TMNT Roundtable Interview: City Fall Aftermath

After close to 8 months, the biggest arc in IDW TMNT history has come to an end. There were ups and downs but the overall consensus is that City Fall was a smash hit. Before jumping into the next story arc, Northampton, where the Turtles will be resting and regrouping, let's take a moment to digest what we have just experienced and break down this monumental event.

TMNT Villains Micro-Series Vol 1, by Joshua Williamson et al

This is the latest in a series of comparison pieces following IDW’s new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles timeline and how it differs from the original Mirage timeline. These reviews will reference IDW’s TPBs as well as original issues that are being re-released by IDW in TPB format. IDW’s Villains Micro-Series Volume 1 was released in November 2013 and collects the Krang, Baxter Stockman, Old Hob, and Alopex issues of this new series. IDW also released TMNT Classics Vol 7 in November 2013 which contains issues 45, 46, 47 from the original series. These reviews will also contain spoilers to the plot lines so ***SPOILER ALERT*** to everyone who wanted to read these issues first.

A Father's Guide to Comics: Halloween ComicFest 2013 Edition

Halloween ComicFest starts today and if you have the chance to drop by the store to pick up a few goodies, here are some of our thoughts on the mini-comics being offered this year. My daughter has developed a love for comic books and I thought it would be great to continue to share the experiences my daughter and I enjoy while she grows and develops her love of reading; from board books to comics.

TMNT City Fall Part 1 by Waltz, Eastman & Santolouco

This is the latest in a series of comparison pieces following IDW’s new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles timeline and how it differs from the original Mirage timeline. These reviews will reference IDW’s TPBs as well as original issues that are being re-released by IDW in TPB format. IDW’s City Fall Part 1 was released in October 2013 and collects issues 21 to 24 of this new series. IDW also released TMNT Classics Vol 6 in September 2013 which contains issues 41, 42, 43 from the original series. These reviews will also contain spoilers to the plot lines so ***SPOILER ALERT*** to everyone who wanted to read these issues first.

Owly Vol 1 The Way Home & The Bittersweet Summer, by Andy Runton

Three months ago, my son was born. In order to help ease the transition from a three person family to a four person family, we prepared little gifts that we would give my 2 year old daughter for when he first arrived so that she did not feel left out. The gift that I got her was Owly Vol 1 by Andy Runton, it was going to be a book that we could share and read together whenever she felt like she was not getting enough attention. It turned out to be one of her favorite books and she reads it constantly. I thought it would be great to continue to share the experiences my daughter and I enjoy while she grows and develops her love of reading; from board books to comics.

Hoax Hunters #10, by Moreci, Seeley & Jones

Jack Lawson, Ken Cadaver, and Regan Tate are three reality television show hosts who go out into the world disproving various myths, hoaxes, and legends. We assume that things like Bigfoot, UFOs, and other unexplainable anomalies are all fake, but that is only because Jack, Ken, and Regan work diligently to keep them covered up.

TMNT Secret History of the Foot Clan Mini-Series Vol 1, by Mateus Santolouco & Erik Burnham

This is the latest in a series of comparison pieces following IDW’s new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles timeline and how it differs from the original Mirage timeline. These reviews will reference IDW’s TPBs as well as original issues that are being re-released by IDW in TPB format. IDW’s Secret History of the Foot Clan was released in June 2013 and collects the 4 issue mini-series. IDW also released TMNT Classics Vol 5 in June 2013 which contains issues 34, 38, 39, 40 from the original series. These reviews will also contain spoilers to the plot lines so ***SPOILER ALERT*** to everyone who wanted to read these issues first.

A Father's Guide to Comics: Print vs. Digital

After picking up 7 comic books with my 22 month old daughter last month on Free Comic Book Day, I decided to see what she thought about digital comics and picked up Sesame Street #1 by Ape Entertainment. I thought it would be great to continue to share the experiences my daughter and I enjoy while she grows and develops her love of reading; from board books to comics.

TMNT City Fall Teasers (JUMPING ON POINT)

If you have not been following IDW’s TMNT, now is the best time to start.

Strange Attractors by Charles Soule & Greg Scott

Have you ever wondered what keeps New York City ticking? How Central Park was able to go from a cesspool of crime and filth to the family-friendly, beautiful park that it is today? How it was able to recover from 9/11 with relative quickness and ease? Well, you have one man to thank, Doctor Spencer Brownfield. In a book that I would classify as taking elements from TV’s Fringe, NUMB3RS, and novelist Paul Auster, Charles Soule and Greg Scott explain all of the above, and more!

A Father's Guide to Comics: Post-FCBD 2013 Edition

After first mentioning my daughter in the Little Jackie Lantern review, I thought it would be great to continue to share the experiences my daughter and I enjoy while she grows and develops her love of reading; from board books to comics.

