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COMIC REVIEW: TMNT #116

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

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #116

Story by Sophie Campbell 

Art by Sophie Campbell 

Published by IDW 

Released April 21st, 2021

It’s the battle of the bands… of the century! As Jennika decides whether she weighs harmony over revenge, a musical brawl of epic proportions against Bebop and Rocksteady will have major ramifications on time itself!

We’re Gettin’ The Band Back Together…

After an entertaining mutant-mania showdown between Bebop, Rocksteady, Tokka, and Rahzar in #115, it’s time we head back to that whole Lita time travel thingy and Jennika’s power of music or whatever. Sophie Campbell tackles this issue solo (for the most part) which is an impressive feat for such a mainstream comic title such as this. The series has had a bit of an uptick as of the past couple issues, so do we continue to ride that wave? Or does issue 116 go back to being a sort of slogging Jennika driven furry fanfic?

Time-Rippin’ Lita claims Jennika’s band will change the future. So issue 116 is pure setup for the gig that’s about to unfold. Jennika and the TMNT grab some talent, practice some tunes, and face off with bebop and Rocksteady for an entertaining issue. What stands out the most this time around is Campbell’s artwork. Her work is always substantial but I really love the way she presents emotion through music. You’re in a comic medium so the only sounds we have are in our heads. Campbell does an awesome job of illustrating a dichotomy of colorful “visions” bursting out of Jennika whenever she plays. Very “Scott Pilgrim-esque” but with more meaning. 

We set up Jennika’s band, get a little insight of what to expect concerning our Turtle brothers, and conclude with a mutant battle of the bands faceoff. As stated previously, this issue is mostly buildup…but it moves at a great pace. Sort of a “montage scene” if this were a film. I’m still unclear how exactly Jennika’s music will change the future in such a big way…but I guess that’s the point to keep reading. In conclusion TMNT 116 is a rockin’ foreword of what’s to come. I hope Campbell uses more of that visual music style in 117 (especially when it comes to Bebop and Rocksteady). And with such buildup to this I’m eager to see where this goes exactly. And where it goes will truly make or break the story. 

There’s definitely going to be some shredding in the next issue and it ain’t going to be Oroku Saki, dudes.  

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #116  is now available wherever comics are sold! 

 

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Comic BooksReviews

COMIC REVIEW: Jennika #2

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

TMNT: Jennika #2

  • Story by Brahm Revel and Ronda Pattinson     
  • Art by Brahm Revel and Jodi Nishijima
  • Published by IDW 
  • Released March 25th, 2020

Jennika journeys deeper into the NYC underworld in search of a dangerous procedure to reverse mutation. Will Jennika be tempted by the call of her old life, and how far will she go to save those who gave up on her long ago?

Although I love the character, the first issue of Jennika’s 3 part series wasn’t anything too special. And with such a limited series, I was hoping issue 2 would turn it around real quick. And while it was a solid issue with a focused story, I guess I was under the wrong impression that this series would delve into Jennika’s past. Yet here we are with one more issue to go and we don’t know too much more than we already did.  

 Jennika #2 finds Jennika getting word from an old friend, Sy, that Old Hobb has a cure to the sudden mutation. With her “ninja” help they can get the cure moving faster on the streets in hopes of a brighter future. Jenny ends up getting pulled into a fetch-quest concerning Sy’s shady past…and while she’s reluctant to help..the tease of this “cure” strings her along. Glimpses of Jenny’s criminal past are just that…glimpses. We learn a little bit through the dialog of our current mutated cast…but overall…Jennika’s past is still sort of dark. 

I understand sometimes less is more when it comes to character. But since we’ve been teased quite a bit with Jenny’s past, I’d love if this series delved into it more. I’m not saying I want an entire history of this character, but less focus on where Jenny is now and more of where Jenny was then. It’s only three issues after all, just enough for us to get a taste of the woman before the mutation. That being said, the story that’s currently unfolding isn’t bad by any means. I just feel it’s standard. 

And with a “new” character to be showcased as often as she is in TMNT stories, I expected something a little deeper than what we’re currently into. Jennika #2 has passable artwork and a decent story. I understand it’s unfair to critique something on what I think it should be rather than what it is…but here we are. 

If you love Jennika and want to read up as much as you can on her as a completist, by all means, issue 2 provides a solid Jennika adventure. But if you’re a TMNT fan that wants to read a story essential to the character…I can’t say I recommend it as of now. Will the final Issue change that? We’ll find out soon enough. 

TMNT: Jennika #2 is available wherever comics are sold! 

 

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Comic BooksReviews

COMIC REVIEW: JENNIKA #1

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

TMNT: Jennika #1

Story by Brahm Revel and Ronda Pattinson     

Art by Brahm Revel and Jodi Nishijima

Published by IDW 

Released February 26th, 2020

Trying to acclimate to life as a mutant, the newest Turtle Jennika embarks on a solo adventure that will force her to come to terms with both her troubled past and conflicted present. Not to mention a brand new villain! Brahm Revel (Guerrillas) returns to reveal more of Jennika’s backstory from his acclaimed TMNT Universe tale “What is Ninja?”!

It’s difficult as a writer to be given the job to expand an already beloved franchise with legions of fans poised to bite at every minor change or deviation. Some fan bases are more critical than others, but I’ve always found the TMNT fandom to be mostly optimistic and positive for the most part. Jennika is a character that received some criticism at first as a “Fifth Ninja Turtle” for the sake of change ala’ Venus de Milo (can I say that name here?). But with a well written and emotional story arc, she quickly became a fan favorite. 

