Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #32 Review


As this arc comes to a close, is there enough narrative meat to justify the continuing adventures of these heroes in a half-shell? Read on to find out.

The official description from IDW:

The Turtles thought they’d be safe in Northampton– they were wrong! Surrounded on all sides, the Turtles will have to reunite as a fearsome fighting force. Will their newest ally be their salvation, or doom?

TMNT 32_Preview Page AI have to admit that I am immensely impressed with the latest tale that this creative team delivered. After the rocking ride that was City Fall, I honestly had no idea where they could go next. But now that this epilogue is done, I have to say kudos to all involved because this represents the constant quality that can come from the most unexpected places.

Kevin Eastman and Bobby Curnow work with script writer Tom Waltz to realize  this conclusion that carries enough heart and substance to sell a resolution. Our four brothers and their father have been in exile trying to figure out where to go from here, but Oroku Saki is still hell bent on their destruction and based off of that you can guess what happened next. We’re dealing with destruction and combat, but in the midst of the chaos the author finds the right moments to pull at key strands. Highlights include the relationship between April and her parents, Alopex and her current situation and of course the former Chunin of the Foot, Leonardo.

The text might be a sturdy foundation but it’s the art done by Ross Campbell that really makes this whole romp work. He captures the action in ways I did not see coming, as crisp and lightly detailed panels gave way to a sense of beauty and purpose that elevated the entire fray. The talent nursed what makes these Turtles work while the colors done by Ronda Pattison brought our all the important features therein. So to sum up: this is exactly how this comic book should look.

It’s funny if you ask fans to name key issues in a series, they almost never select the start of a run, proper jump on point or even a milestone release (i.e. 50, 100, etc). For me Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #32 represents the best the franchise has to offer and as it continues to grow I only see great things on the horizon. This is a must own!

OUR RATING
10
  • + Superb artwork.
  • + Outstanding narrative.
  • + Engaging Action.
  • + Just enough heart to make it all work.

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