This coming Wednesday, IDW Publishing’s flagship Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics series finally reaches the end of its current arc with the release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #18. Coming just over a month after the release of the arc’s penultimate issue, this latest entry is an intriguing presentation, being that it is supposed to be the end of this arc. That is due largely to its featured story. The writing incorporated into the story’s pages makes for its own interest and will be addressed a little later. The book’s art once again rounds out its most important elements. Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of this issue of TMNT. All things considered they make it a good ending to one arc and bridge to the forthcoming new arc.
“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” This famous adage came from the famed Roman philosopher, Seneca. It is an adage that fits so well for the latest issue of IDW Publishing’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics series. That is because as much buildup as there has been to this forthcoming issue of the company’s flagship TMNT series, it feels more like a bridge than a firm finale to the current arc. This as the story finds the Turtles “defeating” Karai and her witch friend, Shinigami after Splinter, still in the skeleton spirit that has come from the land of the dead captures them. It is a little bit convenient. This will be discussed in the examination of the writing. Either way, even after the Turtles defeat the pair, which flees the Empire State Building, their mother, Teng Shen, is still there with them. This leads to a transition back to the land of the dead, where two other figures note the Tree of Fates is dying with her caring for it. One of the two figures featured – Lady Izanami – states that Teng Shen will “pay for her negligence.” So in essence what readers get here is technically the end of one arc but at the same time, a connection to the next. So, it is essentially a “soft” ending more than a “hard” definitive” finale for the arc. That is ok. It just preps readers for what is next to come from this chapter of the ongoing series.
While the story featured in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #18 makes for an interesting read, it is just one of the interesting points for this issue. The writing that went into the story makes for its own interest. One notable moment showing the writing’s appeal comes as Mikey, back from the land of the dead, has to translate for the teenage Hamato Yoshi so as to break the language barrier between himself and the Turtles. Michaelangelo then proceeds to make a joke about being the “smart one” among himself and his brothers. One cannot help but laugh at this moment. That is especially the case as honestly, Michaelangelo has actually been the turning point of sorts in the Turtles winning quite a few battles in recent history. In IDW’s TMNT: Saturday Morning Adventures he saved his brothers from The Pantheon trying to brainwash them, for instance. In the recent, TMNT: Battle Nexus miniseries, it was him refusing to fight Slash that really was the catalyst to the Turtles’ victory. So Mikey technically has some grounds to call himself the smart one.
The writing is not perfect in this story. As noted already, Karai and Ishigami seem to just randomly flee the scene of this big battle that has spanned a few issues now. This after they are caught in Splinter’s clutches. There is no real definitive mark as to how they were defeated. It is sort of a classic villain thing where the bad guys just suddenly flee the fight at the end just to close out the story. It is a bit disappointing to be honest, but not enough to doom this issue. It is just something really important to note.
Staying on the note of the battle, an equally intriguing item is the very fact that this scene, atop the Empire State Building is clearly a throwback to the timeless cinema classic, King Kong. Spliner, inside the giant skeleton spirit, reaches into the building to get a hold of Karai and Shinigami and swats at them just like King Kong did in that famous scene before his epic death. It would be interesting to know if that throwback, that homage, was intentional. If so, then it makes for plenty of aesthetic appeal and more enjoyment from the writing.
As if everything noted is not enough, the dialogue tied into the story also builds on the appeal of the writing. From Teng Shen trying to diplomatically translate for Raphael and the teenage Hamato Yoshi as the pair battle early on, to Donatello trying to remind his brothers he is caught in “Splinter’s” rib cage, to Leonardo making a joke at one point, about Raph’s math skills, the dialogue offers plenty of engagement and entertainment. When the appeal ensured through the dialogue is considered along with that presented through the other writing elements, the whole therein shows the solid positive impact that the writing has one the story’s presentation. When it and the story are considered collectively, the whole gives readers all the more reason to take in this issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Rounding out the most important elements of this issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is the book’s artwork. Crafted once again by the team of artists Freddie E. Williams II and Fero PE, colorists Andrew Dalhouse and letterer Shawn Lee, the artwork is everything that audiences have come to expect from this run. One of the more notable moments comes as Splinter is holding Shinigami in his clutches atop the Empire State Building as the Turtles are just below. This is right out of King Kong. The skeleton spirit’s glowing red eye against the duller tones of its bones and even the backdrop and rich colors of Shinigami’s outfit makes for quite the color contrast, pulling readers into the scene in its own way.
In another moment, as Michaelangelo returns from the land of the dead (thanks to Leonardo managing to reopen the portal), readers get another rich visual presentation. The green aura around the door, the light and energy exuding from the portal as Mikey runs through, Leonardo holding the door is so immersive in its brief presentation. Seeing one of the skeleton hands reaching through at the same time, trying to grab Michaelangelo adds its own subtle touch to the presentation.
Yet one more example of the strength of the book’s art comes in the finale as Splinter and Teng Shen embrace. Flanked by the Turtles, their sons, the sunlight shines on the couple. It is textbook happy ending, to be honest but still a nice touch. The color balances and contrast in this moment make it its own rich presentation. When this and the other moments discussed are considered along with the rest of the book’s art, the whole therein gives readers to appreciate in regard to the book’s visual presentation. When that presentation is considered along with the book’s story and its writing, the whole therein makes Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #18 a mostly successful new entry in this ongoing series from IDW Publishing.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #18, the forthcoming latest installment of IDW Publishing’s flagship TMNT series, is an interesting new offering in the ongoing series. Its interest comes in part through its story, which is being marketed as the finale to the series’ latest story arc. It is a finale but does not necessarily have the definitive feeling of a finale that maybe it should have. Rather, it begins a new arc or in essence honestly continues the current arc and builds into another arc. It feels like it is more a bridge than a finale, for lack of better wording. That aside, it is still an action-packed story that leaves readers knowing that the Turtles will be dealing with Karai and Shinigami again sometime in the future. The writing incorporated into the book is of its own interest. That is proven through the dialogue, the general presentation thereof, and other items. The book’s art puts the finishing touch to the whole. That is because of its familiarity in look and style. Each item examined is important in its own way to the whole of the book. All things considered they make Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #18 an interesting new entry in this ongoing series from IDW Publishing.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #18 is scheduled for release Wednesday in comics shops everywhere. More information on this and other titles from IDW Publishing is available at:
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