and pride alive. Our hearts, prayers, and thoughts go out to the families and friends of the victims of these tragedies. Please, remain standing as we pause for a moment of silence.”

Throughout the Giants Stadium, the thick silence was broken only by a very small scattered number of dwindling cheers. That night, in the distance across the Hudson River, the Empire State Building glowed in stripes of red, white, and blue. Fans on both sides of the stadium wore their teams’ colors. But outnumbering them by far were the ones decked in the same patriotic hues and carrying tiny pennants in their echoing stripes as they bowed their heads. Some quietly wept. Others lowered their gaze to their shoes, or to the hole in the skyline that they knew would never be filled again. Rather than the common rivalry amongst fans of the sport, that night they were united by one thing; national grief.

For three members of the audience in particular, this brief moment of quietude was particularly striking. They sat, hunched in the shadows above the stadium, in the dark shadows of the billboards surrounding the peak of the blaring, brightly lit valley. The moment of silence passed, and the game began with the national anthem.

“Man,” The broadest gargoyle wolfed down a hot dog easily half the size of his powerful forearm in one gulp. His earfin pricked up as he listened to the man’s intense and stirring voice belting the national anthem. “I knew that the towers falling down hurt these people badly. But aren’t they supposed to be enemies?”

“Not tonight, they’re not.” The clever one looked up from his book of complicated football rules. “I guess that sort of thing tends to pull people together behind a common good.”

“I guess.” Repeated the white-haired one. He stooped with his wings raised and tail outstretched for balance as he leaned over the billboard, claw dialing on the binoculars. “The man singing down there sure has a strong voice. What sort of magic is he using to make it carry so far?”

“Maybe he’s a bard.” The broad one polished off another hot dog. “You know, like the speakers and poets with the druids in the Green Isle. I’ve heard they’re incredible singers.” There was a roar from the crowd as a clot of white and green shapes moved and curled against one another across the field, like a flock of birds forming colorful clouds against the green canvas. The eldest passed his binoculars to the smallest among them so he could take a look.

“What did the referee say?” The eldest asked.

“Penalty in favor of the 49ers. I think that means they get a free kick?” The green one flipped his book open again, scanning the pages for a reference to the rule. He passed the binoculars to the blue one, flicking through the pages with one prehensile foot as he clung to the billboard with his other three claws.

“Man.” The broad one squinted into the frames of the binoculars. “This game sure is complicated. I wonder why they have to stop every time they take someone down?”

“Mostly to make sure that when the ball touches the ground or when the player gets taken down, they can mark it accurately. That, and in case anybody’s hurt.” The clever one replied.

And so the match continued for them, hiding behind the Verizon billboard as they watched the opposing swarms of green and white meet, clash, and break apart to follow the ball like tiny iron shavings to a lodestone. Tackle after tackle, throw after throw, run after run, it seemed like each spurt of action only lasted a few seconds. The red one found himself getting a little bored. He rested his beak on his knuckles, eyes beginning to droop. 

Being so far away sure made the game less interesting to watch. Seeing it on TV was almost better. But still, without his younger brother’s clarification and the help of his small book, it would have been even duller. Out of the three of them, the younger brother had always had the best eyesight. It was amazing what details he could see from even this distance. The way he described it, it was almost as if he were a few feet away, rather than almost a quarter mile.

The white-haired gargoyle finally had enough when they were almost through the second quarter. The team was doing well at first, but his warrior’s instincts had begun to tell him that the tides of this battle were beginning to turn in favor of the Foreigners. He sighed, kicking off the billboard and gliding down to the narrow walkway behind it. “Hey, I’m going to go see if we can find any more hotdogs. I think our friend here’s eaten all of them.”

“Hm?” The youngest one didn’t look up from his transfixed stare with his enormous, bulbous eyes down at the field. “Oh, yeah, sure. Just make sure no one sees you.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t be spotted.” He waved a casual hand, dismissing the concern. “Besides, who would believe that hot dog vendor?” He shrugged with a smirk. He lifted his wings, pointed his tail, and leapt off to glide away from the humans towards the dark of the parking lot.

-

Inside the stadium, Raphael tugged his American flag ski mask down around his neck as it began to ride up. His neck was a lot thicker than the average human’s, and the elastic in this fabric face-sock was clearly displeased by this as it kept migrating north towards his chin. He had to stand on his seat to get a good look at the field as well, and it was starting to get on his nerves. 

Why didn’t the ooze at least give them six feet? Did he and his brothers have to end up five-foot-two?

He grunted in frustration. Screw this, he was going to go up higher. He put his mittened hands into his deep pockets, fishing around for his shuko spikes. He elbowed his way past the crowd, and started to make his way through the bleachers and down the walkway, towards the concession stands.

-

He just wanted to cling to the dark underside of those stands and watch the sea of lights forever. The smell of diesel in the air held a newness, an exotic and intoxicating perfume like a lotus to his finely tuned senses. He took the cool, autumn air in slowly through his nostrils and slowly let it out between his serrated teeth. 

“Ah… man, I love that smell.” His smile seemed to glow with bliss. 

New York. It was right in its name. No more dreary, drafty castle with humans too pompous and soft to relish the real vigor of life. Not like this city. These people lived, breathed, and shouted freedom every second of their lives with every movement they made. No one could tell them what to do! No rulers, no kings, no lord in charge of it all to make them roost on the wall by day. They did what they wanted, when they wanted it, however the hell they felt like doing it. 

It was a city that sang to his soul with the twinkle, glitter, and glow in its rivers of water and traffic lights. He had, well and truly, fallen in love with 2001.

His claws gripped the iron girder of the stadium as he sniffed again, this time closing his eyes to hunt for the unmistakable aroma of the best of this world’s new delicacies; the sidewalk hot dog cart frankfurters. His finely tuned, bloodhound-like sense of smell did not fail him. He kicked off from the girder, leaping from one to the next like a squirrel between trees. Lithe and quiet, he kept his wings pinned in a narrow A-shape. The further he kept his wings spread, the noisier his glide. He had to be quiet for this operation.

He sniffed again. “Right where I left you.” 

It smelled like he was down to about half the hot dogs he’d had before. He felt disappointed as he snuffled in the darkness two hundred or so feet away; no more chili dogs. Or onion sauce. Oh well, it wasn’t like his rookery brothers were horribly picky eaters. He folded his wings and curled his tail around the crossbeam, swinging into a much more comfortable upside-down position while he waited patiently for the hot dog vendor to leave his cart unattended.

It didn’t take long. The hot dog man stood up with a stretch, lazily leaning against the stem of the red and yellow umbrellas over his cart. He started to get up to leave his cart for a moment, probably to use the restroom. The gargoyle tensed, ready to drop down and make a dash for the goods, when he spotted a figure approaching the cart. 

The figure was upwind from him. Short with an unusually bulky coat, wrapped up head to toe, he sauntered up to the hot dog vendor. The gargoyle contained his disappointment. He could wait until after he–hold on a moment…

The gargoyle sniffed the wind. A new smell was in the air. Not human. At least, he didn’t smell like any human he had ever encountered. There was a subtle sort of stink about him, like the odor of a deep wet place with no light. His eyes narrowed, clouding over with a whitish glow. Something was different here.

-

“One please, with lots of relish.” Raphael handed the hot dog man five bucks.

The hot dog man, a moon-faced human with a frame to match, took the money and picked up a dog with a greasy pair of tongs. “How’s the game?”

“Lousy.” Raphael grunted. “Jets have shit defense this season.”

“Shame.” The hot dog man sighed, shaking the bottle heavily before squirting relish across the dog. “I was hopin’ for a win tonight. God knows we could use one. You want that wrapped, or in a boat?”

“I’ll take it wrapped. Thanks.” Raph took the foil-wrapped dog, and stuck it in his pocket as he began to walk away.

“Hey, watch yourself tonight, eh?” The hot dog man called. “Plenty of nutcases get piss-drunk at these kinds of games. You don’t wanna run into any weirdos in the dark like this.”

Raphael scoffed. “I can handle myself.” 

The hot dog man sighed, putting away the roll of foil. “Whatever, man. Just looking out for a–” He looked up and blinked in surprise when he noticed that his customer was gone. He looked around, leaning out over the counter as he tried to spot the man who he swore was here only a moment ago. “Huh.” He scratched his head with the hot dog tongs, moon-like face scrunched in befuddlement. He shrugged, wiped his hands off on his greasy apron, and decided to put it out of his mind.

-

The gargoyle far above watched the human leave the cart and make his way towards the privies on the other side of the parking lot. His mind had been on food, but now his attention was caught on the whatever-it-was that managed to vanish into thin air, right in front of him. If it hadn’t been for his keen smell, the winged hunter would have most certainly lost track of him.

He let go with his tail, wings snapping open to fill with wind like a parachute as he landed lightly on the ground. He slunk towards the hot dog cart, claws making short work of the flimsy aluminum door latch. Stuffing a plastic bag with all the franks and buns he could grab, he was in and out of the glare of the street lamp in a few short moments. He quickly scaled the scaffolding again, but instead of returning immediately to his brothers, he scoured the night for any sign of the stranger. A pensive growl rippled in his gullet. At least he had the stranger’s scent, for now. He could find him later on in the night if the game ever got too boring.

