DC Comics/IDW Publishing 2015
Written by James Tynion IV
Illustrated by Freddie E. Williams II
Coloured by Jeremy Colwell
Lettered Tom Napolitano
I can’t remember the last time I read a comic company crossover DC was in charge of but I fervently hope that this isn’t the last one for that length of time. James characterization of not only each individual turtle but of Batman, Shredder and Master Splinter as well has been beyond anything I could have hoped for. His knowledge and understanding of who they all are at their core is unparalleled and it’s evident he’s as much a fan as the rest of us.
I won’t sugar coat it we always see heroes fight each other when they meet for the first time it’s the oldest thing in the book of crossovers. Batman takes on the Turtles to open this issue and you’ve got to hand it to him that he didn’t freak out or lose his cool fighting grown turtle men. Sure he’s got his share of wild looking rogues and in the Justice League has seen a lot but that he didn’t flinch well yeah that was pretty awesome. Even more so was how the fight ended because that was so freakin cool!
So back in their underground lair the Turtles go over what’s happened. I can’t tell you how much I appreciated seeing this unfold. Personalities shined as each one of them went over what happened with their own unique style, from surfing the web, to geeking out over how cool Bats was to creating a chart to actually being smart enough to know what Batman was actually doing during the fight.
Batman has a Sai from the encounter and he and Lucius run a diagnostic on it. What they can learn from it was pretty amazing and showcases just how technology can be used in ways that could potentially benefit mankind when used outside the Government’s purview. This was just as exciting as seeing the fight in a geeky science way and it’s also one of the staple points that makes Batman the kind of hero people love.
Ah the villains get some more attention this issue as well as Shredder uses the Penguin to procure something for him. While I love seeing them together I almost wish we’d seen them finding each other before this little encounter. We learned last issue why Shredder wants this Waynetech Resonance Engine and with what Master Splinter learned this issue he knows why they want it too. Though I have to say seeing what transpired between the Penguin and Shredder well yeah oh thank goodness we get to see this!
This issue ends with the Turtles and Master Splinter finding their way into the Batcave left us with one of the absolute best issue endings ever!
As if a story of this caliber weren’t enough Freddie and Jeremy have brought as much enthusiasm and incredibleness to the interior artwork as well. I mean what holy amazeballs says about the work here is an understatement of what we experience. The page and panel layouts the attention to detail and just the look of the characters goes above and beyond the call of duty.
The age of the company crossover is back and by god is it better than ever it was!