Reboots and relaunches are common place in today’s comic book and entertainment world. Within the last year we have seen a Spider-man movie relaunch, a DC reboot, and the announcement of a “direction change” for Marvel called Marvel NOW. It seems like the popular thing to do is take a classic idea and update it for today. No matter how hard creators try, few revivals ever hold up to the classics. Fortunately, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have avoided the misstep of becoming a diluted retread.
I have enjoyed IDW Turtles book since it’s triumphant return last September so it rarely comes as a surprise to me when this book is good. Issue twelve, however, is more than good…it is exceptional. It amazes me that a book can harken back to classic turtle plot lines and still seem so fresh and new. I find myself geeking out every time there is a reference to a classic plot point or character aspect that I remember as a child. Like when Mikey and Raph are playing twister. Classic Turtles Moment. Not to mention the nostalgia that I feel reading Ninja Turtle adventures so similar to those of my childhood. But no matter how much I love those nods to the good old days, the new ideas, the ones that break away from the expected, are the ones that draw my most positive reactions.
I don’t want to spoil anything so I will tread lightly hear but there are several moments in this issue where the reader will think “I know what is coming now” then be completely blindsided by the actual reveal. There are also a few shocking character moments that will pull you in and make you ask a lot of questions. The art is not the best it has been with Andy Kuhn filling in for Dan Duncan…but it certainly isn’t BAD. It is just a little less solid and clean cut than the usual. The story is exciting and fun in a way that only Kevin Eastman can plot (or in this case, co-plot). I give this book a solid three and a half shells (out of four Turtles, get it?)!
With Nickelodeon’s new show starting in September, a fantastic new toy line, and IDW not only reprinting great classic Turtle books but also giving us a great NEW comic to look forward to each and every month, this is an exciting time to be a TMNT fan!
TURTLE POWER!