A gargoyle’s curiosity was not something easily waylaid.

Back at the billboard, the red one opened the bag of spoils for his brothers. “Oh, delicious!” The smallest one grabbed a frank and a bun, and began to eat. He savored every single bite. The larger gargoyle grabbed two fistfuls of the stolen goods and scarfed them down in a split second. “I am never going to get used to how good the food is in this century!” He said around a mouthful of bread and sausage. “Fhankff, bruff’r!��

“Huh? Yeah, no problem.” He barely stirred, eyes fixed in the direction of the hot dog cart, and the vanished stranger. 

“Hm? Whash fa ma’er?” The blue one mumbled, crumbs falling from his lips.

“I saw something odd while I was waiting for the merchant human to leave.” He muttered. “Someone who was definitely not a human.”

“Another gargoyle?” The green one asked, bulbous wide eyes opened wider.

“Maybe.” The eldest affirmed. “I dunno yet.”

-

Raphael hugged his body as close as possible to the steel standard of the scaffold. His shuko spikes hooked onto the bolts and welds of each girder as he scaled the stadium, arms burning with the effort. But, of course, he relished the challenge. What ninja turtle wouldn’t?

Hand over three-fingered hand, he made his way up the one-hundred and forty feet of steel beams until he could reach the narrow maintenance walkway. With a grunt, he leapt five straight feet into the air. He landed noiselessly on the catwalk, just as the crowd erupted with a cheer. A few feet higher, and he had found himself behind a flimsy billboard on the 49ers side of the stadium. He lowered himself into a comfortable squat, peering around the vinyl sheet advertising Hollywood Video. The blare of the stadium floodlights drowned out the darkness behind them, where he hid in its comfortable veil. 

The third quarter had started, and the Jets looked like they were beginning to lose. What a disappointment. He shook his head as he pulled the hot dog from his pocket. He unwrapped it, rolled up his ski mask, and took a big bite. “Terrific. The one time we were counting on you to kick some shell, and you land flat-footed.” He muttered around his food. 

His heart thudded behind the plastron of his shell. His eyes narrowed behind his ski mask, muscles bunched underneath his trench coat.

He had no idea how. And he had no idea who… but he felt like he was being observed.

[vivalatoons]

My Talk: TMNT 2012

Today, 6 years ago, a new TMNT series came into our lives again. Grab a slice of pizza and take a walk down memory lane in a TMNT 2012 reflection. Booyakasha!

During this time, I had finished watching all TMNT series (not including the live action one) and movies. There was one more series that I had to watch.

I admit, I was one of those people when I saw TMNT 2012. Yes, I complain that there was another TMNT reboot. I trashed and bashed it and stated this reboot is going to bomb hard. Understand this. I didn’t hear anything about TMNT 2012 till the year 2015. During that time, I saw bad reboots and Nickelodeon’s “great” cartoons. Seeing that this is a reboot on Nick, this was a recipe for disaster. People were saying that this reboot is better than Teen Titans Go, so I knew this version of TMNT wasn’t going to be horrible. What made me begin to watch the show was the cast of the Turtles and my Turtle nostalgia. I’ll get to that later, but I start to watch the CGI 2012 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

January 11, 2016. I tried not to get attract to the show. I was excited to see these new Turtles, yet I had my doubts. After watching The Rise of the Turtles Part 1 and 2, I was instantly hook on these turtles. I hated myself for being against the reboot. These episodes were brilliant, and my Ninja Turtles love grow three sizes that day.

Flaws. Not every show is perfect, but there were some things that I didn’t enjoy in TMNT 2012. I didn’t like that some of the characters didn’t get their moment to shine at times. Some episodes were a waste of time, and could have been used to answer things TMNT hasn’t address. I also hate how the shippers would go full crazy when they see littlest of things when the ship does something. It got pretty annoying. My leader in blue would fall to the cliché of self sacrifice and going on crazy one man missions. I hated how Nickelodeon kept making random scheduling changes in season 5. This was a bad move in Nickelodeon, because fans missed something because of those random schedule changes and it was a marketing plan for PlayMates to sell those damn toys. Half of the season was pointless and the other half was awesome. Those flaws didn’t stop me from enjoying the series.

Characters. I don’t need to mention characters, but I’ll repeat myself again. Each TMNT series has the basic set of characters. There’s the Turtles, April, Casey, Splinter, Shredder, etc. Some characters are brought back from past TMNT series like Karai, Rocksteady, Bebop, Bishop, etc. In this series, there are some new characters like Tiger Claw, Fishface, Shinigami, and more. I love how the 2012 series have the Turtles be more like teenagers from other TMNT series. Some of the characters I find to be the best in this show.

Animation. 2012 TMNT uses CGI and a bit of 2D animation when it comes to flashbacks and storytelling. It’s weird at first. After awhile, it’s interesting to see. The CGI is incredible when the characters show emotions and action sequences. I’m impressed with the crew and their talents.

Voice cast. Oh yeah, my favorite part of this show. I said the voice cast is what made me decide to watch the show, and here’s why. The voice cast is outstanding and their voice director is Andrea Romano. This woman was a voice director for Batman: TAS, Teen Titans, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Voltron: Legendary Defender, etc. She’s a legend! Jason Biggs voiced Leo till season 2 episode 19, then Dominic Catrambone voiced Leo till the finale. Seth Green voiced Leonardo from season 3 till the end. Rob Paulsen, Sean Astin, and Greg Cipes voiced Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo. Hoon Lee voiced Splinter. Kevin Michael Richardson voiced Shredder. Mae Whitman and Josh Peck voiced April and Casey. Kelly Hu and Gwendoline Yeo voiced Karai and Shinigami. There’s a ton of great voice actors including Eric Bauza, Nolan North, Clancy Brown, Phil LaMarr, Fred Tatasciore, J.B Smoove, David Tennant, Keith David, Corey Feldman, Tom Kenny, Roger Smith Craig, Charlie Murphy, Ashely Johnson, Minae Noji, Mark Hamill, Zelda Williams, and the list goes on and on. I adore the voice cast so much. All of them did a spectacular job.

How is it different from other TMNT series. The CGI is what tells them apart. Hamato Yoshi once lived in Japan with his wife and daughter. Tragedy stuck, and Yoshi goes to New York. One day, he gets four baby turtles. He bumped into someone, following him. Yoshi witness the men meeting, and decided to attack him. Yoshi defeats them, but a canister of mutagen splashes on Yoshi and the Turtles. Yoshi become a rat, and the turtles grew into little turtle tots. April, Casey, and Karai are teenagers in this reboot. The Kraang are a species of talking brain like creatures. Some references from the 1987 and 2003 series show up in this show from characters to arcs. It manages to be silly and dark at times, it’s a nice blend.

Ciro Nieli, Joshua Sternin, and J. R. Ventimilia. These wonderful people helped developed this remake. I thank them for being the right people to be in charge of this project. With great people running a reboot, it leads to the following.

TMNT 2012 is a great remake and best example of doing a reboot right. People can argue all they want about this version of TMNT, but you have to admit this…there was a lot effort put into this show. This show proves to that not all reboots are terrible. This series didn’t dumb down for kids. It manages to be a show for all ages to enjoy. Animation isn’t lazy, same for voice acting and writing. Ok, the writing had dip down at times, but most of the time it’s good. There is some heavy stuff in the show like violence, death, and more death. I enjoy how this show broke some boundaries at times, that makes the show more interesting and groundbreaking.

I’m always impressed about how this series turned out. It has a unique spin in animation, wonderful voice cast, and a perfect example of a good reboot. It really makes me happy that this series will be a part of TMNT universe. I praise the 2012 Turtles for making a few changes and still holds. It’s still the Turtles we all know and love. I still miss TMNT 2012. What I will remember about this version of Turtles is the character growth that the Turtles have. I saw Leonardo from being a nervous leader who doesn’t want to let his team down. He would make decisions and be the best leader ever. Donatello would have fail at times from his creations or inventions. He improves to himself and it helps others. Raphael is still our hothead turtle, but he learns not to his anger consumes him. Michelangelo was seen as a dumb turtle who cared about pizza and made jokes. In the end, he shows the bad guys what’s he made of and he’s not a turtle you don’t want to mess with. These turtles has wowed me and they are the best ninjas in the city of New York.

[brightlotusmoon]

I keep recalling how my original 1998 fanfic had that exact theme, and when I rewrote it in 2016 I translated it into fibromyalgia and epilepsy.

Not surprised Future Leo died. That's it that's the end of the turtles. It's apocalypse all the way down. Ain't that depressing?

Summary of some answers from today's Q&A with Ron Corcillo!

Bullet points are below the cut, since it's a pretty long list! Some combine multiple answers, and they're categorized for ease of reading (obviously not every single answer is included, but I tried to get most of the ones I thought people might find interesting!)

Apocalyptic Future

The turtles were fighting side by side with Cassandra when Casey Jr was born, and Leo trained him to be a warrior. Casey Jr only has brief memories of his mother from when he was very young, and he was mostly raised by Leo.

The chips on Leo's plastron are probably battle scars.

