the 5th turtle

Gone campin'

2008-07-17T22:30:00.000-04:00

Ya'll have a great weekend. Back atcha on Tuesday.

TV Eye live

2008-07-17T10:01:00.001-04:00

Here's a pic taken yesterday of Pete reviewing the first episode of the 2008 season cartoon. Hmm. Who's that onscreen?

Quashed (and now corrected)

2008-07-16T12:28:00.008-04:00

Sorry to quash the rumor - and contrary to the statement placed on Playmates Toys' website here - a second CGI TMNT movie is not in the works from Mirage and Imagi. Why someone from Playmates would put up such an unconfirmed and misleading statement is beyond me.

UPDATE. Playmates will shortly be changing their posted statement to this:

Following the success of the TMNT theatrical release in 2007, Mirage Licensing is in negotiation with several companies about a new TMNT movie for release in 2010.

Now THAT is a rumor I can wholeheartedly confirm (although it's more likely to be early 2011). ;)

The Wall

2008-07-15T15:38:00.001-04:00

Very busy day. Here's some graffiti for you...

Feet, don't fail me now!

2008-07-14T12:21:00.003-04:00

If you're attending SDCC, be sure to check out NECA's booth for a look at this and several other upcoming TMNT figures!

TGIF

2008-07-11T13:44:00.005-04:00

Been a long strange week here at Mirage: loads of product approvals; tons of product samples (65 boxes from Playmates alone; haven't had a chance to open a single one yet); two partial days of movie sequel related meetings (no, nothing set in stone, nor anything that can be shared); and a big problem at Chinese customs (as follows).

As you may know from reading this and Peter Laird's blog, Pete agreed to sign and do a head sketch on 500 postcard-sized inserts for NECA's exclusive SDCC TMNT black and white 4-pack, said cards to be inserted into the packaging of each set. Apparently the cards are stuck at Chinese customs and unable to be inserted into the packages in time for SDCC, so NECA had to go through the process of getting another 500 cards printed and overnighted here to Mirage, where Pete obligingly took a break from playing with his new toy in order to sign and draw head sketches on them all. Now the cards are being overnighted back to NECA for insertion into the figure packs, but on US soil, not Chinese. Everything should now be all set for San Diego.

Uclick on San Diego

2008-07-11T13:42:00.000-04:00

Uclick's promo poster for next week's SDCC.

My new favorite bootleg tee

2008-07-10T12:55:00.000-04:00

Beastie boys

2008-07-10T09:27:00.001-04:00

Good for covering up scary tattoos. Available at Hot Topic.

Sakiiiiiii!

2008-07-09T18:43:00.000-04:00

Here, this will give you nightmares tonight...

Passport, please!

2008-07-08T09:19:00.008-04:00

Those of you fortunate enough to be attending this year's San Diego Comic Con should keep an eye out for the "TMNT passport" (several design spreads of which are posted here), available at the booths of TMNT licensees uclick, Ubisoft and NECA, as well as at the 4Kids Chaotic booth. Details to follow/emerge. And thus the 25th anniversary kicks off...

www.etchartist.com

2008-07-07T07:43:00.000-04:00

Happy birthday, 14th Dalai Lama!

2008-07-06T18:51:00.002-04:00

May you live for a hundred aeons and enlighten us all with your wisdom, love and understanding.

Have a safe and happy 4th (you Americans)...

2008-07-02T10:57:00.002-04:00

... and everyone please check out this astounding video. Give peace a chance, and "see you" next week.

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

Littlest Pet Shop Turtles and Rat

2008-07-02T09:35:00.003-04:00

Is this not the cutest Splinter you've ever seen? Currently for sale on eBay here.

PS - Here's some info on the illustrator of that Italian TMNT comic page I posted last week, courtesy of the publisher: "The name of the artist is Dante Bastianoni. Dante Bastianoni began in 1987 his comic career working for Publishing House Bonelli. He started drawing two episodes of 'Martin Mystèré,' afterwards he joined the staff of 'Nathan Never' til 1994 when he worked for Marvel Comics illustrating one episode of Fantastic Four Unlimited and the new title Fantastic Force. In 1997 he returned working for Publishing House Bonelli illustrating 'Nathan Never' til 2004. At the moment he worked for San Paolo Edition drawing several characters, including Mutant Ninja Turtles, Spider-Man and Gray Logan for Il Giornalino."

Heavy Metal... head!

2008-07-02T09:31:00.005-04:00

This custom Metalhead figure (made from a NECA Turtle) is currently for sale on eBay here.

All dressed up and nowhere to go

2008-07-01T14:41:00.005-04:00

My friend Jason and his business partner (and ex-Playmates sculptor) Nate have a start-up called Squid Kids Ink. Their site-in-progress features some sculpts of the TMNT here that were rejected by Mirage back in 2006 or so.

Custom cuties

2008-07-01T08:53:00.004-04:00

TMNT Adventures and Forever War artist Chris Allan sent in these custom figure pics found here.

NECA San Diego exclusives

2008-06-30T12:49:00.003-04:00

UPDATE: Okay, will do but not until they arrive here at the office. I'll keep you... posted.

What say ye? Should I get a dozen or so of the two NECA SDCC exclusive sets (the mousers, the black and white TMNTs) to put up for sale on this blog? They wouldn't be signed by Kevin Eastman (he'll be at SDCC) but maybe Pete will be kind enough to sign them while they're here at the Mirage office. Whaddaya think?

Italiano

2008-06-27T10:01:00.003-04:00

A page from an upcoming story to be published by our Italian comic book licensee.

Escapees from the box (2 of 2)

2008-06-26T08:15:00.007-04:00

The figures you've all been waiting to see... Donny Don and the Funky Bunch, AKA the "music theme" turtles, including the final version of that "P Donnie" figure posted last month. Again, my thanks to Pat and Ray of Playmates for permission to post these, as well as for explaining the motivation behind the theme: the popularity of all those music/band-theme video games (that is, the turtles are jumping on the, um, band wagon).

Escapees from the box (1 of 2)

2008-06-25T15:19:00.003-04:00

A glimpse of two "Mini Mutants in Exoskeletons" coming at you from Playmates Toys in Spring 2009. Whatcha think?

Thanks to Pat and Ray for allowing the pics! I'll post two more tomorrow.

The box

2008-06-25T10:13:00.004-04:00

Whenever reps from Playmates Toys come to Mirage for a "new season product" meeting, their visit is preceded by a large box that arrives via Fed Ex, usually the day prior.

Here's the box that arrived yesterday. Sure wish I could post its contents! ;)

Casey Jones, not-so Dark Knight

2008-06-24T13:11:00.004-04:00

This just in from Chris @ 4KP:

Attached you'll find an alternate version of Casey in his vigilante gear.

The difference being that this is how he will look if there is a spontaneous fight and he just throws his stuff on - and the black t-shirt design I sent previously will be his gear when he knows he's going into a fight or going on patrol etc.

A whole lotta redesigning there, eh? ;)

Casey Jones, Dark Knight

2008-06-24T08:04:00.005-04:00

Chris from 4Kids Productions fed me this "exclusive" armored Casey image but since I have no idea of its story context (I have not been made privy to the 2008 season scripts) all I can give is my two cents: too slick, too superhero-ish, just not in tune with the DIY slap-together-with-whatever's-at-hand elbow greaser grease monkey Casey that I'm familiar with. Of course, you all may disagree....