Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Enemies Old, Enemies New by Kevin B. Eastman - Ashley's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from IDW Publishing/Diamond Book Distributors on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Enemies Old, Enemies New
Author: Kevin B. Eastman, Tom Waltz, Dan Duncan (Illustrations), & Mateus Santolouco (Illustrations)
Publication Date: May 24th, 2016

Synopsis: The Turtles learn the amazing story of their previous lives, and begin their journey as a true team of brothers! Meanwhile, Baxter Stockman unveils a deadly new strategy for capturing them, just as General Krang arrives in New York demanding results!

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Review: Backstories are my favorite types of stories, regardless of genre. They could be novellas in my favorite novel series, spin-offs of TV shows or movies, or comics based on my favorite characters. I love seeing old enemies and friends and old stories mixed with new characters and worlds. This comic had all of that, and it was about my favorite crime-fighting Turtles to boot! 

At the beginning of this volume, Leo, Mikey, & Donnie have finally found Raph (I guess they were still in the process of assembling everyone, because it doesn't really seem like he ran away). They all start out wearing the read headbands, which I thought was pretty neat - hello, throwback to the original comics! - but they do eventually end up with the colors that most fans know and love. Watching Raph become adjusted to the team was really cool, and I'm kind of surprised I hadn't ever read a story like this one before. 

We also get a peak into the lives of Splinter and the Turtles before they became a rate and four turtles. They were human at one time, and I really enjoyed how the family dynamic remained the same even after all the centuries and many lives they must have lived before they found each other again. It was actually a really sweet story, albeit violent at times. 

Some of my favorite enemies are also running around in this volume. There's Baxter Stockman, who is working for Krang and trying to develop mutants for him. There's Old Hob, who is working for Baxter trying to capture Splinter. There's the Foot Clan, as always, and even Alopex makes an appearance, although she isn't mentioned by name. On the Allies side, Casey Jones and April O'Neill are introduced to each other, and there's a pretty hilarious scene where Casey tries to tell April about the Turtles. 

I just really enjoyed this comic, and I think most fans of the TMNT universe will too. THe artwork is kind of dark and harsh, and there is a little bit more violence in these comics than in the Nickelodeon ones, so I probably wouldn't recommend this one for a younger audience. I'm really excited to read more comics like these (which I hope there are more!). They've also inspired me to look into the origins of more of these characters, so I'll probably dive into the backlist sooner rather than later! A solid 4/5 on this one.

--Ashley

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Amazing Adventures, Vol 1. by Landry Walker & Matthew K. Manning - Ashley's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from IDW Publishing/Diamond Book Distributors on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle: Amazing Adventures, Volume 1
Author: Landry Walker, Matthew K. Manning, Chad Thomas (Illustrations), James Kochalka (Illustrations), & Ben Costa (Illustrations)
Publication Date: March 1st, 2016

Synopsis: This new all-ages series of Amazing Adventures draws inspiration from the hit Nickelodean cartoon in exciting new ways, by a wide range of today's best writers and artists! Collects issues #1-4.

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Review: For as long as I can remember, I've loved Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Although I like some incarnations better than others (hello, 1980s/90s Turtles!), I will never pass up the opportunity to read more comics, see more movies, and watch more episodes. So of course I had to read this collection as soon as I found it! 

These comics are based around the newest Nickelodeon version of the Turtles. The art matches pretty closely to the show, and it's colorful and fun. I think these comics are geared for more of a younger audience, and the artwork reflects that. If I was a young kid (7-12ish), I would love to read these comics and learn more about my favorite mutant ninjas. There's even a section where Mikey has drawn the cartoons, and I think that was probably my favorite part of this volume. It was just so much fun! 

There are 4 different issues in this volume, and they all tell different stories. You don't need to know too much going into this volume, and as long as you know the basics, it's easy enough to follow along. Since this is the Nickelodeon version, it's fairly clean and there's not too much that's scary or dark that would be inappropriate for a young audience. I was a little sad that this volume isn't very long, because it definitely left me wanting more. 

I would totally recommend this comic book to any fans of the Nickelodeon show, and even to fans of every version of the TMNT. I think a younger audience would enjoy these more than the adult crowd, but they could be a fun set of comics to read together. I'll be looking for more, and I can't wait to find out what adventures the Turtles will have next! 4/5.

--Ashley

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters by Erik Burnham - Ashley's Review

*I received a copy of this comic from Diamond Book Distributors/IDW Publishing on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters 
Contributors: Erik Burnham, Tom Waltz, Dan Schoening (Artist)
Publication Date: May 6, 2015

Paul's Review

Synopsis: When a new invention goes haywire, the Turtles are sent to a whole new type of New York City. 

One with a whole lot more ghosts... and Ghostbusters! 

The two teams will have to learn to get along quickly, because a new foe from the Turtles past has followed them and aims to conquer NYC!

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Review: I've been a fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for as long as I can remember. I grew up watching the 80's/90's cartoon, seeing all of the live-action movies, and more recently I've started reading all of the comics I can get my hands on. I'm also likely to watch Ghostbusters whenever it's on TV, and I usually pull out the DVD at least once a year. They're both classic symbols of 80's pop culture, and I was so excited when I learned that they'd finally been put together! 

I don't know a lot about the Ghostbusters mythology other than what's in the movies, but I'm super interested in the comics now that I know they exist. From just this glimpse at them, it seems like they'd be just as much fun as the original movie. I also liked all of the throwbacks and references to the movie. Some of them are subtle and others not so much, but any fan would be able to pick up on them easily. There are similar easter eggs for TMNT fans, which I also thoroughly enjoyed. 

Obviously if the Turtles are working with the Ghostbusters, the villain has to be something supernatural. But I really liked how they picked a villain from the Turtles' world - I think it made this crossover feel more like a TMNT episode featuring the Ghostbusters instead of the other way around (not that there'd be anything wrong with Ghostbusters featuring the Turtles either). I just think this way allowed for more excitement. The Turtles don't understand this world, and the Ghostbusters don't really understand this villain, but together the two groups are able to figure it out. 

I think my favorite part of the comics was watching Donnie interact with the Ghostbusters. He's totally in his element, and I wouldn't be surprised if there's another crossover later on just because Donnie wants to hang out with his new friends. I also loved how April was more involved in helping defeat the villain, even if it's from behind the scenes. She's not necessarily one to get out there and fight, but she has her own talents that definitely come in handy. And who doesn't love Casey Jones? 

Overall, I think this was a really fun comic that would be great for fans of TMNT, Ghostbusters, or both! It's also pretty kid-friendly, although there are a few scenes that might not be appropriate for really young kids. The artwork is fantastic, and I really enjoyed the two different styles for the Turtles and the Ghostbusters. I will definitely be on the lookout for more crossovers like this one! 4/5. 


--Ashley

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters (graphic novel) - Paul's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Diamond Book Distributors and IDW Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters
Authors:  Erik Burnham and Tom Waltz
Illustrator: Dan Schoening
Release Date: April 14, 2015

Synopsis: When a new invention goes haywire, the Turtles are sent to a whole new type of New York City. One with a whole lot more ghosts... and Ghostbusters! The two teams will have to learn to get along quickly, because a new foe from the Turtles past has followed them and aims to conquer NYC!

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Review: I must admit, I am familiar with both these franchises, but I am not a superfan of either. That being said, there are probably a lot more references than I got. Although I did get quite a few great references. 

The turtles have a new invention. And when a test goes wrong, the turtles and friends end up in another dimension's NYC. This NYC is quite familiar with supernatural events, specifically ghosts. 

A TMNT villain takes the form of one of these ghosts and the turtles must team up with the Ghostbusters before they can return to their own dimension. 

This is a great team pair-up story. The "Kung Fu Martians" really shine. The pairings of certain turtles with ghostbusters is excellently done. I liked how the turtles don't believe in ghosts and the busters aren't quite sure about mutants. 

This is definitely an entertaining story. If you are a fan of these great franchises, you're enjoy this comic book. I give it a 3/5. 


--PAUL

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Utrom Empire by Paul Allor - Ashley's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Diamond Book Distributors/IDW Publishing on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Utrom Empire
Author: Paul Allor
Publication Date: July 29, 2014

Synopsis: "Utrom Empire" takes us to the Technodrome where Krang's plans to destroy the Earth are ramping up. 

Little does he know that Baxter Stockman plans to harness its power for himself! 

As the two villains scheme, one imprisoned robot holds the key to success - Fugitoid! 

Will he be able to reach out to the Turtles in time? 

All this, plus the long-awaited story of the alien Utrom race!

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Review: I love the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and it's rare that I don't at least enjoy any of their incarnations. This comic was no exception! Although the turtles make only a brief appearance, it's still a really interesting story and situation.

I've never really read much of the background stories for most of the villains. I mean, I know the basics. But it was pretty neat to find out a little bit more about the Utrom empire and the alien Utrom race. I learned some new things all while biting my nails and hoping that Fugitoid would come through! I think these comics paint the villains in a different light and makes them easier to sympathize with. 

Krang, for example, only wants to save his people. Everything he does is to save a dying race, and if it means taking over Earth then so be it. He's willing to risk himself and his planet as long as his people will make it through. And Stockman is just so conflicted about everything. I wish that more of the movies and the TV shows had shown more of Stockman. Sure, he's definitely one of the more major villains, but he's certainly not around as much as, say,  Shredder. 

I would totally recommend this comic to any fans of the TMNT universe! I enjoyed learning some more about characters other than the turtles, but I also enjoyed seeing how their actions affect the turtles. And I can't wait to continue this story and find out what happens next. Especially with who all Fugitoid contacted! A 4/5. 