Mikey was likely the equivalent of being in his 70's. He was powerful enough that he could unlock almost any mystic ability you could think of, but using them took a toll on him physically. The more powerful the ninpo, the more potential it has to sap your energy.

Mikey can open up portals through all of space and time (as opposed to Leo, who can mostly portal over relatively short distances), but it took him a long time to get to that level of ability.

Mikey probably grew a little taller than seen in the movie, but shrank as the use of his powers depleted him. Donnie would be slightly taller than Leo, and Raph would be at least 6'6".

The characters have obviously taken hits and lost some things from years of fighting the Krang, but Leo still does have his ninpo.

They never worked out the specifics for how Raph and Donnie died, just that they lost their lives in the war against the Krang.

Future Leo was mortally wounded in his bleeding side, and that was why he didn't go with Casey to the past.

If season 2 hadn't been cut short

The sudden declaration of Leo as leader wouldn't have happened, and was more of a joke because of how abruptly the show ended. The original plan was for the transition to be drawn out over much of season 3. Raph and Leo probably would have been co-leaders for a while, and the transfer of leadership wouldn't have caused tension since Raph would like to share the burden. There might have been some situations where Mikey or Donnie took the lead, too. Ron never saw the turtles as a group where there had to be one absolute leader.

Karai would have lived for much longer, and been training the boys in person for a number of episodes.

If there was a season 3 / plans they had for future seasons

They probably wouldn't have ever taken a dark turn with the show, but may have gotten into more of an extended plot line after the movie.

The missing sister who was Big Mama's henchperson would probably have been a very disciplined super serious ninja, to the point where she's actually funny. She was going to be named after a female artist, possibly Frida Kahlo, and the turtles would have had to win her back from Big Mama by helping her to see that she had been brainwashed as a child.

Their other missing sister was going to be trapped in another dimension for years, and might have been "a little kooky" from being there so long. The turtles would have split up to rescue their sisters, but there were no definite plans beyond that.

We would definitely see Casey Jr again. Ron would love to see a spin-off where Casey and Cassandra roam the world and fight the Krang and remnants of the Foot.

It was going to be revealed that a Krang spaceship had crashed into the back of the crying titan in the Hidden City. The ship's fuel was the source of the ooze that gives the Yokai their power, and possibly the origin of the Yokai themselves. The crashed spaceship is what drew the invasion there a thousand years ago.

Mikey's powers could have opened the door to some multiverse episodes.

We might have seen some redemption from Big Mama, but then also seen her relapse to her villainous ways.

The Rat King likely would have been the next big villain. Shredder's story is pretty resolved, so they wouldn't have gone back to him, but maybe they could have revived the dark armor. There were no existing plans for Bishop, but once the turtles became better known heroes, he could be a thorn in their side. They would have done a lot more with the Krang.

Donnie probably thinks he's much smarter than Raph, so it would have been fun to do an episode where he got to see how Raph beats him in common sense and emotional intelligence.

The turtles would probably talk to Karai's Hamato spirit when they need guidance.

Season 3 would pick up where the movie left off. They would have launched a new story right away, but the aftermath would have been in the background. We would have seen how they changed as a result of the movie events, as well as how they deal with now being in the public eye as heroes.

Miscellaneous

The 2012 series was very traditional TMNT, so a big goal of Rise was to mix things up. Making Raph the leader opened up a lot of possibilities for both Leo and Raph: Raph didn't have to be angry all the time about not being the leader, and Leo was free to be cocky and fun-loving. It was a breath of fresh air for writers who had done previous TMNT versions.

As for how the turtles take after Yoshi: Donnie got a lot of his cockiness from him, as did Leo. Mikey senses that Yoshi misses his family, and that's part of the reason he always tries to hold the family together. Raph got his courage and sense of duty from him.

For Halloween, Raph would be a kitten, Mikey would be a lion, Leo would be a rock star, and Donnie would be J. Robert Oppenheimer.

Raph's favorite music is R&B, Leo's is glam rock, Donnie's is techno, and Mikey likes boy bands.

When asked about the turtles "favorite" brothers (obviously they all love each other): Mikey is Raph's favorite. As much as Leo gives Donnie a hard time, he really likes him. Ultimately, the three younger brothers all really look up to Raph.

The turtles all had their mystic powers inherently, but they didn't know it and couldn't unlock them without a little boost. Their mystic weapons acted as a conduit.

Splinter has a lot of power that hasn't been revealed, and there's a good chance he can do anything the boys can do if he really tries (which is how he could use Leo's portals). Their powers all would have grown and expanded over time.

Ron really likes fanart of the turtles, Splinter, and April in emotional family situations, as that is the heart of the show.

They didn't really get into romance in the show, but fans are free to use their imagination.

Hueso would never admit it, but he and Leo do have a close friendship.

While Ron doesn't think the show will be brought back any time soon since Nick's focus is on Mutant Mayhem (which he thinks Rise fans will enjoy, since they seem to have a lot in common), he does think it could be brought back further down the road. The most helpful thing is fans' continued support through watching, posting, and spreading the word!

[amunetred]

“A little cuddling won’t kill you, I promise.” - Leorai ^_^

I don’t get many asks. So when I do, you will receive… an entire one shot.

A/N: T rating. I do not own TMNT. This fic takes place post the inevitable tragedy that will be the end of season 4. I listened to “Say you won’t let go” by James Arthur while writing this one shot.

The sun was setting in the west, swirling shades of yellow, pink, and peach. She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and sighed. The air was sweet here, it had a clear, crisp scent, laced with something akin to fresh cut grass or maybe alfalfa. Perhaps both.

Her heart beat in slow painful licks against her rib cage, wet with tears she’d swore she wouldn’t shed. But it was hard. More than she expected. Worse than she’d prepared for. Inhale. Exhale. Just keep breathing. Sometimes that was all there was left to do. Now was one of those times.

A breeze lifted her hair, cooling her neck, carrying another fragrance, warm and slightly spicy, tinged with something unique to him. Whatever that was, the blend did something to her. She felt it in her jaw, could almost taste it on her tongue, it made her stomach flutter and her heart swell. And whether she liked it or not it made her feel safe. Not that she needed anyone looking out for her. She could handle herself.

But with her life stripped of everything that should be there, sometimes that scent, she wanted to cling to it. To him.

Her jaw shifted, her hands opening and closing in loose fists. Her eyes were blurry again. Her throat tight, the pressure building and she thought it might never end. She stared at the head stone, wasn’t sure how long she’d been standing there.

It wasn’t fair. Nothing about her life was, but they say life isn’t. But this. To find her father and lose him. To learn the truth and try to make it right, for it to end like this…

How much was too much?

This was too much.

This…

Breathe.

Just.

Breathe.

And though the inhales came through like she was being choked, and the exhales emerged shaky, she managed them. He stood with her, a silent guard, mourning by her side. He was holding up well. Better than most though she suspected he hurt the worst. Everything would fall on him now.

He stepped closer, his arm brushed hers. The flicker of his skin, cool, pebbled, and green against hers, warm, smooth, and pink, that brief contact it lit a spark inside her. That fleeting, delicate, ghosting of flesh was like pressing play on a reel in her mind. One that drilled her with every fight, every save, every quest, from every quip to every threat. It had all been mutual, an intricate dance of steel and intuition. More than anything, with the cool brewing storm that was Leonardo came compassion, a deeper understanding, and gods… he brought her the truth and served it up hot. He brought her hope. He tried like hell to bring her home.

It was the end of a tragedy in some ways, perhaps the beginning of another if she didn’t change at least some of her ways. She was sure if this.

“Saki was never going to let it go. Just- just so your clear on that. This isn’t your fault.” His bicep brushed her, the closeness, the scent of him filled her senses, leaving her dizzy.

The hair on her skin rose and she crossed her arms, rubbing it away. “Words won’t change-” Her throat ached something horrible and she motioned to the headstone. “This.”

Her lip quivered and she bit it hard. It wasn’t enough. She couldn’t hold it down. Pressure built up inside her and she felt her jaw unhinge as a ragged sound broke free. “It’s not fair! It’s not fair! It’s not- fair! Leo, it’s not- I- just- got- him-back. I just- I just- found him.”

She didn’t know when she sank to the ground. The earth was hard, but it was him, those strong arms wrapped around her, they grounded her. He grounded her. One sob tumbled and fell into another, but amid one ragged gasp she heard a second cry, not her own. His plastron shuddered as he held her close, his head tucked in her hair, something wet dampening her shoulder.

She could barely cope with her own hurt. Feeling his too, it might break her.

Breathe.

Just.

Breathe.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Breathe.

Slowly, she reeled in her emotions. Or so she thought, until he quieted too. Now there was skin brushing skin everywhere, arms and legs and… faces… a beautiful inhuman green face that captivated her, that made sense to her, that cared and came for her time and again. His breath heated her throat, the sensation electric, her pulse quickly growing to a whoosh in her head, her lips throbbing as she lowered her chin. She inhaled, breathing him in, the familiar scent she could feel, but how, oh, how did he taste?

