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COMIC REVIEW: TMNT ANNUAL 2021

by Chris M. P.
written by Chris M. P.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Annual 2021

Story by Tom Waltz

Art by Casey Maloney

Published by IDW 

Released July 28th, 2021

For millennia, the Pantheon family have played a deadly chess game with humanity, willingly sacrificing innocent and guilty alike in their twisted pursuit of victory. But now, one member of the family sees the opportunity to end the eternal contest once and for all — a final, crushing triumph over his immortal siblings and all of human- and mutant-kind. The time has arrived for the Rat King to make his most chaotic and destructive moves yet. The time has come at last for… THE ARMAGEDDON GAME! Written by Tom Waltz and illustrated by Casey Maloney, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Annual 2021 is the official prelude to the major TMNT event years in the making.

Would you like to play a game? 

But save your quarters, dudes and dudettes, because this ain’t the Konami arcade classic! Is it TMNT Annual time already?! Time flies, does it not? As does this issue. With the recent developments in Sophie Campbell’s mainline TMNT series, we were teased with the appearance of none other than Rat King. And, here in the Annual, Waltz and Maloney fill us in on the history of the ‘ol Rat Meister and his seriously strange antics. 

This issue revolves solely around Rat King, his family, and putting together a team for his “game”. TMNT veteran writer, Tom Waltz, reminds us of what’s been missing from TMNT since issue 100: Real stakes, interesting villains, and direction. We follow Rat King in a “family reunion” of sorts that feels similar to  Jim Starlin’s  Rebirth of Thanos, in which Thanos travels the cosmos meeting those in possession of the infinity stones. Of course, this is all condensed into one issue. So Waltz’s story moves at a brisk pace. Yet we still feel the levity of his plan….as well as his disdain for the TMNT and their crew. 

Maloney’s artwork is serviceable throughout most of the issue. With some larger panels looking fantastic. This short issue takes us to quite an array of environments, and Maloney does his best to evoke a sense of almost storybook-sense whimsicalness. The issue leaves us with Rat King meeting his newly assembled team of baddies, declaring the Armageddon Game to begin! TMNT Annual 2021 is a brisk and interesting look into things to come for the TMNT. Rat King and his twisted game could very well make for some great storytelling in the main TMNT comic series. 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Annual 2021 is now available wherever comics are sold!

 

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Comic BooksReviews

COMIC REVIEW: TMNT #119

by Chris M. P.
written by Chris M. P.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #119

Story by Sophie Campbell 

Art by Nelson Daniel & Ronda Pattinson

Published by IDW 

Released July 14th, 2021

April is on the run after discovering a scheme with dire consequences for Mutant Town. Meanwhile, the Mutanimals take drastic steps that will put them on a collision course with the TMNT!

MUTANT AND PROUD

After a brisk course correction of last month’s TMNT issue, Campbell and Daniel are back at it with TMNT #119. Stockman is keen on silencing April as a warrant for her is running as wild as the red headed wonder herself! And the Mutanimals are back in action butting heads with our favorite Turtle brethren! Can Campbell keep up the refreshing and frantic energy from prior? 

Long story short: TMNT #119 delivers with a fast-paced story and slick artwork to boot. April is “stuck” in Mutant Town as her warrant makes the rounds,  Hobb’s weasels and Lita go full “ninja”, and Michelangelo’s podcast brings together quite a rally for mutant rights. But that doesn’t mean Hobbs and the Mutanimals aren’t far behind, ready to create violence at Mikey’s rally. Campbell’s writing the past two issues has been tight and focused. It feels like every panel serves a purpose…and the art team of Daniel and Pattinson deliver with some solid art and colorwork in itself. 

It’s refreshing to read a TMNT story that feels like it’s back on track, but that doesn’t mean this issue is all flowers and roses. I was surprised to see the “return” of Casey Jones, a TMNT fan favorite that mysteriously dropped out of the story once Campbell took over. Casey’s portrayal is written clearly in the short amount he takes up in this issue…and I’m not thrilled with it. As it stands, Campbell seems to be taking a sexist/toxic masculinity approach to Jones. I’m hoping Raph and Jones simply had some miscommunication and Casey is bent out of shape because of the loss of his father. But only time will tell what Campbell truly decides what to do with the Casey Jones character. 

