I like the idea of splinter and shredder using dark magic adds a creepy vibe as well as splinter essentially being the one in charge and his sons being simple minded creatures is interesting but definitely leaves a lot of things unanswered
I barely remember this story... I'll never forget the artwork though. I do really enjoy how the story focused on Splinter and Shredder even at the cost of the Turtles' personality
Desolation or in a simplified term (The Crow) is supposed to represent death. The Soul that Saki transferred into the turtle is supposed to represent life. Hence the entity saying "You have to decide".
@@kalemcmanus4433 Ouch, that's crappy- I found a trade collection of them that is actually better, have you found one of those? Or at least a digital copy?
Thanks for covering this. It has become one of my favorite archs from the Mirage comics because of its uniqueness and overall dark and bizarre tone. In fact, I would have to say that it's easily the darkest TMNT story ever told. I have a copy of the collected book, both physical and digital which also includes the later follow up stories in which it's revealed that the turtles do still have parts of their familiar personalities intact but are also still the same versions from the initial story and it's still just as strange. I had also gotten to thinking once that this would be the perfect TMNT story for goth rock band Type O Negative (a personal favorite in the way of music) to make a theme song for. They could have called it "Soul's Winter" and written the lyrics to revolve around the story from the comics. Sadly they never did and their band leader Peter Steele/"Lord Peter" passed away back in 2010 causing them to have to break up. * sigh *
@@mr.entertainment2813 Yeah, there were a few stories in that series that were considerably dark, in fact you listed another one of my favorites, "Sons of the Silent Age" (I even love the cover from that issue), which also got it's own episode in the 2003 animated series, but Soul's Winter is definitely among the darkest ones. Another one in that category is "The River".
Haven't been reading Last Ronin then? And never saw Leatherhead chomp Leo's hand off, Bebop and Rocksteady smash Donny's shell and beat him to death, or half of Ralph's face explode?
@@beardupbeerdown7355 Yes, I've seen it all...except for Leatherhead chomping Leo's hand off and The Last Ronin has been really good so far, if not a little sad too. And if you are going to enter Image continuity territory then don't forget about Donnie's gruesome death and resurrection as a badass cyborg.
What grinds my gears is the fact all the turtles are basically the same, no different colored bandanna, the same skin color and not only that the marks on their face and backs doesn't really help either
I think the whole story is a really dark metaphor for the longevity of the franchise. The constant cycle of death and resurrection that the turtles are forced to endure represent the various iterations of them throughout media. The use of mythic imagery throughout the story accentuates how the Turtles have become mythic figureheads themselves within popular culture. Hell, a survey conducted in 1992 showed that at one point, they were more recognizable to children than Santa Claus. At the same time, they're also shamelessly merchandized to the point that they're nothing but hollow shells (pun intended) of who they once were. They're forced to fight a never-ending war without rest. It's facilitated by Splinter and Shredder, the two main figureheads, because they realize that without them, there would be nothing.
Great summary, this helped. I always had hard time understanding these issues. I started collecting the old mirage comics when I was 13-14, so umm 24 years ago...time flys
The only 'Guest-Era' story that felt like a true Guest Story. I guess besides Spaced Out and Turtle Dreams, the rest could easily fit into Mirage continuity.
What if this is after last ronin when they come out of astral projection when Mikey recovers the bodies and they have to hide and heal. Shredders great grandchildren are trying to change the past by helping but its another group who likes to hunt. Just an idea
I vaguely remember this. I do know at one point before the first movie came out a rumor broke out that this design of the turtles is what they were gonna use.
This is the first time I’ve seen this and after watching it I like how it adds horror elements to it. Such as the grotesque/ realistic looking turtles, Splinters’ practice of mysticism/ occultism, the goriness of the fights, and the overall dark atmosphere of the comic.
