TMNT #3

Posted By: Peter DavidPosted On:

Third issue of the animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is out this week. One more issue and then #5 starts the original stories, albeit still drawn in the style of the animated series.

So whad’ja think?

PAD

13 comments on “TMNT #3”

  1. Not really a comment upon the issue, but could someone please tell me which turtle is which.

    I’m afraid that I’m only really reading because of Peter, and aren’t quite up to scratch on Turtle trivia, so I’d appreciate some clarification.

    Along the lines of …

    “Turtle X, wears the Y coloured bandana, and uses the Z for weapons”.

    Thanks for any help given. Cheers.

    Oh, and because you asked, Peter, “Good issue! Enjoyed it, but I’m far more interested in your upcoming original stories than the current adaption.”

  2. I enjoyed it. I loved the shots of Poor Baxter as a nerdy kid. I can’t wait to see the orginial stories instead of just the added on Episodes.

    Plus this issues letter column answered my question as to this being an ongoing or Mini. That made my day seeing ongoing series.

  3. Well Mild Mannered Janitor,

    Leonardo Wears the Blue headband and uses the Katanas (swords).

    Michaelangelo wears orange and uses the knukchucks.

    Donatello wears Purple and uses the Bo.

    And Raphael wears red and uses the Sais.

    Although orginally they all wore Red Bandanas (It was changed with the first tv show to make them easier to tell apart).

  6. I highly recommend picking up the original TMNT books (which you should be able to find in trade paperback); particularly issues 1-10 and the “Return to New York” storyline that ran in issues 19-21. Really, really great stuff. If you also manage to find the Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael, and Leonardo micro-series (each was a 1-issue series) you’ll find that you recognize a LOT of the plots from the new cartoon series, which is one of the reasons that it is so good 😉

    Finally to add to the rundown:

    Leonardo – nickname “Leo”, blue headband, uses the katana swords and is the de facto leader of the group. He’s the best fighter, and is also the most mature of the group. He also tends to suffer from a lack of a sense of humor.

    Michelangelo – nickname “Mikey” or “Mike”, wears the orange headband, uses the chucks as his weapon. He’s the dumbest of the turtles, speaks with a surfer accent on the cartoon (but not nearly as bad as the old series) and is the least mature of the group.

    Raphael – nickname “Raph”, red headband, uses the sai and is the hothead of the group. He’s the one that’s always fighting with Michelangelo, or hanging out with Casey Jones.

    Donatello – nickname “Don”, purple headband, uses the Bo staff. He’s the genius inventor of the group, and the one that comes up with all the gadgets.

    If you need anything else, let me know 😉

    Phinn

  7. I have to say I’m not too crazy about your new TMNT series, Peter. It reads just like a cartoon for kids. I suppose that’s what you’re going for with the book, but it really does nothing for me as an adult. I’m especially disappointed because the elements I enjoy most about your writing are character development and character interaction and they don’t really exist in TMNT after 3 issues.

    Someone above mentioned the “Return to New York” storyline and that was the best Turtle yarn I’ve ever read. I was hoping that you’d be the guy to return the Turtles to a style more like “New York” focused on serious interaction between the characters, but sprinkled with dark humor. I know the DW Turtle book is based on the cartoon, so I guess I just expected too much..

    Right now I’m holding out until issue 5 for the original stories. If the book still doesn’t work for me I’ll just have to pass the issues on to a younger reader like my nephew.

    Just so I’m clear, I’m not saying the book is terrible. I think you’ve succeeded in creating a kids’ cartoon on paper. But as an older reader it just isn’t for me. I really find myself wishing you were doing a more mature Turtles comic because I know you’d be perfect for it.

    Markisan

  8. For a long time, the only exposure I’d had to TMNT was the cartoon, and after I started reading comics I began picking up the Archie series (which, much like PAD’s series, started with four issues that retold the pilot of the cartoon series before taking its own direction). When I picked up the first two issues of the new series, I thought PAD was taking some creative license by making Baxter Stockman black, among other things. In the cartoon, he was a snivelling little white geek, after all.

    After reading the first two issues, I picked up the collection of the first several issues of the Mirage series and found out I was mistaken. Quite frankly, I’m stunned that they turned a black character white for a television translation, especially in the late ’80s.

    You’re doing a great job, PAD. TMNT and Fallen Angel are both great (but still not worth the loss of my beloved YJ).

  9. Quite frankly, I’m stunned that they turned a black character white for a television translation, especially in the late ’80s.

    I’m not; it tends to look bad when all your villain characters are minorities and the heroes aren’t. (Among those who’re recognizably human, that is.)

  10. I buy it for my son, who was a big Archie Comics Turtles fan growing up, and is a big Peter David fan now (Young Justice was one of his favorites, and mine as well. The new Teen Titans book just doesn’t do it for us.).

    Anyway, as an older reader I don’t think it’s for me, and that’s fine. There should be comics for younger people. I’m hoping for better things beginning with #5, meaning stories that appeal to all age groups. Like Young Justice.

    –your pal, Hoy

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