TMNT #25 from IDW.  ”City Fall, Part 4.”  Original IDW solicitation details below.  Available August 21, 2013.

1. Cover A (Mateus Santolouco) - regular cover
2. Cover B (Kevin Eastman) - regular cover
3. Cover RI A (Mark Buckingham) - 10 copy Retailer Incentive cover
4. Cover RI B (Kevin Eastman) - 25 copy Retailer Incentive cover; “Prototype” variant cover

Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman (w) • Mateus Santolouco, Eastman (a) • Santolouco, Eastman (c)

“CITY FALL” part 4: City Fall continues as Shredder reveals his new second-in-command: Leonardo! While the underworld readies their armies, the Turtles must come together if they have any hope of saving their brother. Don’t miss this landmark 25th issue that sees the launch of a full-scale war on New York City! The Savate, Foot Clan, and Slash are all back — along with a couple of shocking special guests!

*2 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1 ratio

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

*Variant Covers:

variant Mark Buckingham cover!

Kevin Eastman prototype variant cover!

Layouts from co-creator Kevin Eastman!

The action heats up as the Foot attack!

Hey everyone.  Although TMNT #22 hasn’t even been released yet, demand has been so overwhelming that a re-print has already been announced.  The 2nd printing of #22 will be out some time in June, limited to 2,000 copies.  Check out the cover below by Kevin Eastman.

Don’t forget, TMNT #22 1st printing will be released on May 29, 2013…the beginning of “City Fall.”

TMNT #22 – 2nd printing

I’ve been going to Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) at local comic shops every year since it began about 10 years ago.  After my weekend at Jetpack Comics in Rochester, NH for FCBD 2013, I can now confirm that…

NO ONE DOES FREE COMIC BOOK DAY LIKE JETPACK COMICS DOES FREE COMIC BOOK DAY !!!

Ralph & Kevin

Ralph and his entire crew at Jetpack Comics are the best in the world at what they do…and what they do is quite amazing.  For one day a year, Ralph turns this small NH town (with a population of 30K) into the place where everyone wants to hang out.  It’s the center of the comic book universe and that’s a well-deserved title.  You haven’t experienced FCBD until you’ve experienced how Jetpack Comics does FCBD.

I’m not sure really what else to say other than Ralph gave me the honor of spending the entire day at the signing table with Kevin Eastman and Fiona (his amazing assistant).  Kevin signed for 5 1/2 hours straight with no break.  He signed everything…a Turtles Thermos, t-shirts (while being worn), TMNT #1, Gobbledygook #1 (and this one wasn’t even mine)…he signed everything.  Most notable, though, was that I watched Kevin personally interact with each one of his fans.  EVERY.  SINGLE.  PERSON.  He talked with them, he took pictures with them, he signed their shirts, he joked with them, and he signed their stuff (and when I say signed, I mean he made a turtle head sketch with signature on nearly everything).  He made them feel special…as if every one of them was one of his friends.  He did all this without one single break in 5 1/2 hours.

As you can imagine, though, Kevin’s personal interaction with people and the time he takes with each of them results in a very long and slow-moving line.

Me & Kevin (& GGs)

However, this line and the resulting long wait for Kevin’s fans provided, perhaps, the most incredible thing I got to witness the entire weekend…Kevin’s fans didn’t care.  My station at Kevin’s table meant that I personally got to meet and chat with every single person that was in line to meet with Kevin.  As we got into the 2nd, the 3rd, the 4th, the 5th and finally the 6th hours of the line, these fans were weary (for sure) but not annoyed in the slightest.  They were excited to meet with Kevin.  They knew that they’d get the same Kevin experience in hour 6 that the fans in hour 1 got.

Highlights of the stuff I got signed

Then, after 6 hours, the line ended.  There were no more fans.  This amazing event was coming to a close.  But then…the call was made for all the FCBD volunteers to meet and spend time with Kevin.  Many of the volunteers came to meet with Kevin and get a few items signed and some pictures

taken…and then it was my turn.  I can’t find the words for this part of my experience so I’ll let the pictures I’ve posted provide you the rest of the details…a truly amazing Free Comic Book Day @ Jetpack Comics w/ Kevin Eastman, the co-creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  The first time I’ve ever met Kevin in over 25 years of TMNT collecting…it won’t be the last.

Thank you Ralph, Fiona, Kevin, Peter, Steve, and the countless others (volunteers, fans, EVERYONE) whose names are too numerous to list but whose generosity, kindness, and hospitality this weekend have forever branded this weekend as one I’ll remember forever.  A truly unforgettable experience !!

Me & Peter Laird

Me & Steve Lavigne

Greetings everyone.  I arrived in New Hampshire late Thursday night and then first thing on Friday I went to visit Ralph at Jetpack Comics.  I toured through the shop and looked around for a while…what an awesome shop !!  After a while I decided to head up to Shellback Artworks in Wells, ME to check things out and visit with Steve Lavigne.  Steve and I visited for a little while and then the shop door opened…and in walked Peter Laird !!  It was truly

Shellback Artworks sign

unbelievable.  Steve, Pete, and I talked for nearly 3 hours and Pete was kind enough to sign my copies of Gobbledygook #1 & #2 along with a few other things.   I also picked up some super-cool and rare stuff from Steve…check the pictures out and see if you recognize any of it.

Tomorrow Free Comic Book Day 2013 is finally here and I’ll be hanging with the Jetpack Comics crew and Kevin Eastman all day.  Ralph informed me that he has a special assignment for me…assisting Kevin at his table all day on Saturday !!