His eyes were closed, tears staining his cheeks, his grief it hurt and she had to take it, wanted to carry it for him. She reached for him, both of them trembling as her lips ghosted his, a gentle sweep, light and fragile like butterflies wings. But they weren’t delicate creatures, they were made of something hard and strong, but just as capable of fracture. They were warriors. They were heroes. He was her hero.

His hand wove through her hair, his eyes opened, a rich heart wrenching blue that brought fresh tears to her lashes. Their mouths met again and she dared taste him, her heart skipping beats at the sweetness of him. They kissed until they had to come up for breath, inhaling one another in the static haven they’d created.

Was this wrong? What were they doing? What was she doing? Falling apart, and making out like a schoolgirl. She sat up, pushing him back as her cheeks flushed with shame. “We shouldn’t be doing this here. Now.”

The sun had dipped below the horizon a strip of gold fading into the blue. She almost couldn’t tell where one began and the other ended. Maybe that was love. When you couldn’t tell which way was up anymore. Because it didn’t really matter.

Leo sat up, bowing his head beside her. Probably scolding himself.

Were her feelings real or was it grief? Was she using him to feel something other than this agony?

When asking this of herself the answer came easy and without thought.

No.

Not in the slightest.

She wanted him.

She-

She looked at him, his eyes were closed again. The downturn of his mouth brought real pain to her, somewhere in the center of her chest that never seemed to stop hurting anymore.

The idea of his pain, made her own an afterthought. It quashed her pride, her ego, even her grief. Because they’d shared so much. The one being she understood and that understood her, fully and without doubt was right beside her.

She scooted closer, sat beside him and rubbed her face. “Sorry.”

He opened an eye and looked at her. “Excuse me?”

Her lip wrinkled in distaste as she shrugged off the icky feeling that stuck to apologies. “Don’t make me say it again.”

A small grin appeared, one she’d usually want to smack off him, but today she kinda wanted to kiss. Her gaze lingered on his lips too long and he reached out and pulled her to his side with one arm. “Come on, a little cuddling won’t kill you, I promise.”

Just beyond the blue of his mask a star fell. A bittersweet breeze ruffled her hair, carried his scent to her, and warmed her insides. She exhaled a shaky breath, lowering her head to his shoulder. Her heart was tender, battered and war torn, but so was his.

“I don’t cuddle,” she grumbled, snuggling closer to him.

“Of course not.” He placed a kiss on top of her head and her heart skipped beats.

She tipped back her head to look in those precious blues of his. “If you tell anyone, I will hurt you.”

He let out a soft chuckle. “I’d expect nothing less.”

Heartbeats passed as they peered into one another’s eyes, both red rimmed and wet. Her reflection was mirrored in his pupils, equally tired and crushed yet hopeful and completely open. “I love you, Leonardo.”

His breath hitched, and the arms he held her in began to tremble. His brow furrowed as his mouth drifted closer and she met him halfway. He kissed her long, and tender beyond anything either of them were made for. When at last it ended, the moon was high, but so was she. He pulled her close and she wrapped his arms tighter around her.

Crickets and cicadas chirped, frogs were croaking, but she closed her eyes and felt him breathing. Where he was there was peace, quiet, her calm in any storm. Then came a whisper, his assurance, his promise, his truth and she felt it through her entire body, mind, and soul. “I love you too, Karai.”

[gamerszone2019-blog]

Our Favorite Dumb (But Awesome) Games

New Post has been published on https://gamerszone.tn/our-favorite-dumb-but-awesome-games/

Our Favorite Dumb (But Awesome) Games

At some point in the past few weeks, some of us at the office were spitballing about when we thought the ludicrous new crustacean-themed battle game Fight Crab might come out.While we don’t know for sure (though their website alleges it will be some time by the end of the month), it got us thinking: this game, while undeniably awesome, is also undeniably silly and sort of dumb. But that’s not a bad thing – in fact, it reminded us that some of our favorite games aren’t much smarter.

IGN’s Favorite Dumb-But-Awesome Games

Check out the slideshow above for some of our favorite dumb-but-awesome games, or scroll through the entire list below.

I Am Bread

In I Am Bread, you are bread, and your mission is to become toast. Literally – it’s all about traversing a hazardous kitchen, apartment, or other mundane room as a slice of bread to get to a toaster and cook yourself.

The premise is silly as hell and it’s frustratingly, stupidly hard, but it also had me laughing so hard I teared up. Funny, because I had the same exact reaction to Bossa Studios’ other wacky game, Surgeon Simulator.

– Casey DeFreitas, Editor

This game was an absolute turd, so bad in fact that it was one of the first games to be approved for the PS Classic, the first mini-console desgined to showcase all of the worst titles in the history of an otherwise beloved system.

It was also the first and only 3D fighting game available for the system at launch (a couple months before Tekken and a couple years before Soul Blade would be released), so you better believe there were quite a few of us early adopters out there wasting hours mastering a game that would never really achieve widespread popularity. Even though I definitely know better in retrospect, I still can’t help but to remember my time with BAT fondly.

– Jeremy Azevedo, Head of Gaming Video

Blitzball

Final Fantasy X was a game about love, parenthood, responsibility, adulthood, and playing underwater basket-rugby with lots of dudes in big shorts. At least, it was for me. I am acutely aware that Blitzball, X’s take on the traditional all-consuming Final Fantasy side-game, is objectively bad. It’s slow, predictable and has, generously, about 4 animations in total. And I played it for dozens of hours, sculpting the perfect team of dudes in big shorts and winning everything I could. It was a chance for a distraction from the sad fact that Tidus’ dad had become an apocalyptic whale, and by god, I took that chance. I love it.

– Joe Skrebels, UK Deputy Editor

Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold

In my house, my dad didn’t let me play Doom. He let me play Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold while he played Doom. Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold is kind of like Doom, but it’s also not Doom. Doom came out the week after this game and ruined my life. Thanks, Doom.

– Ronny Barrier, Video Producer

Sneak King

Who’d have thought that one of the most memorable games of the last generation would have been a marketing stunt? Sneak King took my love of stealth games, and slapped it on the grill with my love of burgers to make a delicious, greasy, surprisingly unbroken adventure starring America’s only acceptable monarch, the Burger King. May his charbroiled reign last a thousand sneaky, greasy years.

– Jon Ryan, Senior Editor

Uno (Xbox Live Arcade)

When this game came out, I got way too into becoming the greatest Uno player of all time. I will never forget the lack of moderation on the pictures for my competitors leading each game of Uno to basically become a proxy for chat roulette. A unique time in gaming.

– Tate Fiebing, Product Manager

Roundabout

Expecting an FMV comedy romp, I was not expecting to be dumped into what is arguably the most absurd puzzle/platformer/racing game I’ve ever played. Yes, it also has FMV. Beginning with frustration and utter confusion as I tried to learn how to control my continually-rotating cab quickly gave way to howls of laughter as I crashed and exploded again and again, and I became obsessed with trying to top my previous high scores for each level. If I’d been playing by myself, I might not have found it quite as funny – but with friends, this game is comedic gold.

– Ginger Smith, Product Manager

Almost every single licensed NES game (not made by Capcom)

If it existed in the 80s, there was an NES game based on it. It didn’t matter if the underlying IP was rated R, or what the story might be, or if the developers had ever seen the movie or show it was based on.

This was before the internet and by the time you were suckered into buying the game, that was it, you were stuck with it. Rambo, Total Recall, TMNT, Bart vs The Space Mutants, A Nightmare on Elm Street, X-Men, Goonies, Karate Kid, Terminator 2, Friday the 13th, Night Rider, Airwolf, Bill & Ted, if you can remember it, there was probably an NES game based on it and it was almost definitely shit. But you’d play the hell out of it because you wanted to believe it was like the thing you loved, and because you had to justify the expense of a new game tape to yourself and your family. Unless it was made by Capcom (like Ducktails or Little Nemo), in which case it was, of course, bitchin’.

– Jeremy Azevedo

You Have To Burn The Rope

YHTBTR is a 30sec game with a great 2min end credits song. It’s not very difficult. The game literally tells you what to do right in the title. You could argue this isn’t even a game and instead is more of a music player with an interactive play button. No matter how you look at it, YHTBTR is definitely a “dumb” game but to this day is still one of my favorite time-wasters.

– Isaiah Smith, Software Engineer

50 Cent: Blood on the Sand

After G-Unit performs a sold-out show in an ambiguous Middle Eastern country, they’re outraged to learn the concert promoter can’t pay them in cash. Instead, he offers them a jewel-encrusted skull, which is immediately stolen by a beautiful ninja woman. 50 Cent, Tony Yayo, Lloyd Banks, and DJ Whoo Kid chase after her, which proves easier said than done because there are terrorists everywhere and they have to fight the terrorists.

Because this is a video game, new weapons and skills can be unlocked, but because this a 50 Cent video game, so can new swearwords. 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand is dumb as all hell, and way better that is has any right to be. It is a tragedy and an atrocity that it never got a follow-up where G-Unit goes to outer space or back in time.

