In 2005, Peter Laird published a new edition of the very first TMNT comic book, which featured all-new toning, letters, and some script changes. The new computer-created toning replaced the original duoshade tones and the new letters are simply computer font replacing the original hand letters(*).
At first glace the new book might not look too different from the original. But once you put the two side by side, it's impossible not to notice the differences. Extensive detail has been lost and there are questionable changes in the script.
And then one must ask the ultimate question: Why? Are we to believe that this new version is superior to the original? Why else would Laird have gone to the effort? Even if this new version were superior to the original (and as you will soon see, I do not believe that it is), is it still right to change an original piece of work so drastically?
Laird has stated that he plans to give the same treatment to all issues of TMNT Volume 1 that he considers to be canon (this also involves completely removing Cerebus from TMNT #8, but that's a story for another day). Presumably, any future publishing of these issues would only be in the same format as the #1 you will see below. However, his progress on this project is unknown and if it remains incomplete, these issues may never see print again.
The remarks below simply reflect on some of the most glaring differences between the two versions; not all differences are commented on. You'll find that there are many more than what is mentioned.
I originally posted these comments on The Technodrome Forums almost exactly as you see them below. Only a few grammar tweaks have been made. To best compare images, I suggest opening each one into a new window/tab.
(*) The original hand letters were replaced with new hand letters by Steve Lavigne in the fifth printing of the issue, although no script changes were made.
Page 1
Original page 1 | New page 1
The shadows of the Purple Dragons have been completely lost on the wall behind the Turtles.
Pages 2-3
Original pages 2-3 | New pages 2-3
From no background shading to background shading. You also have, "Eastman and Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja" going from black to white and "Turtles" going from toned to empty block letters. It's rather plain.
Pages 4-5
Original page 4, page 5 | New pages 4-5
In the first panel there's a dialogue change from, "Scatter!" to "Blast 'em!" Just below that, "staff" is changed to "bo." On page 5 Raph now has a rectangular box of shading behind him and the middle panel on the right has lost all detail in the background.
Pages 6-7
Original page 6, page 7 | New pages 6-7
On page 6, all background detail has been lost.
Pages 8-9
Original page 8, page 9 | New pages 8-9
On the original page 8, the first panel shows that they're running on the ground, not just in ambiguous space. So much detail was lost on page 9; it's just sad.
Pages 10-11
Original page 10, page 11 | New pages 10-11
The first two panels of page 10 originally showed shadows on the wall. All shading in the third panel is lost. In the fourth panel Splinter is now surrounded by black instead of white. Their ninja skills were, "at their peak," now they're "near their peak." The last sentence on page 10 has been changed completely. The dialogue on page 11 has also been changed significantly and you can now only barely tell that there is a shadow of a person in the background of the last panel. Lots of lost detail in the background of the other panels.
Pages 12-13
Original page 12, page 13 | New pages 12-13
Again, lots of lost detail. The bottom panel of page 12 suffers most. You could originally see the paintings hanging behind Splinter. Some really curious dialogue changes throughout page 13. Almost seems like he's sanitizing it.
Pages 14-15
Original page 14, page 15 | New pages 14-15
Again, sooo much lost detail on both pages. More curious dialogue changes that feel like sanitizing.
Pages 16-17
Original page 16, page 17 | New pages 16-17
Where did all the detail go? And what's with the added line about feral alley cats in the first panel of page 16? Also, in the middle of the page, "in the eyes" was removed, which sorta takes away the Daredevil connection. I really don't like how the second panel on page 17 was changed. The entire panel is now black and "glow" around Splinter is now obviously Photoshoped. At the bottom of the page where the Turtles start to speak, the Turtles now say, "Pizza?", "Radical!", "Star Trek!", and "Moto Guzzi!" Star Trek and Moto Guzzi? Gimme a break. And I hate how the last panel has been changed.
Pages 18-19
Original page 18, page 19 | New pages 18-19
Page 18 has pointless dialogue changes. Page 19, IMO, is one of the most classic pages in TMNT comic book history. There is SO much depth in the original, and now all of that depth is gone.
Pages 20-21
Original page 20, page 21 | New pages 20-21
Again, all the fantastic detail gone.
Pages 22-23
Original page 22, page 23 | New pages 22-23
At this point I'm really just repeating myself. On page 23 the text of the note has been completely redone. I would consider this part of the art and not susceptible to lettering changes.
Pages 24-25
Original page 24, page 25 | New pages 24-25
The Turtles used to have visible eyes in the last panel of page 24.
Pages 26-27
Original page 26, page 27 | New pages 26-27
It's pages like page 27 where you can really notice how the change in lettering can take away from the intensity of what you are seeing. "Come face your DOOM!" just doesn't have the same effect in computer font. The lost detail continues to make me want to cry.
Pages 28-29
Original pages 28-29 | New pages 28-29
Another page where the lost detail just makes me sad.
Pages 30-31
Original page 30, page 31 | New pages 30-31
Same complaints.
Pages 32-33
Original pages 32, pages 33 | New pages 32-33
There's no longer any blood in the first horizontal panel on page 32 (although there is still blood in the next panel down). Page 33 has an interesting dialogue change of "gaijin" to "kappa."
Pages 34-35
Original page 34, page 35 | New pages 34-35
Same old complaints.
Pages 36-37
Original page 36, page 37 | New pages 36-37
Shredder no longer says, "HAI!!" in the second to last panel on page 36. On page 37, "katana" has been changed to "blade."
Pages 38-39
Original page 38, page 39 | New pages 38-39
In the last panel of page 38 you can't even tell anymore that there was an explosion. On page 39 a completely new dialogue balloon has been added, giving Donatello the line, "... and some tea..." At the top of the page, Michaelangelo now calls Leonardo, "Leo."
Page 40
Original page 40 | New page 40
This is another page that makes me especially sad that so much detail was lost. And I'm not sure why italics are suddenly used (Leonardo's opening narration did not use italics).
So overall, I think the thing that saddens me most is just how much detail was lost in the re-toning. They obviously put a lot of work into the original art and I don't know why you would want to erase it all with a computer.