Jetpack Comics Storefront

Over 25 years of collecting TMNT and I’ve never met Peter or Kevin before.   Day 1 of FCBD weekend is over and I’ve now met Peter.  Day 2, I get to hang out all day with Kevin.  Somebody pinch me.

TMNT #24 from IDW.  ”City Fall, Part 3.”  Original IDW solicitation details below.  Available July 24, 2013.

1. Cover A (Mateus Santolouco) - regular cover
2. Cover B (Kevin Eastman) - regular cover
3. Cover RI (Freddie Williams III) - 10 copy Retailer Incentive cover

Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman (w) • Mateus Santolouco (a) • Santolouco, Eastman (c)

“CITY FALL” part 3: With the hunt on for Leonardo, the remaining Turtles take whatever help they can get… but can they trust a truce with Old Hob?! A startling climax will change the Turtles forever!

*2 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1 ratio

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

*Variant Covers:
Freddie Williams III variant cover!

Bullet points:
• Betrayal, battle and bloodshed! This issue has it all!

TMNT Villain Micro Series #4 Alopex from IDW.  Original IDW solicitation details below.  Available July 17, 2013.

1. Regular (Tyler Walpole) - regular cover
2. Cover RI (Ross Campbell) – 10 copy retailer incentive cover

Brian Lynch (w) • Ross Campbell (a) • Tyler Walpole (c)

Alopex, the first mutant of the Foot Clan, has quickly become one of Shredder’s most useful agents. However, when she sets out to learn more about her past, she discovers a devastating truth that could have her questioning everything she knows about the Foot Clan!

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

*Variant Covers:
Ross Campbell variant cover!

Bullet points:
• Fan favorites Lynch and Campbell tackle the fan-favorite character!

TMNT Adventures, Vol. 5 TPB from IDW.  Collects Archie TMNT Issues #17-20.  Original IDW solicitation details below.  Available July 10, 2013.

1. Regular (Steve Lavigne) - regular cover

Dean Clarrain & Ryan Brown (w)
Ken Mitchroney, Marlene Becker, Garrett Ho, Bill Wray (a)
Steve Lavigne (c)

The all-ages Turtles action continues in this collection of TMNT Adventures, from the classic Archie Comics series! Enjoy classic tales like “Fight The Power,” “Mondo Metal,” “The Man Who Sold The World,” and “Sun And Steel.”

TPB • FC • $19.99 • 124 pages • 7″ x 10.187″ • ISBN 978-1-61377-690-2

Bullet points:
• Collects issues #17–20 of the Archie Comics series.

TMNT New Animated Adventures #1 from IDW.  Original IDW solicitation details below.  Available July 17, 2013.

1. Cover Regular (Dario Brizuela) - regular cover
2. Cover RI (Ciro Nieli) - 25 copy retailer incentive cover
3. Cover Subscription (Kevin Eastman) - Subscription Variant cover available to those with a TMNT subscription at their local comic shop.  Need a comic shop?  Try Comic Shop Locator.

Kenny Byerly (w) • Dario Brizuela (a & c)

Spinning straight out of the hit Nickelodeon cartoon comes an all-new, all-ages book perfect for fans both old and new! When things take a dangerous turn on a covert mission, the Turtles will have to use their super-ninja skills as well as some moderately-Super gadgets to help save their friend from some big trouble!

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

*Variant Covers:
variant cover from executive producer of the TMNT animated show, Ciro Nieli!

Bullet points:
• Turtle-mania spreads to the printed page! The Animated TMNT first seen in the Free Comic Book Day issue!
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles TV scribe Kenny Byerly writes this fantastic first issue!

–  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –

Kenny Byerly (w) • Dario Brizuela (a) • Kevin Eastman (c)

For subscription customers only… enlist up at your local comic shop! A variant cover featuring the animated turtles by co-creator Kevin Eastman! Only for loyal subscription box customers!

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Hey everyone, I just received word that TMNT #20 will receive a 2nd printing limited to 1,000 copies with cover by Kevin Eastman.  It’s due out May 15.  I’ve updated the TMNT #20 post with all the details but I’ve included the cover here as well.

TMNT #20 2nd printing

TMNT #23 from IDW.  ”City Fall, Part 2.”  Original IDW solicitation details below.  Available June 26, 2013.

1. Cover A (Mateus Santolouco) - regular cover
2. Cover B (Kevin Eastman) - regular cover
3. Cover RI (Dave Wachter) - 10 copy Retailer Incentive cover
4. Cover RE A Jetpack (Kevin Eastman) -  Jetpack Comics Retailer Exclusive cover, Eastman roughs; limited to 1,000 copies; available only from Jetpack Comics
5. Cover RE B Jetpack (?) - Jetpack Comics Retailer Exclusive cover, black; limited to 250 copies; available only from Jetpack Comics

Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman (w) • Mateus Santolouco, Dan Duncan, Andy Kuhn, Ben Bates, Ross Campbell (a) • Santolouco, Eastman (c)

“CITY FALL” part 2: Desperate times call for desperate measures as unexpected alliances take shape. Will the Turtles be able to find the Foot Clan’s HQ in time to stop the next phase of Shredder’s heinous plan? Plus, the return of the witch Kitsune! What ancient evil will she unleash? One Turtle is about to find out!

*2 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1 ratio
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Expected in-store date: 6/26/13

Variant Covers: Dave Wachter variant cover!

The biggest TMNT story yet kicks into high gear!

All the best IDW TMNT artistic talent returns for this memorable, mind-bending issue!