TMNT (Vol. 1) #8: Remastered Edition

 

Publication date: August 2023

Art Remaster: Sean Michael Robinson

Special Thanks: Matt Dow, Margaret Liss, Benjamin Hobbs, David Birdsong, Brian West, Joshua Even

Project coordination: Dave Sim

Contents:

This is a special remastered edition of TMNT (Vol. 1) #8. This project was possible due to the nature of Dave Sim's contract with Mirage during the joint creation of TMNT #8. As that contract was upheld after the Viacom corporation's purchase of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles intellectual property in 2009, Sim retains reprint rights to this issue.

Turtle Tips:

*This publication was preceded by the three-issue Pieces of Turtles 8 miniseries and an Ashcan Preview Edition of this book.

*This comic was made available to preorder through Kickstarter in March 2023. Pieces of Turtles 8 #3 was made available and fulfilled simultaneously with this comic.

*This comic had a print run of 8,750 copies across 40 variants.

*Variant cover artists: Dave Sim, Simon Bisley, Michael Dooney, Jim Lawson, Steve Lavigne, Fero Pe, Brandon Graham, Ciro Nieli, Al Gofa, Kyle Hotz, Federico Mele, Samuel G. Wolfe, Brookes Morris, Sam Heimer, Benjamin Hobbs, Carson Grubaugh, and Sean Michael Robinson.

*Also included during the campaign were Visions of Turtles 8 (a collection of art inspired by this comic) and 75 More Sleeps (a collection of art used in the "T8" trading card series). Enamel pins, prints, postcards, and extra trading cards were also included as stretch goals and add ons.

Review:

In my review for Pieces of Turtles 8 #3, I said that the Pieces of Turtles 8 miniseries was my real reason for following the TMNT 8 Remaster campaign and gobbling the breadcrumbs that led up to it. And that was true in terms of my hunger for new Mirage content, even if it was just historical material never seen or expressed before. If it's Mirage and it's new to me, I'm all over it.

But what of the actual TMNT #8 Remaster? Well, first, let's talk about the variant covers. Oh wow, there's a lot of them! Personally, I only got the Michael Dooney and Jim Lawson/Steve Lavigne covers:

I sure do love 'em, though! And if I was made of money, I might have gotten the 38 other covers, too. They were all really cool! But I ain't made of money so I had to go with my favorite Mirage guys.

Ok, Ok. What about the remaster?

Well, it's a very good remaster! Here are some comparisons between the TMNT 8 Remaster and my original copy of TMNT #8:

As you can see, this is the kind of remaster that only seeks to preserve the existing (and intended) image quality. All the lines are there, but with crisper presentation and on paper that doesn't look like tree bark. This is the good kind of remaster. It isn't trying to "improve" the existing book or change things here and there to appease some sort of modern aesthetic sensibility. It's the TMNT #8 you remember only now you can see it better. 

Hell of a lot more preferable to whatever the fuck IDW has been doing to the Mirage comics with their Color Classics reprints. Those slackers don't even look at the covers for color references and just make shit up. I mean, hey look! It's Renet in her CLASSIC red costume! You know? The red costume she's always worn since the very beginning? And don't you just love all those digital lens flares? Really improves the art by hiding it behind blobs of white!

Yeah, this is how comic remasters and restorations should be treated. A shame Sim can't handle the preservation and curation of all the Mirage TMNT comics. Because IDW just could not give a damn. Even their Ultimate Collection hardcovers which present the issues in black and white have no quality control. Multiple issues are missing their duo tones! IDW, are you BLIND!? 

But hey, Mirage isn't guiltless, either. They've done some awful remasters of their own material. Remember Peter Laird's attempt at remastering TMNT #1 with the PBBZ Reprint?

Whole backgrounds are missing!

Anyway, the point here is that remasters can very often go very wrong, even when the creators are involved in the process. So it's more of a blessing than you might think to get a remaster this good.

And if you missed it, well, I have a feeling you'll be able to get a copy of this book on the aftermarket for a reasonable price (at least for the time being). There are over 8,000 copies; you might not be able to get the cover you want, but I'm sure you'll be able to get something. And I'd recommend it, too. It's the nicest reprint of TMNT #8 out there. If this is one of your favorite issues and you find yourself rereading it often, you can finally put your original copy in the longbox for permanent safekeeping and use this one as your new napkin.

