Just Sayin' with Shawn - Ninja Turtles Theorizing

The upcoming Ninja Turtles film, directed by Johnathan Liebesman (Battle: Los Angeles, Darkness Falls) has been on the receiving end of a sh**storm of controversy since the moment the project was given the go-ahead.

Why?

First off, it was quickly announced that Michael Bay would be producing this blockbuster.  That's right, Bay, producer of endless hipster punchlines with his critically-reviled but occasionally enjoyable films, including: Transformers 1-3, Friday the 13th, Armageddon and The Purge.

Second, shortly after Bay came out as producer fans got wind of the news bite that, in this film, the turtles would be aliens and to say this irked some fans would be an understatement. Bay came out against the rumors a little later with this cavalier comment.

“Fans need to take a breath, and chill. They have not read the script. Our team is working closely with one of the original creators of [Teenage Mutant] Ninja Turtles to help expand and give a more complex back story. Relax, we are including everything that made you become fans in the first place. We are just building a richer world.”

Respect.

Part of me liked the idea of them being aliens. The turtles need an endgame other than defeating the baddie of the day and going back to the sewer. They are four good dudes with a loving rat for a father - its enough to let us believe they can become insanely skilled ninja warriors despite all the pizza they eat...but for them to remain amongst themselves practicing zen martial arts forever? Any good story deserves to have an endgame and, for the turtles, their needs to be an ultimate goal other than just saving the day.  Their has to be a desire to grow up and see the world free of the sewers like coming-of-age ninja turtles...one that was hinted at wonderfully well in the first film but is the juice of endless possibilities left to explore in this one. This isn't the late 80's early 90's anymore and this is a Bay production - maybe its time to expect some big changes.  Maybe some Drugs, Sex and Rock n' Roll?


Well they tried the rock thing in the early 90's. It was horrifying.  As for drugs, c'mon, the turtles are too way cool for drugs as this PSA corroborates - although, personally, a little pothead subplot sounds like just about the most natural direction one could take with a party dude like Michelangelo but this is a big-budget movie so bad idea for now - but the subject of sexuality is a hard conversation to have when your three brothers are the only other members of your species. But then again...

Nothing odd at all about Raph's expression here...

In just about every incarnation of this story I have read or watched...and believe me as a child of the nineties and card-carrying comic book nerd I have seen just about all of them...it has been established that all four turtles are attracted to human females. I am not even going to try to get into their history within the comic book canon because there is just too much to talk about, including; Michelangelo settling down with a human girlfriend to write comics about his brothers adventures, Leonardo's cute  relationship with Karai, multiple female turtles and the many alien conquests of Raphael. They also have been known to throw back a few so who knows who else visited the sewers off-panel.


Now you might think, oh well that's just in the comics, they would never put that in any of the mainstream material. Well, first of all, shut up because the comics are where these turtles are truly from and what they're all about and second of all WRONG! In the original movie - one of my all-time favorites - they each have a crush on April (particularly Raphael) but are cool with it when Casey gets with her at the end of the movie. Committing second-degree murder to finish off the shredder earned him some points.  There's material for the argument in each sequel but lets jump to the present - in the current cartoon one of the popular kids series long-running jokes is that Donatello has a thing for April. The fan videos are just insane...what are we doing to kids these days?

Anyways, the big point is that I believe that the reason for all this alien conversation was merely an effort on the part of the producers to flesh out their world and create more of an endgame. Whether its a love interest or what have you...these turtles need to have lives outside of kicking ass and eating pizza or they're just going to get old before they're no longer teenage. They live in New York City for cripes sake - home of the melting pot and every type of strange that ever existed - there are many creative opportunities to play with there and if they were aliens than there would be a socially acceptable way for them each to get laid.

 But that's not what I think is going to happen here...especially based on the trailer which reveals that the Turtles were an attempt to "create heroes" by the Shredder and April's Dad (don't have high hopes for that bit)...however, through the magic of CGI the turtles now look more human than ever before and their wardrobe seems to imply some anatomical adjustments to their physique as well, as in, what do you think is behind the loin cloths hmm?
 

Add to this the fact that two unrequited conquests human female characters in April O'Neil and Karai are both going to figure big in this movie and that there is also going to be no Casey Jones for April to end up with this time around and...well, did I mention Megan Fox is playing April this time around? Now the trailer and some earlier reports (since taken down) lead me to believe that Raphael is going to be on a mission to save his brothers and Splinter once they are kidnapped by the Foot Clan. His only ally left will be April...so the two will be spending a large part of the film together. Oh, and did I mention Alan Ritchson is playing Raphael? You know...this guy.

Juuust sayin' ...

A Legacy of Heroes

In the small town of Manchester, Connecticut there stands a comic book store with a legacy that cannot be described in any other way than heroic.

