IDW Publishing 2016
Written by Paul Allor
Illustrated by Damian Couceiro
Coloured by Ronda Pattison
Lettered by Shawn Lee
The Turtles and April are trapped in a building owned by Baxter Stockman. Trapped with them is a mysterious scorpion mutant. Outside the forces of Bishop and the Earth Protection Force seek to capture the mutants...and reinforcements have just arrived!
I’ve said it before i’ll say it again this is the Turtles I want to read about. While this issue may be the conclusion of the first arc i’m hoping this isn’t the last we’ll see of Paul’s tales regarding this aspect of the Turtles Universe. From the introduction of the Scorpion mutant and her organisation to this Earth Protection Force and their overzealous leader, who doesn’t care how many good men he loses in his fight, things around here have gotten so much more interesting for me.
This is a much darker and poignant way of storytelling that I have to say is incredibly fascinating. I like that April is going to work WITH Stockman, presumably to keep an eye on him and to further her own career. I mean what we saw from him here was a reluctance to let anyone else have the upper hand against his sworn enemies and that kind uneasy alliance sets the stage for something else to come. It’s that delicious conundrum for Stockman that keeps him relevant.
The characterisation of the brothers has been delightful and seeing them come back together after being apart in an adventure of this magnitude really has been great to see. Not only throughout the four issues of action packed adventure but in the ending here as well. I’ve never been a fan of the Turtles but this direction and storytelling has really piqued my curiosity and interest to see it keep going.
Damian and Ronda have been a dream team on the interiors here. They’ve kept this dark and brooding in ways that make sense, not only because it’s night but with the subject matter and direction. The use of page layouts with angles and perspective have been wonderfully utilised. With where they are the use of backgrounds has been limited and it works here. The emotion, feeling and tone that they bring to this is exciting to me as a reader.
That we now have a new favourite person to hate in Bishop is fantastic. Paul has delivered us that one man whose own ambition and single mindedness will undoubtedly be his downfall in such a way that you can see his use while still hating the heck out of him. This four issue arc has been the epitome of excellent storytelling with characterisation, plot advancement and creating a new thrilling direction.
I’m looking forward to seeing the mix of talent this series brings us and how often certain creators are brought back to continue their vision of the Turtles and their Universe.