Pieces of Turtles 8 #3

 

Publication date: August 2023

Publisher: Aardvark-Vanaheim

Curator: Dave Sim, Kevin Eastman

Contents:

Pieces of Turtles 8 is a miniseries chronicling the creation of TMNT (Vol. 1) #8. Included are photos, sketches, anecdotes and other behind-the-scenes content from the memory of Dave Sim.

This particular volume is square-bound and considerably longer than the previous issues. It was co-written by Kevin Eastman and the majority of the text is an interview with Eastman conducted by Sim. Along the way, vintage photos, sketches, thumbnails, and other production materials are included.

Turtle Tips:

*This issue was preceded by Pieces of Turtles 8 #2. It is the final installment in this miniseries.

*This issue was published after the TMNT (Vol. 1) #8 Remastered: Ashcan Preview Edition and simultaneously in fulfillment with TMNT (Vol. 1) #8: Remastered. It was made available to preorder only through Kickstarter along with the TMNT #8 remaster, in March of 2023.

*This issue does not have different Canada/Swordfish and USA printings, but a single print run of 130 copies.

Review:

Well, if you thought Pieces of Turtles 8 issues 1 and 2 were on the skimpy side, I hope you didn't skip out on this installment. It's a chunky tome (the pages aren't numbered and I ain't counting) that consists mostly of an epic-length interview between Sim and Eastman that covers much of their history together during the indie comics scene of the 1980s.

It's a very candid interview, much more in-line with the Eastman interview from The Comics Journal #202 (1998) which tells the whole ugly truth; a refreshing change of pace from the sanitized, historical revisionist versions of the TMNT history that Viacom edits for things like TMNT: The Ultimate Visual History. It's a rare treat--something Viacom doesn't allow now that they own the Ninja Turtles--and absolutely worth brewing a pot of coffee and devoting an evening to.

Or you can just look at the pictures!

Many of the pieces reprinted here I had never seen before. Personal photos (of course; I'm not a stalker), but also production art and sketches that (according to Eastman's blurb on the back of the book) have never been published anywhere ever before. Some of them are sketches shared between friends to commemorate personal moments; not intended for public consumption. Here's a fun one:

All in all, Pieces of Turtles 8 was more substantial than the actual TMNT #8 Remaster, which was supposed to be the entrée of this whole banquet. Don't get me wrong, the Remaster looks great (separate review incoming), but it's something we've all seen before. Pieces of Turtles 8 was filled with personal, private, informative content that we'd never seen or heard before. This is what I was really following Sim's series of preorder campaigns for.

As for where you can read these volumes now that those campaigns are over? Well, that might be tough. These volumes have extraordinarily small print runs, especially this one since there was only a single run of the book. While I know people have different attitudes toward pirating comics, I feel like Pieces of Turtles 8 is more about knowledge and history than consumer art and narrative. It would be a shame for all this history to be lost in a couple hundred copies of an obscure miniseries. 

Maybe split the difference? Put the interview online and leave the collector's value of the books intact? I dunno, I'm not a problem solver. But if you CAN read these books, you definitely should!

TMNT (Vol. 1) #8 Remastered: Ashcan Preview Edition

 

Publication date: November 2022 (cover date), January 2023 (delivery date)

Publisher: Aardvark-Vanaheim Press, Waverly Comics

Story and Art: Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird, Dave Sim, Gerhard

Lettering and Production Assistance: Steve Lavigne and Michael Dooney

Contents:

This ashcan edition contains a preview of the upcoming remastered edition of TMNT (Vol. 1) #8 by Dave Sim.

Turtle Tips:

*This release was preceded by Pieces of Turtles 8 #2. It will be followed by the full-fledged release of TMNT (Vol. 1) #8 Remaster.

*This comic was only available from the Waverly Comics webstore. Orders went live on November 3 for a limited time.

*This edition included 4 variant covers: Collector Cover (150 copies), Wraparound Green Foil Cover (120 copies), Wraparound Gold Foil Cover (signed and numbered by Sim, 80 copies), Wraparound Platinum Cerebus Team cover (signed and numbered by Sim, 40 copies).

*The Collector Cover included a back cover pin-up by Sim.

*This comic included 3 interior pin-ups by Sim.

*Packaged with the comic were 3 randomly sorted trading cards. A bundle of 10 blank cards was also offered as a separate purchase.

*A unique bundle containing Sim's original art for the cover was also offered, but limited to 1 (obviously).

