Considering all that’s happened, is this one family that can survive the world after City Fall?  Read on to find out.

The official description from IDW:

Recovering from the events of City Fall, the Turtles seek sanctuary in the countryside. They bring with them new questions, tension within the family — and a stowaway! Don’t miss this first issue of the newest TMNT arc, “Northampton”!

What has always stuck me about this franchise is how, in each iteration, the various creative teams have approached the familial dynamic.  It’s true that not all of them have been a hundred percent successful, but therein exists the true core of what has made this property work.  And this latest iteration is no different, as the forces behind it push and pull these four brothers, their friends and father to some dark areas that are begging for some light.

The script by Tom Waltz is packed with the potent emotional weight left in the wake of the previous arc. This is an epilogue, through and through, and to the author’s credit he lets the dialogue simmer in the facts of what transpired.  We see the uncomfortable levels between our primaries while the revelations they fought and faced still linger around them.  I did find the pacing to be a bit sluggish, but it was necessary as there were only a few instance where I felt certain threads over stayed their initial welcome.

Ross Campbell steps in to tackle the visual portion of this entry, and he does a fine job in the role he’s given.  He captures a comforting level of detail that keeps the world coherent while also injecting just enough of his own tenacity into the proceedings.  He had to deal with a text heavy journey and to the illustrator’s credit he nailed it.  From the turtles to their surprise guest, he captured the essence of the characters while giving them a believable refuge away from City Fall.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #29 is the right way to close out 2013 for our heroes in a half-shell, because they’ve earned a vacation.  Recommended.

4/5