Honestly it almost seems as if shredder and splinter have switched roles where splinter is the one telling his sons things that just wind up being false either from ignorance or because he was trying to control the turtles through lie and manipulation whiching if so shredder could just be a samuari protecting his village and there was a hint of splinter being as speciest as the demon he summoned the demon wouldn't help them because they werent human and not long after did splinter say they had to move because their home had the stench of man seem white "it is our heritage" dad to me which actually resonates with this idea that has been in a lot more current media but has been a theme im sure since forever "heroes arent always in the right" essentially even that we assume because it is how we know splinter is good we assume good intentions especially since he is acting like they are in the right and they are only defending themselves but we don't know why shredder wanted to attack splinter mentally and niether do the turtles because they were sleeping but as soon as he needed them to do his bidding he forced them to awaken and fight telling them thst it was life or death yet every chance shredder had he never took a turtles life and when the demon was summoned his concern was his city not whther or not he needed to stop a turtle from dying to the point to where he helps the turtle himself
It’s ironic that I come across this video today given that just this morning I just finish framing those three issues of the original ninja turtles run for my birthday present.
I remember having Souls Winter as a kid. My cousin gave me the issue when it first came out, and I knew Eastman and Laird were doing this whole Anthology thing where people would come in and do one-off stories and stuff. I'd get issues from the library sometimes, but given how popular the Turtles were in the early 90s, I was lucky to find issues at all. One of these anthology issues I I remember was E&L doing a sort of out-of-continuity issue commenting on just how big and out-of-control Turtle Mania had gotten and how overwhelming it all was. Mutant Ninja Teenage Turtles, I think it was called. I never knew there was more to Souls Winter than the first issue, so it's really cool to find out that there was more than just the first issue. To be honest, I kind feel like the story was complete enough with just the one issue, as it was a representation of someone else's take on the franchise. But now I want to find the whole trilogy and see how it holds up. It's certainly different.
Great video, I love your content and as it appears on my feed I always click on it or read what it's about. With your last ronin videos recently the death spoilers are right in the thumbnail and title and hard to avoid even if you don't wanna know spoilers. I can't think of any way to avoid them popping up outside of clicking that I am not interested in your channel and I don't wanna do that as I do like the content. Can I recommend a different approach to the ronin death videos to not ruin it for your audience who don't want it spoiled? Respectfully of course I just know I can't be the only fan who has had that happen. 🙏🏾
I just read these. I agree that they are very different from usual Turtle stories, but this one is haunting and I'll be thinking about it long after other stories.
This more mature theme and style is what I’d like to see in the future. No more cheese please. Just good writing and badassery. I got these books when they were first released and they were my favorite since the first handful of issues.
@@mr.entertainment2813 exactly. I have all the Mirage issues (the first 6 I have signed) but would like a return to this kind of writing, as most Turtle fans are adults now. Even when I was young and these books came out, I preferred them over the cheesy versions that were pushed. This particular iteration was beautiful in my opinion and took what was already great and brought it to the next level.
This definitely feels like an elseworlds type story. Maybe in this one they were called Mutant Ninja Teenage Turtles? Maybe in this universe Frank Castle is the Spider-Man and Peter Parker is the Punisher? 😂
I feel very conflicted about that series becuse its very interesting aproach to story telling but it dosent do any of the things that i like about TMNT. I wish it was its own original series, but that daid id probably wouldnt know about it if there wasnt any turtles DNA in it
Which one do you think lost his hand in the comic? I think it's Mikey because at the end of the comic he wakes up in a panic, Splinter tells him he's had a nightmare
Most likely Mikey overstuffed himself with Tacos and Pizza and dreamed all of this suffering hallucinations while also suffering indigestion. Splinter here looked like a cross between a rat, fox and cat, and the nonsensical part of the story was just too crazy, but it was still drawn beautifully and I believe it fits more into the HEAVY METAL magazines with their shorts stories. On this it would had been full circle cause co-creator Peter Laird was married to Julie Strain whose character was one of the most iconic in HEAVY METAL.