Review:

I know I'll be kicking myself in the future for not getting one of those ultra-low print run editions with the wraparound covers; they're sure to hit "Turtlemania Silver/Gold cover" levels of rarity and value eventually. But I just didn't have the cash and I'd probably never sell the thing no matter how valuable it got, anyway (I'm sentimental like that). Ultimately, I'm happy with my Collector Cover and the cool trading cards that came with it.

Trying to stay on top of Sim's releases for this TMNT #8 remaster series has been quite a time. I missed out of the Canadian edition of Pieces of Turtles 8 #1, but managed to find out about the USA edition on Kickstarter just in time to snag one before it closed. I was Johnny-on-the-spot for Pieces of Turtles 8 #2 and managed to snag both the Canadian and USA editions. I only learned about the Ashcan because Sim put his Kickstarter backers on a mailing list; those things DO work! And now I'm waiting until March 1 so I don't miss the proper TMNT #8 Remaster preorder.

Buying comics is a lot of fuckin work these days, isn't it?

As to the Ashcan itself, these sorts of releases are generally designed to be on the thrifty side, so the presentation isn't going to knock your socks off. I could take out my original copy of TMNT #8 and compare it with this preview of the remaster, but I think I'll wait until the real thing comes out later this year before I expend that sort of effort. Looks good so far, though!

Anyway, since that link in the Turtle Tips to the Waverly Comics webstore listing likely isn't gonna last forever, here's a gallery of the 4 covers:

As for the trading cards, I have no idea how many there are in the series. You can see the 3 that I got in the photo at the start of this article. For the record, they're #87 (Cerebus and Donatello sketch), #88 (Cerebus and Donatello color), and #90 ("T8"). Is there really 90 of these things?

Pieces of Turtles 8 #2

 

Publication date: June 2022 (Canada), September 2022 (USA)

Publisher: Aardvark-Vanaheim

Curator: Dave Sim

Contents:

Pieces of Turtles 8 is a miniseries chronicling the creation of TMNT (Vol. 1) #8. Included are photos, sketches, anecdotes, and other behind-the-scenes content from the memory of Dave Sim.

Turtle Tips:

*This issue was preceded by Pieces of Turtles 8 #1. It was followed by Pieces of Turtles 8 #3. 

*(Technically it was followed by TMNT #8 Remastered: Ashcan Preview Edition since that was released next in sequence.)

*This series acts as a lead in to Sim's publication of TMNT (Vol. 1) #8 Remaster.

*The Swordfish/Canada edition of this issue has a print run of 227 copies. The USA edition was made available to preorder on Kickstarter, but as part of the Cerebus No 4 6-7/78 campaign as an optional tier, and not as its own campaign. Print run on the USA edition was 122 copies.

Review:

Another fascinating dip into the memory pool regarding Dave Sim and his collaborations with Mirage. Of all the anecdotes, I was moved most by Sim's memory of a brief encounter with the late Julie Strain, Kevin Eastman's wife at one time.

And for collector's reference, here is the back of the Canadian/Swordfish version:

And the United States version:

I didn't get a sketch on mine, but now I really wish I'd sprung for that tier...

Pieces of Turtles 8 #1

 

Publication date: January 2022 (Canada), April 2022 (USA)

Publisher: Aardvark-Vanaheim

Curator: Dave Sim

Content:

Pieces of Turtles 8 is a 16-page "fanzine" collecting behind-the-scenes material related to TMNT (Vol. 1) #8. Included are photographs, sketches, anecdotes, artist's proofs, and many works never-before-published in any capacity from Dave Sim's personal archives.

Turtle Tips:

*This issue was followed by Pieces of Turtles 8 #2. 

*This miniseries acts as a lead in to the publication of Sim's TMNT (Vol. 1) #8 Remaster.

*There are two editions of this issue: A Swordfish/Canadian edition and a USA edition (which was crowdfunded on Kickstarter). The Swordfish edition had a total print run of 125 copies and the USA edition had a run of 325 copies. They are identical save for the info on the back cover.

Review:

I was fortunate enough to snag one of the USA editions moments before the Kickstarter closed. Dave Sim ran a perfect crowdfunding campaign; book delivered right on time and with lots of updates along the way. For reference, here are the back covers so you can tell the different editions apart:

(Swordfish edition photo courtesy of Rich's TMNT catalogue; I only have the USA edition.)

The unearthed gems inside are fascinating if you're a TMNT historian interested in those early Mirage days. I'll be picking up any future installments and the TMNT #8 remaster!