– Max Scoville, Executive Mailroom Clerk

Chrome Dino

When you go offline…and you’re really bored…watchu gonna play? Chrome Dino! No, but seriously, Chrome Dino has saved me from complete boredom so many times over the years. From dodging pterodactyl and cacti to watching the world change from day to night and back again, Chrome Dino is a surprisingly addictive game that lives in the most unlikely of places. I still play it sometimes to this day when the internet goes out…

– Isaiah Smith

Cool Spot

A video game tie-in to promote Sprite’s bastard stepchild 7-Up, Cool Spot is profoundly dumb in theory, but actually quite fun to play. You play as the eponymous spot – 7-Up’s mascot in the United States – as he traverses through various generic ‘90s platforming levels, rescuing other Spots and collecting points. Strangely competent despite the relentless product placement.

– Lucy O’Brien, Executive Editor

Get On Top (Sportsfriends)

The awkard wrestling game where rounds last 2 or 3 seconds. Many laughs were had and bets decided from wierd round boys slamming eachothers heads into the ground by wiggling around in QWOP-like motions. Existed as a hidden mini game in Sportsfriends and on the best selling console of all time: Ouya.

– Drake Wempe Software Engineer

Dong Dong Never Die

One of the weirdest fighting games ever made, DDND is a Doujin (Fan-Made Indie Game) game from China made in Fighter Maker. It plays a little bit like the old King of Fighters series, but the game looks like you took the weirdest characters out of Kung Fu Hustle and put them in a digitized 2d fighter. You’ll laugh at how absurd each character and their attacks are, but actually get a kick out of the fighting engine too. The game is free on PC, so you can take a shot of using your Mian Hua Tang against Super Mario without spending a penny.

– Aaron Smith Sr. Mgr.of AdOps

Metal Arms: Glitch In The System

A long-forgotten game for GameCube that was in many ways ahead of it’s time. Quirky storytelling that reminds me of borderlands. A bunch of bizzare weapons that could be upgraded and customized.

A final boss fight that was utter insanity as you’re almost literally fighting a building. A ton of fun to play and even gave itself an arena to do PvP with. Sadly in spite of having all of the elements of other great games it never really caught on.

– Eric Becking Lead Engineer

What are some of your favorite games that make you go “this sucks, I love it?” Let us know in the comments!

Source : IGN

[mk-wizard]

I completely respect your perspective and to be honest, I see where you are coming from. I even saw it before it was even pointed out. However, it doesn't change my stance on how it was all taken very far to a point where I don't they were very respectful of the characters.

Like I said in a comment, Optimus Prime ripping his own arm and beating someone with it is something I would expect from Nemesis Prime or somebody from Mortal Kombat not Optimus Prime for example. I get not coddling anyone and I even said that tragedy, drama and such are key elements in driving a story even a positive one. Such as the death of Dumbledor in Harry Potter.

My other counter argument is and I admit that is subjective is that how do you make something so incredibly fantastical realistic? In my mind and I admit that perhaps it is just my mind, Transformers, Superman, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Star Wars and such, and realism just don't meet. I'm not saying you can't show the horrors of war, loss, suffering and such using these mediums. You can and it has been done before in War for Cybertron, TMNT The Last Ronin and there were several serious storylines in the Superman series that got dark, but they still respected the characters, the lore and the fantastical side of these stories.

Yes, they are not real, but that reason can just as easily be turned on its head. The unreality of it makes it fun and a form of escape. And even tools are made to do certain types of jobs yet not for others. For instance, you're not going to fix a leak in a pipe with a sledgehammer lol.

And the last thing I will point out or rather remind is that lately, Hollywood and a lot of these companies have come clean about hiring people to work on media they hate, so I have to admit that I'm suspicious when it comes to the folks at Skybound after being burnt so many times by other takes. You begin to see a pattern and one becomes jaded even when they don't want to be. It's not personal, but experience does affect how you see things especially if they feel deja vu.

I just have to let this out... what the writers in Skybound to Megatron was... cruel. And I've seen Megatron do some pretty horrible things in storytelling, but if what they did to Elita and Optimus wasn't bad enough, what they did to Megatron really makes me question whether these writers like the Transformers. It's like they're... angry at them and want to punish them.

And I've read horror stories and suspenseful mysteries where things were pretty grim, but they forwarded the story and had this element of compassion from the author. What I'm seeing is Skybond is straight up sadism. I mean... it puts Zack Snyder's angry writing to shame. I literally stopped reading the comic and never looked back because my blood pressure was literally going up. My husband even took one look at me and asked if I was ok? Let that sink in. A comic had so much shock value and disturbing cruel imagery in it that it caused me stress that one could visibly see on my face. And I have read a LOT of comics that got dark like Sweet Home on Webtoons, the Mermaid Saga manga, I've watched Akira, the Gunnm aka Battle Angel Alita manga, I've seen the Alien movies and kept up with the Terminator media, so it IS unusual for a comic to make me physically unwell.

Sometimes, I think these writers would be the kind of people who would go to Universal Studios just to harass or spit on the Transformers display and make the performers uncomfortable. Why do people write like this? Are you jealous? Do you have a bad memory related to Transformers and want to talk about it maybe?

And people are questioning ME for not liking this?

Am I the crazy one?

If I am, sanity is overrated.

@chaoticcreatorgardendean @blade-liger-4ever @sassycandypoetry

[allspark]

It’s time for our weekly Diamond Comics Shipping List! Check out some great titles IDW has in store for us next week like Star Trek vs Transformers, Batman/The Maxx, Star Wars, Team Sonic Racing, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and much more! All coming your way for December 5th!

STAR TREK VS TRANSFORMERS #3

John Barber, Mike Johnson (A/CVR A) Philip Murphy (CVR B) Gaving Fullerton

Klingons and Decepticons lay siege to a remote Federation dilithium mine-and the only thing holding them back is the shaky alliance of Captain Kirk and Optimus Prime. But what dark secret is buried beneath the ground… and can this uneasy partnership withstand the revelations?

The Transformers ’80s cartoon series meets Star Trek: The Animated Series in a no-holds-barred Saturday Morning mash-up for the ages!

TRANSFORMERS IDW COLL PHASE 2 HC VOL 08

John Barber, James Roberts, Shane McCarthy (A) Alex Milne, Andrew Griffith, Guido Guidi (CVR) Marcelo Matere

Rodimus leads a team of Autobots into Cybertron’s past, pursuing the Decepticon double-agent Brainstorm, who plans on killing Orion Pax before he can become Optimus Prime. Meanwhile, on Earth, Prowl is left in command gathering his allies, the Constructicons, to search for the one human he holds a grudge against, Spike Witwicky. Then, Drift returns! After leaving the Autobots in disgrace, he’s now alone, on a mission to clean up the darkest depths of the galaxy.

Collects Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye issues #35-40, Transformers: Robots in Disguise issues #35-38, Transformers: Punishment, and Transformers: Drift-Empire of Stone.

•   Advance solicited for December release! •   The best format for new readers to pick up the series and for continuing readers to supplement their collections with deluxe hardcovers.

BATMAN/THE MAXX ARKHAM DREAMS #3

Sam Keith (A/CVR A&B) Sam Kieth

With Joker back in Arkham, Maxx runs off into the night. Meanwhile, Batman grows more wary of Dr. Disparu’s experiments. In an effort to unravel the riddles of the Outback (and Disparu), Batman seeks out Julie Winters… and they both enter a dimensional hole leading to the Outback-where they encounter an alternate version of Harley Quinn! Back in the real world, Joker, Harley, and the Penguin are the current subjects of Disparu’s experiments-experiments that have a decidedly bad reaction on the Maxx!

COMPLETE CHESTER GOULD DICK TRACY HC VOL 25

Chester Gould (A/CVR) Chester Gould

Dick Tracy closes out the 1960s by moonlighting-literally! The master sleuth takes a part-time second job as Head of Security and Law Enforcement for Diet Smith’s operations based on the moon. Soon, Tracy learns that an international crime syndicate, the Apparatus, has infiltrated Smith’s organization on the lunar surface.

All this and more in these classic Chester Gould comic strips, from April 3, 1969, to December 23, 1970.

MAGIC THE GATHERING CHANDRA #1

Vita Ayala (A) Harvey Tolibao (CVR A) Ken Lashley

The boundless multiverse of Magic: The Gathering returns to comics!

In the wake of tragedy, Planeswalker and pyromancer Chandra Nalaar strikes out on her own. On her journey, she’ll have to fight against threats both old and new, as well as her own sense of guilt. Can she overcome all of that alone? And who is that familiar face lurking in the shadows?

OCTOBER FACTION TP VOL 05 SUPERNATURAL DREAMS

Steve Niles (A/CVR) Damien Worm

With their former leader and father retired, the rest of the Allan family adjusts to the new status quo and brings the monster-hunting business into the modern era. But a sinister and powerful new evil stirs… one that could tear the family apart! The town of Gristlewood is under attack from the most powerful being it has ever seen. Vivian and Geoff take the lead in fighting the evil, but can they even begin to match its power? Or will this be the end of the October Faction?

•   Advance solicited for December release! •   “The October Faction: Supernatural Dreams is packed with demonic action, with an important family thread running through it.”-Horror Talk

RICK & MORTY VS DUNGEONS & DRAGONS #3

Patrick Rothfuss, Jim Zub (A/CVR A&B) Troy Little

A dimension where the Dungeons & Dragons paradigms are real. The rules are absolute… or, at least, they were… until Rick and Morty make their mark. Get ready to plead the fifth (edition) in this unlawful, chaotically evil story of family friction and fantasy frolics.

