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Comic Review: Rise of the TMNT #0

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

IDW Publishing

(w) Matthew K. Manning (A) Chad Thomas

After months of buildup, comic readers are the first to get a true look at the team dynamics of the upcoming animated series Rise of the TMNT. This show’s development has been talked about to death. I myself have discussed how divisive it has been, and expressed my own disappointment with certain changes brought on by the show. However, I’m not looking to judge this comic based on the new dynamics of the upcoming cartoon. Instead, I’m going to try my best to judge it based solely on the craftsmanship of writer Matthew K. Manning and artist Chad Thomas. And as a whole, their efforts produce a rather entertaining comic.

Rise of the TMNT #0 is loaded with jokes, and most of them land effectively. Manning’s script does not let up, from naming streets “Overly Ominous Avenue” to the banter between Splinter and April, there is bound to be at least one gag to elicit a giggle from readers. However, the Turtles themselves are buffoons. Their “mission” is caused by them ignoring April, and at the end of the day they don’t dispatch or incapacitate their foes (mutated silverfish), but merely relocate them to a different part of the city.

I’ve discussed in a previous article my disappointment in taking the leadership role away from Leonardo, and this issued demonstrates why it’s an issue. Raph is still impulsive, Donnie is the tech genius, and Mikey remains the party dude. But Leo is now… a discount Mikey? Like many of the changes made for this version of the TMNT, it just doesn’t work. This is not the fault of Manning or Thomas, but it is a flaw in the material presented nonetheless.

Speaking of Chad Thomas, he does a great job bringing energy and expressiveness to each and every page. He is not to blame for the unflattering character designs, and choses to keep the visuals moving at a frenetic pace. There are visual gags aplenty, and his ability to make characters cartoonishly emote makes for a genuinely pleasant experience.

Rise of the TMNT #0 is ultimately… just fine. Manning and Thomas do their best to make an entertaining bottle issue, but it is handcuffed by the parameters of the new animated show. Hopefully, IDW can reward this duo for turning subpar material into something that shockingly doesn’t feel like a waste of time.

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Comic Book NewsNews

New Comic Series Based on RISE OF THE TMNT

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

With the upcoming animated series RISE OF THE TMNT, it’s only natural that IDW would produce a comic series to accompany it. After all, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003), and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012) had comic book adaptations from – respectively – Archie Comics, Mirage Studios, and IDW Publishing. While it hasn’t been 100% confirmed that a new series is in IDW’s plans, it’s a safe bet.

What has been confirmed is that a #0 issue from IDW veterans Matthew K. Manning and Chad Thomas will debut ahead of the animated show with a July 2018 release (the show debuts in September 2018), which means fans looking at their first look at this new TMNT iteration should head to their local comic shops. The news comes out of this past weekend’s C2E2, held every April in Chicago, IL. Solicitation for the issue is as follows:

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #0

  • Matthew K. Manning (w) • Chad Thomas (a & c)
  • A new age of mutant madness begins with the Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! This special zero issue is your very first look at the new adventures the guys in green will be getting into this fall! Will the TMNT be able to master their new weapons, or will the weapons master them?!
  • FC • 32 pages • $3.99
  • Excited for the new upcoming TMNT new animated series Rise of the TMNT? Catch the comic first!
  • New characters, new weapons, new attitude!
  • Hilarious action and adventure for all ages!
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Comic BooksReviews

Comic Review: TMNT Universe #20

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

Get ready for a cool but rude (or is it crude?) issue featuring everyone’s hotheaded reptile. The featured story concludes the “Service Animals” story, while the backup sees a Raphael-style insomnia remedy.

Comic Review: TMNT Universe #20

(w) Ian Flynn & Matthew K. Manning (a) Dave Wachter & Adam Gorham (c) Ronda Pattison & Brittany Peer

As a comics fan, I often find myself asking what benefits are there for multiple books that take place in the same universe? While it makes sense when dealing with different characters or concepts, the idea of having multiple Superman or Spider-Man comics seemed confounding to me, especially when they make following the character’s story that much more convoluted. Yet every so often, a story comes around that is really good and reminds us why multiple books can not just be a good idea, but a great one.

To flip the script, let’s discuss the back-up feature first. Penned by Matthew K. Manning (TMNT Adventures) and illustrated by Adam Gorham and Brittany Peer, their story is a simple but entertaining slice-of-life tale. After a hard night out on patrol, all Raphael wants to do is get some shut-eye. Unfortunately, Mikey is hard at work getting the high score in a video game. Loudly. It turns out Mikey is having trouble sleeping, so Raph takes it upon himself to provide his own remedy: a sparing match intended to tire him out. It’s an entertaining, yet touching tale which showcases that even hotheaded Raphael can be nurturing… in his own unique way.

As for the main event, the side-quest of Raphael and Alopex taking on Zodi is a quality action story with a healthy injection of heartfelt moments. While Raph has the unenviable task of trying to subdue Zodi, Alopex is left to take on an anthropomorphic snake named Krisa. Much like the Turtles were able to free her from the Foot’s control, Alopex attempts a similar tactic with her serpentine combatant – and she’s able to get through. While Krisa’s vulnerability to persuasion borders on the absurd, her quick of captured pet turned mutant weapon appears to play a major role in her malleable moral compass.

