Checking In With the TMNT World
Review
Whoa, art change! Yes, I was looking forward to it, and Bates does a good job of getting things done better than the last artist. Bates' style is very similar to one that Duncan had so many issues ago, but with a hint of an anime style of flare.
For the start of the next story, we get a check in on everyone's status. There isn't much from what is being said that old readers wouldn't already know. One thing that did catch my eye was that Shredder stated that they needed more of the ooze in order to carry out a possible plan they had. That is interesting, as it makes me think that the whole reincarnation thing for the turtles is based somewhat around ooze. At least it would explain how both Shredder and the Turtles do this re-incarnation thing.
April and Honeycutt's conversation just seems really strange. It just feels and sounds so awkward when I read it. It makes me beg for something else to happen, and we get that when the Neutrinos come into the story. Then we get a "hero vs. hero because we are charging into a fight instead of sitting down and talking" scenario between the Turtles and the Neutrinos. Its an excuse to get them all into the same area in order for the Turtles to get transported off world.
Which, damn it, I do this funny thinking thing. See, the Neutrinos are able to communicate through the dimensions as the ones that came over talk to their home base on the Neutrino home world. And they remotely catch and retrieve the Neutrinos on earth. So what stopped them from locking onto Honeycutt and transporting him away without sending the army around? You then would have April have some convincing dialogue with Honeycutt where the Turtles reveal themselves to him. They get to talking and Honeycutt shows that he is a robot. Then the Neutrinos get a lock on them and they get transported off world. Honeycutt then acts as a guide on this new world for a few seconds while the Turtles get caught in the crosshairs of war and aren't sure who they should be fighting. Then you can have the Turtles fight the Neutrinos in a way that makes sense, as they are trying to bring Honeycutt back to their base because the transporter works in a funny manner and doesn't always bring people to the spot they want to go to.
But that's just my crazed take on the situation to avoid a cliche story of hero vs. hero due to misunderstanding between them.
I don't know. I haven't been too much of a fan of some of all things Turtles lately. It was good for a spell there, then some crappy art came along, and now the story just feels flimsy when the art starts to bounce back. I'll need to re-evaluate my Turtles stance soon, as it is one of the very few books I pay $3.99 for.
Grades
Words: 6/10
Pictures: 7/10
Buy Next Issue: I'll stick with the story for another issue, but if it isn't as much fun as it used to be, I may just wait a few months and get the discounted digital version of the book.