Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #16
Publisher: IDW
Writers: Kevin Eastman & Tom Waltz
Artist: Andy Kuhn
Cover: Andy Kuhn
This latest issue has the brothers facing a powerful enemy in Slash, just when they have also found a new lair. His sheer power and ferocity overwhelms the guys and forces a decision to be made regarding how this will end. The news of Slash’s escape has also reached Baxter Stockman, who is currently heading up the plans for Krang’s upcoming invasion.
What’s kept this series strong from the start is the depth of the storytelling and the consistent amount of fun that’s had at the same time. Eastman and Waltz continue this by having the Turtles face their own feelings regarding taking a life without it becoming a heavy handed issue. Leo is forced to embrace the role of leader with all of the burdens that come with it. Making the battle with Slash seem less common and more needed as a character defining moment. Waltz and Eastman even have Splinter deliver some great dialog regarding Mike and the validity of his personality. Now, there is so much focus on the Turtles that some of the other plots don’t move as fast. Krang’s plans seem to have been taking forever to develop, and it seems like it’s just tossed in at times for filler.
When it comes to the artwork, Kuhn delivers the savagery of the battle with ease. There’s a feeling of hopelessness that is there from the beginning, and some great visuals come out of that. Sometimes things look a bit weird when he attempts to show emotion on the faces of the Turtles, but then he hits gold during Leo’s reflective period and Mikey picking up that pizza.
What seemed to be just another relaunch has developed into one of the best comics to come out this year! TMNT has a surprising depth, and the twist on the origin of the four brothers has taken the entire mythos to another level. With great creative teams delivering consistently good stories, now is as good a time as any to be a fan of the franchise and to start reading this title!
Infinite Speech
infinitespeech@comicattack.net
