Evening Tribe.
You know me. I love me some Ninja Turtles. Even to the point where I ran a podcast called Turtle-Boy for years (the latest incarnation of which fizzled out over the last few years of COVID).
Since the day I lay eyes on the heroes in a half-shell, I loved them.
In high school, I was considered the fountain of information when it came the TMNT, even though I wasn’t really an expert. I just watched the cartoon religiously.
Through my adult years I’ve gone back and pretty much read every Ninja Turtles comic ever. And I’ve really been enjoying the current IDW run.
But reportedly, in July 2024, the IDW Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics are getting a new #1 relaunch, written by Eisner-award-winning writer Jason Aaron. The “promise” has been made that the turtles may be going back to their original, dark and gritty feel from forty years ago.
The current IDW run will end with #150, and the new series will continue in the current IDW universe, so don’t expect a complete reboot.
I’m not really across Aaron's writing work, so I’m not sure what to expect. I know he’s a fan favourite and they don’t just hand out Eisner’s to anyone. But I had to google his work to see what I’ve read of his.
Googling exactly what Aaron has done, I’m still not 100% sold.
The positives are he did Mighty Thor, and the mini-series Thors, both of which I thought were AMAZING, despite not really being a Thor guy. He also did a really good Doctor Strange run.
But he also did a really cool Avengers run, which after a while fizzled out and I dropped. So… I guess I’m more positive than not.
IDW Publishing has also announced that the first four issues of the new series will feature art from a team of superstar artists, including Joëlle Jones, Rafael Albuquerque, Cliff Chiang, and Chris Burnham. For the first four issues, each artist will tackle a single issue focusing on one of the turtles. From issue #5 onwards, it’d not really clear how the art chores will be handled.
If this all sounds like your kind of thing, you should reach out to your local comic store and put in a pre-order ASAP. There’s a lot of excitement about getting an ex-Marvel Exclusive writer on board, so I reckon these will sell out pretty quick (I already have this on one of my standing orders at my two local stores)!
Well, that’s the first of three pieces of Ninja Turtles news that I’d like to talk about (but not today), and I’m wondering if it might be time to resurrect ye olde Turtle-Boy Podcast again. I mean, it’s not like I’d even have to wait for the first issue of the new comic to drop; there’s still at least three TMNT movies we haven’t talked about yet.
Did you used to listen to the podcast? What do you think? Let me know.
Before I go, I just want to remind you all of my RPG Zine:
The PERFORMANCE REVIEW: An Office Survival RPG Kickstarter is already funded, and we’ve unlocked three digital stretch goal gaming maps already. So, if you’re a 5E RPG player, looking for a little modern horror, CHECK IT OUT!
Talk again soon, folks!
Big Tim
"It's alright to be scared. Remember, there is no courage without fear."
NOW! PERFORMANCE REVIEW: An Office Survival RPG - Zine Quest Kickstarter
16 March: Goulburn Geek Markets
Early 2024! The BATMAN V. TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Giveaway and GORILLA MY DREAMS TEAM-UP #2 (Featuring TORN) Kickstarter Launch
11 May: Comic Gong
6 June: Sydney Geek Markets
Mid 2024! The CRYPTIDS for 5E Giveaway and Cirque du Nocturne: CRYPTIDS for 5E Kickstarter
I’ve finally given up on Marvel’s new digital comics app.
Marvel used to have the best digital comics app in the market, but once ComiXology decided to sell out (to a company that seems to hate digital comics) a couple years ago, Marvel decided they’d follow suit and release the second worst comics app in the industry (second only to ComiXology).
Marvel USED to be the only publisher who enabled you to support brick and mortar stores while reading digitally. I used to buy my Marvel hard copies from the stores, validate the code for the digital copy, give the hard copies to the kids, and read my version on the app. New Marvel comic book day USED to be a real family event for us.
But Marvel’s determination to make reading digital comics as painful as possible? The straw that broke this camel’s back.
I’m not even going to try redeeming the digital versions anymore. I was SO close to quitting buying Marvel completely, but there are some characters and books that I love, so I didn’t go that far.
So, this is a very long-winded way of saying that I’ll be posting the redemption codes here for the foreseeable future. I mean just because I hate the experience doesn’t mean everyone does, and I hate comics going to waste.
I’ll be starting with Dead X-Men #1 by up-and-comer Steve Foxe and Pere Perez.
I don’t think more than one person can redeem any given code, so it might be first in, best dressed, but I just don’t want the digital copy to go to waste.
Good luck and enjoy!