--Ashley

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures Volume 1 - Ashley's Review

*I received this comic as an eARC from Diamond Book Distributors/IDW Publishing on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures Volume 1
Authors: Kenny Byerly, David Tipton, Scott Tipton, Erik Burnham and Dario Brizuela
Publication Date: January 21, 2014

Synopsis: Spinning straight out of the hit Nickelodeon cartoon comes an all-new, all-ages TMNT book perfect for fans both old and new! 

Four fantastic tales pin the Turtles against villains new and old like Snakeweed, the Shredder, and a horde of zombies?

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Review: So, I'm not going to lie, I'm not a huge fan of the animation in the new TMNT series on Nickelodeon. It just looks weird and I've always been used to the turtles from the '80s. I like the show well enough, bu the animation and their new look is just not my favorite.

That being said, I think it actually translates well to a 2-d format. I really enjoyed the art and the colors in this comic, and the characters seem more... traditional?... than they do in the TV show. I really loved the additional artwork between the chapters. It was sometimes a little darker than the rest of the comic, but I felt like it captured the turtles accurately without being too scary for little kids. 

The stories were fun and entertaining, and one chapter even played with zombie culture. I love that the new show has modernized the turtles a little bit, but still stayed true to the characters. Well, the fun characters. Not the dark, gritty, original comic turtles. It was also educational too - Donatello knows what he's talking about! In the zombie chapter, he gives the actual origin of zombies... and I was pleasantly surprised and impressed. It's fun for kids and adults! 

I would totally recommend this to any fans of the TMNT show, comics, etc. I believe that anyone, young or old, could enjoy this comic. Maybe buy it for your kids or your nieces & nephews or your friends' kids and read it with them. I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment! 4/5. 


--Ashley

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Villain Micro-Series Volume 1 - Ashley's Review

*I received this comic as an eARC from IDW Publishing on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Villain Micro-Series Volume 1
Authors: Joshua Williamson, Erik Burnham, Jason Ciaramella, Brian Lynch, Mike Henderson (Illustrations), Andy Kuhn (Illustrations), Dave Wachter (Illustrations), and Ross Campbell (Illustrations)
Publication Date: November 26, 2013

Synopsis: Krang, Baxter Stockman, Old Hob, and Alopex all get their turn. Krang's past is revealed, Baxter's secret project may be more dangerous than he realized, Old Hob is ready to branch out on his own, and Alopex learns about her past and discovers a devastating truth.

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Review: Having older cousins, I grew up with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I watched the cartoons, played the video games, and had the toys and merchandise. As an adult, I started getting my hands on the comics and learning about the grittier, violent beginnings of the Turtles. I've always lived more in the era of the 1980s cartoons and the live action movies, but I also really enjoy the Turtles the way they were originally imagined.

Since I've never been well-versed in the comic series, I was pretty excited when I stumbled across this collection detailing the backgrounds of some of the most well-known TMNT villains. It's really interesting to see where the villains come from and why they do the things they do. I also really enjoyed how the stories tie together. Krang wants to conquer the planet, Baxter ends up working for him, Old Hob stumbles into Baxter's radioactive ooze, and Alopex is created from that same ooze. The connections are there if you pay attention, and I love how the whole universe is so complex and interconnected.

I also thought it was really neat to see glimpses of  the Turtles and Splinter, as well as to see villains like Shredder and the Foot Clan who are not discussed in detail here but are well known by anyone who has even heard of TMNT. 

The artwork is dark and gritty and reminiscent of the original comics (even to the point of giving all the Turtles the original red masks), so I thought that was pretty neat. I would definitely recommend this to any fans of any TMNT era, as it helps to understand some of the most important villains better. I would also recommend it to anyone who has let their love for TMNT lay by the wayside for a while and wants to get back into everything. The stories are short but pack a nice punch, and definitely made me want to read more. 4/5!

--Ashley

TMNT: Secret History of the Foot Clan - Paul's REVIEW

***I was provided an ecopy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors via NetGalley in exchange for a fair review***

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Title: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Secret History of the Foot Clan
Author:  Mateus Santolouco
Year Published: 2013

Synopsis: Demons, ninjas, and hostile takeovers-what more can you expect from a TMNT comic? The first installment of this new miniseries reveals a history never told before about the original founder of the Foot. Join the Turtles as they get a history lesson that they will never forget!

Review: If you have ever wanted to learn the history of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle's Shredder's infamous Foot Clan, you finally can! About half of this graphic novel is shown in flashback form. The rivalries and battles of Feudal Japan are captivating. This is definitely a graphic novel full of action. There were many pages I found myself skipping ahead without reading the speech bubbles because I was so caught up in the action. 

If you are familiar with TMNT, they are many references you will get (Probably more than I did). The art style isn't too cartoony. I feel like it blends the original comic's grittiness with the most popular 80's cartoon. I did find the Turtles' masks strange. Not only were they different colors, but shapes as well.  

Although I found it a fun read, I found it difficult to remember all the characters and their names in Feudal Japan. And, the action scenes took over the book. I give this graphic novel a 3/5. I suggest it to any TMNT superfan out there!

-PAUL