Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #38 Review

Is this a comic that absolutely needs to be purchased? Read on to find out.

The official description from IDW:

Old Hob has perfected the art of making mutants! With the ranks of his mutant gang swelling, the Turtles will have to determine if they can truly trust Hob against the Foot. Throw in Alopex’s return to New York and the mutant mayhem will only get crazier!

Our four brothers and their father have been through a considerable amount since the inception of this monthly iteration. The creative team has put each character through the wringer while preparing the way for the next split among our heroes in a half-shell. Their family unit stands poised to stare down two different threats with distinct ramifications: the Shredder and the Technodrome. In short: things are getting complicated for our protagonists.

Kevin Eastman and Bobby Curnow work with Tom Waltz to realize a layered reading experience. It’s clear from the first page to the final panel that the author has some interesting ideas in mind for not only Michelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo and Raphael but the mutant army that Old Hob is currently putting together. For the most part this is a dialogue heavy affair, but each sequence carries the type of resonance and respect that a title, like this, absolutely deserves. Turtle power!

It’s always a treat to flip through a comic illustrated by Mateus Santolouco. The talent is by far one of the best in the industry, as each conversation gets a vibrant rendition that seems befitting for these teenagers and all their problems. The colors by Ronda Pattison are another exemplary aspect of a body of work that knows exactly what it wants to be and how it’ll go about accomplishing those goals. To sum up: step back Hollywood, this is TMNT at its best.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #38 may not be zenith of what this franchise has to offer, but it does enough to keep itself on my pull-list. Consistent quality and an engaging cliffhanger add up to one adventure that should garner attention as it handily comes recommended.