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Comic Review: TMNT Urban Legends #4

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

The latest issue of TMNT Urban Legends is nuts! Donnie’s dead… or is he? Meanwhile, Splinter and some dragons take on a giant man-shark!

Comic Review: TMNT Urban Legends #4

(w) Gary Carlson (a) Frank Fosco (i) Andrew Pepoy (c) Adam Guzowski

Perhaps the best thing about TMNT Urban Legends is that literally anything can happen. Without the ties to a set continuity, the changes made to the Turtles by Carlson and Fosco are easy to digest and genuinely fun. Of course, at the time of its release, these changes were within continuity, making the series divisive among fans and ultimately dismissed by co-creator Peter Laird upon taking the reigns for Volume 4 at Mirage Studios. With that said, I get the joy of reading and reviewing them outside their time, and the bold decisions made by the creative team are refreshing.

For the first few issues, readers have seen Carlson and Fosco’s knack for changing the Turtles as we know them. Quickly, Raphael is disfigured and now hides his visage behind Casey Jones’ old hockey mask – a visually striking image to say the least. With this issue, it should be evident that the creative duo have completely discarded Stan Lee’s decree of providing readers “the illusion of change” in favor of full overhaul of the team. While Raphael’s new look is indeed different, it can be explained away in time. “His mutant blood made his wounds heal rather than make the disfigurement permanent” or something to that extent. However, with Donatello the creators make a loud declaration that times are indeed changing for the titular foursome. Without spoiling too much, he’s a “hero in a half-shell” no more.

Another thing that works in TMNT Urban Legends #4’s favor is the story just keeps moving. Though comics of this era are known for either their flashy art or over-abundance of dialogue, this book manages to balance both aspects of the medium quite effectively. It is by no means perfect. The dialogue is clunky in parts, while the art can be stiff or even awkwardly laid out on the page. However, the mix of character development, plot advancement, and pacing make for an enjoyable reading experience. Also adding the experience are the colors from Adam Guzowski. It seems that he has found his footing in coloring this series. While solid in Issues #1-3, Guzowski’s colors feel like an organic part of the creative process, not something tacked on decades later.

Overall, TMNT Urban Legends #4 is a pleasant surprise in a month of generally sub-par comics from IDW (Usagi Yojimbo is from Dark Horse). Though it reads as a product of its time, the creative team is not afraid to take risks with a property that regularly recycles the few stories. Seeing the Turtles in a flying or Splinter laying the smackdown on what’s essentially a Street Shark is a nice change from the regular rotation of villains.

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Comic BooksReviews

Comic Review: TMNT Urban Legends #3

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

Donnie’s paralyzed! Leo’s stuck in an astral plane! Mikey and Ralph are overwhelmed by an army of femme fatales! And Splinter… gets to enjoy a day the spa. It’s not all bad for our heroes in the latest chapter of TMNT Urban Legends!

Comic Review: TMNT Urban Legends #3

(w) Gary Carlson (a) Frank Fosco (i) Andrew Pepoy (c) Adam Guzowski

Say what you will about TMNT Urban Legends, but the series certainly keeps readers guessing. While the creative team took a couple issues to find their footing, they nevertheless forged ahead in bringing drastic changes to the titular heroes. The twists and turns keep coming in the series’ third issue, but the quality of the storytelling has improved, making this the best issue of the series thus far.

The issue opens with an almost full page splash of Raphael and Michaelangelo standing off against an army of ninja warriors. It’s big, bold, and sets the tone for the remainder of the issue. Not only do they have to face overwhelming odds, but they also must protect their older brother, Leonardo, who is off in the astral plane. This seamless leads into seeing where Leonardo is and what he is dealing with. This gets to the heart as to why this issue is better than the previous two. The creators have managed to find their footing in juggling a large cast of characters, transitioning from one plot thread to the next without it muddying the storytelling.

Not only do Carlson and Fosco excel in juggling their large cast, but they do so without sacrificing the shocking elements of the first two issues. That aspect of their storytelling is actually enhanced thanks to their refined technique. This is perhaps best exemplified throughout the issue as the creators check in with Donatello and his unfortunate predicament. When first shown, he is visited by Leonardo (in an astral form) and it is confirmed that his fall from a helicopter in the previous issue has left him completely paralyzed. A couple pages later, we return and the creators do an exemplary job in portraying the fear and loneliness the character experiences. This is a brutal and unfortunate situation, the the duo manages to capture its true horror. The third time… well, let’s not spoil things. Let’s just say it is chilling, leaving the reader aching for the next issue.

TMNT Urban Legends #3 is arguably the most enjoyable TMNT comic to be released in several months – and it’s a full color reprint of a 20-year-old issue. While it still possesses its share of flaws, the are far less pronounced than in the first two issues, resulting a thrilling and enjoyable issue. The envelope-pushing ’90s sensibilities work in this issue’s favor, leaving the reader wanting more upon reaching the final page.

 

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Comic BooksReviews

Comic Review: TMNT Urban Legends #2

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

The Image Turtles continue their fight against cyborgs and ninjas in a schlocky, action-filled adventure!

