DC Comics/IDW Publishing 2015
Written by James Tynion IV
Illustrated by Freddie Williams II
Coloured by Jeremy Colwell
Lettered by Tom Napolitano
Things keep getting more and more interesting here as we race towards the story’s conclusion. This issue Commissioner Gordon gets to meet two of the Turtles and the Penguin makes an appearance to warn Batman of what Shredder’s plans are. Before they can leave their rooftop meeting however the mutagen in Leonardo starts to break down, time for the turtles is running out and only Shredder has more of it at Arkham Asylum which is now completely under his control.
So far we’ve seen a few Batman villains pop up but surprisingly no Nightwing, Batgirl or Robins. With only one issue to go i’m wondering who is going to fight by their side in all this, well we do see one ally return. Damian comes back from monitoring Ra’s movements with the League of Assassins. Only Batman isn’t in the Batcave Donatello, Michaelangelo and Casey Jones are. Gotta love Damian Wayne and how he’s all fight first ask questions later. Then again we haven’t seen Bebop and Rocksteady either hmm. Still the story itself the way it’s structured and how it’s delivered all conspire to really make this extremely impressive.
I liked this fight mainly because not only is it fun to see Damian go up against this trio but because of the way Freddie and Jeremy deliver it. While Freddie’s earned more than my respect for his interior artwork for this run I did love seeing a determined Damian trying his darndest to beat up to Turtles who were at least his size if not bigger. No wondering what the heck they were or if checking for his father or Alfred to see what’s happening just automatic swinging into action. There’s something inherently fun about watching this unfold and i’m also sorry Batman, Raphael and Leonardo return before it ends.
With Damian filling Batman in on what he knows and the gang worried about Leo it becomes a question of what to do next. Impatient young Damian, yes James been writing the heck out of this series with very spot on, familiar and incredible characterization going on, wanting to go after Ra’s he has to wait. Casey thinks it’s best for them to go home and he’s got a way thanks to Harold. Oh James that was a brilliant move and it showed on the page.
So with Arkham looming and a slew of inmates at Shredder and Ra’s command what’s in store for the final issue? Will the gang go home of be there to fight at Batman’s side? Some questions are answered this issue some aren’t. Regardless this is one heck of a story and while on the surface with the types of villains Batman faces this shouldn’t be working as well as it is. James, Freddie and Jeremy however have different ideas as we can clearly see.
If the last page doesn’t give you goosebumps nothing will. Now that DC has gone and done this there should be no stopping them from unlikely and unusual team-ups coming from them.