You will be amazed at this fan-made TMNT project entitled “Fight the Foot” … Watch it now!
April O’Neil reported on a new gang in the streets. Then it got personal. Only those below the streets can help her now.
San Diego, CA (April 1, 2011)—More than 25 years after its first comic book, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles return to their roots with IDW Publishing. Today at WonderCon in San Francisco, IDW and Nickelodeon announced a long-term agreement to offer an all-new installment of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics and graphic novels. Starting this summer, IDW’s comic series will bring the “Heroes in a Half Shell” back into action. IDW’s new comics are part of a larger initiative to bring Turtles to a new generation of fans, starting with these new storylines from the original series. Additionally, in fourth quarter 2012, Nickelodeon will premiere a new CG-animated version of the wildly popular Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise.
“Through this partnership, we’re able to introduce Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to a new generation of fans, while also providing new stories for the fans who grew up enjoying these comics,” said Paula Allen, Senior Vice President, Global Publishing, Nickelodeon Consumer Products. “These all-new comics and graphic novels based on the original series will support the overwhelming demand we’ve received from the millions of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesfans looking to reconnect with this celebrated franchise.”
Created in 1984 by Mirage Studios founders Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles quickly went from an independently published, black and white comic to one of the most popular brands in the world. IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will kick off with an ongoing series this summer, featuring new and exciting storylines that also maintain the “turtle power” core beloved by millions of fans. In addition to the all-new series, TMNT fans will also be treated to newly remastered collections of classic Turtles comics, beginning with the original 1980s series that started this worldwide phenomenon.
“We’re thrilled to be a part of Turtles,” said Greg Goldstein, Chief Operating Officer for IDW. “This is one of the most successful comic book franchises ever, and we look forward to exploring new territory with our ongoing series, as well as reliving all the classic adventures.”
The return of Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael and the rest of the TMNT world begins this summer. In IDW’s all-new, original series, readers will follow their favorite characters on exciting adventures that explore new depths of the TMNT universe.
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES comics will be available in comic stores throughout North America in Summer 2011.
Visit IDWPublishing.com to learn more about the company and its top-selling books.
About IDW Publishing
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. Renowned for its diverse catalog of licensed and independent titles, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry, including: Hasbro’s The Transformers and G.I. JOE, Paramount’s Star Trek; HBO’s True Blood; the BBC’s Doctor Who; Toho’s Godzilla; Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; and comics and trade collections based on novels by worldwide bestselling author, James Patterson. IDW is also home to the Library of American Comics imprint, which publishes classic comic reprints; Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studios; and is the print publisher for EA Comics.
IDW’s original horror series, 30 Days of Night, was launched as a major motion picture in October 2007 by Sony Pictures and was the #1 film in its first week of release. More information about the company can be found at IDWPublishing.com.
About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, now in its 31st year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 16 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).
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One could argue that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fans are a dime a dozen. With a property as popular as the Turtles, you’d be hard pressed to find someone between the ages of 20 and 35 who can’t recite the lyrics to the original cartoon theme song, the Ninja Rap or TURTLE Power – or all three. Everyone has his or her own favorite turtle to latch onto. For the past 27 years, the Ninja Turtles have accompanied generations of fans, each of whom feels worthy to be considered the honorary Fifth Turtle.
Maybe the Ninja Turtles aren’t as popular as they were in the early 1990s. Sure, every few years they weave back into the mainstream consciousness. But on the whole, the teens in green may be past their prime.
Therefore, it may have come as a surprise to many fans to hear that after a multimillion-dollar buyout of the formerly independently owned property, children’s programming giant Nickelodeon is planning a massive reboot of the property. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are well on their way back onto the TV screens of a whole new generation of kids.
Children though their target audience may be, Nickelodeon is looking to a slightly older demographic to help along the development of the series. Nick may know kids, but they also know the kids who loved the TMNT have grown up. And that may be exactly why the network decided to offer adult fans a chance to preview and critique the new CG animated series slated to premier in 2012.
I have to say it was a true honor and surprise to be invited to this event. The TMNT have had a number of Number One Fans, so it’s easy for those in a community as close-knit as ours to feel left out, to feel like favorites were being played or that by not being invited to the event they were somehow thought of as less than a true fan.
And I agree… some people have done a lot for the fandom. Some have been longtime fans who have spent the majority of their lives showing the world how awesome the TMNT are, and what an impact they’ve had on their lives. These people who were overlooked (our very own Tokka, being one of them) were sorely missed at the event, and be assured you were with us in spirit.
The fact is Nickelodeon picked a very select few from a behemoth fan base. And they did so with great care and purpose. I’m not going to lie – the majority of those in the group are high-profile fans with popular websites, blogs and other creative material that has either gone viral or generated an admirable buzz. These are people who are are able to spread the word to the masses. But these fans also represented a vast array of fan interest. There were those who represented the artists and writers and other amazing creative minds of fan works, others represented the toy, comics and merchandise collectors, while some offered a unique in-depth perspective of the property in its entirety. So did everyone who attended the event deserve to be there? Absolutely.
And while it is an absolute shame that some fans who also deserved to be there were not, the group was a well-rounded sample of TMNT knowledge and appreciation. It was a group that could offer insight as well as an honest and emotional reaction to the direction of the new television series.
In the next post, I will go through the events of the day at Nick’s TMNT Fan Preview Event, giving a little bit of insight on what I can reveal. But be aware, as I’m sure you’ve seen on other sites, I was required to sign a confidentiality agreement. This means I cannot go into specifics about what I saw.
Last week, the crew over at Sequelcast invited Mikey to appear on the podcast to discuss the original 1990 TMNT film. It was great fun talking Turtles and all the amazing things that made this one of my favorite films of all time. The podcast is now available for download at the Sequelcast website or on iTunes for free! The podcast also features an interview with TMNT director Steve Barron!
Be sure to keep an eye on the site as the Sequelcast takes on the entire TMNT film franchise over the next few weeks!
P.S. After six years of sitting on my hard drive, the podcast logo I created finally gets some play!
Be sure to check out Sequelcast on Wednesday, March 23 to listen to Mikey chat about the original 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film! Sequelcast is a podcast series dedicated to exploring franchise films. Over the next few weeks, Sequelcast will be covering the Turtles film franchise beginning with the original film and ending with the 2007 animated feature TMNT. The first installment will also feature an interview with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film director Steve Barron!
CORRECTION: Tune in Wednesday, March 23 at 6 p.m. Pacific time to listen to the podcast at cascadia.fm, www.sequelcast.com or download on itunes March 25.
–>> A vital, gone but unforgettable piece of TMNT ( and “Comics as ART” – well cuz it is ..) history is showcased in # 5 of
Michele Ivey’s “Cowabunga Corner” .
You may wanna tune in !!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles “Fugitoid” Collector Figure ;from Peter Laird’s Fugitree { box signed by Laird } .. (( 2009 ))
Benji Samit of Single Serving Films sends us this hilarious episode of The Krang Show. Enjoy!
The villainous KRANG (of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” fame) sits down for a chat with world famous evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins.
Featuring Dan Hernandez and Sam Weitzner
Directed by Benji Samit
