Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #39
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #39
Written by Tom Waltz
Art by Mateus Santolouco
Colors by Ronda Pattison
“Look at you idiots! We got the whole damn world against us and all you bunch can do is bang heads with each other? Mutants fighting mutants? How pathetic is that?” –Hob
Good question, Hob. Good question. Hob is one frustrated cat, and it’s easy to read him as an analogue for the reader here. Characters in TMNT can be so temperamental and rash, it’s amazing they ever get anything done. The outburst above was brought on by the arrival of Bebop and Rocksteady, hoping to join Hob’s gang of mutants. This is a shock for the turtles, and they immediately start scrapping. Their fighting is stopped by Hob, suddenly the only adult in the alleyway, with a gunshot and the above quote. However, once Hob learns Bebop and Rocksteady aren’t true mutants, but rather mutated humans, he decides they’re not good enough for his army and joins in the fight. Sheesh. Fans might read it as a race thing, or a transgender thing, or maybe even a religion thing. I wish Hob’s human phobia was a little more defined, as it does make for a good joke, and it never hurts in a book this character-driven. His motivation almost makes perfect sense, and I’m sure it’ll make more sense in the months to come.
In one of the book’s best stories, and one that always makes sense, Donnie has officially given up on his family, a move that’s been building steam for months. Donatello is still rightfully worried about the technodrome, and his frustration feels very genuine. The scenes between him and Harold the scientist have a sense of authority the rest of the issue lacks. Hob may be making a play to be the big man, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Donatello ends up master of all mutants. His science is getting quite mad, and it’s been awhile since a turtle went down a dark path. Not that this comic needs more complications, this one just seems like a natural fit.
If strong characterization doesn’t do it for you, if action is what you truly crave, this issue won’t disappoint. It must get boring reading all the praise I dish out to Mateus Santolouco, but damn, does he sell this book. The action flows beautifully. The fights in this issue are swift and colorful, with bizarro mutant animals wailing on each other with their assorted weapons. The way he draws sledgehammer action especially impressed me. My shoulders felt sore just from looking at it.
TMNT has had a lot of ups and downs this year. It’s expanded the cast of characters, shifted allegiances, and messed with timelines in two excellent miniseries-Utrom Empire and Turtles in Time, respectively. What is hasn’t had is focus. Entire issues have felt pointless due to an overwhelming amount of dangling plot threads, while others have blown me away just for sticking with a character all issue long. Issue #39 is much more the former than the latter, but with execution this solid it feels like the writers might have unearthed the secret to getting this show on the road. More like this please.
Written by Tom Waltz
Art by Mateus Santolouco
Colors by Ronda Pattison
“Look at you idiots! We got the whole damn world against us and all you bunch can do is bang heads with each other? Mutants fighting mutants? How pathetic is that?” –Hob
Good question, Hob. Good question. Hob is one frustrated cat, and it’s easy to read him as an analogue for the reader here. Characters in TMNT can be so temperamental and rash, it’s amazing they ever get anything done. The outburst above was brought on by the arrival of Bebop and Rocksteady, hoping to join Hob’s gang of mutants. This is a shock for the turtles, and they immediately start scrapping. Their fighting is stopped by Hob, suddenly the only adult in the alleyway, with a gunshot and the above quote. However, once Hob learns Bebop and Rocksteady aren’t true mutants, but rather mutated humans, he decides they’re not good enough for his army and joins in the fight. Sheesh. Fans might read it as a race thing, or a transgender thing, or maybe even a religion thing. I wish Hob’s human phobia was a little more defined, as it does make for a good joke, and it never hurts in a book this character-driven. His motivation almost makes perfect sense, and I’m sure it’ll make more sense in the months to come.
In one of the book’s best stories, and one that always makes sense, Donnie has officially given up on his family, a move that’s been building steam for months. Donatello is still rightfully worried about the technodrome, and his frustration feels very genuine. The scenes between him and Harold the scientist have a sense of authority the rest of the issue lacks. Hob may be making a play to be the big man, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Donatello ends up master of all mutants. His science is getting quite mad, and it’s been awhile since a turtle went down a dark path. Not that this comic needs more complications, this one just seems like a natural fit.
If strong characterization doesn’t do it for you, if action is what you truly crave, this issue won’t disappoint. It must get boring reading all the praise I dish out to Mateus Santolouco, but damn, does he sell this book. The action flows beautifully. The fights in this issue are swift and colorful, with bizarro mutant animals wailing on each other with their assorted weapons. The way he draws sledgehammer action especially impressed me. My shoulders felt sore just from looking at it.
TMNT has had a lot of ups and downs this year. It’s expanded the cast of characters, shifted allegiances, and messed with timelines in two excellent miniseries-Utrom Empire and Turtles in Time, respectively. What is hasn’t had is focus. Entire issues have felt pointless due to an overwhelming amount of dangling plot threads, while others have blown me away just for sticking with a character all issue long. Issue #39 is much more the former than the latter, but with execution this solid it feels like the writers might have unearthed the secret to getting this show on the road. More like this please.
A Look Inside
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