If you think about it Batman and the Ninja Turtles aren’t so different — that’s because Batman is basically all 4 Turtles in one! He has brains like Donatello, the strategy of Leonardo, the bad attitude of Raphael and … okay, fine he’s not really like Michelangelo. Question is, is their team up book any good?
Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #3 (DC Comics & IDW)
Shredder has invaded Gotham via portal. He’s getting help from the Penguin and attempting to get back to New York so he can rule both cities. Guess who else found their way through the portal, though? That’s right: the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles — and they’ve managed to find Batman’s cave.
Why does this book matter?
Freddie E. Williams II has done some great work on art with a cool cel-shaded look that’s organic and nicely kinetic when it needs to be. The colors by Jeremy Colwell continue to pop too. Plus who doesn’t want this totally tubular series?!
Somebody needs to chill out!
Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?
I was starting to feel a malaise with this series, but James Tynion IV totally redeems himself here! There is a fantastic twist of sorts that involves some gore that’ll rock you especially given this series has felt like a more all ages book. Not anymore! On top of that a big reveal tells us how the Turtles, Splinter and Shredder made it to Gotham. I won’t spoil it, but it’s a fun reveal that actually makes some sense.
Shredder gets a lot of time on the page this issue and he continues to be a frightening villain. The Turtles meanwhile continue to be solidly written. Raphael in particular has that edge we all know and love and Tynion IV seems to be building this character for a possible conflict with Batman. Batman continues to be ever the tactician and it’s neat to see how this ties into Zero Year. Oh and Michelangelo gets a sweet joke in concerning Alfred. All in all this story reads like a well fleshed out one with plenty of exemplary character moments.
The art continues to be great by Freddie E. Williams II (anyone notice the creative team loves numbers on their names?) with a fun scene in the Bat Cave. We aren’t getting a grand scope shot of the cave like some artists do, but when details do pop up they’re fun. When fighting commences it looks great with a fantastic double page splash that is exciting and fun. I can only imagine the flashback double page spread was a lot of fun for him too. It’s beautifully done and deserves to be framed on a wall somewhere.
It can’t be perfect can it?
Batman goes from not trusting the Turtles to joining them way too quickly. You’ve spent two issues building up the fact that they are going to punch each other and then… they don’t. A little more effort in why they join sides, even if it’s reasonable, would have been helpful. It’s more about Batman being an untrustworthy fellow, especially with his dealings with ninjas, but eh it’s minor to say the least.
Does no one notice the signal?
Is It Good?
A solid issue that reinvigorates the series with some shocking moments, a fantastic flashback and a jaw dropping cliffhanger.
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