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Full Post at TMNT Revisited |
Filed under: 2015 posts, The '90s Revisited, TMNT Adventures Revisited | Tagged: Adventures, archie, Archie Adventure Series, Archie Comics, Barry Grossman, Comic Reviews, comics, Dan Berger, Dean Clarrain, Gary Fields, Ken Mitchroney, Kevin Eastman, Ninja Turtles, Peter Laird, Ryan Brown, Scott Fulop, Screwloose, Steve Lavigne, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, TMNT, TMNT Adventures, Victor Gorelick, Wild Things, Wingnut | Leave a comment »
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Full Post at TMNT Revisited |
Filed under: 2015 posts, The '90s Revisited, TMNT Adventures Revisited | Tagged: Ace Duck, Adventures, archie, Archie Adventure Series, Archie Comics, Barry Grossman, Cryin' Houn', Dean Clarrain, Gary Fields, Intergalactic Wrestling, Jim Lawson, Kevin Eastman, Leatherhead, Ninja Turtles, Peter Laird, