Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #127
Story by Sophie Campbell
Art by Pablo Tunica and Ronda Pattinson
Published by IDW
Released March 30th, 2021
Who is Dr. Jasper Barlow, and is he friend or foe? As the TMNT regroup from their battle with the Punk Frogs, the doctor makes some of our heroes an offer they may find hard to refuse. Plus, a tense situation between the Utroms and Triceratons goes from bad to worse!
SHE’S ALIVE?! SHE’S ALIIIIIVE!
I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the past handful of TMNT issues recently. The story actually seems to have some direction…and even if it really doesn’t…I’m still positively intrigued by where the next issue is going. The surprise announcement that VENUS was returning to TMNT lore was surprising to say the least. Especially since we’ve had more than enough of Jennika since her debut.
On Burnow Island, Commander Zom has been terribly wounded by Colonel Ch’rell and his forces, leaving the fate of her daughter, the Regenta Seri, in the tentacles of Ch’rell’s sister, Science Advisor Maʼriell. Meanwhile, in Mutant Town, the Turtles and their friends have barely escaped a violent ambush by the Punk Frogs, and find themselves regrouping in the macabre laboratory of Dr. Jasper Barlow. Barlow promises rehabilitation through (what we found out) crude spooky experimental surgery. With Donatello being interested in Barlow’s tech (as well as repairing his cracked shell) we’re introduced to one of Barlow’s turtle “patients”…
THE RAD
- Dr. Barlow: He’s creepy, mysterious, and intriguing. He’s a villain that has some direction and prospects. And issue #127 solidifies that further.
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- Great Pace: Campbell keeps the plot moving and covers a lot of ground for various characters and scenarios.
- TMNT Goes HORROR: This issue is genuinely off putting and creepy.
- Venus: She’s back. Not how we remember. Sure as hell not how we’d expect. But I’m looking forward to this iteration.
THE BAD
- Artwork: Tunica’s art leaves something to be desired. Flat colors and “googly” awkward expressions.
- Utrom/Triceratons: Personal opinion but this plot string isn’t really grabbing me so far. It definitely slowed down this issue.
- New Headquarters: The Splinter Dojo being destroyed added an interesting possible plot moving forward, but in a few panels we found out they’re just going to be living in a Church now. Makes you wonder if the Splinter Dojo burning was just for shock factor with no plan.
Notes: TMNT #127 is creepy, kooky, and all together spooky. The introduction of Franken-Venus is fresh, alluring, and odd. I look forward to how it plays out. Between Barlow, his experiments, and the Punk Frogs…TMNT lore has been on an uptick as of late.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #127 is now available wherever comics are sold!
