Tales of the TMNT #61
Written by Tristan Jones
Drawn by Andres Ponce
Mirage Publishing $3.25
I don’t read much TMNT. I have to admit as long as I have been reading comics it’s been just Capes. And when I say Capes I mean DC and Marvel. Super-heroes. But I really have to admit I am pleasantly surprised every now and then when I manage to take chance on book, get a decent referral, am asked to read something some one has done or am sent something to review. Reading this issue of Tales of the TMNT is one of those surprises.
First of all the writing is really easy to follow. I have read only one other issue of this run and got everything I know conveyed to me through the dialogue and story-telling. No confusion at all. We get pulled into a simple mystery, assassinations and some great fun surprises if you are old time fans of the show and original run.
You get great interactions between the Turtles themselves and nice scripting work when they find the villain and begin the fight with Razorback. The mystery unfolds regarding buildings coming down in the city at locations where criminal activity is taking place. You find out its Mouser Robots unleashed to destroy the buildings linked via cerebral connection with Razorback. I love the touch with the dramatic introduction of a deadly robotic adversary only to have it taken out next panel in a crash with a truck. Oh well. And eventually they take out Razorback; the Mouser Robot threat comes to the abrupt end when heRazorback is defeated. The city is saved. And the Turtles heroes…sorta. They still wear dirty clothes and live in the sewer. But surprisingly are doing well enough to afford and X-box 360 and Guitar Hero. LOL.
I think I have to applaud the writing some more in that it is tonally perfect. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, there is fun in there and heart. But also it is not a cartoon version with funny big eyed anthropomorphic animals flipping around with smiles and speed lines the do dirty work in a dirty city and fight serious threats. I think that is a great testament to Tristan Jones’s writing. Gold star for that. Big time.
A really solid read and kudos for Tristan Jones making it so accessible. Nice touch with the ending. Obviously villains can’t stay down long in any universe.
The art is terrific. It’s black and white with some tones. Nicely rendered by Andres Ponce. Who you may not have heard of, but hopefully you will more and more. He has been steadily getting more work and exposure. Previously working on other projects for Bankshot Comics with Brendan McGinley (another name you should be hearing more of I hope) and on Jay Faerber’s Firebirds, the guy is amazing. Nice simple story telling appropriate backgrounds and props to give a sense of the setting and tone and dynamic action. He also does some damn good Ninja Turtles. There are some stand out shots this issue. An image of the Turtles on a gargoyle over the city in ponchos in the rain, another of them leaping “Dark Knight” style into the action and the image I mentioned above of Razorback introducing his short-lived mecha-lackey. Beautiful stuff.
I am really taken back by Andres’ comfort with moving the camera around and not shying away from different poses. Usually a big challenge for new artists but Andres is all pro. Great cover too. Makes me wish the entire issue was in color. My only crit and it’s a minor one would be the line weights are pretty consistent through out, varying the ink lines or at least the character outline a little more would have really pushed the already amazing art into the stratosphere.
All in all a great fun read and I recommend you check it out. If you like the Turtles you should be buying this book.
8.5 Out of 10