What sold me on her character is how she’s being established as her own mutant finding-her-place, and not simply “Girl Ninja Turtle”. So when it was announced in November that Jennika was getting her own 3 issue series, I was eager to read it. And here we are. 

The story is essentially an issue long chase sequence with another mutant criminal, with Jennika pursuing using her best Ninja skills with occasional flashbacks to her human days. Which proves to be more interesting with a familiar face. We explore Jenni’s criminal background and prison experience. We get a lot of foreshadowing and Revel keeps his story moving at a brisk pace. Which fits the theme of the issue. With the TMNT themselves being broken in their main title, it’s certainly evolved into the “Jennika Show” in the past three issues. So, when reading Jennika #1, I had to often remind myself that I wasn’t reading issue #104, as this was her own miniseries.  

The largest knock I have with this issue is the artwork. Having worked on comic books, it goes without saying that drawing consistently is difficult, but the artwork representing the story looks hastily drawn. I could understand if that was the artist’s intended style, but it just comes off as lackluster and far too “sketchy”. It feels as though Jennika isn’t being given the same care as a main Ninja Turtle adventure. As the issue as a whole looks unpolished. Yet the colors of Nishijima give the issue something positive to visually study. 

With only 3 issues in this miniseries, I’m eager to see what story they tell. I feel like with Issue 1 in the books, this series may just serve as some background to add some additional layers to the Jennika character. Isolation and loneliness isn’t a new theme when it comes IDW’s Ninja Turtles, but Jennika’s human past sets her apart and could make for an interesting “side quest” of sorts. As of right now, I’m not completely on board…but they have my attention. 

TMNT: Jennika #1 is now available wherever comics are sold! 

 

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Comic BooksReviews

COMIC REVIEW: TMNT #102

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

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #102

Story by Sophie Campbell with Tom Waltz and Kevin Eastman   

Art by Sophie Campbell and Ronda Pattinson 

Published by IDW 

Released January 29th, 2020

The Turtles are separated, each trying to find their own way forward. With their absence, Old Hob fills the power vacuum with the help of some very unusual new mutants!

In order to move forward, you sometimes have to step back. The theme of this issue is simplicity.  

And there’s nothing wrong with that. After the string of “epic-ness” IDW’s TMNT series has been hurdling to #100, we’ve slowed down to find our footing. And Campbell’s Issue 102 makes that very clear…in a good way of course. Jennika and the newly introduced Mona Lisa tangle with Diamond, a mutanimal Porcupine with ruthless intentions. And our Turtle brothers can’t seem to pull themselves together after the death of their master. 

I mentioned how Jennika really shined in issue #101. So far, out of all the Turtles, she is the most level headed right now. I’ve read some complaints on how the past two issues have been losing focus on TMNT, but I feel like it’s for a purpose. Jennika is being spotlighted as she has a new solo miniseries being released in February. And, storywise, having the TMNT take a backseat in their own series would make their return more important. We’re being introduced to this (nearly) lawless mutant city and how it affects the citizens. Patience is key as we’re still in the middle of picking up the pieces. And with all this story being unfolded, Campbell does a good job pacing this huge story by making it small and focused. 

The artwork is solid, with my favorite moments being the Turtles back on the farm. The art proving how much you can say without words. Pattinson’s colors add a lot as well, with the Turtles’ panel being engulfed in white snow, meanwhile the mutant city using cool dark hues. The issue ends in an intriguing way that makes me believe Issue 102 should ‘weasel” its way into your comic pickup list.      

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #102 is now available wherever comics are sold!

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Comic Book NewsNews

Jennika Goes Solo February 2020!

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

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Jennika goes Solo

The Breakout Star of IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Will Headline a Comic Book Miniseries in 2020

Via IDWPublishing.com: The ongoing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book from IDW Publishing  has achieved resounding acclaim from fans and critics alike on the march to its 100th issue. Now, in the aftermath of the cataclysmic “City at War” storyline, the newest addition to the team will step into the spotlight in a three-issue miniseries, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Jennika!!

Written and illustrated by Brahm Revel (Guerillas), who previously shed light on the character’s mysterious origins in IDW’s TMNT Universe series, the miniseries finds Jennika still trying to acclimate to life as a mutant. Drawn into conflict with a never-before-seen villain, she embarks on a journey that forces her to face her troubled past and conflicted present!

“Jennika has always been a fascinating character, and her story is now moving in directions none of us could have ever anticipated,” says Revel. “I’m very excited about the opportunity to revisit Jenn’s past and explore how she’s been handling the recent changes in her life, all while being tested by a world that’s changing just as rapidly as she is.”

Editor Bobby Curnow says, “Brahm has a fantastic knack for revealing character through adversity. With the Jennika miniseries, he’s digging deep into what makes this fan-favorite character tick, all in a fast-moving and accessible story. I’m also excited for people to see the back-up stories from up-and-coming creators that will be featured in every issue.”

TMNT: Jennika #1 will be available with a main cover by Brahm Revel, plus two Retailer Incentive variant editions by talented newcomer Jodie Nishijima and Freddie Williams II (Batman/TMNT), respectively.

For information on how to acquire copies of the new TMNT: Jennika miniseries by Brahm Revel or the ongoing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series by Sophie Campbell, please contact your local comic shop or visit www.comicshoplocator.com to find a store near you.

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