Blast from the Past #400: Re: May 11, 2004: TMNT Season Four

Subj: Re: TMNT Season Four
Date: Tuesday, May 11, 2004 1:50:59 PM
From: Peter Laird
To:   Lloyd Goldfine

Lloyd,


Thanks for sending the "springboard" stuff. I am also looking forward to getting cracking on the fourth (!) season, and think we should get together soon to bang heads and Segway, not necessarily in that order (or simultaneously). Here are some comments on the 4th season "springboards" and other ideas.


1.) "The People's Choice" -- is this one adapted from issue 12 of the original TMNT comic, the one with the survivalists and their nuclear weapon?


2.) Another comic which might be fun to adapt, and would fit into this "vacation in Northampton" series, is the first issue of the original TALES OF THE TMNT, featuring Casey's thug/punk cousin Sid.


3.) I like the idea of adapting both "I, Monster" (the original Rat King story) and "Sons of the Silent Age". I wouldn't mind tweaking Rat King to make him a little more interesting, with more of a back story -- not sure what that would be right now, but I'm sure we can come up with something.


4.) Doing more with Hun is a cool idea, but I'm not 100% loving the "Bishop's mutant super-soldier breaks loose" thing. While it would certainly provide some fun opportunities for fighting, it's a bit too much like the all-out battle in episode 77 for my tastes. I think we need to work on Bishop and his motivations and intentions even more.
One idea I had for a possible cool/fun way of getting more mutants into the mix is this: One of Bishop's programs is a bioengineering effort to take ordinary insects -- for example, mosquitos and wasps -- and blend them together to create a new kind of bug which can be programmed to seek out potential subjects for mutation, using those qualities of predatory insects which allow them to seek and find prey. These mutant insects have heightened senses which allow them to detect the kind of person they are seeking out by "smelling" their DNA. Once they locate these potential subjects, they then sting or bite them, injecting them with Bishop's bioengineered mutant-breeding virus.
The virus doesn't immediately turn the subjects into mutants, but begins a slow process wherein the virus finds the particular recessive mutant genes of the subject and brings them to the fore. Thus, we could have any number of different types of mutations. And there could be some kind of "summons" coded into the virus which would bring the subjects -- once their mutation has flowered -- to Bishop.
In fact, the trailer that Hun and the Purple Dragons hijack could contain a number of these mutant insects, and some or all of them are accidentally released into New York during the battle. And maybe Hun gets stung and becomes a mutant! That might be fun... especially if he has to become Bishop's servant.


5.) I'm down with the idea of doing the "Return of Svanti Romero" as a two-parter -- I think that could be a fun story to adapt. And dinosaurs are always fun.


6.) As for the "sub-branding" of the fourth season, I'm not opposed to it, but I don't think we should force it. Kind of the tail wagging the dog. None of the names you listed got me too excited, though "Mutant Agenda" has a kind of ring to it (can't say that I imagine kids would get too excited about it, though).


7.) I scribbled down some notes when I was trying to think of things I'd like to explore in the fourth and future seasons, so here they are, in no particular order:


-- April and Casey: I'd like to move their relationship along, evolving it to greater depth and commitment.


-- I had this vision of Hun as the Shredder -- not sure why, but maybe it was the thought of how imposing and deadly Hun would appear in a suit of Shredder armor made to his scale. And I also had a vision of Karai as thee Shredder, too, and the two of them mixing it up -- "Battle of the Shredders!"


-- I'd like to see the emergence of some large, looming threat, similar to "The Dominion" in STAR TREK:DS9. It doesn't have to be extraterrestrial, but could be Earth-based -- perhaps some secret warrior society that we have not yet heard of.


-- It would be fun to visit Usagi's world again... maybe have all the Turtlles go there. Or have Usagi come to our world.


-- As well as Usagi, it might be fun to do crossovers with other characters. One that comes to  mind right off the bat is Mike Dooney's GIZMO, though I'm sure there are many others which would be fun to play with.


-- More motorcycle action! I'd love to see one or more of the Turtles somehow get involved with motorcycle racing -- motocross or supercross especially. 


-- Let's not forget Uncle Augie. Maybe we should devote an episode or two to finding (or at least looking) for him.


-- More superheroes! Maybe we should revisit the SuperTurtles, and/or bring back Silver Sentry and/or the Justice Force. Or create new ones.


-- Introduce Robyn, April's older sister from the comics.


-- Do something with Mayans and/or Aztecs (because they're cool!).


-- Pete