The issue concludes with the TMNT thwarting Hobb’s sniper attacks on the Mutant rally as that leads into the big confrontation of the Splinter Clan taking on the Mutanimals! This is a big moment for Leo as we’ll (hopefully) be able to witness his training come to fruition. It’s a big proving point for Leonardo himself, not to mention the TMNT as a whole since they started this dojo after the events nearly 20 issues ago!    

 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #119  is now available wherever comics are sold! 

 

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Comic BooksReviews

COMIC REVIEW: TMNT #118

by Chris M. P.
written by Chris M. P.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #118

Story by Sophie Campbell 

Art by Nelson Daniel 

Published by IDW 

Released June 23rd, 2021

The Shredder returns! Oroku Saki has been to Hell and back, but will he now come to the Turtles as friend or foe? Meanwhile, April makes a stand against Baxter Stockman– with dangerous consequences.

APRIL O’NEIL: WANTED WOMAN?! 

After the disappointing bookend that was TMNT #117, I was happy to find out that #118 released the same month. Hoping to be a palette cleanser of sorts, I jumped into this issue hopeful and excited. And I’m pleased to say TMNT #118 puts us back on track for a new exciting story focusing on the familiar faces of Oroku Saki and April O’Neil.

Saki is back at it again, but not in the way you’d think. The Shredder is dead after all, and Saki’s soul has been redeemed and put on a brighter path. In this issue, Saki has gone full Spectre as we’re shown his various small (yet integral) good deeds he’s been doing to help The Splinter Clan and their allies. It’s a refreshing and interesting role for “The Shredder” that adds more dimension to his character overall. On the other hand, April is back to her old ways of getting herself in trouble (shocker!) when she stumbles upon Stockman’s plan of unleashing mutant eel’s into Mutant Town for nefarious reasons. I’m glad to see an April-heavy issue as I’ve missed her presence in the series. She reaches the Splinter clan just in time, albeit a bit battered, although Stockman has alerted his people that she must be stopped as she knows too much. 

Campbell’s writing this issue around is welcoming. It’s setting up a new arc, so the issue moves at a brisk and interesting pace. Campbell seems to get problematic when it comes to realizing lasting impact and consequences, so I’m hoping that this arc has some effects rather than simply fluff. Nelson Daniel’s artwork is clean with a very nice sense of movement and alluring color. It’s a great first issue to kick you into a new TMNT adventure. 

I’m eager to see where Oroku Saki being TMNT’s “guardian angel” goes exactly, and I love the idea of April being public enemy number one in Stockman’s scheme. I hope this is the start of some great ninja action, humor, and heart that the TMNT is known for. Cowabunga! 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #118  is now available wherever comics are sold! 

 

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Comic BooksReviews

COMIC REVIEW: TMNT #117

by Chris M. P.
written by Chris M. P.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #117

Story by Sophie Campbell 

Art by Sophie Campbell 

Published by IDW 

Released June 9th, 2021

A winner is crowned in Jennika’s battle of the bands and two old foes make surprising revelations as the TMNT and allies prepare to take Mutant Town in a new direction! Important steps towards the next chapter of the TMNT saga are made here!

God Gave Rock and Roll To You…

The last issue of TMNT was sort of a rock montage to what’s promised to be a face melting battle of the bands deciding the future of the saga. Pretty high stakes wouldn’t you say? And it all rests on the shoulders of Jennika because of course it does. Who needs the Ninja Turtles to be the stars in charge of the Ninja Turtles series anyway? Personal bias aside, does TMNT #117 deliver a Van Halen level degree of rocking? Or are we left sitting on a blanket for a Hootie and the Blowfish concert? 

Looks like we’re going the Hootie route. Spoilers below. 

The battle of the bands that was built up for months and decided the futuristic fate of the TMNT as we know it…was three pages. It was a single performance where the established violent baddies of Bebop and Rocksteady simply gave up and dipped with no fight. There’s no further explanation. And no reason as to why that exactly needed to happen. And while Campbell’s artwork is very good throughout the issue, it’s extremely difficult to imply sound in a solely visual medium. So the entire finale to the buildup falls completely flat and leaves us asking so what?

