TMNT Comics Go Digital With New App From IDW & comiXology

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Yesterday, IDW launched a feature that has been often requested ever since they acquired the TMNT license last year: Digital downloads of TMNT comics!

Read the full announcement on idwpublishing.com.

The TMNT comics downloads are available via comiXology through a choice of apps. On Android devices, including Amazon Kindle, the TMNT comics can be found using the comiXology app or the IDW-specific app. On iOS devices, in addition to being found on the comiXology and IDW-specific apps, there is also a TMNT Comics app.

Screen shot from inside the TMNT Comics iPad app.

Individual issues cost $1.99 and collected editions of four books cost $7.99. So far all of the issues that have been released as monthly books are available: The ongoing TMNT series, the Micro-Series books, the two INFESTATION 2: TMNT books, and TMNT Color Classics.

There are currently three issues available for free download: IDW TMNT #1, Micro-Series #3: Donatello, and INFESTATION 2: TMNT #1. Using the app requires having a comiXology account. All of your purchases are kept track of both by iTunes (for iOS) and by comiXology, so you can restore your purchases anytime you might need to. The first time you read an issue it downloads to your device, where it is then stored for future reading.

However, it should be noted that according to the comiXology Terms of Service, you are simply purchasing a license to read the comic. They are not claiming to be selling you actual digital copies of the comics, making it illegal to backup your purchases. Technicalities such as this makes it extremely difficult for me to convince myself to invest in comics that I could potentially lose access to at some point in the future. Especially in the case of TMNT comics where I've already purchased one or more copies of the physical books.

That said, the reading experience is quite pleasant, and this is an especially convenient way to keep up on the new issues. Especially if you have trouble getting them from a comic shop each month, or you don't have a local comic shop.

Ernie Reyes Jr. and Jim Lawson Team Up For New Martial Arts Comic Book

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Two names that should be quite famous to TMNT fans are teaming up to create a brand new martial arts comic book titled Sonny Dragon and the Wuxia Knights! Ernie Reyes Jr., creator and co-writer of Wuxia Knights, was Donatello's stunt double in the first TMNT movie, and Keno the pizza delivery boy in The Secret of the Ooze. Jim Lawson, artist on Wuxia Knights, has drawn more TMNT comic books than anyone else in the world. Rounding off the creative team are co-writer Samuel R. Barrera, Steve Oliff on colors, and Tom Orzechowski on letters.

Ernie has just launched a Kickstarter campaign to support the Wuxia Knights comic book effort!

Check out a video below to get a sneak preview of Wuxia Knights. And I highly recommend that you support the book on the Kickstarter page! A selection of awesome awards are available at many different support levels! Let's all spread the word and help the team reach its goal!




From the Kickstarter page:

Sonny Dragon and The Wuxia Knights is an ALL-AGES comic, which tells the story of Detective Sonny Dragon joining an elite team of martial arts superheroes known as the Wuxia Knights, after he traces the death of his master to a mystical martial arts kingdom hidden in the streets of San Francisco known as the Wuxiaverse. 

I have assembled an oustanding team for this new project. The comicbook script for Sonny Dragon and The Wuxia Knights VOL.1 is written by myself and Samuel R. Barrera. The artwork is done by Jim Lawson, who is known for his work on the "Teenage Mutatnt Ninja Turtles" comics. Colorist Steve Oliff is an Eisner award winning colorist best known for his work on the Japanese manga "AKIRA." Letterer Tom Orzechowski is a Harvey award winner known his work on "Uncanny X-Men." 

The ALL-AGES comic featuring Sonny Dragon and The Wuxia Knights is created to be a launchpad for licensing across multiple platforms: cartoons, toys, games, and apparel. 

Funding for this project will help with printing costs, budget for hiring a full service marketing company, and the production of Vol.2. If the goal is not reached before the end of the 30 days, then you will not be charged anything. You only pay if the project reaches its goal before the deadline! 

My goal is to distribute 25,000 copies of Vol. #1 in 12 months of distribution via digital downloads and conventional print publishing. My plan is to launch martial arts superheroes Sonny Dragon and The Wuxia Knights on July 11th, 2012 at Comic-Con International in San Diego, CA. 

My mission is to introduce to the world a universe of new martial arts superheroes that inspires health, happiness, and well being while promoting the core values of martial arts: Honor, Loyalty, Family, Bravery. 

Thank you for your support! 

- Ernie Reyes Jr.

IDW TMNT Comic Book Cover Art Contest

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Calling all artists! Albuquerque, NM, comic shop Astro-Zombies is holding an art contest to design a cover for an upcoming issue of IDW's ongoing TMNT series. What an amazing opportunity!

