Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #37
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #37
Written by Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz
Art by Cory Smith
Colors by Ronda Pattison
Wow. After the increasingly harsh words I’ve been doling out to this series, it’s really nice to have to write about an issue that was really, really good. Not perfect, but still really, really good.
As usual, the script is a touch too stiff, but this time, it works beautifully in the comic’s favor. Shredder and Krang are having their secret meeting, as the cover implies, and while the thought of them teaming up might tingle reader’s nostalgia centers, they shouldn’t get their hopes up. The meeting takes a turn for the worse, and then it takes another, and another, till two massive, homicidal egos just can’t take it anymore, and everybody starts fighting, as soldiers and ninjas and mutant warriors are wont to do.
The pacing and plotting of this issue was really great. It takes place almost entirely on Krang’s boat, and the one cutaway scene comes right at the start, giving Shredder and Krang more than enough space to vent their frustrations. Unlike most issues, which end with an epilogue teasing the next, #37 sticks with our dueling antagonists, and shows us the aftermath of their battle. It’s not a big change to formula, but it’s the little things that make this story work.
Mateus Santoluco is taking a break this month, but guest artist Cory Smith is a quality fill-in. Eagle-eyed readers might remember Smith from the Karai one-shot, or from the new Magnus Robot Fighter series he draws with Fred Van Lente. His art here is great. He draws Shredder and Krang’s meeting with the stiff intensity two enemies like this deserve, but it’s when the book takes a turn for the violent that it really starts to shines. TMNT #37 is a master class in building and releasing tension. I don’t know if I’ve ever cheered for Shredder so much.
Written by Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz
Art by Cory Smith
Colors by Ronda Pattison
Wow. After the increasingly harsh words I’ve been doling out to this series, it’s really nice to have to write about an issue that was really, really good. Not perfect, but still really, really good.
As usual, the script is a touch too stiff, but this time, it works beautifully in the comic’s favor. Shredder and Krang are having their secret meeting, as the cover implies, and while the thought of them teaming up might tingle reader’s nostalgia centers, they shouldn’t get their hopes up. The meeting takes a turn for the worse, and then it takes another, and another, till two massive, homicidal egos just can’t take it anymore, and everybody starts fighting, as soldiers and ninjas and mutant warriors are wont to do.
The pacing and plotting of this issue was really great. It takes place almost entirely on Krang’s boat, and the one cutaway scene comes right at the start, giving Shredder and Krang more than enough space to vent their frustrations. Unlike most issues, which end with an epilogue teasing the next, #37 sticks with our dueling antagonists, and shows us the aftermath of their battle. It’s not a big change to formula, but it’s the little things that make this story work.
Mateus Santoluco is taking a break this month, but guest artist Cory Smith is a quality fill-in. Eagle-eyed readers might remember Smith from the Karai one-shot, or from the new Magnus Robot Fighter series he draws with Fred Van Lente. His art here is great. He draws Shredder and Krang’s meeting with the stiff intensity two enemies like this deserve, but it’s when the book takes a turn for the violent that it really starts to shines. TMNT #37 is a master class in building and releasing tension. I don’t know if I’ve ever cheered for Shredder so much.
A Look Inside
