IDW today announced Kevin Eastman returns to the franchise he helped started, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Originally conceived by Eastman and Peter Laird in 1984 as a one-off parody, it ballooned into a cultural phenomenon, that includes multiple television series, four featured films, numerous video games, and a wide range of toys and merchandise. Being a kid in the 80’s you couldn’t help but be a part of turtle power!
Imagine my surprise to hear that Eastman had returned to his beloved franchise, after selling off his stake in the franchise in 2000, and will be co-writing, doing page layouts and providing variant covers. He will be assisted with his co-writer, Tom Waltz (Silent Hill: Past Life, Infestation: Outbreak) and art work by newcomer Dan Duncan. The first two issues will feature covers by Walter Simonson and Sam Keith, while Fred Hembeck will take on issues 3 through 5 with homage’s to the classic covers. Eastman himself will help provide some variant covers. The comics itself is a reboot of the franchise that features new storylines that they hope to bring to millions of fans.
I will be the first to admit however that I haven’t read much of the comics growing up, I remember my cousin had the first volume and we would read it and was completely fascinated with it but that was decades ago. The cartoon was iconic growing up and probably helped sell a ton of pizza in the process.
However one wonders does being away for over 10+ years take away any of the edge? Only time can tell but here’s hoping to a legion of new and returning fans of the “Heroes in a Half Shell.”
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #1 ($3.99, 32 pages, full color) is now available in comic stores throughout North America.
HBO has provided a lovely family tree with a little description to help identify who is who. Very helpful for those who struggle a bit with the names or just needed a refresher (it looks to be spoiler free).
