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SDCC 2018: “SHREDDER IN HELL” Miniseries Announced

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

With Comic Con International (commonly referred to as San Diego Comic Con) in full swing, there was bound to be some TMNT-releated announcements. And while fans got a new look at Rise of the TMNT, there was also news on the comic-front.

Fan favorite artist Mateus Santolouco (Secret History of the Foot Clan) was announced as the creative force behind a new TMNT miniseries – SHREDDER IN HELL! The Shredder has been off the table since the epic events of TMNT #50, and one can infer that this series will kick-off the return of the Turtles’ most feared foe. For the complete press release from IDW Publishing, check out below.

Mateus Santolouco Writes and Draws an Epic Comic Book Miniseries Featuring TMNT’s Greatest Villain

SAN DIEGO, CA (July 19, 2018) – IDW is proud to announce that acclaimed TMNT artist Mateus Santolouco will both write and draw Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder in Hell, a five-issue miniseries slated to debut in early 2019 that serves as a sequel to the fan-favorite Secret History of the Foot Clan storyline.

Shredder in Hell, the latest chapter in IDW’s groundbreaking TMNT saga, sinks into the nightmarish pits of the afterlife, where the infamous leader of the Foot Clan struggles to survive. In the process, Shredder discovers his true purpose… as well as the origins of the great beings responsible for both destruction and creation in his world.

“I’m very humble and thankful to help expand the rich universe of TMNT, adding new layers to the Turtles‘ main villain,” says Santolouco. “We’re not only revealing Shredder’s role in a conspiracy of divine proportions, but we’ll have a better understanding of his fears and ambitions. Oroku Saki is more human than ever… and this will only make him an even stronger force for the TMNT to face.”

Group Editor Bobby Curnow says, “Shredder in Hell is in many ways a spiritual sequel to the beloved Secret History of the Foot Clan. There’s one crucial difference: whereas before Mateus was just coming into his own as a creator, he is now, five years later, working at a master class level. The art he is producing is unreal, and the story is surprisingly deep and reaches to the core of IDW’s TMNT universe.”

For information on how to secure copies of the Shredder in Hell comic book miniseries, contact your local comic shop or visit www.comicshoplocator.com to find a store near you.

Creator Bio:

Mateus Santolouco was born in 1979 in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Launching his creative career in advertising, he shifted his attention to comic books in 2006. In addition to his extensive contributions to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise at IDW Publishing, he has worked on such comic book projects as Rampaging Wolverine, Dial H, Wonderlost, 24Seven, Dark Reign: Lethal Legion, Two Guns, and Fall of Cthulhu.

 

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This artwork comes from the cover of issue #75, which will be released on TMNT Day! Image Source: IDW, FreeComicBookDay.com
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Comic Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #75

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

It’s the 75th issue of IDW’s main TMNT book, and with that comes an inflated price ($7.99!), extra pages, a ton of variants, and the conclusion to the “Trial of Krang.” Can the creative team end this subpar arc on a high note? Perhaps they can…

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #75

(W) Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman, Bobby Curnow, (A) Corey Smith, Chris Johnson, Mateus Santolouco, and Damian Couceiro, (C) Ronda Pattison

If my reviews of TMNT #73, TMNT #74, and the whole Dimension X miniseries are any indication, “The Trial of Krang” as been a major misstep for a series that, up until this point, had delivered great issue after great issue. Issue #75 sees the creative team turn things around with an enjoyable concluding chapter. There’s action. There’s drama. There’s a shocking death to a major character. And, the wheels are set in motion for the Turtles’ next big adventure.

As alluded to, there is one major character who is killed off. Certainly, it’ll be the moment most will remember this issue for, thanks to near-flawless execution. The scene builds with an increased sense of tension and dread, but the death itself still comes as a surprise. With that said, there’s a reason the execution is “near-flawless” instead of “flawless.” When the actual deed is done, it’s not entirely clear what happens until the subsequent panels confirm it.

