TMNT

• Title: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Villains Micro-Series #4
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Brian Lynch
• Artist: Ross Campbell
  

Although I haven’t paid attention to the previous one-shots of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Villains Micro-Series, this one caught my eye. Of all mutated enemies the Turtles have faced Alopex (Kevin Eastman’s first new TMNT character in more than 15 years) is one of the most intriguing in that the arctic fox is an honorable warrior bound to the Shredder‘s will who, given a different path, could easily be seen as an ally for the Turtles.

Presented entirely from Alopex’s point of view, the one-shot provides insight into the creature’s backstory as Shredder takes the arctic fox back the wilderness in which she was found and teaches her a valuable lesson about who her true family is while planting the first seeds of animosity between Alopex and her master.

Given we know so little about the character this issue should appeal to fans, and the dark turn it takes involving the arctic fox’s former home hopefully foreshadows a crisis on conscience for the character that we could see played out over several months (if not years). Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

• Title: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures #1
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Kenny Byerly
• Artist: Dario Brizuela
  

Based on the current Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon, this new series jumps right into the action with April heading out on patrol with Donatello for the first time after showing progress in her training as a with Splinter. Although Leonardo raises concerns that April isn’t ready, Donnie underplays the dangers of scrounging in the military junkyard that ends up with April captured and the rest of the team called into to free her (without alerting the United States Government to the fact that human-sized talking ninja turtles exist).

Fans of the current show should feel right at home here as writer Kenny Byerly is one of the staff writers for the cartoon and artist Dario Brizuela stays true to the character designs of the cartoon while also giving them a little more two-dimensional comic book style. The interactions, the occasional wide-eyed blow-up moments, are all carefully recreated here.

It’s nice to see the comic giving April such a large role in the first issue, as well highlight the character’s tendency to get in over her head as well as her ability to prove her doubters wrong.

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures #1Read More »

• 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]