All entries must feature the outside of the Astro-Zombies store with their "COMICS" sign as well as either the store name as it is seen on the store front, or the the oval logo and scene from the corner of the front of the store.

The contest runs through the end of June, at which time the store owners will pick a winner. The winning piece of art will be used for an Astro-Zombies retailer exclusive cover for an issue that is still to be determined.

All entries become the property of MPSL, Inc. The winning art is subject to approval by Nickelodeon, who may require minor changes be made. Entries are due by June 30, 2012.

Head over to the Astro-Zombies website to enter! And good luck!

IDW TMNT #10 - Variant Cover Guide

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Happy new comic book day! Because of the Memorial Day holiday this week, you may want to check with your local shop before making the drive, as some of them may be receiving their books a day late.

Check out the preview!

Cover A

Cover B

Cover A: Dan Duncan.
Regular cover; distributed in a 4:1 ratio with cover B.

Cover B: Kevin Eastman.
Regular cover; distributed in a 1:4 ratio with cover A.

Cover C

Cover C: Tyler Walpole.
Retailer incentive cover; 1 copy sent to retailers for every 10 copies ordered.

TMNT Panel Report from MCM Expo London

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From @TinaMcCannMD on Twitter.

Attendees of MCM Expo London this past weekend were treated to a series of TMNT exclusives and reveals for the upcoming CGI animated cartoon series from Nickelodeon. There are several in-depth reports of the event available online, including Toonzone, What the Shell! Podcast, and some members of The Technodrome.

The panel was hosted by Nick Roche, Rich Magallanes, and Kevin Eastman. Unfortunately, photography and video were not allowed inside. A lot of the information covered at the panel seems to have been stuff we already knew. Here are some bullet points of new and old information:

• The visual style of the series is meant to be a sort of mash-up of CGI and anime.
• A short preview was shown of the Turtles using Mikey as bait for a "killer robot." Mikey ends up running back toward the other three Turtles as he's being followed by head-seeking missiles. Mikey ends up dangling from a beam across from a pizza parlor.
• The Kraang are only able to talk through their robot bodies, and their agenda is to colonize Earth.
• Leatherhead, Baxter Stockman, and Karai will all appear in the series.
• The panel seemed to avoid answering the question if Casey Jones will appear in the series, but we know from previous Mutation in Progress events that they are planning to bring him in for season 2 (but watch the backgrounds for graffiti tags from Casey during season 1).
• Bebop and Rocksteady will not appear in this series.
• In place of "Cowabunga!", Mikey's new catch phrase will be "Booyakasha!" (Ok...)
• While the toys will hit the States in August this year, they won't be out in the UK until January 2013. The show itself should start around October in the UK this year, which should only slightly delayed from its start here in the US.

A trailer for the series was also premiered. Here is how Toonzone.net described it:

Things start with the brothers darting across rooftops of NYC at night before settling in an alley. Mikey is goofing off playing kick the can, which causes his three brothers to angrily shush him in a Teen Titans-reminiscent sight gag. A group of Foot soldiers emerge from the shadows, and Leo's cocky quip is met by several more. The Turtles still emerge triumphant and their demand for a better challenge is met with the sinister mocking laughter of the Shredder. Focus then switched to an encounter with a Kraang, visibly freaking the brothers out before Mikey starts beating it unconscious in another comedy sight gag. Waving his trophy around, he berates the other three for not believing him such a creature existed before it wakes up and latches onto his face, leading Raph to quip, “How can you be proven right and still look stupid?”

And finally, Playmates had some of the new toys on display, including this lineup of Leonardo action figures through the years.

TMNT Season 10 DVD to Include Missing Episodes!

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Yesterday, via TVShowsOnDVD.com, the box art for the TMNT Season 10 DVD was revealed, along with some very exciting news about the two "missing" episodes, "Once Upon a Time Machine" and "Planet of the Turtleoids."

Dear Valued Customer, 

Thank you for your patience. We have confirmed that the bonus episodes, Once Upon A Time Machine and Planet of the Turtleoids will be included in the Season 10 release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. 

Should you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.  

Thank you,
LionsGate Shop Customer Service

This is very exciting news, indeed! Now, if only we could get them to throw the Turtle Tips PSAs on there as well...

Hero Comics 2012

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In comic shops today is a special anthology title from IDW, Hero Comics 2012. The comic is a benefit book for the Hero Initiative, a non-profit organization that helps comic book creators in medical or financial need.

The exciting thing about this comic is that it features a brand new 4-page TMNT story from Kevin Eastman!

You can check out a preview of the book here.

Kevin actually sold the original art for this story on eBay a short while ago, which gave us a look at the full story. You can check out a look at those pages below.

I highly recommend everyone pick up this book to support the Hero Initiative!