This post is regarding the excellent blog written by Steve Murphy that gives fans an inside view of the inner workings of Mirage and the TMNT franchise. I feel that the information that Murph has given the fans has not violated or hurt any business. In fact, it has kept my interest in TMNT. I feel that the Imagi TMNT movie for 2007 had many shortcomings for Mirage fans, the cancellation of Fast Forwards was premature, the lack of new characters from Playmates was disappointing, and that with Volume IV being on hiatus was making TMNT rather lackluster for 2007 and 2008.
I was able deal with the movie being geared at children despite how dark the first movie was. When 4Kids started change around the cartoon show and have no idea for where the 2008-2009 season was going, I was shocked. I felt a whole season of already season episodes from The Lost Season and Fast Forward was an insult to the fans and detrimental to the franchise. Playmates has cancelled several characters that the fandom has drooled for ranging from Jagwar to the Johnny the Purple Dragon and countless Fast Forward figures that would have easily sold this season.
The franchise has been dropping the ball several times. For example, characters from the Lost Season would have made a great addition to any collector’s shelves as well as the toy box of any kid. 4Kids proposed various attempts for a 2008 TV series that fortunately were shot down. And we have no official confirmation from Imagi/Warner Brothers to expect another TMNT movie in the near future.
Murphy has taken a bold movement to let the fans know about the processes Mirage goes from. Whether it is putting together a comic book, allowing for camouflaged TMNT shirts, or making a deal with Neca to produce highly anticipated Mirage Volume 1 styled figures. While Mirage and other companies kept this quiet, Murphy gave us teases and some information that excited us. Had it not been for his information about the Neca figures, I never would have known to order them. NinjaTurtles.com doesn’t update the news as instantly and informative as Murphy’s blog.
I feel saddened by this choice to limit the exposure of the franchise. I respected Peter Laird’s opinions in the editorials of Volume IV and expected for Mirage to stand with Murphy on this issue. I know Mirage needs to make a prophet but I always thought Mirage cared about the fans and that is why Mirage comics have always been better than Marvel and DC to me. I always loved how little advertising was used inside the issues save for the back page instead of all the ads in the other comic books.
Murphy’s blogs and writings have inspired me to continue reading Mirage comics and watching a cartoon made by 4Kids for kids not the adults that read and reply to blogs. To see his work and blog be so quickly stifled because of possible marketing issues saddens me. His information about the Alien Hunters wave of figures made me look for those figures. Once I found out from his blog that half the aliens were not going to be made, I did not have go hunting to find what was never produced. Also thanks to the blog, I knew about Dooney's contribution to creating Thrashmor made me want a figure that I normally would have assumed to be a knock off of a Power Ranger’s monster.
I know I cannot convince the companies to change their view of Murph’s blog but I aim to inform them of the outreach and gravity of his work and news on that blog. He kept the fans of the franchise that companies capitalize on informed instead of being in the dark. He helped keep us motivated to by knowing that someone from the inside cared about the outside. By doing this, it made Mirage look better.
Every day around noon, I would check out his blog and eagerly await news of what is going on and drool over new images of things soon to come or not to come. Now, I go there and see a ghost of what was once an exciting wealth of information. Instead of knowing the issues with creating the 2008 season of TMNT, I will watch and possibly wonder, “What were they thinking?” instead of knowing that information.
It was nice of Steve Murphy to have given Mirage and the TMNT franchise the time and dedication to write that blog, for free, on his own. His post and comment times range from any possible of hour. Easily he could have been using his own free time to be working on his own projects such as more “Umbra” style works, but instead he gave Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles that dedication and time.
I hope that you take the time to consider how valuable Steve Murphy’s voice is to the fandom while the rest of the franchise is rather silent and keeps us to the dark. Murphy’s blog gave the best advertising possible to fans like myself who don’t watch TV enough to notice a commercial for the new 2008 series. With the pictures and information that he has given me, I already plan on buying a couple of the new Foot Soldiers from the 2008 cartoon line despite the fact that I have yet to see them in an episode. I also have already ordered my Neca TMNT figures knowing that there will be more than just the four turtles produced based on the fact there is an April that was being sculpted.
Thank you for your time and consideration. Please forward my letter to those who you wish to.
Sincerely,
Scott Barnes
Age: 23
Scott Barnes
Age: 23
