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Comic Review: TMNT Universe #24 – The High-Ground Theory

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

Mondo Gecko and Michelangelo do their best to stealthily infiltrate the EPF. But you’re dealing with the TMNT Universe’s most silence-challenged characters, things are bound to go wrong.

Comic Review: TMNT Universe #23

(W) Ryan Ferrier & Rich Douek (A) Pablo Tunica & Brahm Revel (C) Patricio Delpeche

I know I’ve made this point several times, but TMNT Universe really needs to be an anthology series where creators can any type of story they wish without needing it to tie into an established canon. There is no better reason for this than in this issue and story arc, if you feel inclined to include last month’s issue #23. Ryan Ferrier and Pablo Tunica have been given the task of giving Mondo Gecko true character development, a practice that works in theory but not so much in execution.

Mondo Gecko works as a character because he is a completely carefree skater-dude. Originally, he was popular because he embodied cool trends of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Now, he is enjoyable for becoming a pastiche of a bygone era. Also due to his role as comic relief, he works in small, supporting doses. Much like those yellow bastard Minions, placing Mondo Gecko front and center can produce a story that is middling at best. That’s why this assignment for Ferrier and Tunica was unenviable.

In their journey to develop Mondo’s character, the creative team leans heavily into established tropes from the TMNT franchise and greater fiction. Mondo wants to save Seymour because he doesn’t want to live in a world without him. He also states that being a mutant isn’t great. Both things are out of character, as for decades Mondo has loved who he is and accepted how the world works – good and bad. Instead of being this unique beacon of unbridled joy, the character is now imbued by the same pathos as the other mutants.

There is a backup story by Rich Douek and Buster Moody about Pigeon Pete dreaming of being a pirate. It’s surprisingly mediocre. Pete is the worst, so anything better than “ugh” is a win, and the creative team manages to pull it off. Still, I’d recommend skipping this unless you really enjoy awful characters written marginally okay.

As I’ve stated, I really can’t blame Ferrier or Tunica for the lackluster story. Ferrier does his best to keep the story moving forward with exciting action and the occasional humorous note, while Tunica’s artwork is lively and expressive. However, it cannot save a story concept that screams editorial influence. At $4.99 a pop, TMNT Universe is becoming the book that can easily be dropped.

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Comic Review: TMNT Universe #23 – MONDO RAMPAGE

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

Mondo Gecko goes full berserk (yes, you read that right) in an effort to save a loved one. Meanwhile, Zodi takes on a nobody.

Comic Review: TMNT Universe #23

(W) Ryan Ferrier & Rich Douek (A) Pablo Tunica & Brahm Revel (C) Patricio Delpeche

You know who we haven’t heard much from recently? The Mighty Mutanimals. Sure, Slash has shown up on occasion as brainwashed zombie pawn of Agent Bishop and the EPF, but the rest of the gang has been notably absent. That changes with the release of TMNT Universe #23. The story by Ryan Ferrier and Pablo Tunica sees the most unlikely of Mutanimals go on a one-mutant rampage to save the life of his friend, no matter the cost.

Mondo Gecko is one of the most popular side-characters in the pantheon of TMNT characters. While his popularity made sense in the early and mid-1990s due to his embodiment of the skateboarder personality, today he comes across as relic of an era long since passed. In many respects, it seems that the fine folks at IDW feel the same way, which is why Mondo often plays the role of comedic relief or unwitting background character. But Ryan Ferrier does something unexpected with him in this issue – he makes the character actually interesting.

What triggers this is the fallout of the Mutanimals’ past adventures, with Seymour slowly rotting away. Seeing his friend suffer as Seymour is utterly destroys Mondo Gecko’s worldview. No longer is everything gnarly, but instead he sees the cruelty and hardships that life has dealt not only to him, but those he holds closest. As a result, he becomes unhinged. Even after bringing Michelangelo into the fold for help, he continues his mission with reckless abandon. This is a welcome development, making Mondo and his Mutanimal friends way more interesting than their current role as benchwarmers.

Pablo Tunica has developed a style all of his own, and his expressive character work is on full display here. Readers can sense the anguish Mondo is grappling with throughout the issue, as well as the empathy on display from Michelangelo, Hob, and the others. Unfortunately, this issue also features perhaps his sloppiest linework to date. In the interest of full disclosure, I’ve never been a biggest fan of Tunica’s work, and for the most part this issue exemplifies why. Images – be it character, objects, or backgrounds – are just unpleasant to look at. As well written as the story is, the artwork is a major detractor that takes away from the issue’s overall enjoyment.

