Travel back in time with me to the halcyon days of yesteryear, August 2011 where IDW has rebooted the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
This isn’t news all on its own, the Turtles have been rebooted more times than I can count but this time it’s special. This time one of the original creators, Kevin Eastman, is back in the writers chair.
Eastman writing TMNT again is more than a little exciting. He’s able to tell the story over again with the benefit of almost thirty years of development. He’s played with the details a little bit without making any egregious alterations.
All of our old friends are here and at least one new character is introduced in the first issue, Old Hob, a mutated cat with an old ax to grind.
Summary:
Splinter, Leo, Mikey, and Donny are confronted by Old Hob and gang. Raph is conspicuously missing. The four of them defend against their attackers while conforming to a Batman-esque honor code. No killing. Splinter narrates the fight and provides a few additional details, specifically pointing out that he and Old Hob have encountered one another before and Hob clearly hasn’t forgotten. Splinter and the turtles fight, win, and leave their opponents bruised but breathing.
Cut to 18 months earlier, April is introduced as an intern at Stock Gen where research is being done on genetically modified foods… among other things. Splinter and the turtles (pre-mutation) are present and participating in some unspecified testing.
Baxter Stockman receives a call from General Krang requesting updates on several developments including exo-armor, psychotropic serum, and super soldier mutagen. These can’t possibly come into play later right… RIGHT?!
Cut to present day, Raphael wanders the streets alone in a long coat and hood scavenging for food, preferably pizza. He encounters a domestic disturbance, a drunk father beating his son (Casey Jones). Raph intercedes as he is wont to do. The issue ends here.
The art is gritty but fun at the same time. The turtles wear their original all red masks leaving identifying characteristics to their weapons of choice and personalities, but it isn’t difficult. The turtles personalities are well developed as one would expect from someone who had been cooking a story for three decades. There is enough of the old stuff to satisfy my need for nostalgia and enough new stuff to satisfy my need for suspense.
Recap:
April is a Stock Gen intern, Casey’s honing his punch taking skills, Krang is planning a war with Stockman tech, the turtles are mean green fighting machines and Raphael is a runaway and causing trouble… some things never change.
Next: Issue #2