The Turtles and Team Batman are tasked with taking down the deadly duo of Poison Ivy and Snakeweed – and that’s before things get really weird!
Comic Review: Batman / TMNT Adventures #3
(W) Matthew K. Manning (A) Jon Sommariva
With two properties rife with as much potential as Batman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cross paths, the one thing you would never expect is it to be boring. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what the third issue of this miniseries is. Despite the creative team’s best efforts, there is an overwhelming amount of filler to be found within the pages of Batman/TMNT Adventures #3. For this, the blame does not lie in the hands of Matthew K. Manning or Jon Sommariva, but rather the publishers who demanded this series be stretched out to 6 issues.
The issue picks up right from the previous one’s cliffhanger, with the Team TMNT and Team Batman taking on Poison Ivy and her new pet, Snakeweed. Raphael and Robin prove to be the heroes of this sequence, not only for taking out Ivy (and as a result, Snakeweed) but for also providing entertaining banter sufficient to distract from the sequence’s predictability.
The miniseries takes a cue from famous Batman stories of the past such as The Long Halloween and Hush, with Ivy being the first in a gambit of foes the heroes will be pit against (more on that later). Unfortunately, the manner in which it is set up and executed is devoid of tension, leaving little to the reader’s imagination. Moreover, these “run the gambit” stories work when there is a mystery as to who the big bad is. Unfortunately, that is not the case here. We know that some combination of the Kraang, Joker, and Shredder will be part of the final showdown.
Jon Sommariva’s art is as uninspired as the story. Yes, it’s solid and blends the looks of both the Nick Turtles and Batman: The Animated Series. But there are elements that are noticeably… off. The biggest distraction is the thick inking, which causes each character to come across as a stiff porcelain doll rather than the dynamic and agile characters they should be. Though there are a few memorable moments, such as Shredder’s laughter, but aside from that the art is by and large forgettable.
Batman/TMNT Adventures #3 is a bland, overstuffed issue in a seemingly directionless miniseries. With the luster and appeal of this crossover wearing off, readers are left with sharp and witty dialogue to hold together the issue’s very thin story. That’s not to say that this issue is not enjoyable. It is a lot of fun. However, as the Turtles have proven over the years, a story can be fun without actually being good.
3 comments
It’s true the story isn’t particularly tight but it’s fun just playing in the sandbox. I like that we get to see Poison Ivy and Scarecrow. And I also like the team up of Batgirl, Robin, Donnie, Mikey, and April. I’m curious to see what happens with Scarecrow next.
As a fan, I totally agree that this is fun. It’s a lot of fun seeing these characters – specifically these versions – interact. However, comics are expensive, and it’s my duty as a reviewer to give readers the opportunity to make as informed a decision as possible. That means the stuff I overlook as a fan needs to be commented on.
Hopefully, this is just a slight hiccup and the series gets back to the level of quality seen in the first two issues!
It’s true. Comics are not cheap and we definitely want a series to deliver on every issue, especially a 6 issue-run series like this. I’m sure a lot of fans would agree with you too. I’m still having fun with this and hope they can bring it back together in the next issue.
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