Zodi is arguably the best new addition to the TMNT canon since Old Hob. It’s not due to her character design, which is surprisingly not gross for a mutated scorpion, but rather her personality. Her fighting style comes straight out of the Peter Parker playbook, that is, hurl a constant barrage of insults at your opponent to knock them off their game. Given that her combatant for the majority of the issue is Raphael, the tactic is more than effective. It certainly makes for one of the most entertaining fight sequences in recent memory.

Dave Wachter, in my opinion, is never bad. Even his subpar work is better than a number of more well regarded artists on their best day. I’ve gushed about his work in all my past reviews, and all of those hold true here. Ditto for Ronda Pattison’s colors.

TMNT Universe #20 finishes the current, two-issue arc on a high note thanks to a solid main feature and an absolutely delightful backup. This series has become a garden for which the seeds of stories featured in the main TMNT series are planted and harvested. If “Service Animals” is anything to go by,  what this story eventually blossoms into should be special.

 

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Comic BooksReviews

COMIC REVIEW: Batman/TMNT Adventures #6

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

The adventure was wrapped up in the last issue, but there’s another era of Batman: The Animated Series that needed to be milked before this crossover miniseries could end.

Batman/TMNT Adventures #6

(W) Matthew K. Manning (A) Jon Sommariva (C) Leonardo Ito

The sixth and final installment of Batman/TMNT Adventures is a curious entry. The story seemed to be wrapped up in a nice little bow at the end of issue #5, so the decision to stretch the miniseries out to six issues appeared needless. However, Matthew K. Manning’s script gives this issue a sense of relevancy. This issue is one that can be read as a standalone story or as a part of a greater whole thanks to Manning successfully bringing in elements from the rest of the miniseries. However, because the story serves as an epilogue while also giving readers one final adventure, the pacing of Manning’s script is uneven throughout.

Perhaps the biggest reason for this issue’s existence is to provide Jon Sommariva an excuse to draw the Batman Family in the style of The New Batman Adventures. And I must say, he does a fine job translating Bruce Timm’s designs to the page. If there is a reason to pick up this book it is the artwork, as Sommariva and colorist Leonardo Ito. Their work in this issue might be the strongest of the entire miniseries. Sommariva does struggle initially depicting the face of Gotham’s most eligible bachelor, but once the cowl is on the artwork is as solid as ever.

While Sommariva once again gives these beloved characters a dynamic and fluid sense of motion on the page, it is Ito’s colors that truly brings them to life. Seeing the four Turtles take on the Kraang alongside Batman, Robin, Batgirl, and Nightwing gives Ito the opportunity to use the full spectrum of his color palette, an opportunity which he grabs. Bright splashes of greens, reds, and blues pop against the dark streets of Gotham, as do the vibrant pinks of the Kraang.

Batman/TMNT Adventures #6 is a fine, second conclusion to this crossover event. While not as strong from start to finish as the James Tynion IV and Freddie E. Williams story, the creative team of Manning, Sommariva, and Ito that they too can deliver a satisfying crossover of these two iconic groups of characters. Hopefully, this is not the last we see of the Turtles meeting characters from other publishers.

 

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Comic BooksReviews

Comic Review: Batman/TMNT Adventures #5

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

With the real villain finally unveiled, the Turtles and Team Batman work double-time to stop this madman from accomplishing his ultimate goals.

Comic Review: Batman/TMNT Adventures #5

(W) Matthew K. Manning, (A) Jon Sommariva, (I) Sean Parsons, (C) Leonardo Ito

Let’s just come out and say it: the latest issue of this DC/IDW crossover is a lot of fun. Is it perfect? No. In fact, there’s a few items that glaring flaws from a structural and narrative perspective. However, those moments when the book goes off the rails are done with the payoff of highly entertaining moments. This can be attributed to Matthew K. Manning and Jon Sommariva’s self-awareness as to this book’s core audience and their decision to just have fun with these two pop-culture titans.

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of this issue is how the “A-listers” of both teams are given so little to do, while it is the characters struggling for respect, either from their cohorts or the fanbase, that end up saving the day. As Donnie, the rest of the Turtles, Batman, and Batgirl try to figure out how the Mad Hatter aims to control an entire city, it is Mikey and Robin that actually do the majority of the legwork.

One of the biggest payoffs of this entire crossover is a recreation of the now-iconic opening sequence to Batman: The Animated Series, only with Mikey in his crude, homemade Batsuit in the featured role. Its inclusion does throw the pacing of the issue off, but it’s too damn enjoyable to be mad about. This sequence – as is the case for the rest of the series – works so well because of the combined efforts of artist Jon Sommariva, inker Sean Parsons, and colorist Leonardo Ito. Their harmonious work results in a near-perfect rendering of the animated sequence.

Batman/TMNT Adventures #5 is not going to win any awards. It might not pull in the biggest numbers. It might not even be the best crossover featuring Batman and the TMNT. But it doesn’t have to be. Matthew K. Manning has managed to find who these characters are and balance their interactions in a fluid, organic manner. It’s good natured, silly fun. And at the end of the day, isn’t that what we all really wanted?

 

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