Of course, there is a lot more to this oversized issue than this one, singular moment. There’s a big space battle that is pulled straight out of Star Wars. It may not seem proper for a TMNT comic, but it is awesome nonetheless. Furthermore, seeing the Turtles engage in a cosmic-scale battle while using their traditional weapons is a blast. There’s also the reveal about the Triceritons’ origins, which is sure to set up an explosive conflict in the future. There’s also Hakk-R’s comeuppance, which is one of the most satisfying elements of this entire arc. However, the story itself gets bogged down once again by the courtroom drama. Yes, the story is titled “Trial of Krang,” but the surprise twists which result in a favorable outcome for our heroes is as forced as it is ham-fisted.

Throughout this arc, the artwork by Corey Smith has been a standout highlight. That continues here, as he is joined by Chris Johnson, Mateus Santolouco, and Damian Couceiro who help make sure this issue lives up to its “oversized” billing. All four artists do a great job, and the transitions from one to the next is seamless. This is largely due to the unifying colors of Ronda Pattison. Time and again, I have touted Pattison’s coloring as among the best in the industry – and this might be her defining work (okay, maybe after that 2008 Eisner nomination). If there is any one reason to pick up this $8 single issue, it’s the artwork. Seriously good stuff from all involved.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #75 sees the series begin to rebound after a rough stretch of issues. While far from perfect, the spectacular artwork elevates the uneven script into an overall enjoyable tale. My fingers are crossed that the creative team will be able to harness this newfound momentum and carry it over into the next arc – as well as the upcoming crossover with the Ghostbusters!

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Comic Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #69

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

The Turtles and Old Hob find themselves under siege by the EPF. Elsewhere, Mondo Gecko orchestrates a prison break, and we learn more about Bishop’s past. Yes, this issue has more toppings than one of Mikey’s insane pizza orders.

Comic Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #69

(W) Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman, and Bobby Curnow (A) Mateus Santolouco (C) Ronda Pattison

Agent Bishop has been one of the most mysterious figures in the TMNT canon. Yes, he is employed by a shady, off the books government (or independent) organization tasked with rounding up or eliminating the world’s mutants. But that’s all the information that’s been given to this point. Given the civil rights struggles which parallel the real world, its easy to conclude bigotry is his motivator. However, with this issue the creative team does something that has not really been explored before: Bishop’s past.

Specifically, the story by Kevin Eastman, Bobby Curnow, and Tom Waltz introduces readers to Bishop’s father, who has been placed in a senior living community and has deteriorating mental faculties. It’s a welcome break from his cold G-Man persona, offering readers a brief glimpse as to who he his as a man. Ironically, Bishop isn’t a mutant, but up until now he has not felt human.

Of course, Bishop isn’t the only character to shine. The chemistry between the titular characters is as prominent as ever, and the addition of Old Hob is a welcome addition due to his unpredictability. He particularly shines in a moment where he asks why they don’t call on Splinter for help while holding one of the biggest guns to appear in this series. That one panel sums up Hob perfectly. He will do anything to survive, regardless of its moral implications. This plays heavily into the issue’s cliffhanger as well.

Being this arc’s penultimate issue, there’s plenty of action too. With the Turtles and Hob under siege, they attempt to break free. This enables Santolouco to do what he does best, delivering wonderfully laid out and kinetic action sequences. His panel structure allows the action to fluidly flow across the page. Meanwhile, his character renderings are fully detailed, but not to the point where the artwork becomes busy and overwhelming to the reader. Perhaps most importantly, each character moves in a manner that is unique. Whether it’s Hob, Raphael, or Mondo Gecko, these characters, each character has their own physiology that determines their ability to move across the pages.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has been one of the best comics in publication since it’s initial release back in 2011, and it appears there are no breaks on this train. The series’ consistently high quality is to the point where I may have to begin copying and pasting the same high-praise review each month. Issue #69 is another great issue, full of action, humor, and some good old-fashioned character development.

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Comic Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #68

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

An injured Hob turns to the TMNT for help. Meanwhile, Agent Bishop continues to make life miserable for New York’s mutant community.

Comic Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #68

(W) Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman, Bobby Curnow, (A) Mateus Santolouco, (C) Ronda Pattison

For those of you that may be stumbling upon this website (and therefore, this review) for the first time, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from IDW Publishing is easily the best “superhero” comic available. If you need any further proof, look at the issue which is the subject of this post. It’s both grounded, yet wacky. It has moments of gravity, and moments of humor. The artwork is dynamic and fluid while the writing makes it easily accessible.

