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Comic Review: TMNT Universe #24 – The High-Ground Theory

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

Mondo Gecko and Michelangelo do their best to stealthily infiltrate the EPF. But you’re dealing with the TMNT Universe’s most silence-challenged characters, things are bound to go wrong.

Comic Review: TMNT Universe #23

(W) Ryan Ferrier & Rich Douek (A) Pablo Tunica & Brahm Revel (C) Patricio Delpeche

I know I’ve made this point several times, but TMNT Universe really needs to be an anthology series where creators can any type of story they wish without needing it to tie into an established canon. There is no better reason for this than in this issue and story arc, if you feel inclined to include last month’s issue #23. Ryan Ferrier and Pablo Tunica have been given the task of giving Mondo Gecko true character development, a practice that works in theory but not so much in execution.

Mondo Gecko works as a character because he is a completely carefree skater-dude. Originally, he was popular because he embodied cool trends of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Now, he is enjoyable for becoming a pastiche of a bygone era. Also due to his role as comic relief, he works in small, supporting doses. Much like those yellow bastard Minions, placing Mondo Gecko front and center can produce a story that is middling at best. That’s why this assignment for Ferrier and Tunica was unenviable.

In their journey to develop Mondo’s character, the creative team leans heavily into established tropes from the TMNT franchise and greater fiction. Mondo wants to save Seymour because he doesn’t want to live in a world without him. He also states that being a mutant isn’t great. Both things are out of character, as for decades Mondo has loved who he is and accepted how the world works – good and bad. Instead of being this unique beacon of unbridled joy, the character is now imbued by the same pathos as the other mutants.

There is a backup story by Rich Douek and Buster Moody about Pigeon Pete dreaming of being a pirate. It’s surprisingly mediocre. Pete is the worst, so anything better than “ugh” is a win, and the creative team manages to pull it off. Still, I’d recommend skipping this unless you really enjoy awful characters written marginally okay.

As I’ve stated, I really can’t blame Ferrier or Tunica for the lackluster story. Ferrier does his best to keep the story moving forward with exciting action and the occasional humorous note, while Tunica’s artwork is lively and expressive. However, it cannot save a story concept that screams editorial influence. At $4.99 a pop, TMNT Universe is becoming the book that can easily be dropped.

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Comic Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Amazing Adventures #13

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

“The Drip” begins in the latest issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Adventures. Donnie’s attempt to return Splinter to his human form doesn’t go as planned. In the backup feature, the Turtles dabble with the idea of coming out of their shells…

TMNT: Amazing Adventures #13 Review

There is an old saying that every comic is someone’s first. And while most publishers focus their efforts on the core comic market (18-40 year old men), they fail in luring in new readers at a younger age. While the cost of comics is certainly a factor, there also happens to be a dearth of material that is equally appealing and suitable for younger readers. TMNT: Amazing Adventures manages to strike that balance. In issue #13, readers are treated to the start of a new arc that captures the look and feel of the current Nickelodeon show – complete with zany antics.

The main feature by Matthew K. Manning and Chad Thomas has an entry point that is familiar to both younger and older fans of the franchise: Donatello is working on a means to return Splinter to his human form. Its a noble cause which enables readers to quickly invest themselves in the story’s outcome.  Manning writes Donnie as dedicated and overworked to the point of fatigue, which instantly sells the character’s devotion to both his work and his father figure.

This sequence also lends itself well to Thomas’ skills as a storyteller. If the pages were void of any dialogue, readers would still be able to comprehend the plot because of the dynamic and expressive nature of his art. The expressiveness of the art is crucial in the execution of an integral TMNT characteristic: humor. There are some well placed bits of physical comedy throughout the story that land well because of pacing as dictated by Thomas’ layouts.

Sadly, the pacing as a whole is uneven. As strong as it is in the early pages, Manning and Thomas falter towards the conclusion. The fantastic comedic timing and methodical pace evaporates, resulting in a sloppy, rushed sprint to the cliffhanger. As an adult, I had to re-read the final pages several times to fully comprehend it – I can only imagine how difficult it might be for a child to fully grasp the ending. Its an unfortunate end after a promising start that can hopefully be rectified in the next issue.

Contrarily, the backup feature by Caleb Goellner and Buster Moody is a delight from start to finish. Moody’s linework is darker and less refined than that of Thomas. As a result, the artwork has an aesthetic that marries the look from the television series with the original comics by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. The script by Goellner strikes the right balance of sincerity and goofiness to endear itself to all readers, as the Turtles attempt to start up a garage band. Not only do the Turtles don their outfits from the infamous Coming Out of Their Shells Tour, but they manage to draw the ire of Shredder by simply annoying him with their loud rock music. Shredder is essentially the cranky old man who is mad at the neighborhood kids, and it is extremely satisfying.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Amazing Adventures #13 suffers from an uneven opening chapter to “The Drip.” However, the backup feature is a raucous, campy, and all-around satisfying adventure that emphasizes the “teenage” part of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” Its a side that comic readers don’t get to see very often, and when it is exploited it is a refreshing experience.

What did you think of TMNT: Amazing Adventures #13?

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