Comic Review: TMNT Urban Legends #2

(W) Gary Carlson (A) Frank Fosco (I) Chance Wolf & Andrew Pepoy (C) Adam Guzowski

If you’re curious which characters in TMNT Urban Legends are ninjas, all you have to do is wait for them to declare it virtually unprompted. On the first page of the issue, Donatello, bloodied and in a free-fall, feels the need to announce “I am Ninja!” This is done in an internal monologue, in a book with “TMNT” on the cover. There really is no purpose to this other than inform readers that subtlety will be at a premium here, a rare commodity in a book where loud, in-your-face intensity has run amok.

TMNT Urban Legends #1 hit the ground running with action that didn’t let up from start to finish. Frank Fosco and Gary Carlson’s second effort is more of the same, with action or 1990s x-tremes in every nook and cranny. And there’s blood. Lots of blood. As mentioned previously, Donnie’s bleeding from a massive head wound. One of the cyborg lackeys is dismembered and eaten alive by what is essentially a Street Shark. There is even a Wolverine knock-off called “the Weasel” who is swiftly decapitated. A lot of this is shocking and effective, assuming the reader already has an emotional investment in these characters. For all their attempts to make changes to the Turtles, Fosco and Carlson put little work into developing the characters.

What does work is the pervasive feeling of dread. Throughout the issue, there is never a time when the reader feels that things are going to be okay – almost like in a horror film. There is always a threat to deal with, whether it’s present or biding its time for the perfect moment. When combined with the schlocky dialogue and over-the-top visuals, it actually is comparable to some cult classic horror films, like Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 or Army of Darkness. Unfortunately, that is not what the book is going for. In the aim of being a superhero book, it misses the mark.

There is fun to be had within the pages of TMNT Urban Legends #2. Sure, the book is heavily, heavily flawed. But if you get yourself in the right frame of mind, there is enjoyment to be had. Hopefully with the next issue, the book does not force the reader to alter their frame of mind to find positives.

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Comic Review: TMNT Urban Legends #1

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

The infamous “Volume 3” of TMNT comics is finally being reprinted! The 1990s series comes with a fresh new title – TMNT Urban Legends – and in living color! And we promise that’ll be it for jokey 1990s references.

Comic Review: TMNT Urban Legends #1

(W) Gary Carlson (A) Frank Fosco (I) Erik Larsen & Chance Wolf (C) Adam Guzowski

The Image Comics volume of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is something that cannot be merely described, but rather something to experience. Though it was originally in canon with the beloved Volume One and Volume Two by Mirage Studios, Gary Carlson and Frank Fosco’s take on the Turtles does not hesitate to take the characters in a wildly new direction. With IDW reprinting these under the “Urban Legends” banner, the series is treated to new coloring by Adam Guzowski, giving the original black-and-white series a bright new finish.

TMNT Urban Legends #1 lets readers know right away that no-one is safe. Carlson and Fusco have Donnie get caught in an explosion, Raph losing half of his face, and Splinter seemingly vaporized. Though these moves can be characterized as over-the-top and the embodiment of terrible 1990s tropes, they do establish that the stakes in this book are very real. Even the IDW series has been guilty of having consequences be superfluous rather than drive real, lasting changes.

As concerned as the book is with having the stakes be real, the characters themselves lack awareness of how serious their predicaments are. Though Donnie has just been mangled in an explosion, his brother fight their attackers while making glib comments, maintaining the lighthearted personalities of their more famous cartoon counterparts. This continues throughout the issue. As Raphael has his face melted off by a laser, he and his brother remain glib.

While this may seem like a failing of the issue (and to an extent, it is), it is a courageous decision for the era to try and successfully blend elements of the dark, weird comics and lighthearted cartoons. It does not work well here – especially as well as what IDW has done – but this was not common for a big IP during the era. During a time when superheroes were watered down, bland, or over-the-top extreme, Carlson and Fosco attempted to do something wildly different.

Of course, the whole reason we’ve waited until this issue’s release to dive into the Image series is because of the addition of Adam Guzowski’s colors, and do they pop! The opening page – a full splash of the aforementioned Donnie explosion – is an eye-grabber with its wonderful mix of reds, oranges, and yellows. These bright colors are contrasted with the silhouette of Donnie’s charred body being thrown through the air. Guzowski’s stellar work continues throughout the issue. Whereas the added colors are an unnatural addition to the Mirage books as seen in IDW’s “Color Classics” series, their addition here is seamless.

TMNT Urban Legends #1 is sure to satiate the appetites of readers looking for a “new” and different take on the beloved reptiles. Yes, it is very flawed, but it is also very engaging. Someone who has never read this series before, here’s to hoping that the best is yet to come!

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IDW to Reprint Image’s TMNT Comics, Including Official Ending

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

It’s funny how things work out. I write something about the now non-canon third volume of TMNT comics published by Image, and then big news about that third volume is released. Beginning in May, IDW will be reprinting – in color – the entire 23 issue series by Gary Carlson and Frank Fosco. Adam Guzowski will be providing the colors for the reprinted issues, which will be retitled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Urban Legends.

Perhaps the biggest part of the news is that in addition to the 23 issues, IDW will be publishing 3 additional issues by Carlson and Fosco which will serve as the official ending to the story. For complete details, including an interview with Carlson and Fosco, head over to iO9.

 

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