A Hero’s Legacy is the second incarnation of Buried Under Comics, which for almost three decades provided an oasis to Connecticut comic book fans at 188 West Middle Turnpike. The store was renamed after reopening in honor of its late owner, Brian Kozicki, who gave life to the spirit of the store with his passion for people and comic books.  As current owner, April Kenney explains:

“Brian was a really dear friend of mine and with my involvement over the past seven years that it was Buried Under… a lot of the customers became kind of family to me as well. I really was touched by the kind of tight-knit community that everybody was and it was losing my best friend and trying to keep that community together which made me decide to try to reopen. In memory of him.”

Kozicki began working at the store in the late 80’s before he bought the store outright from original owner, Chuck Bruder.  He was known for being the type of business owner that cared more about creating relationships and building bonds of friendship rather than just making sales.  Under his management, Buried Under Comics became a store where customers could always find what they were looking for - whether it was comics, busts or toys - because if they didn’t have it already, Kozicki would get it for them. Under his management, Buried Under Comics won the Hartford Advocate’s coveted “Best Comic Book Store in Connecticut” award two years in a row before his passing in August 2012.

Personally, I would not be as big a comic book fan – nor a fan of reading or writing in general – if it were not for the nurturing environment that was (and, in spirit, remains) Buried Under Comics. A late-bloomer when it came to reading, comics were my gateway drug and the thing that kept me coming back to the store over the years was the positive energy and enthusiasm of its staff and customers. Two of the most prized comics in my personal collection were suggested by Kozicki during my fateful trip to Buried Under Comics - and remain among my favorite stories ever, including: Ultimates #1 (volume 2) and Identity Crisis #1.  On that same trip he also encouraged me to buy NYX#3 - which marked the first appearance of X-23 and shot up to $50 on Ebay within a week – but I said no and learned a valuable lesson about listening to shop owners.

Built on his infectious enthusiasm, the store cultivated a strong and tight-knit community that ended up continuing his legacy.  Just two months after Kozicki’s passing, his co-workers Kenney and Scott Prentice reopened its doors under its new name: A Hero’s Legacy.

According to Prentice and Kenney, the experience has been challenging but rewarding for both of them.

PRENTICE: I started part-time at Buried Under in 1998 and went full-time in 2003 until the end and [re-opening] was one of those things where you just have to work at the goal. There were a few days where everything was up-in-the-air because we didn’t know what the previous owners family might want to do with the stuff but once we found they had no interest we knew it was just a matter of time. The whole two months where there wasn’t any comic book store here we were just behind the scenes getting everything ready.  There was no down time for us. It was really just refocusing the mission on getting the store back up-and-running.

KENNEY: It has been a rewarding experience. It’s a little different being on this side of the register versus when I used to come in and hear the stories from the opposite side. Occasionally I like to walk around the counter and breathe in the olden days and just see everybody interact without having to work behind the scenes.

In addition to the new name, since re-opening Kenney and Prentice have made some changes to the stores layout.  They now sell branded t-shirts and have an active social media presence.  

PRENTICE: Before we opened we went around to different comic book stores and we kind of saw what worked and what didn’t work in different venues and stole a few ideas for ourselves. It’s kind of a weird flip… Buried Under was way more organized behind the scenes and it looked like a mess up front and we’ve kind of flipped that dynamic…so now it’s super-organized up here and I have no idea where anything is in the back.

KENNEY: We made the store more shopper-friendly. The way the layout was, at times, people were walking over one another or they felt like they were bumping into someone. We tried to gear everything to where customers are easily able to find things and not have to worry about inconveniencing someone. It helps that we’re in the exact same location. Sometimes people come in here and say “are you going out of business” because they’re not used to things being so organized. And we laugh and say “no we’re not going out of business and we can help you find whatever you’re looking for…”

Despite the changes, current owner Kenney maintains that the core values of made Buried Under Comics successful are and will remain ingrained in the stores blueprint.  Her co-workers, like recent Uconn Graduate Cliff Saccoccio, agree that is an essential part of the recipe - or as Kenney puts it:

“We’re not as buried under as we used to be but this store will always be buried under comics. The staff here loves comics. They love each other. It doesn’t matter if you’re a DC or Marvel fan they don’t discriminate. Its really neat seeing them all try to encourage to try something new.”

Personally, I find that the changes have been subtle yet effective while the great energy and welcoming atmosphere that made Buried Under Comics what it was is alive and well. This view is one shared by long-time customers, Brendan Nicholas and Siobhan Covill, who were relieved when the store reopened after having explored the alternatives.

NICHOLAS: Overall the redesign is very nice. I’d say it’s a bit more organized but the feel is the same. When this place was shut down for a few months after Buried Under closed, we tried a few other stores in the area and none of them have the selection or the feel of this place. Their focus isn’t on comics, this is the only comic book store in the area where to the focus is comics.

COVILL: I’ve been coming here since I was about thirteen, back when it was Buried Under Comics. I like that it’s not a chain. I have a rapport with the people here. I’ve known Scott and April since I’ve been coming here. I have a friendship with them. They’re family to me. Being a female comic reader, especially, it’s always been a welcoming environment. There’s never anybody looking down on you.

