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Retro Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 (volume 4)

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

Mirage Studios

(w) Peter Laird (a) Jim Lawson

After the second volume of TMNT comics by Mirage Studios, the old Turtle continuity splits into two distinct paths. One path follows the story told in the third volume of comics published by Image (reprinted by IDW as TMNT: Urban Legends). The other saw artist Jim Lawson reteamed with co-creator Peter Laird for the fourth volume of comics. Though as of this writing the volume remains unfinished, for many it is the true final chapter of the TMNT story.

This first issue of Volume 4 is full of world-building. Laird makes it a point of emphasis to establish that this story is not going to follow the Image continuity, and that despite the title, the Turtles are no longer teenagers. Like Erik Larsen’s Savage Dragon, Laird has the Turtles age in real time, resulting in a more mature voice for the storytelling. However, the sense of wonder is not lost, and Laird doesn’t resort to shocking elements because he can. This feels very much like an extension of the original volume, and a step up from Volume 2.

One of the main plot points Laird introduces is a genius move to allow for different stories by moving the Turtles out of the shadows. Unlike a recent film that tried to do something similar, this works because of its wacky simplicity (and lack of Michael Bay).

Speaking of Volume 2, Lawson’s art is a welcome sight. This first issue features my absolute favorite effort of his over the course of the Mirage publications. This is aided by Laird’s inking, which adds depth and definition to each image. Look no further than our first glimpse of the Turtles. The visual is a reference to the original TMNT #1, but whereas that effort by Eastman and Laird had the raw energy of an underground zine, this one has a level of refinement befitting these creators’ growth over the years.

Overall, TMNT #1 (volume 4) is a great jumping on point for those that want a different Turtles experience. The writing is solid, but the selling point is the art from Lawson and Laird. However, the plot does enough to keep readers hooked for the next installment.

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Will “Mirage Volume 4” Ever Continue?

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

While IDW continues to do great things with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – including bringing on co-creator Kevin Eastman – there exists a small yet dedicated segment of the fanbase that continues to wait for the latest issue of the “true” TMNT series known as Mirage Volume 4. With the last issue having been published back in 2014, fans have little reason to expect the series to ever continue. This is particularly true given that as of 2017, TMNT co-creator and Mirage Volume 4 rights holder Peter Laird has stated that he is currently not working on, nor is he planning to work on, any further TMNT material. While this may be disheartening, there are plenty of reasons for TMNT fans to hold out hope that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Vol.4) #33 will one day become a reality.

Perhaps there is no greater reason that Volume 4 may one day continue is that Peter Laird and Jim Lawson are still very much alive and maintain interest in the property. On Laird’s Blogspot page, he continues to field fan questions regarding all things TMNT. Despite his continued instance that he has no plans at the present to continue Volume 4, he remains very much aware of the fan demand. Meanwhile, Lawson has been involved in Andrew Modeen’s croudfunded continuations of the Mirage continuity, TMNT: Odyssey and TMNT: Origin. Lawson also contributed a variant cover for the release of this year’s landmark Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #73.

There’s also the very minor detail that the last issue, TMNT #32, ends on a massive cliffhanger. Donnie has been miniaturized, Leonardo is in the “Battle Nexus” tournament, Raphael is still deformed, and Mikey is off-planet fighting his former captors. This should be a major indication to readers that Laird does have a general idea of where the story is supposed to go, even if it hasn’t been properly scripted yet. From the Turtles’ 2nd issue on, Laird has demonstrated a knack for long-form storytelling, with “City at War” being perhaps his crowning achievement. Given this, it is absurd to think that Laird does not have and ending in mind for Volume Four. At this point, it appears all he needs is the drive and desire to return to the series.

The multi-year gap between issues is not an insurmountable hurdle either. Several comic series have experienced notable delays in their journey to provide readers a satisfying conclusion. For example, Warren Ellis and John Cassiday’s celebrated work Planetary experienced a 3-year gap between issue #26 and the finale in issue #27.  While painful at the time, the end result made the wait completely worthwhile. There’s also the 7-year gap from the release of Captain America: White #0 and Captain America: White #1 from the celebrated team of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. While it may not have reached the heights of their previous collaborations (Spider-man: Blue, Batman: The Long Halloween), fans were rewarded for their patience with another solid entry into the creators’ “color series” of Marvel titles. Let’s not forget readers of Stray Bullets, who waited a full decade between the release of issues #40 and #41.

The point is that even though it the wait has been sizeable, and the main creative force behind the title has expressed no interest in continuing on, there is still a flicker of hope that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Vol.4) #33 will one day come to fruition.  Will it ever happen? That remains to be seen, but I’ve learned over the years to never give up on this franchise.

 

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Delivery or Pickup: June 28, 2017

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

Two new Turtle goodies come your way this week from IDW. First, the main ongoing series kicks off a new, two-issue arc. Meanwhile, another hardcover collection from the Mirage era arrives for collectors.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #71

Writer: Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman, Bobby Curnow
Artist: Dave Wachter and Ronda Pattison
Cover Artist: Dave Wachter
‘Pantheon Family Reunion’ Part 1 of 2. You are cordially invited to the centennial reunion of the Pantheon, the immortal family that influences the course of history. The main talking point? The fate of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!

