Our heroes in a half-shell have endured some painful blows lately, so do they finally get a win here?  Read on to find out.

The official description from IDW:

“City Fall: Part Six” In this breathtaking penultimate issue to City Fall, Shredder asserts his dominance over the criminal underworld of NYC through a show of force. But what happens when the Turtles crash the party? With allegiances shifting no one is safe from all-out war!

It’s been a rough road, but thanks to the continuing efforts of this family this dark reign has reached a turning point.  The stakes are high and the creative team capitalizes on the innate emotions that everyone is feeling, especially as the soul of Leonardo comes into question.  There are serious issues at play and before everything is said and done a son will raise his hand against his father.

Tom Waltz works with Kevin Eastman and Bobby Curnow to see this arc through some tough waters. It’s a unique release that relies on a big script that, save for a few minor instances, moves things along nicely.  I have to say what I enjoyed most about the text was the fact that the first half made the entire comic book feel like the calm before the storm.  And in all honesty it made me think we’d get another round that leaned forward but ultimately didn’t go all the way.  I was wrong and trust me my fellow fanboys and fangirls that was a good thing.

The illustrations by Mateus Santolouco absolutely complemented the ongoing narrative in a way that just fit this world chock-full of mutants, gang members and honor bound warriors.  There’s no denying that his art style offers a very detailed interpretation but it should be noted that he complements the realism with quirky pencil strokes that simply invite praise.  To sum up: the pictures looked great from the first panel to the cliffhanger.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #27 is a stellar entry that births enough wrinkles to combat the one or two off moments.  It earns the right to be highly recommended.

4.5/5