With strong management at its helm and as its foundation, it appears that the legacy of Buried Under Comics is in good hands.  In further, while I am certain that somewhere up there Kozicki is proud of what his friends have accomplished in his name, I think he would agree he is no longer the only hero in this store’s legacy. 

As for the future, there is no telling what could be in store for A Hero’s Legacy down the road…other than remaining a great place to talk shop and have a great time picking up comics.

KENNEY: Ultimately, I think our goal is to expand our customer base so largely that I am forced to open a larger store but we really want to keep the same feeling where everybody feels like they’re at home and can hang out here and there is no judgments in what you like and what you’re into.

PRENTICE: I don’t think our portion of the industry is going to change any unless something drastic happens to one of the publishers or something. It’s just a matter of keeping up with what we’re doing - keep building our customer-based clientele. Its our job to sell whatever the people our offering and there has never been more variety in the publishing than there is now.  I think we’re in a new golden age of comic books…of course you never really know when you’re in the golden age so quote me on that one and talk to me in five years.

Well five years seems to pretty much mean "the future" in comics these days so I just might do that.

The Simpsons/Family Guy Crossover Got Made – But Can Their Fans Get Along for an Hour-Long Special?

After years of public squabbling among the creative teams, in-episode jabs and incalculable frat house arguments about which show is better – Fox has confirmed that The Simpsons and Family Guy will appear in an hour-long crossover this September.

According to Mashable, during the networks annual upfront presentation in New York City earlier this week, Fox’s Chairman of Entertainment Kevin Reilly confirmed the crossover and showcased a preview of the episode that featured both Homer and Peter getting into a good ol’ fashioned fist fight on Evergreen Terrace.

"Generations of fans will be talking about this one," Reilly said in New York City.

Aside from the fight - which we can only pray will approach the levels of sheer gratuitousness reached in Peter’s bouts with the Chicken that gave him a bad coupon - according to the synopsis, the episode will focus primarily on the two families making friends and playing nice.

Peter (Seth MacFarlane) and the Griffins get out of dodge and end up in Springfield, where they are greeted by a friendly stranger named Homer Simpson (guest voice Dan Castellaneta), who welcomes his new “albino” friends with open arms. The families get along famously: Stewie (MacFarlane) becomes obsessed with Bart (guest voice Nancy Cartwright) and his old-fashioned pranks; Lisa (guest voice Yeardley Smith) takes Meg (Mila Kunis) under her wing and is determined to find something – anything – at which she excels; Marge (guest voice Julie Kavner) and Lois (Alex Borstein) ditch housework for a little bonding; and Peter and Homer fight over the best beer in town – Pawtucket vs Duff.

Guess that leaves Brian to get a drink at Moe’s and get run over again by Mr. Burns.

My love for both programs aside, the sort of bonding session implied in this synopsis makes me think this special will either come across like an extremely tame episode of Family Guy or an extremely recent episode of The Simpsons that focuses heavily on its guest stars.  But with that said, I am sure that this will be a huge ratings win for the network and will feel a lot more special than your average season premiere.

All the material for a classic is certainly there and both programs have amazing track records when it comes to doing specials, as evidenced by everything from Family Guy’s Star Wars specials to The Simpson’s recent (and excellent) Lego episode. We will likely also get some good cutaways jokes too…

As you might expect, considering the differences of taste and form that exist between the two programs and their hardcore fan bases, so far reactions have ranged from the extremely excited to the apathetically uncertain.

Gerrick D. Kennedy        ✔ @GerrickKennedy

OMG. OMG. OMG. OMG. OMG. OMG. Totalfanboy meltdown tbh. “@eonline:Fox Teases Simpsons-Family Guy Crossover Episode http://eonli.ne/1iQWcvk ”

Tim Doble @BetterThanToday

So excited for the Simpsons/FamilyGuy crossover.

Chris Cubas @ChrisCubas

This Simpsons/Family Guy crossoveris like if Arrested Development did a crossover with Two And A Half Men.

Here’s looking forward to a summer filled with good conversation about the crossover that brings out interesting opinions from passionate fans of both programs. If there is a little negativity in the mix, well then I guess all these years of making jokes at one another's expense has finally caught up with the creative teams of both The Simpsons and Family Guy.

 

 

Marc ✌ @Marc_MuFc1

In no way shape or form is TheSimpsons anywhere near as good as Family Guy,

Phil @space_m0nkey_

People who say Family Guy is betterthan The Simpsons are the kind of people you don't need in your life.

Derek Ryan @longhornderek

You know it's time to cancel both shows when... MT @eonline: Fox TeasesSimpsons-Family Guy Crossover Episode http://eonli.ne/1iQWcvk

Along with the crossover special, Fox also showed off a new Simpsons app made with FX Networks that will allow fans to stream all 552 episodes of the show on their smartphones or tablets. The new app will be available in August, coinciding with The Simpsons' syndicated debut on FXX, FX's new comedy-centric spin-off network. To celebrate, the network will air all episodes consecutively in a 12-day marathon starting on August 21st and continuing into September 1st.