The world’s greatest roleplaying game. Reality’s most dysfunctional animated series. What could go wrong?

•   Presented in conjunction with Oni Press! •   Patrick Rothfuss, the multiple award-winning, bestselling author of The Kingkiller Chronicle series, joins Dungeons & Dragons fan-favorite author Jim Zub (Avengers, Wayward) on a tri-dimensional fantasy adventure! •   Rick and Morty is one of the most popular shows in Adult Swim history, with a steady fan following since it debuted in 2013. This is the first official Rick and Morty team-up story and should have deep traction in fan circles! •   Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition sales continue to grow each year and the Baldur’s Gate video games have sold millions of copies around the world. D&D has returned as a cultural force in bookstores and online.

RISE OF THE TMNT #3

Matthew K. Manning (A) Chad Thomas (CVR A) Andy Suriano

The TMNT are in a bitter fight with each other over an extremely sensitive topic… which pizza place has the fastest delivery! When a villain butts in, the Turtles will have to put aside their differences and do what they do best: beat up bad guys!

•   Overseen by showrunners Andy Suriano (Cosmic Scoundrels) and Ant Ward!

ROAD OF THE DEAD HIGHWAY TO HELL #2

Jonathan Mayberry (A/CVR B) Drew Moss (CVR A) Santiperez

An over-the-top wild ride prequel to ROAD OF THE DEAD! Written by Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author and creator of V-WARS. Scientist Harriet, tank crewman Skelly, and their crew of losers leave a trail of bodies-living and dead-behind them as they race for sanctuary through the zombie wasteland of North America. The road to hell is paved with bad decisions, heavy drinking, and a lot of blood on the asphalt.

•   Five-time Bram Stoker award-winning author, Jonathan Maberry, returns for a new tale of the undead!

STAR TREK TNG TERRA INCOGNITA #5

Scott Tipton, David Tipton (A) Angel Hernandez (CVR A) Tony Shasteen (CVR B) Photo

On the heels of the blockbuster THROUGH THE MIRROR miniseries comes a brand-new NEXT GENERATION series, featuring untold tales of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise-D! Interstellar odd couple Worf and Beverly Crusher undertake a difficult mission, but can they overcome their differences to work together?

•   Takes place during Star Trek: The Next Generation’s critically acclaimed fourth season! •   Featuring covers by Mirror Broken co-creator and designer J.K. Woodward! •   The unexpected twist ending of Through the Mirror continues!

STAR WARS ADVENTURES #16

Chris “Doc” Wyatt, Michael Moreci, Kevin Burke (A/CVR B) Arianna Florean (A/CVR A) Valentina Pinto

Welcome to the Resistance! Star Wars Resistance is an exciting new animated series coming to the Disney Channel this fall, and making its Star Wars Adventures debut in this very issue! In the time before The Force Awakens, this all-new adventure follows the fledgling Resistance as it begins to realize the growing threat of the First Order!

•   Ties into the new Star Wars Resistance animated show coming this fall to Disney Channel! •   Written by Resistance show writers Chris “Doc” Wyatt and Kevin Burke! •   Plus, an exciting new Flight of the Falcon story!

STAR WARS ADVENTURES DESTROYER DOWN #2

Scott Beatty (A) Jon Sommariva (A/CVR A) Derek Charm

Swallowed by the shifting sands of Jakku, the Imperial Star Destroyer Spectral has been lost for two decades, giving rise to rumors of hauntings and buried treasure. But an epic sandstorm has revealed the ruins of the starship, and renowned scavenger Rey now leads the race to claim whatever lies within!

•   Three-issue miniseries set during the days before The Force Awakens! •   Includes a backup story depicting the Battle of Jakku, revealing how the Star Destroyer Spectral met its fate during the last days of the Empire!

TEAM SONIC RACING (ONE-SHOT)

Caleb Goellner (A/CVR A) Adam Bryce Thomas

Sonic’s been taken to another world and entered into a race unlike any other! With a little help from his friends Tails and Knuckles, he’ll race to win the competition and get everyone home! BUT! Before that, check out a comics exclusive story straight from the world of Team Sonic Racing!

•   Leads into the upcoming game, Team Sonic Racing, available Winter 2018! •   Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails team up in this exciting adventure! •   Special extra-long one-shot!

TMNT ONGOING IDW COLL HC VOL 08

Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz, Ben Bates, Dustin Weaver (A) Bill Sienkiewicz, Damian Couceiro (CVR) Dan Duncan

Bebop and Rocksteady stumble across a time-travel scepter, kickstarting the craziest, most destructive adventure yet! Then, when a mysterious new mutant targets Baxter Stockman, it will be up to the TMNT to reluctantly save him, but little does anyone know that a larger trap is being laid by a new arch-foe. Plus, Donatello reboots a new and improved Metalhead only to find that the robot no longer functions entirely as designed. Collects the Bebop & Rocksteady Destroy Everything mini-series, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe issues #1-8, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles issues #65-66.

•   Advance solicited for December release! •   The best format for new readers to pick up the series and for continuing readers to supplement their collections with deluxe hardcovers.

  Join the IDW Hasbro Shared Universe related conversation here in our Comics Discussion and Reviews section and here for all other franchises, superheroes, or general comic book discussions! Not a member? Join our community by creating your own free account here! Or jump right into the live chat on our Discord server or our Facebook Group!

IDW Comics Shipping List for December 5th! It’s time for our weekly Diamond Comics Shipping List! Check out some great titles IDW has in store for us next week like 

[writeremyflagg-blog]

Contributed by Eddie Jakes

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Few can argue that the 80’s was a comic renaissance. Comic artists were coming off the heels of legends like Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The artwork was at its peak and with it came even better stories. During this time, I found myself pulling away from DC comics and entering a love affair with black and white independent comics. I would read as many as I could get my hands on. I was drawn in by the more relaxed interpretation of the comic code. I was seduced by the foul language and even sex (gasp!) oozing from every issue. Cry for Dawn, The Crow, and Sin City to name a few.

There was a series of comics that I had been following since I was old enough to acquire them. A little-known franchise you may or may not have heard of. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT).

While everyone today knowns about TMNT through the animated shows or the new Michael Bay-produced action schlock (Jaded, I know), few remember the classic comic books that created the phenomena that have become an iconic part of the 80’s. This was a unique and edgy kind of hero comic that had a tragedy, some humor, and intense action like no other I was reading at the time.

Now there were a lot of great stories in all those comics, but the one that always grabbed me was the “Return to New York” series. This was a story arc so good that it’s been recreated in almost every incarnation of TMNT cartoon and the very first live-action motion picture.

Before you can dive into this three-comic arc, it’s important to reference the arc that came before it as it deals with the return of the Foot Clan, and its leader the Shredder, who was killed in issue 1 of the TMNT series. He had proven to be such a favorite villain that Eastman and Laird had no choice but to bring him back, and it pays off in spades. The whole story begins with Leonardo #1 micro series where Leo is attacked by the foot clan to near death, and the Shredder is revealed to be alive. The turtles fight their way out and escape with April O’Neil who ends up losing everything because of the Foot. While always an ally to the turtles, the character was never truly vested in their fight until these issues, which is one of many reasons these story arcs are so crucial to the development of the comics. It’s also the issues where the Casey Jones character is really allowed to shine having only been introduced in the Raphael #1 micro series up to this point.

Most of this will be familiar to most of you. The turtles escape to a farm, Leonardo is healed back to health and each one the characters deals with the defeat in their own personal way.

The first issue deals with leadership and a breakdown in the turtle’s bond. Raphael wants to return to the city to get revenge, but Leonardo isn’t convinced that they are ready. There is a vicious fight between the two before Raphael decides to leave on his own. Soon after the others relent and go after him.

The second issue deals with the bothers regrouping and cleaning house in NYC which has become a violent cesspool of crime. They are joined by a Triceraton who helps the ninja’s find the hideout of the Foot Clan, and that’s where the real action begins.

Issue three is an all-out war from the start, and it’s handled brilliantly. Without too many spoilers, the turtles become separated during the fight with the Foot, and at one point, each of them fights a version of the Shredder with Leonardo engaging in a duel with the original. The writers managed to combine a perfect action piece with a story of self-discovery that ends with the turtles defeating their enemies while retaining honor.

In summary, I have been in love with this story arc since I first read it back in 1989 and after refreshing myself with the story for this piece, I can still say that I enjoy these characters and this writing more than anything else I’ve read since. With some possible exceptions to The Walking Dead comics which have some fantastic storytelling in their own right. However, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is still my favorite comic book superhero group on par with the Avengers and Justice League in my opinion and the Return to New York is a timeless classic that continues to be embraced today.

TMNT: Return to New York by @eddiefocus #tmnt #ninjaturtles #comics Contributed by Eddie Jakes Twitter | Website Few can argue that the 80’s was a comic renaissance.