TMNT Vol 5 Krang War, by Waltz, Eastman & Bates

This is the latest Return to the Sewers comparison piece following IDW’s new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles timeline and how it differs from the original Mirage timeline. These reviews will reference IDW’s TPBs as well as original issues that are being re-released by IDW in TPB format. IDW’s Krang War was released in May 2013 and collects issues 17 to 20 of this new series. IDW also released Tales of the TMNT Vol 2 in April 2013  which contained Tales of the TMNT issues 5, 6, 7 from the original series. These reviews will also contain spoilers to the plot lines so ***SPOILER ALERT*** to everyone who wanted to read these issues first.

The Creep, by John Arcudi & Jonathan Case

I loved this book. I am reading more and more crime books and The Creep adds the element of a surprise reveal at the end of the book that will leave you crapping your pants!

City of Glass, by Auster, Karasik & Mazzucchelli

In 1994, Paul Auster’s novel City of Glass was adapted into a graphic novel by Paul Karasik and David Mazzucchelli. I recently reread my 2004 reprint of City of Glass and felt that I had to review it. I have read this graphic novel many times since receiving it from Ray almost 10 years ago. Ray knew I was a huge Paul Auster fan, having read all his books up to that point.

Interview with Erik Burnham, Writer of TMNT Baxter Stockman Micro-Series

IDW Publishing’s new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ongoing series has been firing on all cylinders and is a must read for any Turtles fan. Tom Waltz and Kevin Eastman are doing a great job of drawing from every Turtles universe to develop a rich, new timeline. One of the tools that IDW has used rather nicely is the Micro-Series (guest one-shots). Instead of telling a unique story that has nothing to do with the ongoing, they have used their guest one-shots to build on, and expand, the current Turtles universe. I recently had the opportunity to ask Erik Burnham  (Twitter @erikburnham), who wrote the Baxter Stockman Micro-Series issue, some questions about his experience.

Daredevil Legends Vol 3: The Man Without Fear, by Frank Miller & John Romita Jr

I love the Turtles and being that the original TMNT comic was a Daredevil parody, I felt I needed to get caught up on what was originally a major influence on Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird at the time. I’m not a fan of "superhero-y" comics which is why I think I enjoyed this book as much as I did. After reading a few of the essential 1964 Stan Lee issues, I jumped into the Frank Miller run head first with what are considered some of the best Daredevil stories ever.

MARS ATTACKS IDW: THE Crossover Event of 2013 (so far)

IDW kicked off 2013 with a month long series of crossover one-shots, MARS ATTACKS IDW. The covers of these five issues have been beautifully done by Ray Dillon and really ties all the issues together, even though the stories do not. The notable standouts for me were Mars Attacks Zombies vs Robots and Mars Attacks The Real Ghostbusters. Mars Attacks Zombies vs Robots was drawn by friend of the site Andy Kuhn and Mars Attacks The Real Ghostbusters was written by lead Ghostbusters writer and friend of the site Erik Burnham. 

TMNT Vol 4 Sins of the Fathers, by Waltz, Eastman & Kuhn

This is the latest Return to the Sewers comparison piece following IDW’s new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles timeline and how it differs from the original Mirage timeline. These reviews will reference IDW’s TPBs as well as original issues that are being re-released by IDW in TPB format. IDW’s Sins of the Fathers was released in February 2013 and collects issues 13 to 16 of this new series. IDW also released TMNT Classics Vol 3 and Vol 4 in December 2012 and March 2013 which contain issues 27-29 and 32-34 from the original series. These reviews will also contain spoilers to the plot lines so ***SPOILER ALERT*** to everyone who wanted to read these issues first.

Interview with Dan Duncan, Former Artist of IDW’s TMNT

IDW Publishing’s new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ongoing series has been firing on all cylinders and is a must read for any Turtles fan. Tom Waltz and Kevin Eastman are doing a great job of drawing from every Turtles universe to develop a rich, new timeline. One of the key elements to their early success was the amazing art that accompanied their work. Despite the amount of work he had on his plate at the time, Dan managed to pull it off and outdo himself. I recently had the opportunity to ask Dan Duncan, the artist on first 12 issues of the ongoing, some questions about his experience.

Orc Girl, by Paul Allor & Thomas Boatwright

I picked up Orc Girl for a few reasons: it’s a black and white, independent comic written by Paul Allor and priced at $3 for the print or $1 for the PDF! I love black and white comics and grew up on the Mirage Turtles (really? news to me!). I just finished reading Punk Rock Jesus (and loved it) and I was looking for something else to read. I had heard a lot of good things about Orc Girl and decided to give it a shot. Man, did it over deliver!