The biggest strength of this issue is that, even though this is the second part of the latest story arc, it can be easily picked up by a new reader without the fear of being lost. Moreover, it does so without alienating those who have continued to read the series month in and month out. Aiding in the accessibility is the clear delineation of heroes and villains. While having a large cast waver among varying shades of gray, the clear, black-and-white conflict is a welcome change of pace.

Agent Bishop is a great villain.  Like the best villains, he sees himself as the hero of his story, saving humanity from a threat to its existence. While it is a common science-fiction trope, it is effective as it causes readers to take a step back and think about their real-world reaction to such a scenario. Of course, the reader knows that his perceived threat is only dangerous when they are manipulated – as he has done to Slash. Bishop is a man that will not be reasoned with – despite the pleading of the captured Mutanimals.

If there is a flaw to this issue, it’s that the Turtles are given very little to do aside from banter with Old Hob about if the latter is telling them the truth. Also, the issue’s cliffhanger is a bit of a head-scratcher as Bishop’s team, for the entirety of the issue, was preoccupied elsewhere. However, just because the Turtles were not the central focus does not make this a bad issue. Quite the contrary, in fact, as the varied personalities of Mutanimals are more than enough to keep readers thoroughly occupied and entertained over the course of the issue.

Every month, it seems that this series forces reviewers to come up with new ways to sing its praises, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #68 is no exception. Finely scripted and beautifully illustrated, this continues to be the standard by which all other superhero titles should be judged.

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Comic Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #67

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

The Mutanimals are in the crosshairs of Agent Bishop and the EPF, with Slash being the primary target. Oh, and some guy named Mateus Santolouco returns on art.

Comic Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #67

(W) Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman, Bobby Curnow (A) Mateus Santolouco (C) Ronda Pattison

If there was ever a doubt that TMNT Universe is an essential part of the IDW’s canon for the Ninja Turtles, it is firmly put to rest by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #67. Following-up on the events from TMNT Universe #1-4, Agent Bishop reemerges with a plan for a new weapon to defend the earth: mutants. With the TMNT keeping a low profile, Bishop sets his sights on the Mutanimals, resulting in a suspenseful and thrilling issue.

Just because the Mutanimals and the EPF are the central focus does not mean that the Ninja Turtles are absent. As a matter of fact, Waltz’s script does a great service to the brothers in a couple of character-driven scenes. The first scene, in which Leonardo fails to rally his brothers into a training session, is a solid, slice-of-life moment. Ever diligent, Leo wants to prepare for the potential threats he and his brothers may face. Perhaps this is Waltz tipping his hand for what’s to come down the line, with the Pantheon sticking out after the events of TMNT #66. Needless to say, his brothers aren’t having it, with Mikey’s head planted firmly within a comic book (specifically, a Batman book), Raph simply wanting to take a breather, and Donnie focused on his latest gadgets – especially those that are, to his dismay, used as drink coasters.

What makes this scene work so well is that it reminds readers that that these four are teenagers – a fact that is often overlooked across their many incarnations. This is explicitly called out in the issue by Splinter, who Leonardo goes to for guidance. Though his words are a little too on-the-nose, there is very little to take issue with in this sequence. It makes sense that Leo would go to Splinter for guidance. Even though the Turtles and Splinter have split over the latter’s leadership of the Foot Clan, their family bonds are tough to break. It is also a comfort to see that Splinter is still maintains his trademark kindness when it comes to family.

While the Turtles drive the issue’s emotional beat, it is Bishop and the EPF that drive the plot. Very quickly, they manage to kidnap Slash and, through the wonders of science, turn him into a radio controlled monster. When the EPF inevitably sets Slash on a rampage Santolouco structures the scenes in a manner that feels at home in the horror genre – and it works very well. The issue does a great job reestablishing Bishop and the EPF as a viable threat to New York’s mutant community. While it initially felt that the arc may distract from the “real” threats of the Foot and the Pantheon, it is nice to see villains with a very different set of motivations from what readers have grown accustomed to.

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