[thecomicsnexus]

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #24-25 MAY 2011 - MARCH 2012 BY ANDREW MODEEN, GARY CARLSON, ROSS MAY, WILL TUPPER, ARSENIY DUBAKOV, FRANK FOSCO, DONNA G. OMO, DENNIS KENNEDY, A. C. FARLEY, DAN BERGER AND RED HERRING COLOR. WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO MARK PELLEGRINI (TMNT ENTITY)

SYNOPSIS (FROM TMNT ENTITY)

Flying the Triceraton aircar through the skies above New York, Don’s cyborg body suddenly goes on the fritz. Apologizing to Zog, Don crashes the aircar in the streets.

At the current HQ of the New York branch of the Foot, Cheng addresses the Lady Shredder. He informs her that his spiritual tether to Splinter via the Astral Plane has proven most beneficial and that the two “surprises” she ordered for the Turtles have been prepared. An Elite Guard orders Cheng to leave so that the Lady Shredder can psychologically prepare herself for the coming battle with the Turtles.

The Lady Shredder, actually Tang Amaya, remembers back thirty years, to her youth in Japan’s Chihaya village. There, she met a young Oroku Saki, who was training in the art of ninjutsu to slay the killer of his brother: Hamato Yoshi. Saki told Amaya that after killing his brother, Yoshi kidnapped her sister, Tang Shen, and fled to America. This shared tragedy bonded the two and together they gained entrance into the Foot Clan. They spent many years training together, and at age 18, Saki was elected to lead the New York branch of the Foot Clan while Amaya was selected to join him as a member of his Elite Guard.

Nineteen years ago. After learning the location of Hamato Yoshi and Tang Shen, Saki (now going by the alias “the Shredder”) left to gain his vengeance, forbidding Amaya from accompanying him. Saki returned, having slain Yoshi, though he arrived too late to save Shen from a deadly beating at the hands of Yoshi. As a token, Saki gave Amaya the gauntlet he used to slay Yoshi.

For a time after that, Amaya took on the identity of “the Headhunter”, a mercenary taking contracts out on other underworld figures. This was all a ruse to help her weed out traitors within the Foot as well as enemies attempting to assassinate Saki. Impressed even more with her skill, Saki selected her to lead Goseico (a profitable business front for the Foot) following the death of Gosei Kenji.

Years later, Saki was killed by a freakish ninja clan trained by Hamato Yoshi. Swearing vengeance, Amaya donned the gauntlet Saki had given her and prepared herself to hunt down the “turtles”. However, her vengeance would be postponed once the Foot Mystic Mashima resurrected the Shredder as a blasphemous creature stitched together by worms. Amaya rejected the Worm-Shredder as merely an imposter of Saki even if he retained all of the original Saki’s memories. The Worm-Shredder then revealed that he knew that Amaya had secretly bore Saki’s child and had given the girl up years ago. Amaya refused to divulge any further information, not that it mattered, as shortly afterward, the Worm-Shredder was decapitated by Yoshi’s clan.

More years passed and Amaya (now going by "the Mistress") eventually had her first reckoning with the Turtles at the Goseico building. Though she lost Goseico in the battle, a sleeper agent within the company informed her that one of the Turtles was parading around in Saki’s armor. Enraged and ready to take her rightful place as leader of the New York Foot, Amaya used her contacts with the Oroku clan still among the Japanese branch of the Foot to solidify her leadership (though she feared such tactics might dishonor her in a manner similar to Karai). She then arranged for the duel between Raphael and Pimiko, two others claiming leadership of the New York Foot, as a means to draw her enemies out.

Back to the present.  Now going by the name Lady Shredder, Amaya dons her armor and prepares for her final assault on Yoshi’s clan.

At the mausoleum HQ in Westwood Cemetery, the Turtles and Pimiko spar and prepare themselves for their impending battle with the Foot as Splinter and Dr. X look on. All are unaware that the Foot gather just outside; Cheng’s spiritual bond to Splinter having led the ninja to the cemetery.

Down in the sewers, a badly malfunctioning Don has reached his secret lab and reactivates the imprisoned cyborg remains of Dr. Baxter Stockman. Don implores Stockman to help him, though Stockman has a price: he wants Don’s living nanite-infused metal. Don refuses, knowing Stockman will use it to resurrect himself, but the Turtle is running out of time.

On the Utrom Homeworld, Security Officer Yat escorts Leatherhead to the presence of Ambassadors Klag and Korobon. The Triceraton that had been teleported alongside Leatherhead has been dealt with and Leatherhead rescued. The Ambassadors thank Leatherhead for his previous service to the Utroms, defeating the Illuminated Utrom Alliance. Leatherhead, still suffering his mental conditions, remembers nothing of that adventure. The Utroms disregard his mental troubles and offer him a new challenge: to bring his friend, Dr. X, back to the Utrom Homeworld.

Back at the mausoleum, Mike tries over and over again to call Sara “Horridus” Hill, but there’s no answer. Suddenly, Splinter senses the presence of enemies. Outside, Lady Shredder orders the strike to begin and several rocket launcher-toting Foot Soldiers proceed to obliterate the mausoleum.

Down in the lab, Donatello finally concedes defeat and willfully gives up his living metal to Stockman. As Stockman begins to reform himself, he lets the helpless Don know that they’re about to have “a little bit of fun”.

In his secret lab, Donatello wakes to the sight of Baxter Stockman hovering above him, inserting cables and tubes into his body. As it happens, Don’s natural immune system is rejecting the cybernetic parts and if they remain, he will die. Stockman is using his own cyborg body as “life support” for Don while he siphons off the nanite-infused liquid metal. As it happens, though, as the nanites recede, Don’s own mutagen-enhanced healing factor is now able to progress unimpeded. His shell has already grown back and he’s gradually returning to normal.

At the mausoleum, Leo, Raph, Mikey, Splinter, Dr. X and Pimiko have survived the explosion set by the Lady Shredder, Cheng and the Foot. As they escape through the streets and into the sewers, a Shredder Elite sees them and alerts Lady Shredder. In the tunnels below, Leo sends Splinter to hide and protect Dr. X while he, his brothers and Pimiko stand their ground against the final assault.

At the Jones apartment, Casey is icing his head from the beating he took at the bank when his check bounced and he pitched a fit. April soothes him, assuring him that they’ll make ends meet and he’ll find another job. They’ll just have to save up a little bit longer for their wedding. Shadow awakens from bed and comes to see her parents, having had a bad dream about Uncle Mikey.

In the sewers, the battle begins. Hordes of Foot Soldiers fill the tunnels and overwhelm the Turtles. Leo orders everyone to retreat back to their original Lair. Meanwhile, Cheng unloads his “surprise” from the back of a van at the behest of the Lady Shredder.

Don comes to once again in his lab and finds that he is rid of nearly all traces of the liquid metal, which Baxter has absorbed and used to repair himself. Don resigns himself to the fact that Baxter will now be able to escape, but such isn’t the case. Only being a brain, there wasn’t enough organic matter for the liquid metal to bond with and Baxter crumbles back to his previously dismantled state. Baxter thanks Don for the fun, anyway, and asks that after he puts him back up on his shelf… he give April his regards. Don leaves with a suspicious look on his face as Baxter laughs maniacally.

In the sewers, Cheng’s surprises reveal themselves: the two surviving mutant Shredder clones the Turtles thought they killed years ago. The clawed Shredder clone and the midget Shredder clone, fully healed, attack. Cheng is pleased with his work, certain that by perfecting Mashima’s mystic worms, he’ll be able to create whole armies of the creatures. There’s another surprise on the way, though, as King Komodo returns amidst the chaos to finish Leo off. King Komodo kills the clawed Shredder clone so that he can have an unobstructed match with his one-handed foe.

Cheng and the Lady Shredder finally enter the fray, with Cheng leading a pair of Foot Mystics in mystically enhancing their army’s strength. Lady Shredder prepares to take Raph off guard when Pimiko intervenes. Raph confronts Cheng as Leo continues his battle with King Komodo and Mikey takes on the midget Shredder clone. With all the extra Foot Soldiers around, things look bad until Don returns to lend a hand. Grabbing a staff from one of the Foot, he offers to give explanations later and proceeds to fight by his brothers’ side. In the battle, King Komodo bites off Leo’s prosthetic stub-blade, revealing a re-grown hand beneath. Komodo is perplexed and Leo uses the distraction to decapitate the monster. Taking a cue from his brother, Mikey wraps his nunchaku chain around the midget Shredder clone’s neck and squeezes until the creature’s head pops off. Meanwhile, Raph kills the two Foot Mystics with shuriken and stabs Cheng with his sai. Raph believes that by killing Cheng, his astral tether to Splinter is now severed. While that is true, Cheng assures the Turtle that he has already dealt their father a fatal spiritual blow. Angered, Raph kicks Cheng’s corpse.