Format: COMIC
Price: $3.99

TMNT Eastman & Laird Mirage Studios Covers

Artist: Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman
Cover Artist: Kevin Eastman
The book that classic TMNT fans have been waiting for! All the covers from the earliest days of Mirage Studios in one archival collection, plus pencils/inks/paintings by co-creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, including all the original sketches, behind the scenes insight, and never before seen works made available through the incredible archives of Eastman and Laird! A must-have volume for Turtles fans and collectors.
Format: HARD COVER
Price: $39.99
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Comic BooksReviews

RETRO REVIEW: TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #2 (VOLUME 2)

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

Our retrospective on Mirage Volume 2 continues in Issue #2, with more pieces being set into place. The Turtles continue to have a crisis of conscience, while an old enemy reemerges…

RETRO REVIEW: TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #2 (Vol.2)

(W/A) Jim Lawson, (I) Jason Minor, (C) Eric Vincent

I’ll admit to being hard on the old Mirage crew in the past for embracing decompressed storytelling. A good chunk of my “City At War” annotations saw me covering several pages in the space of a paragraph, or simply commenting something akin to “not much happens here.” That trend continued into the first issue of the relaunched Ninja Turtles title, colloquially referred to as Mirage Volume 2. However, to my surprise, the second issue of this series is packed with a good amount of material. The result is a fulfilling and satisfying comic that leaves the reader wanting more.

Perhaps the strongest narrative of this issue is Lawson aging up the Turtles without their father to guide them. Left to their own devices, Leonardo, Raphael, and Michealangelo* are forced to find their own way into adulthood. For Mikey, he takes to journaling, a revelation that leads to a humorous yet melancholy exchange with Raphael. With Donatello already away from the group – choosing to stay in Northampton with Splinter – Leonardo is faced with the realization that they may never again a united group.

Speaking of Leonardo, he is also the star of an exciting and poignant action sequence. Lawson’s work serves as a commentary on the role of heroes and the violence in society. In observing this sequence almost 25 years after publication, it is perhaps most striking how little these conversations have changed during the years. As for the action itself, Lawson’s rendering make for fluid, kinetic chase. Jason Minor’s inking helps the images pop against the bold colors by Eric Vincent.

The chase may be the stand-out moment, but the closing sequence is the one that leaves readers with a bunch of questions. Despite much of the goodwill built up over the course of the issue, there is still a lot of work put into setting up the series’ main conflict. The reveal, while exciting, fails in its execution. If the creative team is trying to make a point about decompressed storytelling in comics, they are doing so to their own detriment.

While it does suffer some the same flaws as the first issue, TMNT #2 (vol.2) sees the creators deliver a big jump in quality. There’s a lot of turtley goodness crammed between the covers, though the pacing of the series remains an area of concern. However, the promise shown here should make readers eager to check out Issue #3.

*This is how it was spelled throughout the Mirage and Image comics.

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Retro Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 (Volume 2)

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

What better way to follow-up our 13 part retrospective on “City At War” than with a 13-part retrospective on the Volume 2 of Ninja Turtles comics. With no Eastman and no Laird to guide the ship, it’s up to Jim Lawson and Co. to lead the TMNT on their next adventure.

Retro Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Vol.2) #1

(W/A) Jim Lawson, (I) Jason Minor, (C) Mary Woodring

The first thing you’ll notice upon opening up TMNT #1 is the coloring, a striking visual difference from the previous volume, as well as any other series in the Mirage continuity. Though the covers to the Turtles’ comics have always been in color, Mary Woodring’s palette provides a defining look to the Mirage universe. Even though this hadn’t been seen before, there is something undeniably comforting about her use of bold, contrasting colors with little regard for “realistic” gradients.

But beyond the coloring, this appears to be very much in line with the type of storytelling readers have come to expect from their TMNT books, especially when a multi-part story  is in the works. Unfortunately, that means not much of note – if anything – occurs in this issue. We see that years have passed since “City at War,” and not a whole lot has transpired since then. Leo, Raph, and Mikey are still living with April and Casey (and Shadow!) while Donnie and Splinter are off in the wilderness. While it is successful in setting the stage and introducing readers to this version of the Turtles (instead of the popular movies and cartoon series), there is a lack of any sort of hook. There’s nothing to grab readers and make them want to invest in the story.

Even those moments where the book is actually interesting, the execution is off just enough to be bothersome. For example, in a sequence where Casey is being tormented by his past, what could have been a fantastic reveal is ruined by Jim Lawson’s impulsive decision to spoil it before the intended page-turn for the sake of a visual gag. While it is true that the TMNT comics under Eastman and Laird were full of all sorts of irreverence and shunning of comic norms, they were able to do so in a manner that still allowed for effective storytelling. While this can be chalked up to the growing pains of an artist-turned-writer in Lawson, it is still sloppy nonetheless.

If for no other reason, check out this issue because of the art. The aforementioned coloring by Woodring makes the linework by Lawson and inker Jason Minor pop off the page. As has been the case throughout his time on the TMNT books, Lawson’s visuals are stunning. Figures are less clunky and more refined than his earlier work as he employs a more stylized aesthetic. It may sound paradoxical, but it works.

While it may not reach the highs of the previous volume, TMNT Vol. 2 gets off to a solid, if underwhelming start. The story is as thin as the paper the issue was printed on, but at least the great visuals (including the wraparound cover from A.C. Farley) are enough to move the needle for now.

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