IDW changes logo, hints at "redefining" itself. Signaling the end of IDW TMNT?

Tatoruzu

IDW is changing its logo in 2025. It seems like an odd time for a logo change if they plan on continuing their ongoing comics. Don't really like the idea of a logo changing mid-run.

Unless, of course, IDW isn't planning on continuing their current ongoing runs.

This seems like another sign that IDW wants to pivot away from licensed titles like TMNT. IDW's Nathan Widick hinted at the company's "bold" moves to "redefine itself" whatever that means. I interpret this as a sign that IDW is moving on.

According to comicbook.com (emphasis mine):

After celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, IDW Publishing is looking ahead to its next 25 years and beyond. The publisher behind the hit relaunch of its ongoing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series and original creator-owned titles like Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees has spent 2024 commemorating its 25-year legacy of award-winning comic book storytelling. However, IDW isn’t looking to stay stagnant and is already making moves to usher in a new era for its readers and fans. Part of these moves include the debut of an all-new IDW logo and rebrand as it looks to the next 25 years of entertainment.

ComicBook can exclusively reveal the new IDW Publishing logo, which will begin appearing on all IDW Publishing releases starting in 2025. Nathan Widick, Director of Design at IDW, was part of the team that helped conceive the new logo. “This rebrand was an opportunity for us to redefine the entire identity of IDW from the ground up. During the process, we went through hundreds of different designs, concepts, and ideas including a big push to retool our classic lightbulb logo. Ultimately, we decided that rather than looking back, it was time for us to look forward and show the world the new and bold direction of IDW with a dynamic and innovative identity.”

Shpadoinkle_Day

Tatoruzu If this rebrand means IDW letting go of the TMNT license, then...GOOD. I never liked them holding onto the IP for as long as they have. Hell, they were supposed to be out with Transformers and G.I. Joe but IDW literarily threw everything they had at Paramount in order to keep it because Last Ronin kicked ass in sales. An investment they can't really seem to make good on, mostly because they keep giving their projects to the worst people possible. Whatever, someone else deserves to have their shot at TMNT, and whatever company it is they decide to go with, or what writer they choose, I sure as hell know they can't be worse than Sophie Campbell...God, I hope.

helljumper

So yeah, it does very much seem like they're getting rid of licensed comics soon. IDW's handling of TMNT really was one of high highs and VERY low lows. Looks like churning out slop courtesy of Sophie Campbell for the last few years finally took its toll on them.

Shpadoinkle_Day

Whatever, someone else deserves to have their shot at TMNT, and whatever company it is they decide to go with, or what writer they choose, I sure as hell know they can't be worse than Sophie Campbell...God, I hope.

Only thing I'm scared of is what publisher gets it. I'd love for Skybound to since they've been phenomenal with the licensed material they currently have, but I'm not sure if they have the money to take on TMNT in addition to Transformers and GI Joe already. Otherwise I'm on edge on just about every other potential major publisher because it could be great or it could be complete slop. But like you said, surely things couldn't be worse than Mutant Town.

Tatoruzu

helljumper

Shpadoinkle_Day

Or it might just be: the end of TMNT comics.

Paramount definitely won't give WBD and DIS permission to publish their IPs, so DC and Marvel are out. And if it's true that the license is that expensive, I don't see anyone else picking it up. Nobody is investing in comics. If Paramount was savvy, they could give Skybound a discount because they know it'll sell as well as Transformers, but that seems like hopeful thinking.

And that's assuming Paramount even gives a fuck about comic books. TMNT comics are likely far down on their "fucks to give" list. If the license lapses, they might not engage in any more negotiations with comic book publishers. It might not be seen as worth their time, or it could get overlooked by their people in the labyrinthian corporate world.

The best case scenario seems to be this:

Now... in the ideal fantasy land of "never gonna happen," Peter would open Mirage up again and get Kevin and the boys involved. I think Mirage originally negotiated a deal where they would be allowed to publish 18 issues per year or something like that? They wouldn't even need to work out a licensing agreement as far as I'm aware.

Obviously a pipe dream though.

Shpadoinkle_Day

helljumper Brother, all we can hope for at this point is for turtles comics to be fucking READABLE again. I don't have much to say about Skybound, mostly because I'm not a big enough fan of Transformers or G.I. Joe to care about about reading their comics so I'll just take your word for it. However if I had to choose a company to take the license; I would like it to be Mad Cave. They're a smaller company, but they do have licensed books, and their books on Dick Tracy and Gatchaman have been nothing short of excellent. (I highly recommend those books, they're currently ongoing.) Whatever happens, know this, no TMNT run can survive another go at gay mutants, rock bands, social justice podcasts and fucking Mutant Town! NO ONE! NO MORE!......God speed. T-T

Shpadoinkle_Day

Tatoruzu That's a whole lot of baggage that I don't think anyone at Mirage, is really willing to unpack. I want to remain optimistic, because the "doomer" mentality, is rather draining and just rots your soul. That ain't for me, I am hoping that Peter is willing to give Mirage to a successor of sorts; so that TMNT comics don't die off. Maybe guys like Jim Lawson could be up to the task, but only time will tell.

helljumper

Tatoruzu

It might not be seen as worth their time, or it could get overlooked by their people in the labyrinthian corporate world.