We’re then swept to the TMNT making amends to Karai and the Foot (again) . Tokka and Rahzar are sent to the (cheery) future with Lita. Once again, characters that were made out to be a big threat essentially went nowhere, had no impact overall, and were thrown into time travel for reasons. Also a turtle and a pig kiss each other establishing the first queer couple in the TMNT universe. And I truly believe Campbell trashed Casey Jones solely for that. Not for logical storytelling. For furry fanfiction. Cool.

Lastly, it’s established that Oroku Saki is watching over the Splinter Clan and will make himself known when they hit rock bottom (Rat King is teased?). Campbell’s artwork is the best thing about this issue. It’s sharp, polished, and striking when it needs to be. Yet it’s no secret that Campbell’s tonal shift and character focus caused a lot of readers to lose interest in IDW’s current TMNT series. A lot has happened (technically) in those past 17 issues…but it has little impact overall. And if this issue serves as a “bookend” of sorts…it perfectly demonstrates why Campbell’s arc has been such a slog. Little consequence and impact. Forgettable characters. And a slow pace…with a rushed ending. 

I’m not interested in Jennika taking over TMNT and morphing it into some Netflix original teen drama with a furry overlay. Hopefully IDW’s TMNT is on to greener pastures starring action, humor, and our actual turtle brethren. 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #117  is now available wherever comics are sold! 

 

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Comic BooksReviews

COMIC REVIEW: THE LAST RONIN #3

by Chris M. P.
written by Chris M. P.

TMNT: The Last Ronin #3

Story by Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird, Tom Waltz 

Art by Kevin Eastman, Esau and Isaac Escorza, and Ben Bishop

Published by IDW 

Released May 26th, 2021

Unexpected allies from the past reveal a possible path to salvation! As the Foot Clan sweeps NYC for the rogue Ronin, a final desperate plan in the name of vengeance is made! Spanning decades, this issue’s action and intrigue will set up the astounding final issues!

Part 3 of 5: FIGHT OR FLIGHT…

The fate of Casey Jones and the return of Fugitoid tickled our turtle-fueled-toes previously on The Last Ronin. These waits between issues are excruciating, are they not? We’re over halfway through this limited series. Issue 3 is the most story heavy yet practically soaking with plot from the past, present, and future. Fanfare can only take you so far as this issue proves that the Last Ronin story definitely stands on its own. 

We get a glimpse into the past of Hiroyuki Saki as we learn that when taking control of the Foot Clan, his supposed plan was to find a peaceful solution to the ongoing war between him and The Splinter clan. We also delve more into the hot headedness of Casey Marie as well as the fate of our beloved Casey Jones and what caused April to move to the sewers. It’s a thick issue that moves at a very brisk pace. Yet the story has time to breathe. I didn’t feel overwhelmed with the plot reading this. And, now that I had time to digest, I’m looking forward to issue 4. 

I wasn’t thrilled with Mikey’s reasoning for “disappearing” when April was forced to hide after the clan was wiped out. I hope they go back and touch on this more. I just felt it was odd writing to have Michaelangelo completely assume everyone died in an explosion and hop on a plane to Japan. Never once did he go back or actually wait to see who made it. He just up and left. Again, I hope there’s more to it rather than just being lazy reasoning. 

Hiroyuki’s monologue in the rain at the end of the issue was also interesting. We haven’t seen too much of him, but he’s come off as a swift totalitarian leader with revenge in his heart. Yet by the end of this issue…this dude is also bonkers out of his mind. Not sure if there was a better way to write that…but it works for now.

The artwork is great as it’s been for the past 3 issues. Gritty linework and a solid grasp on drawing emotion makes a difference. And, even though Eastman’s artwork is an acquired taste, I love how they use it in the flashback portions. Makes for a unique homage that feels right. Overall Last Ronin #3 continues to be a great title within TMNT lore. We’re delving more into how we’ve found ourselves in this timeline and teased with a very TDKR Turtle-Tank. Last Ronin continues to be the best TMNT comic title currently on the market and I look forward to how this tale can possibly conclude. 

TMNT: THE LAST RONIN #3 IS NOW AVAILABLE WHEREVER COMICS ARE SOLD! 

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