‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time’ Comic Review

Yay! More Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles stuff to read. Turtles in Time is a continuation of the tale that was started in 2014’s annual issue, which if you remember and I’m sure you do, I didn’t review all that favorably well. It was fine, just a bit of a let down. TIT (Turtles in Time, come on guys) is the opposite of a let down. It’s a let up. IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has brought in characters and story lines from all over the TMNT universes including the Archie comics Turtles and the 2003 cartoon series. Turtles in Time gets its name from from one of the best video games of all time: Robocop VS Terminator. Kidding. It was Turtles in Time. Surprised aren’t you?

TMNT Turtles in Time Comic 01

Paul Allor and Erik Burnham split the writing duties with Paul doing issues 1 and 4 and Erik handling issues 2 and 3. I find it fascinating that it reads so well as one 4 chapter’s long tale and that it was written by two people. Each of the characters sound like they’re supposed to and don’t vary from issue to issue. That’s not always the case when something like this happens. Each chapter is set in a different time period with our heroes getting zapped around and having to face new (well old really – for the most part) challenges and enemies.

Ross Campbell draws our first chapter which finds the Turtles stuck in the time of the dinosaurs. Jurassic? Triassic? One of those time periods. Campbell’s Turtles are rather cartoony but man he draws some great dinosaurs. They even have feathers! Which is inline with the current scientific though on dinos. Charles Paul Wilson III, or known to his friends as “Damn you’ve gotta long name,” rocks out the second chapter, the chapter of the Samurai. Wilson’s art is darker and moodier than the previous chapter and it takes a minute to get used to but it works well for the tone of this chapter.

TMNT Turtles in Time Comic 02

The Turtles have been transported to Japan and they run into the previous incarnations of their father Hamoto Yoshi and their bitter enemy Oroku Saki, the Shredder! This is a heartfelt and emotional issue that you’re just going to have to read. For chapter three Ben Bates has some fun sending the Turtles to a Pirate ship. Out of the four chapters, this one has my favorite artwork. Finally with chapter four Dan Duncan has the Turtles land in the near future where not only has Shredder and the Foot taken over the world with Krang, but anamorphic animals are an every day occurrence.

If you couldn’t tell, I really dug this miniseries. I wish it was more than four issues. Six would have been fun. Great writing, a fun story, and some killer art really make for a great series. I think I say this every time I review IDW’s series, but if you’re not reading it you’re missing out. Get off your butt and buy an issue. Or two. Well, better make it three.

BRAND PARTNERS
Recent Posts