Is this the complete story?? It feels unfinished (perhaps purposefully so?) I left with more questions than I had before the video began, but there were elements of this that I really, REALLY enjoyed...most notably the fact that the turtles _hibernated_ during the cold months. I can *1000%* buy them becoming sluggish and ineffective in the cold, and I wish the animated series and films would incorporate this tidbit into their stories . I am _also_ intrigued at the fact that these turtles *do not* seem to possess the individuality of the mainstream turtles we've come to know and love: They all use the SAME weapon, they don't wear ANY sort of identifiable personal affects, and they don't even refer to each other by _name._ I don't know if this is just due to their minds being dulled due to hibernation, or if this is simply the way that THIS Splinter raised them...merely as _tools,_ simple weapons to do his bidding in his quest for (Revenge? Protection? We know _so little, here.)_ This isn't even CONSIDERING all the mystical stuff with Shredder, Splinter, the demon/spirit, etc. To be honest, I find myself _less_ interested in that aspect of it and MORE interested in the turtles _themselves._ The writer/artist had SO many interesting themes. I've never really been a fan of "guest" comic issues due to the variation in style quality and the change in the tone of the story/characters, but every so often I will come across a guest issue that is GENUINELY intriguing. THANK YOU for sharing this with us. You have truly introduced me to a gem. 💎
*Discover more about the TMNT* by checking out this EPIC playlist: ua-cam.com/video/d62sX_0C2ww/v-deo.html
let's kick shell
I am SO GLAD you are doing a video on this series I have been looking for it EVERYWHERE!!! thank you!
Hearing you talk about the story makes it feel like it never got completed. What I'm trying to say is it feels like there should be more.
It definitely seems heavily unfinished like the creator died on the last book or something
@@alexhayes746 or just chose not to do more for whatever reason
I agree, it was left with many mysteries. And it was a very unique take on the TMNT. I would honestly love for this to be revisited in the future.
@@Christian_H3rnand3z imagine it being Revisited in a animated form.
@@carterh914 That would be amazing. definitely not live action. But it has to be revisited in some way.
I like the idea of splinter and shredder using dark magic adds a creepy vibe as well as splinter essentially being the one in charge and his sons being simple minded creatures is interesting but definitely leaves a lot of things unanswered
I barely remember this story... I'll never forget the artwork though. I do really enjoy how the story focused on Splinter and Shredder even at the cost of the Turtles' personality
As a kid, I probably wouldn't have appreciated this. Now I think this is just so cool
Desolation or in a simplified term (The Crow) is supposed to represent death. The Soul that Saki transferred into the turtle is supposed to represent life. Hence the entity saying "You have to decide".
The story and art on this story is absolutely beautiful and fantastic!.
I still have the original black and white issues! Probably my favorite TMNT story ever.
I do too!!
i used to till they was stolen sadly they was from my now dead father
@@kalemcmanus4433 Ouch, that's crappy- I found a trade collection of them that is actually better, have you found one of those? Or at least a digital copy?
I have never seen the turtles like this, this is awesome I like how dark it is. Great video 👍🏻🐢
Thanks for covering this. It has become one of my favorite archs from the Mirage comics because of its uniqueness and overall dark and bizarre tone. In fact, I would have to say that it's easily the darkest TMNT story ever told. I have a copy of the collected book, both physical and digital which also includes the later follow up stories in which it's revealed that the turtles do still have parts of their familiar personalities intact but are also still the same versions from the initial story and it's still just as strange. I had also gotten to thinking once that this would be the perfect TMNT story for goth rock band Type O Negative (a personal favorite in the way of music) to make a theme song for. They could have called it "Soul's Winter" and written the lyrics to revolve around the story from the comics. Sadly they never did and their band leader Peter Steele/"Lord Peter" passed away back in 2010 causing them to have to break up. * sigh *
Not sure. I feel there were darker TMNT comics than this. I. E Sons Of The Silent Age, Old Times, Shades Of Gray, City At War, etc.
@@mr.entertainment2813 Yeah, there were a few stories in that series that were considerably dark, in fact you listed another one of my favorites, "Sons of the Silent Age" (I even love the cover from that issue), which also got it's own episode in the 2003 animated series, but Soul's Winter is definitely among the darkest ones. Another one in that category is "The River".
Haven't been reading Last Ronin then?
And never saw Leatherhead chomp Leo's hand off, Bebop and Rocksteady smash Donny's shell and beat him to death, or half of Ralph's face explode?
@@beardupbeerdown7355 Yes, I've seen it all...except for Leatherhead chomping Leo's hand off and The Last Ronin has been really good so far, if not a little sad too. And if you are going to enter Image continuity territory then don't forget about Donnie's gruesome death and resurrection as a badass cyborg.
That's a interesting take on them i never knew about this version
Nice stikers 🐢💕
@@victorialopezpilardesantia6563 thanks courtesy of The Old Turtle Den
I recently picked-up the Souls Winter issue! Just really happy to be reading TMNT stuff lately
What grinds my gears is the fact all the turtles are basically the same, no different colored bandanna, the same skin color and not only that the marks on their face and backs doesn't really help either
I think the whole story is a really dark metaphor for the longevity of the franchise. The constant cycle of death and resurrection that the turtles are forced to endure represent the various iterations of them throughout media. The use of mythic imagery throughout the story accentuates how the Turtles have become mythic figureheads themselves within popular culture. Hell, a survey conducted in 1992 showed that at one point, they were more recognizable to children than Santa Claus. At the same time, they're also shamelessly merchandized to the point that they're nothing but hollow shells (pun intended) of who they once were. They're forced to fight a never-ending war without rest. It's facilitated by Splinter and Shredder, the two main figureheads, because they realize that without them, there would be nothing.
I had this when I was a kid. I loved it. I had alao had a really goofy one where they were dreaming of being in high school and stuff.
I read this as a kid and was sooooo confused
Now. Imagine this in live action. A very dark TNMT movie, I'd love it
I have a hard time believing people would embrace a film like this, when so many fans bitched about the designs in bay films
Soul's Winter feels like a Tmnt version of Batman Arkham Asylum a Serious House on Serious Earth
That was "totally tubular" bro.
Thank you for sharing that story.
I never knew it existed, and I been a fan since 87' or 88', I was born in 83'.
Ditto. Literally everything you said; I’m in the same boat and share the same sentiments.
This story arc is one of my all time favorites.
Great summary, this helped. I always had hard time understanding these issues. I started collecting the old mirage comics when I was 13-14, so umm 24 years ago...time flys
Please make a video detailing the turtle's physical abilities like strength, jump and speed!
Turtle dude, you rock 🤘 This is seriously some premium turtle content you put out. The retelling was amazing :)
The only 'Guest-Era' story that felt like a true Guest Story. I guess besides Spaced Out and Turtle Dreams, the rest could easily fit into Mirage continuity.
Wtf WAS that. I need more looooore I love this universe holy FUCK ITS SO GOOD
Shredder doesn’t really feel like a villain in this one at all
They look like snapping turtles the way he drew them.
Sometimes it's the really out there artsy stuff that is just the swan song that makes something old feel so new.
What if this is after last ronin when they come out of astral projection when Mikey recovers the bodies and they have to hide and heal. Shredders great grandchildren are trying to change the past by helping but its another group who likes to hunt. Just an idea
Underrated story with beautiful artwork. Easily one of the best.
I love that this version of the turtles look more like turtles with human features than humans with turtle features.
I vaguely remember this. I do know at one point before the first movie came out a rumor broke out that this design of the turtles is what they were gonna use.
This is the first time I’ve seen this and after watching it I like how it adds horror elements to it. Such as the grotesque/ realistic looking turtles, Splinters’ practice of mysticism/ occultism, the goriness of the fights, and the overall dark atmosphere of the comic.
Honestly it almost seems as if shredder and splinter have switched roles where splinter is the one telling his sons things that just wind up being false either from ignorance or because he was trying to control the turtles through lie and manipulation whiching if so shredder could just be a samuari protecting his village and there was a hint of splinter being as speciest as the demon he summoned the demon wouldn't help them because they werent human and not long after did splinter say they had to move because their home had the stench of man seem white "it is our heritage" dad to me which actually resonates with this idea that has been in a lot more current media but has been a theme im sure since forever "heroes arent always in the right" essentially even that we assume because it is how we know splinter is good we assume good intentions especially since he is acting like they are in the right and they are only defending themselves but we don't know why shredder wanted to attack splinter mentally and niether do the turtles because they were sleeping but as soon as he needed them to do his bidding he forced them to awaken and fight telling them thst it was life or death yet every chance shredder had he never took a turtles life and when the demon was summoned his concern was his city not whther or not he needed to stop a turtle from dying to the point to where he helps the turtle himself
One of my favorite TMNT mini series. Prefer the b&w!
I wonder if there's any chance of MNT Gaiden being covered here eventually
best fanwork out there 10/10. Would love to see it covered even though it's a fancomic.
@Ruby King I hold out hope.TF was spotted on Twitter in November so at least he's okay!
@@mikaelbuonarotti355 that's always nice to know : )
It’s ironic that I come across this video today given that just this morning I just finish framing those three issues of the original ninja turtles run for my birthday present.
I am stopping this video 3 mins in and buying this book! Thanks for bringing this to my attention!
I remember having Souls Winter as a kid. My cousin gave me the issue when it first came out, and I knew Eastman and Laird were doing this whole Anthology thing where people would come in and do one-off stories and stuff. I'd get issues from the library sometimes, but given how popular the Turtles were in the early 90s, I was lucky to find issues at all. One of these anthology issues I I remember was E&L doing a sort of out-of-continuity issue commenting on just how big and out-of-control Turtle Mania had gotten and how overwhelming it all was. Mutant Ninja Teenage Turtles, I think it was called. I never knew there was more to Souls Winter than the first issue, so it's really cool to find out that there was more than just the first issue. To be honest, I kind feel like the story was complete enough with just the one issue, as it was a representation of someone else's take on the franchise. But now I want to find the whole trilogy and see how it holds up. It's certainly different.
Great video, I love your content and as it appears on my feed I always click on it or read what it's about. With your last ronin videos recently the death spoilers are right in the thumbnail and title and hard to avoid even if you don't wanna know spoilers. I can't think of any way to avoid them popping up outside of clicking that I am not interested in your channel and I don't wanna do that as I do like the content. Can I recommend a different approach to the ronin death videos to not ruin it for your audience who don't want it spoiled? Respectfully of course I just know I can't be the only fan who has had that happen. 🙏🏾
This is one of my favorite stories. I have the original comics and bought the collected book!
I absolutely love this book. It makes me wish this could of been the premise for Michael Bays TMNT
I found the second issue of this on Etsy a few years ago. I was pretty confused what the story was about when I bought it.
Almost like Shredder is the "good guy".
Very interesting.
Sheeeeeesh they look awesome!!!!
This was mindblowingly awesome!🤘👍
I remember reading this in the Northampton studio, when I visited it back in the 90s
I just read these. I agree that they are very different from usual Turtle stories, but this one is haunting and I'll be thinking about it long after other stories.
One of my favorites
I love the art and the story is interesting I just wished it had the turtle's personality,weapons and bandanas but still an interesting story
Thanks for this upload. Very different and Good
I had this 1st issue here, so unique and I wish I could have it back again...
Samurai Shredder: *Saves a Turtle
Literally Every other Shredder: "What the fuck dude!?*
I remember reading those creepy turtle stories when I was a kid. It was too dark for me, and I was a bit confused.
ive seen the artwork before and thought it was fan art. neat
They look more like traditional Kappa (without the waterbowl head.)
They need to do spin offs off these versions. Ninja turtles has a whole legacy waiting for them.
This more mature theme and style is what I’d like to see in the future. No more cheese please. Just good writing and badassery. I got these books when they were first released and they were my favorite since the first handful of issues.
There were plenty of mature themes being implemented in the comics at the time.
@@mr.entertainment2813 exactly. I have all the Mirage issues (the first 6 I have signed) but would like a return to this kind of writing, as most Turtle fans are adults now. Even when I was young and these books came out, I preferred them over the cheesy versions that were pushed. This particular iteration was beautiful in my opinion and took what was already great and brought it to the next level.
YO I want more of this!
I love you guys to show this.
Very interesting interpretation
Really like the look of the shredder & turtles. Actually hope we don't get a continuation, it's a great ending left open to the readers imagination
Desolation possessed Shredder in order to heal the Turtle so he could then take over the body.
Yeah… the ART looked good. The story….. not for me
This comic was amazing
If David Lynch made TMNT:
Right? 😂
Read this online last night out of curiosity, and the whole time, I was thinking, “What the f**** is this???????” 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Wow! It's a very different and dark description. Are the books available?
Interesting gritty designs.
This definitely feels like an elseworlds type story. Maybe in this one they were called Mutant Ninja Teenage Turtles? Maybe in this universe Frank Castle is the Spider-Man and Peter Parker is the Punisher? 😂
Why couldn't they use this beauty of art in a movie instead of the other realistic versions
This was an awesome set of books
I feel very conflicted about that series becuse its very interesting aproach to story telling but it dosent do any of the things that i like about TMNT. I wish it was its own original series, but that daid id probably wouldnt know about it if there wasnt any turtles DNA in it
Which one do you think lost his hand in the comic? I think it's Mikey because at the end of the comic he wakes up in a panic, Splinter tells him he's had a nightmare
I had always seen this artwork and thought it was interesting but that story is bizarre and nonsensical. Great video though!
They can’t just end it like that on a cliff hanger 😭
Most likely Mikey overstuffed himself with Tacos and Pizza and dreamed all of this suffering hallucinations while also suffering indigestion. Splinter here looked like a cross between a rat, fox and cat, and the nonsensical part of the story was just too crazy, but it was still drawn beautifully and I believe it fits more into the HEAVY METAL magazines with their shorts stories. On this it would had been full circle cause co-creator Peter Laird was married to Julie Strain whose character was one of the most iconic in HEAVY METAL.
I read this when I was a kid , I still have it the hard colored issue
this story is epic and interesting
Everything beautiful bleeds...
Is this the complete story?? It feels unfinished (perhaps purposefully so?) I left with more questions than I had before the video began, but there were elements of this that I really, REALLY enjoyed...most notably the fact that the turtles _hibernated_ during the cold months. I can *1000%* buy them becoming sluggish and ineffective in the cold, and I wish the animated series and films would incorporate this tidbit into their stories . I am _also_ intrigued at the fact that these turtles *do not* seem to possess the individuality of the mainstream turtles we've come to know and love:
They all use the SAME weapon, they don't wear ANY sort of identifiable personal affects, and they don't even refer to each other by _name._ I don't know if this is just due to their minds being dulled due to hibernation, or if this is simply the way that THIS Splinter raised them...merely as _tools,_ simple weapons to do his bidding in his quest for (Revenge? Protection? We know _so little, here.)_ This isn't even CONSIDERING all the mystical stuff with Shredder, Splinter, the demon/spirit, etc. To be honest, I find myself _less_ interested in that aspect of it and MORE interested in the turtles _themselves._ The writer/artist had SO many interesting themes. I've never really been a fan of "guest" comic issues due to the variation in style quality and the change in the tone of the story/characters, but every so often I will come across a guest issue that is GENUINELY intriguing.
THANK YOU for sharing this with us. You have truly introduced me to a gem. 💎
So really cool
I like how here the ninja turtles actually look like turtles
That dude is CRAZY!
These are some of my favorite comics I own.
Incredibly interesting
It sounds nice❤
Which turtle do you think lost their hand? I'm assuming it could have been Michaelangelo
Are there any other TMNT standalone comics similar to this and The Last Ronin?
the author had a looooot of that magic pipe :P
Lol at first I thought I saw lot's of Leo's
I need answers! Need to reach out to Zulli.
can the souls trilogy be read on it's own ?
This is a REALLY strange version ._.
A Mirage Studios classic.
Seems like a great story enjoyed this.
I will get the soul winter trilogy. 😀👍🐢
I wanna read his in black and white!
thank you