Comic Book Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (IDW, Free Comic Book Day 2017)

Story: Kevin Eastman, Bobby Curnow & Tom Waltz
Script: Tom Waltz
Art (Including Cover): Cory Smith
Colors: Ronda Pattison
Letters: Shawn Lee

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been kicking around since I was a kid. To see them as a still-relevant group warms my heart. My daughter is over three decades younger than me and loves the old movies as much as I did back in 1990. One of the best things about FCBD editions of titles is that they introduce new readers and new generations to classic characters. I have to say, this issue does a fine job of that.

As we start, our half-shelled heroes, sans Donatello, are involved in a training mission down in the sewers. As each turtle gets zapped by a laser, they make fun of each other with the senses of humor we're used to. When they get back to their lair, they're greeted by Don and a small golden robot named Professor Honeycutt. The group reminisces about the last time they met up, and they go through moments they've had facing a variety of villains, which nicely introduces new readers to their storied history. The last they discuss is an attack by General Krang, which ended with his arrest. Honeycutt is one of five key witnesses in the trial that could put him away for a long time.

In true Maskerpiece fashion, a set of tentacles drops from the ceiling and shuts down the power. They drop again to snatch Honeycutt, and the battle begins. The culprit in a bounty hunter named Hakk-R, and before his escape, he downloads the names of the other witnesses from Honeycutt's database. This sends the turtles on a quest to Dimension X.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Tentacles!

While this is just a teaser leading to TMNT #73 and TMNT: Dimension X, it's short, sweet, and fun. It does make you want to dig into more of the story on Krang's capture and the crimes that led to it as well as the upcoming hunt for Hakk-R.

The artwork by Cory Smith has a modern/classic hybrid feel to it, and his cover is beautiful. The colors by Ronda Pattison keep the sewer dark and the characters light, making an eye catching contrast. I enjoyed this fun little battle, and I think it'll be a great way to get younger kids into the pizza loving mutants.

Follow Maskerpiece Theatre:
Website: abnormalentertainment.com/maskerpiecetheatre
Facebook: /MaskerpieceTheatre and Fan Page
Twitter: @Maskerpiece -Masked Blogster @MaskedBlogster -Mandy @moviefreakgirl -Handsome J @jbrunansky -Matt @MpTheatreMatt -Kevin Moyers @kevinmoyers
Email: maskedblogster@gmail.com
Instagram: maskerpiece_theatre 
Pinterest: /abnormalpodcast/maskerpiece-theatre/
RSS Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/MaskerpieceTheatre
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/maskerpiece-theatre/id647535985?mt=2
Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=35990&refid=stpr

Maskerpiece Theatre is sponsored by MoviePass. See unlimited movies at a theater near you for a low monthly rate.

You can support our show  and Abnormal Entertainment on our Support Us page.

Comic Book Review: TMNT: Bebop & Rocksteady Destroy Everything

Written by Dustin Weaver and Ben Bates
Art by Scott Campbell, Dustin Weaver, Ben Bates and Giannis Milogiannis
Colors by Bill Crabtree & Sophie Campbell

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are in a museum after hours because Donatello wanted to show the others two sets of fossilized bones that resemble two very familiar foes.

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would.  There's tons of crazy action and the one liners go on throughout but there's a lot more going on in this story.  Time travel and plenty of foreshadowing to keep you wondering where the story is going to go next.  The title leads you to believe this is basically a Bebop and Rocksteady story but the turtles are heavily involved.

This book was a lot more violent than I thought it might be.  I was pretty impressed that it read as fun as it did but then you would see dead bodies and our two big villains riddled with bullet holes.

The art looked very good in this book.  It was a shared effort and you could see the differences when flipping the pages.  It made for an interesting look.

TMNT: Bebop and Rocksteady came to me in the Comic Block subscription box service.  Check out the awesome exclusive cover.  You can read my Comic Block reviews on HelloSubscription.com.

Maskerpiece Theatre is sponsored by MoviePass. See unlimited movies at a theater near you for a low monthly rate.

You can also support our show by using our Amazon banners or donating on our Support Us page.

Comic Book Review: Judge Dredd #1 - IDW Publishing (2015)

Written by Ulises Farinas & Erick Frietas
Art by Dan McDaid

Judge Dredd finds himself in a lush green landscape.  The air is fresh and plant life is in abundance.  No city and no vehicles.  He ventures off to find out where he is and finds people that are doing the thing he is against: breaking the law.

Judge Dredd is off to an unexpected start which is not necessarily a bad thing.  The book keeps you wondering about what is happening and only revealing enough to make you want to read the next issue.  The characters that Dredd meets totally make this book.  Children that he has apparently arrested constantly tell jokes and hilariously get his name wrong.  I hope we don't lose these characters too early in this series.

The art looks great in this book a well.  The wild and absurd violence is captured very well by artist Dan McDaid.  It should be interesting to see what he is needing to draw next.

I received the first issue of Judge Dredd with an exclusive variant cover in the Comic Block here.
subscription box along with a Dredd t-shirt and some other really cool items.  You can read the review of the box contents

What are your thoughts on Judge Dredd?  What other comics would you like to see reviewed by Maskerpiece Theatre?  Please leave your comments below.

Maskerpiece Theatre is sponsored by MoviePass. See unlimited movies at a theater near you for a low monthly rate.

You can also support our show by using our Amazon banners or donating on our Support Us page.

Comic Book Review: Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 - DC Comics / IDW Publishing

Written by James Tynion IV
Art by Freddie E. Williams II

Expensive equipment is being stolen from laboratories all throughout Gotham.  Batman doesn't seem to know who is responsible but feels there may be someone new in town.  Conversely, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are in Gotham City making attempts at stopping the dreaded FOOT Clan from stealing equipment and hurting people in laboratories.  It seems Batman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have a similar plan, but they don't know each other so what happens when they meet face to face?

I received this first issue of the six part mini-series in the Comic Block Subscription Box(click here to read my review of the entire box!).  I thought this sounded like a fun crossover but was initially not going to purchase the book.  This first issue was more about giving us a reason that these characters would meet each other and giving a bit of each seeing a piece of the other's world.  I have to admit, seeing TMNT vs one of Batman's villains is kind of cool.

I'm curious to find out where this mini series is heading.  Six issues is a fairly decent amount of time to develop a decent story line.  James Tynion IV has me confident that this could turn into something fun.

I like how Freddie E. Williams II draws the Ninja Turtles.  The action shots look great and I am looking forward to seeing more.  I'm not as sold on the Batmobile but then again, everyone has their own preferences about the coolest vehicle in comics.

What are your thoughts on Batman and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?  What books do you think Maskerpiece Theatre should review next?  Please leave your comments below.

Maskerpiece Theatre is sponsored by MoviePass. See unlimited movies at a theater near you for a low monthly rate.

You can also support our show by using our Amazon banners or donating on our Support Us page.