As we sit on the eve of yet another arc for the Heroes in the Half-Shell, does this creative team deliver something to calm the wait?  Read on to find out.

The official description from IDW:

In this special issue drawn by TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman, the Turtles have struggled to survive against unstoppable enemies and impossible odds. The time has come for the next stage of their training to begin. The lesson turns deadly, though, when a mysterious new opponent arrives and teaches the Turtles they have MUCH left to learn!

When it comes to the adventures surrounding these mean green fighting machines, there have been quite a few interpretations or continuations over the years but few compare to this one.  What he have here is a tale that’s guided by the steady hand of one of the original creators that happens to powered by some new forces, the combination of which unleashes their talent in interesting ways.

Tom Waltz pens the script and the series scribe brings a lot to bare in order to sell this fascinating encounter between our four brothers and a mysterious assailant.  As has been the case in previous issues the dialogue is the core strength here, as each protagonist displays their personality while they stand in a united front against their antagonist.  They fight to protect all they know and born forth from that is s a somewhat emotional but nonetheless heartfelt mechanic that sells the authenticity of this tale.

What an honest treat to open this book and see original artwork by Kevin Eastman. That’s right, we have the classic look of the original in the current series, and trust me when I say it was a welcome addition to the festivities this month.  His unique pencil strokes easily give birth to some simplistic and yet dynamic visualizations that easily sell the zany aspects of this literal calm before whatever storm arrives next.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #21 is an absolute good time that preludes next month’s outing while giving readers who may not have been following enough information to go on.  Recommended.

4/5