Press Release
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 Turtles fans 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.
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.
7 Comments
This is great news. A clear omission though is that the original creators will not be involved in this project.
I also wonder how Nickelodeon will approach their series. It better not be as bad as the TMNT movie that came out several years ago. If it is better than the last series and a little more young adult than tween styled, I will definitely watch a new cartoon.
“A clear omission though is that the original creators will not be involved in this project.”
Well, you answered my question before I even asked it. Well done, sir. lol
…
Dammit…
Wait, so is this gonna be a return to the more adult origins of the Turtles? Or the watered-down, multi-colored mask, pizza loving, let’s hug the bad guy and then make an after-school special about it crap that ruined them?
…
…yeah, I’m kinda bitter about that…my bad.
The comic sounds like it is a continuation of the original flavor of the series. The TV show, who knows.
And you shouldn’t be bitter about the original cartoon. It was the best thing that ever happened to the turtles, even if it did stray from the source material by a wide margin. It made Ninja Turtles a household name and garnered the interest and excitement which allowed the creators to make a movie, and eventually relaunch a new cartoon with their vision involved. Had it not been for that cartoon I doubt IDW would be doing what it is doing now.
I grew up on the original cartoon, and I still love it. Is it anything like the comics I have read since then? Not at all, but who cares? The comics weren’t perfect either. They both have things that are great about them; just like movie and comic Batman aren’t identical, but still great for different reasons.
Hey, did Rob Granito draw that picture up there? ;)
Of COURSE he did, duh! Half of all comic media’s actually drawn by Granito, everybody knows that! lol
I’ve actually seen on other sites that he really did claim to have drawn that image. Ha ha, so sad.