The back-up feature from Rich Douek and artist Brahm Revel is a refreshing palette cleanser. It’s a tightly plotted short story with great artwork. The tale sees Nobody thwarting an attempted robbery by mutated scorpion Zodi. That’s really all that happens, but Douek’s writing has the two trading effective and entertaining quips until one of them is subdued. Ditto for Revel’s artwork, which uses minimal colors and an emphasis on motion to make their battle kinetic and thrilling.

TMNT Universe #23, taken as a whole, is a solid issue. The story itself is an attention grabber, but held back by the subpar artwork. Chances are, this will continue into the next issue. However, the issue saw a strong close thanks to a great little back-up story. In all, this was a microcosm of the comics industry: some good, some bad, and a small amount of really good.

 

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Comic Review: TMNT UNIVERSE #21

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

What happened on Burnow Island following the “Invasion of the Triceratons” arc? Well, when two age-old enemies are forced to live together, answer is anything but “they lived happily ever after…”

Comic Review: TMNT UNIVERSE #21

(W) Paul Allor (A) Mark Torres (C) Ronda Pattison (Backup) Caleb Goellner, Pablo Tunica, Patricio Delpeche.

There’s a line early in TMNT Universe #21 that really sticks out. In it, the narrators refers to the Triceraton Invasion (TMNT #76-80) as a “failed attempt to live among humans.” Anyone who read the arc knows that the Triceratons, as written then, wanted to replace humans as the dominant race on Earth, and had little desire to share the planet. Anyone that read that arc also knows it wasn’t among the series’ best. However, this line indicates the type of story that Paul Allor and Mark Torres are looking to craft in dealing with the aftermath, and it starts off strong.

Regardless of the medium, the Triceratons and Ultoms hate each other’s guts. That alone is what makes this issue so entertaining. Of course, the Triceratons’ arrival on Burnow Island is immediately met with a hostile reaction from the Ultoms, but a ceasefire is quickly called thanks in large part to Commander Zom. With their history of always fighting and continuously being oppressed, Zom thinks diplomacy might lead to a more favorable result. And, in a way, she’s right. Of course, things don’t go smoothly, and there are dissenters on both sides.

In many respects, the natural conflict between the Triceratons and Ultoms makes for a more serious version of a sitcom setup – like The Odd Couple but with monsters. There are several instances of dark humor – specifically when both sides are trying to solve the crop-growing problem. But there are also real stakes at play, and deep-rooted resentment, that readers can draw parallels to in the world around them.

The artwork from Mark Torres is great. While it is admittedly stylized, and that may turn off certain readers, it does an excellent job in portraying the intensity of emotions from both the Ultoms and Triceratons, as well as the frustration of their mediator – Donatello. And in the few instances where the book does have an action sequence, Torres’ art captures its raw energy and pure brutality.

There is a backup feature by Caleb Goellner and Pablo Tunica, starring everyone’s favorite pizza delivery guy. Following Woody during the events of the Triceraton Invasion, readers are treated to a light-hearted romp that, in the grand scheme of things, shouldn’t have any impact on the larger TMNT canon. But if you enjoy perilous pizza delivery sequences, this should be a welcome tale.

As a whole, TMNT Universe #21 is a great opening chapter to a story that explores two completely clashing and antagonistic societies trying to occupy the same space. Paul Allor’s script is smartly written and engaging, complemented by the dynamic and well-paced artwork from Mark Torres is a great. Unfortunately, it is likely to slip under the radar because it follows such a dud of a story arc. If only “Invasion of the Triceratons” had been able to match this quality, there might be more fanfare going into it. But as it stands, TMNT Universe is currently THE Turtles book worth picking up.

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Comic Review: TMNT Universe #19

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

Raph and Alopex are off on a recon mission, until Raph’s emotions lead them charging into battle. Meanwhile, the Rat King does his creepy Rat King things.

Comic Review: TMNT Universe #19

(W) Ian Flynn & Bobby Curnow, (A) Dave Wachter & Pablo Tunica, (C) Ronda Pattison

While the TMNT comics under IDW Publishing have by and large done an excellent job in providing definitive takes on long established characters. In some cases, backgrounds have been retooled, almost always for the better. However, if there is one thing the Turtles’ comic home has not done exceedingly well is provide the franchise with new characters. There have been some standouts, such as Old Hob, but for the most part the creative minds behind this incarnation have focused on providing modern updates to fan-favorites. TMNT Universe #19 bucks that trend. Yes, Raphael is there, but he’s the only long-established character in the main story as this is more a showcase for relative newcomers Alopex and Zodi, and may provide the means for even more original characters.

Writer Ian Flynn is no stranger to dealing with drama and anthropomorphic characters, having been a longtime writer for Archie Comics, including their Sonic the Hedgehog titles. He brings those sensibilities to TMNT Universe, as the dialogue between Raph and Alopex (and eventually, Zodi) is as snappy as it is authentic. Meanwhile, the story itself, which sees Zodi helping a faceless (for now) organization to create a new generation of mutants, seems to recycle past TMNT stories with a new package. However, the details are different just enough to provide a fresh spin. It should be interesting to see how it plays out over future installments.

Those that have read my past reviews know I’m a big fan of Dave Wachter’s artwork. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I overall found the art to be very enjoyable. Each page is fully detailed, giving this world a genuine, “lived in” feel. Panel layouts are clean, and the action is dynamic. However, there are moments when he leans a little too hard into giving Raph more human-like features, making him appear less like the classic design and more like Michael Bay’s abominations. It is at least partially salvaged by the always stellar coloring of Ronda Pattison.

Editor Bobby Curnow takes on full writing duties for the issue’s backup. Joined by artist Pablo Tunica, Curnow’s tale stars the eternally creepy Rat King. It’s a serviceable story, one that should satiate the hunger of the character’s fans. However, these backups are difficult to assess as they come out, so look for a full review down the line once that story is complete.

TMNT Universe #19 is a solid opening chapter. The ideas put forth by Flynn’s script are truly ripe for exploration in detail. However, TMNT Universe story arcs have a tendency to be truncated, leaving the deep-dive explorations for the main title. Hopefully, this is the story arc that finally bucks that trend.

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Comic Review: TMNT/Ghostbusters II #4

by Dan Gehen
written by Dan Gehen

The high-stakes, high-adventure, dimension-hopping tale featuring the Ninja Turtles and Ghostbusters continues with Part 4. With the teams separated for so long, it’s about time for a reunion…

Comic Review: TMNT/Ghostbusters II #4

(W) Erik Burnham & Tom Waltz, (A) Tadd Galusha, Dan Schoening, Pablo Tunica, Mark Torres, & Charles Paul Wilson III, (C) Luis Antonio Delgado

If you’ve been keeping up with this miniseries to this point, you have a pretty good idea what to expect from this review. If you’re jumping on at this point… why? It’s a limited series, and you’re almost at the end! Go pick up some back issues (and maybe read my earlier reviews). Anyways, the Turtles and their respective Ghostbuster sidekick are still dispersed across multiple dimensions (or dare I say… a multiverse?), with Donnie and Egon continuing to work tirelessly to construct a deus ex machina that will beat the bad guys. After 20-plus pages, the result is another competently constructed issue by Erik Burnham, Tom Waltz, and their expansive art team.

Describing an issue as “competently constructed” may not inspire much confidence in an era where flashy buzzwords dominate reviews, but it is applicable here. This series has suffered a bit from padding out the issues to make it fit its 5-issue structure. This was painfully clear in issue #3, and it continues here. What makes the issue (and this series as a whole) overcome this structural problem is how enjoyable the characters are. There is an undeniable chemistry between the two sets of heroes, who manage to battle, talk, and out-smart their way through several precarious scenarios.

Once again, a plethora of artists have been tasked with bringing this issue to life. In addition to those we have seen throughout the series, Charles Paul Wilson III joins the ensemble, adding a grittier aesthetic to a series that has been fairly light in tone. His art style is a welcome one, as it provides the issue – and by extension the series – with a much needed sense of gravitas, giving the story’s stakes some weight. Once again, the transition between the differing styles aided by the unifying x-factor known as colorist Luis Antonio Delgado, who continues to be this series’ unsung hero.

TMNT/Ghostbusters II #4 continues the fun, jovial nature the miniseries has provided thus far. However, it also adds a layer of gravity that has been previously absent, and for that alone this series is worth keeping up with. Just as it becomes predictable, it manages to provide a genuine surprise.

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