The TMNT mythos is pretty massive. It’s also fertile ground to explore many of the characters and locations that don’t always get enough time in the spotlight. This week, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe begins a larger and longer look at the word our heroes in a half shell call home.
Is it good?
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe #1 (IDW Publishing)
Observations
- A car chase, an anti-mutant government agency, and a weird robot. I’m liking this already.
- Wow. Haven’t seen her in a while.
- Considering how smart April is, I’m surprised she thought a discussion with Baxter Stockman had any chance of going well.
- Yikes. This is definitely not a kids cartoon version of things.
- Really, Raph? You’re just now coming to that conclusion.
Is it good?
The art is good. So is the story. Mostly.
But for a new title that is supposed to explore more of the TMNT universe, this feels like just like a regular old Ninja Turtles story. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it’s definitely not what I was expecting—and arguably not what was advertised.
That said, I did enjoy the new villain we get, particularly her brutality and the situation she’s forced into by issue’s end. I also enjoyed the action scenes quite a bit, although the dialogue drifts into cringe territory a few times. The Turtles’ various personality traits are amplified to almost comical levels, but they still manage to have some cool moments once the bullets and melee weapons start flying.
Would I recommend this book? Maybe. If you want a pretty good Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles story, then go for it. If you’re looking for something different than what we already get from IDW each month, this might end up being a redundant addition to your monthly pull list.
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