Welcome to the first edition of a new monthly column here at Multiversity Comics, which we like to call Technodrome Transmissions!* It’ll be the place to be to talk IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Our hope and my own personal hope is to make this column THE destination for fans of the IDW comic series.
So how are we going to make that happen? Well, how about a Q&A with the creators of the book that allows you, the reader, to submit questions? Yeah, we’ve got that. How about reviews of the books? Yeah, we’ve got that coming too. We’ve got these features and so much more coming down the sewer tunnel!
So let’s not waste any time and get right to the interview. That’s what you’re here for anyway right?! Right!
Hey guys welcome to the first edition of Technodrome Transmissions! Thanks for joining us and answering some questions. Let’s not waste any time and get down to business! With this being the first edition of Technodrome Transmissions l figured we’d just let our readers get to know you a bit. Let’s start with intros if you guys wouldn’t mind. Can you tell us a little about yourselves and what your first TMNT exposure/experience was?
BOBBY CURNOW: Hi, I’m Bobby Curnow, I’m the editor of IDW’s TMNT comics. I’m 31, so I was right smack in the middle of Turtle mania when it first broke. I would imagine the cartoon was my first experience, though maybe the toys. Anyway, I was a big fan. As I became a pre-teen I started to get into the Mirage comics, so I have a lot of formative memories of them, probably more so than the cartoon.
TOM WALTZ: I’m Tom Waltz. I like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain. Actually, I don’t, but I am showing my age quoting those lyrics (heck, I remember when that song was getting radio play like crazy). I’m 42 (going on 19) and am IDW’s Senior Staff Writer and Editor… and am the writer for our TMNT ongoing comic. My first exposure was when I was a young U.S. Marine stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C. in the late ‘80s. A buddy of mine had a role-playing game catalog and I was browsing through it when I came across an ad for the TMNT role-playing game. I remember thinking, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?! Who in the world would be into something like that?” Turns out lots of people in the world, and after my buddy ensured me the TMNT were actually cool, I became a huge fan — more so later in life when my own kids got into first the cartoons and I was able to share the experience with them.
Tom, were you a fan of the TMNT prior to landing this gig? How excited were you to be writing the turtles in a half shell?
TW: Yep, as I mention above, I was bleeding green before I was writing green. And writing TMNT has been the BEST creative experience in my career! Not only because I love the property and the characters so much, but also because I’ve been teamed up with such fantastic creative partners at IDW and Nickelodeon — not to mention working with my brother-from-another-mother, the amazing Kevin Eastman! So, yeah… a wee bit excited.
Bobby, how about you? How exciting is working with the turtles property from a more behind-the-scenes angle?
BC: The nostalgia is big. The kid in me can’t get over that I get to play with these toys again. It’s just plain fun. But what really excites me, as an adult, is how wonderful and big the Turtles world is. The characters are so rich, there’s so many great ideas. The storytelling potential is so huge. When you find yourself thinking about your work in your off-hours, for fun… that’s when you know things are good!
Sometimes you hear horror stories about working with licensed properties. With TMNT being owned by Nickelodeon how has your experience been?
BC: It’s very good. Like any licensor, relationship there’s a learning curve at the beginning as you learn what they are looking for, and what is possible. But I feel very comfortable with our partners at Nickelodeon, and consider them friends now. We still have minor disagreements on occaison, but at the same time they’ve really helped us out of a couple pickles. Overall, they are are extremely supportive, creative, and helpful.
Continued belowTW: I’ve immensely enjoyed working with the good folks at Nickelodeon, to be absolutely honest. They bring awesome ideas to the table and have proven time and time again to be flexible and open to our own ideas for this new iteration of TMNT — and anyone who has been reading along since the beginning knows some of our ideas have gone well against the grain of what has come before in previous iterations. Ultimately, Nickelodeon has a very expensive brand to protect, which we all totally understand, but I’m happy to say that hasn’t made them overly cautious or adverse to taking risks, which makes this a fun and satisfying creative experience.
In the same vein, what is it like to work with Kevin Eastman, one half of the turtle’s creators? How hands-on is he, or does he generally give you free reign with a little guidance?
BC: Kevin is one of the greatest guys I’ve ever met. And when one of your childhood heroes turns out to be a genuine, fun and funny guy? It’s just plain awesome. In terms of how involved he is, I’d say he’s in a nice middle ground of being involved and giving free-reign. He reads every script, and is constantly doing covers and other artwork. He’s brought four-star ideas to the table, but at the same time has never been dismissive. He’s extremely giving of his time (maybe too much so!) and supportive. In short, I’m Kevin’s #1 fan. Well, some people may challenge me there, so I’ll settle for Treasurer of the Kevin fan club.
TW: That Kevin guy? I tell ya, he’s one-of-a-kind in all the ways being one-of-a-kind kicks butt! Love that he’s a part of this and feel absolutely honored to be working with him.
So far it seems like they’ve allowed you guys to utilize some of the best parts of all the iterations of the turtles. Is there anything that you’ve been told you couldn’t do?
TW: There are always guidelines with a licensed property, but Nickelodeon has proven, as mentioned above, to be open to ideas, no matter how crazy, and then we prune them down, bit by bit, until we get rid of the stuff that’s a definite no-go. And, for the story I want to tell, the pruning has been minimal, fortunately.
Any characters from previous TMNT iterations that haven’t popped up in your series that you guys would like to introduce?
TW: Vanilla Ice.
That has got to happen. Such an unexpected but awesome choice!
Now, just to give people a little something can you give us a tease of what fans can expect from the next issue? Just a little something to get even more excited about this series!
TW: Special guest stars appear — including one from the 4Kids TMNT ‘verse! And, a showdown between mutants not to be missed! Sadly, no Vanilla Ice, however, but I did hum “Go Ninja!” over and over again as I typed the script.
All right, I think we got to know you gents a little better! Next month we’ll dive into the actual series and talk story details. Maybe even open it up for some fan questions if you guys are game. Thanks for sharing your time with us and we’ll touch base with you next month!
TW: Thank YOU! TMNT is all about the fans! We love and truly appreciate the kick-butt support we’re getting and we hope you are having as much fun as we are!
Well as a fan speaking for other fans I think I can say we are truly enjoying the hell out of this series! Please keep up the great work and we’ll talk to you next month!
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Well that’s the interview for the month as well as the column. We’ll see you guys next month for more Q&A and maybe even a little talk about the books. If you want, hit the comments section below to suggest questions or send them directly to me here! Also, if there is anything you’d like to see in the column, feel free to drop me a line!
*(Credit for the awesome title goes to Matt. He’s one shell of a guy.)