Honestly I really do hate to be the one that dooms all the time but I kinda agree with you on this one. The comics industry has been in a nosedive for years now, and if they can't peddle the license out to a major publisher I don't know if Paramount will even do anything with comics going forward, stuff like Last Ronin was an exception to the rule. Plus, given that they really want to push Mutant Mayhem across just about every medium possible makes me doubt they think they want to start an entirely new continuity through the comics. Hopefully I'm wrong about all of this lol

Shpadoinkle_Day

Brother, all we can hope for at this point is for turtles comics to be fucking READABLE again.

It's sad that the bar has gotten this low, but yeah. At this point anything but the the fanfic-tier Tumblr slop we've got for the last 4 years will probably satisfy me. Even IDW recognized that this shit wasn't sustainable for the main run. It would take an unbelievable amount of hubris and ignorance to make something that even comes close to being as bad and destructive as what Campbell did

VCRVinnie

Tatoruzu An idea consisting and dreaming of if Peter Laird thought to hand Mirage to a successor is out there since is Peters health that okay these days?

Even in his younger days as far back as that behind the scenes photo of him next to the Leonardo suit actor reading a tmnt comic and Kevin standing on the right, Laird always seemed a lot older in appearance reminding me of 80’s Phil Collins with the lack of hair on top.

Though has Peter Laird taken care of himself these days? Remembered from last year reading comments somewhere he didn’t look too fine and feeling concerned on his health

Tatoruzu

Shpadoinkle_Day Honestly, wasn't really impressed with Lawson's story in the 40th anniversary issue. He could do the art, but they'd have to bring on someone else to do the stories.

Shpadoinkle_Day

Tatoruzu Fair, but I don't think he's terrible. If not Jim, I would like to Eric Talbot to be back in the writer seat, I thought his issues on Tales of the TMNT Vol. 2 were rather solid, if he isn't stuck doing variants forever, that is.

VCRVinnie

Tatoruzu Compared to Marvel and to an extent DC, is the Ninja Turtles not too much of a 2010’s therapy session junkyard that continued into the early 2020’s from past writers? Can you attempt salvaging any legacy to continue on physical comics if a full digital version is not available for consideration for them from the sales numbers?

Marvel and DC from my video knowledge over the last 8 years at least took a nosedive once they started cheapening on the writers on hiring them for the stupidest reasons and iffy politics played a huge part in it. Thus manga in the early 2020’s crushed their sales to a point they need to once again reboot Captain Marvel and actually cancel the New New Warriors from Daniel Kibblesmith in a rare smart move because his concept appeared too ridiculous for their low standards. If his joke gang consisting of a fat Dora the explorer wannabe, knockoff Ben 10 and a pair of twins appearing too sexual in a hugging pose is anything, even Marvel might have a smart move to say “no, this is not a seller”

Where is the ninja turtles fate after the 2010’s to now? Did they avoid most of the cringy 2010’s political drama in the hiring and writing to survive another run if Sophie Campbell finally is putting down her pen to write?

Tatoruzu

VCRVinnie Yeah, PL looks like he's in rough shape. He couldn't do the writing full time.

Tatoruzu

Thought I'd drop this here. A bit late, but a lot of people probably missed this.

I hated the logo at first, but honestly, it doesn't look as dogshit on the covers as I thought it would.

Gort

i like the logo a lot but it does have a critical problem. you kinda have to already know the publishers is called IDW to reverse engineer the logo in your head. if you were unaware that W is meant to be there its easy to miss then it really just says ID comics which is actually probably a better name anyway

Tatoruzu

Gort

Yeah, it's terrible for that reason.

It's worse than Kia's "KN" logo lmao

Gort

Tatoruzu wow that kia logo looks like ai generated glyphs. it seems like you should be able to read it but you just cant. like this girls name tag in the jaws 3 """"""""remaster""""""" they used ai to do

Tatoruzu

Gort This is partially why I'm worried about the 4K 1990 TMNT remaster.

AI upscaling is cool and all, but it can have some weird results.

Gort

Tatoruzu i wouldnt say it is cool for film remasters. weird results is an understatement. the people in the crowd in the jaws 3 remaster are creepy monsters

the whole premise of 4k is that it looks the best it possibly can thats why you get to charge 30 to 40 dollars for one movie. too many releases like this and itll destroy the integrity of the format.

Tatoruzu

Gort

Yeah, it's terrible for film remasters. It ruins the art. You make the assumption that every shot and every frame is an intentional and necessary part of the artistic whole. Modifying it literally ruins the art. It's like the infamously bad Jesus painting restoration:

However, it's cool for non-artistic historical footage that was blurry to begin with and where imperfections are expected: