- Title: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #23
- Comic Vine: link
- Writers: Kevin Eastman, Bobby Curnow, Tom Waltz
- Artists: Mateus Santolouco, Dan Duncan, Ross Campbell, Ben Bates, Andy Kuhn, Kevin Eastman
Primarily concerned with the fallout of the last issue, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #22 focuses on the lives of two of our heroes whose lives hang in the balance. As Raphael, Michelangelo, Donatello, Splinter, and April rush a severally wounded Casey Jones to the hospital, the Shredder and his Foot Clan bring the injured Leonardo home and put him immediately under the care of Kitsune who begins manipulating the mind of the Turtles’ leader and bending it to her will.
For such a big turning point in the series the comic reunites all the artists who have worked on the title during its first two years and allows them each to draw panels from Leonardo’s fevered dreams as Kitsune’s weaves her magic to break the ties that bind Leo to his brothers and brainwash him into becoming Shredder’s loyal student.
The early juxtaposition of Leonardo and Casey is well-handled. Casey’s story offers more insight for April into her friend’s relationship with Angel, and Leonardo’s story (which includes a cameo from a concerned Karai) offers serious repercussions for the Turtles and the rest of the city. Must-read.
[IDW, $3.99]