Welcome to another edition of our weekly TMNT Tuesday Q&A column, where the TMNT universe comes alive through your burning fan questions and Andy’s behind-the-scenes insights. Now five columns deep and still thriving, this installment offers a deep dive into the creative and logistical challenges of managing multiple TMNT books—all while juggling a dynamic team and a treasure trove of iconic characters.
In today’s session, Andy tackles everything from his efficient folder-based system for keeping track of scripts, layouts, and covers to his thoughts on potential dream crossovers and favorite secondary characters. Whether you’re curious about the integration of Playmates figures into Saturday Morning Adventures, the intricate balance of production roles like the Managing Editor, or simply want to know which character has finally won him over, you’re in for a treat.
Plus, don’t miss two preview pages from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #7 and one preview page from Mutant Nation #5 (out March 19)!
So, without further ado, let’s jump into the fan questions and discover what goes on behind the panels of your favorite comic series. Oh, and don’t forget to pickup Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #7, out tomorrow!
Have you read our past editions of TMNT Tuesday?
Courtesy IDW
AIPT: We’re now five columns deep (counting the one you’re reading now) and loving the responses!
To start, when it comes to juggling multiple TMNT books, are there any tips or tricks to managing multiple artists, scripts, and covers coming in at any given time?
ANDY: Juggling all the different materials for different books isn’t as difficult as it might seem; one rarely gets confused, if that’s what you mean. Like I suspect most editors do, I keep a simple folder-based system for each active title, with subfolders for outlines, scripts, layouts, inks, colors, and covers. I also work with a fabulous person called Lauren LePera, who’s IDW’s Managing Editor.
Despite what the name might suggest, a Managing Editor isn’t a manager-of-editors and they don’t work with the talent; they’re actually a nexus between Editorial and other departments, dealing with things like production, manufacturing, design, proofreading, the editorial back pages; basically everything that I have to do as the TMNT group’s editor, the Managing Editor makes sure I know when it needs to be done. I kind of think of the Managing Editor as the left-brain to the Editor’s right-brain.
Between my own organizational system, Lauren, and the assistance of my editorial team that includes Dave Wielgosz (NIGHTWATCHER, LAST RONIN II), Nicolas Niño (MUTANT NATION), and Thea Cheuk (TMNT SATURDAY MORNING ADVENTURES), I’m able to focus on working with the creative teams to make comic books and develop all the new projects for this year and beyond.
An exclusive preview page from TMNT Mutant Nation #5!
Courtesy IDW
AIPT: Spicy Turtle returns with a new question: Will there be more characters from the Playmates figures in Saturday morning adventures such as Scale Tail, Pizza Face, and more?
ANDY: I’m going to pass this question over to Thea Cheuk, editor extraordinaire of TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: SATURDAY MORNING ADVENTURES.
THEA: Yes, there absolutely will be! We’ve been able to feature quite a few TMNT characters inspired by Playmates figures already: Leatherhead, Usagi Yojimbo, Ace Duck, and Wingnut and Screwloose are just a handful of characters you can find in the pages of TMNT SATURDAY MORNING ADVENTURES issues and specials!
If you’re looking for Pizzaface, you might want to check out a copy of the 2023 SMA Halloween Special. Considering all the TMNT characters who also have Playmates figures, rest assured we’re not running out anytime soon.
Pizza, anyone?
Courtesy IDW
AIPT: Why am I starving for pizza now?
Onto the next question from Scott Shreddars: Isn’t it crazy we’ve never gotten an official TMNT/X-Men crossover? If it WERE to ever happen, what TMNT and X-character would you most love to see interact?
ANDY: I need to see Krang in the Juggernaut’s belly.
AIPT: Something tells me that crossover would sell like hotcakes!
Next up, Ren Knight asks: Is there a character that you’ve tried to like but just can’t bring yourself to care about? 😂
ANDY: That’s a great question, honestly. The answer is yes, but as a professional storyteller, one has to see that as a problem to solve. In my career, I’ve been assigned characters I didn’t have a particular interest in beforehand, but the job is to get in there, do your research, and understand what readers love about those things. In doing so, I’ve found that I become a fan myself, particularly when I can identify the qualities of the characters that I really like and bring to the surface. I just don’t think there’s any other way to edit those books; you simply have to fall in love with those characters because you are not just the editor, you’re the reader surrogate as well.
April’s in trouble, gang! From TMNT #7.
Courtesy IDW
AIPT: That’s sound insight, Andy, and it makes a lot of sense.
Nikola asks: Can we expect Mondo Gecko to appear in TMNT Saturday Morning Adventures comic?
THEA: There may, in fact, be a document with Mondo Gecko’s TMNT SATURDAY MORNING ADVENTURES debut open on my computer right now. While our plans specifically for Mondo Gecko won’t hit shelves for a while, there will still be lots more SMA issues to tide you over until then.
AIPT: Not to be that guy, but the recent TMNT movie made me love Mondo even more.
Brian asks: Who’s your favorite secondary character?
ANDY: The TMNT universe has a truly embarrassing amount of fantastic supporting characters. I can’t pick just one. I love Pepperoni and Klunk and Lita and the weasels, all those tiny cute characters as they appeared in Sophie’s run. I love Alopex and Jennika, those wounded warrior types. I love outrageous characters like Pete and Herman from Tom and Kevin’s run. There are others I could mention, but I don’t want to give any clues about some things we have planned. Not yet!
Klunk and Lita.
Courtesy IDW
AIPT: Cute always works for me, too, Andy!
Barrett Owen wants to know: Will any of the IDW run characters show up in the current run like Nobody and Hob?
ANDY: Angel will show up in MUTANT NATION this year, and Hob was already in that book as well. Right now, the main TMNT book is very focused on the four brothers as part of our back-to-basics strategy, which has proved very successful, but our intention is to reintroduce extant IDW characters into the book very strategically. It will be their first appearance for many new readers, and we want to make sure we take advantage of that opportunity to help direct those readers to more stories featuring these beloved supporting players, not just the backlist but new projects that we are developing concurrently.
Sewer panel from TMNT #7.
Courtesy IDW
AIPT: This column is reminding me how deep the TMNT character bench is, it’s pretty special!
Ghayth Mohammed gets the last question asking: Do you guys have any plans to end the M-Bomb arc (via cure or something else)?
ANDY: No current plans to do anything like that. I think the mutagen bomb was a brilliant and elegant way to radically expand the cast and upend the universe after 100 issues. I’m jealous I didn’t think of it myself. Plus, I think there’s something kind of beautiful and sad about Lita being the only mutant to be “cured,” which is something we’re addressing this year in a really special Lita story for MUTANT NATION.
And that’s a wrap on another week of TMNT Tuesday! Tune in next week as Andy answers even more of your fan questions!
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