Lady Shredder and Pimiko continue their duel and it becomes apparent to Lady Shredder that Pimiko is her daughter. Pimiko won’t believe it and, protecting Raph from the Lady Shredder’s gauntlet, impales her through the stomach with her katana. In the skirmish, the Lady Shredder delivers a decisive strike to Pimiko as well, piercing her stomach with her gauntlet. As they both lay dying, they remove their masks and the truth is revealed. Lady Shredder, Tang Amaya, tells Pimiko that she left her with Warlord Komodo in the hopes of sparing her the life of an assassin and is truly saddened to see that her daughter could not escape her fate. Even sadder, she regrets that she was unable to avenge her sister, Tang Shen, or her beloved, Oroku Saki. Hearing this, Splinter exits from the Lair and places his hand on Tang Amaya’s head. He shows her the death of Tang Shen as he saw it through his own eyes (as a normal rat) and Amaya finally knows what really happened. With her final breath, she curses Oroku Saki and tells Pimiko she loves her. Pimiko attempts to tell Raph something important, but her life gives out and she dies, too. Removing his bandana, Raph cries through both now-healed eyes.

Their leader dead, the surviving Foot Soldiers retreat into the darkness. Only the last surviving Shredder Elite remains. He approaches the Turtles and, cursing them, pulls out his katana and commits seppuku. With the circle of blood that has plagued them and the Oroku family finally complete, Splinter tells them that the feud that has lasted their whole lives is over.

The next day, Karai arrives in New York via helicopter. As it happens, her whole “disgrace” was nothing but a ruse to weed out the last remaining Shredder-loyalist dissenters amongst the New York branch of the Foot. She addresses the two shamed heads of the branch and the surviving Foot Soldiers: The need for a “Shredder” is over, the Council of Five from the Japanese branch has her back and she is now in complete control.

In New York harbor, Leo and Raph cremate Pimiko’s body on a funeral pyre as they did her father many years ago, though they wish her peace in the afterlife. Confidentially, Raph tells Leo that he sort of had a thing for Pimiko; a real thing, not like the “romance” Leo and the others chided him about having with his friend Lucindra. Leo understands and, also confidentially, tells Raph that he and Radical have been seeing each other, lately. On that romantic note, April and Casey deliver Mikey the good news: his novel “A Rose Amongst Thorns” has gone for a third printing and is a best seller. Mikey’s muse, Horridus, stops by to visit and Mikey can’t wait to share it with her. Horridus, though, reveals that she’s developed a thing for Dragon and that she’s staying with him, now. Heartbroken, Mikey throws his typewriter across the room in a fit of rage.

Later, the Turtles, Splinter and Dr. X reconvene at the Lair, where Don finishes picking the last of the liquid metal from his skin. Suddenly, Leatherhead arrives through the transmat to complete his task; sending Dr. X back to the Utrom Homeworld for a debriefing. Dr. X is surprised that her assessment of the transmat’s functionality was incorrect (while Leatherhead is surprised to learn that Dr. X is actually female) and bids her friends a fond farewell (Leatherhead opts to stay on Earth).

At Puzorelli’s apartment, the mob boss finds the severed head of his nephew, Joey, on his bed along with a terrible message on his answering machine: the Foot Clan has rallied and are aggressively taking the city back from the mob. Even worse, the assassin Razorback is rumored to be back in town. Puzorelli pours a drink and considers that, in the end, it is better off that Shadow is with a family that can keep her away from the mob violence that has consumed his life and murdered his family. Right on cue, several Foot Soldiers invade his apartment and assassinate him.

With all the insanity of the past year finally behind them, the Turtles and Splinter take a much-needed retreat to the farm in Northampton.

On the Utrom Homeworld, Ambassadors Korobon and Klag debrief Dr. X on her extended mission to Earth. Dr. X reveals that she believes the Earthlings to be ready for “first contact”, though a few more years are necessary before they can make their move.

At the Halls of Lost Legends, Merlin talks with his pet owl, Archimedes, who wonders if the Turtles are ready to join them in the Hall. Merlin discards the notion, as the Turtles won’t be ready for quite some time.

REVIEW

Volume 3 is not canon. That was Peter Laird’s decision when he started TMNT volume 4. So if you were a fan of this volume and you wanted to know the end of the story... well, too bad.

Years later, it was finally possible to offer fans some sort of closure. But in a way that you could say, puts everything back into Mirage continuity. So in a way, these two indie comics, that are not published by Mirage or IDW, closed all the plots and even managed to connect the series to volume 4. Which is impressive, and made possible by many stories from Tales of the TMNT vol. 2.

Now, is it good? At certain points you feel like a deviation was needed to throw backstory at you. At other points you feel like certain developments are too convenient (like Puzzorelli’s fate, or the reptile healing factor). But for the most part it feels right.

Having said that... because IDW is adding three new issues to volume 3, through “Urban Legends”, this ending is not canon... for the non-canon volume.

Nevertheless, I feel the effort makes this a worthy read and it’s free.

The art deserves a special mention. The style doesn’t match the style from volume 3, which you would think is a bad thing. But it does remind you of the original TMNT issues and a bit to the next volume, so in a way, you could think of these issues a transition, even in the art.

I am glad this exists. Let’s see what Gary Carlson does with “Urban Legends” in 2020.

I give the story a score of 7.

[sage-wilde-va]

Gargoyles X TMNT: The Shadows of New York Chapter 2: Melancholy

Night in New York City was always beautiful to Goliath. Beautiful, but filled with a sort of tragedy too. He tilted his chin up, feeling the soft breeze fill his gullet. Wind. He could feel the wind again. After what happened at Castle Wyvern, all those years ago, he never thought that he would feel the kiss of the breeze at night again.

This was not the wind he knew once. It was colder. Its smell was tainted by the odor of some distant smoke, not of the sort that came by burning wood for the castle fires. He let his enormous, batlike wings weigh and press against the wind, the nerves in the thin membranes taking in its speed and direction. His figure was, to say the least, statuesque even for a gargoyle. The surface of his wing membranes tingled, smooth and tiny scales of deepest taupe, mauve, and lavender lifting slightly to entrap heated air closer to his under-skin, his thick black hair fluttering like a banner in the air. He crossed his arms over his chest, his tail extended.

He took in that breath again. The lights of the city below were so disorienting, dizzying. Stars in the sky were now stars on the ground. For all the distance the world drove between them, each light may as well have been a far-off sun in the depths of space. His home was not his home. It was owned by a strange king in a world with no kings. He was a monster in a world that held no monsters. 

“Are ye still worried, lad?”

Goliath turned. “Old Mentor.” He folded his wings, clasping them into a relaxed cloak. “I had thought you were studying the… telebhiseann ?”

“‘Television’ is what our host calls it.” The old gargoyle replied. “The new cant of this brave new world be strange, but much stays the same. I’m told the tongue of our original home is known now as ‘Old English’.”

“‘Old English’.” Goliath shook his head sadly. “Even our speech is obsolete and foreign to this world now...”

“Such is the way of the Circle, lad.” The Mentor placed his clawed hand on Goliath’s shoulder with a comforting squeeze. “Neither beginning nor ending, but moving onward with the rise and fall of the moon and sun. From dust we came, to dust we’ll return.”

“I am surprised the moon and sun still rise and fall in this world. If Xanatos can lift the very stone of our home from underneath us, can he not stop the moon and sun from rising and setting?”

“A king is not a god, even in our age we knew this.” His mentor gently chastised him. He continued. “Our beast seems content in our new world. He certainly doesn’t seem to mind the food. Neither does our young friend with the large appetite.”

“My younger brother, with blue scales?” Goliath smiled. “I hope this century does not look upon his appetite too kindly. He still needs to fly.”

“I wouldn’t worry too much about that lad. His appetite reflects his strength, and I wager he could still give you yourself a fair challenge in melee.” 

“And the cunning one?”

The mentor nodded again. “He seems most enthralled with the magic of this century, most especially com– com…” He shook his head. “The light box, written with Roman letters. He seems to enjoy pressing upon the small… er, plank with buttons. He has taken up the new language most swiftly, and he finds himself reading voraciously, more so than he once did.”

“And the eldest of the three?”

The mentor spread his arms wide. “He has seemed quite taken with the idea of leaving the castle and exploring the air below. I’d say he’s gained the words and understanding to observe these new humans more closely, but I know his temperament. Rash, choleric. Unbalanced humors, I say.”

“Curse of youth, I’d wager.” Goliath reasoned.

“Aye, that too. But choleric! I tell you, that lad is choleric!” The mentor wagged a claw at the starless sky.

Goliath stifled a chuckle. “No more choleric than you or I once were.”

“You’ve more the melancholy about you, lad. You’ve always been prone to brood.”

“Do I detect a note of accusation, mentor?”

“Aye, you do.” He crossed his arms over his worn leather belt, his wings like old leather wrapping him in a thick cape of his own hide. “If I may take a word or two from the telly, I believe the kids of this era have a saying for you; to ‘lighten up, dude’.”

“‘Lighten up, dude’?” Goliath repeated, puzzled. “They ask me to immolate myself if I am in melancholy spirits? What a strange way to suggest cheer.”

“Or to rest and unburden yourself of the great weight you carry.” The elder suggested. “Oft did we not have sayings of our own that took as much to explain?”

“You are right.” Goliath agreed. “Where do our three wards find themselves now?”

“Far as I know, they’ve planted themselves in front of the television and have made themselves some popped corn. Delicious treat. Care to try some?”

“No, thank you. I must speak with Xanatos. Our wings ache for flight, and we cannot stay and patrol only this castle for long. The young grow restless, as you said.”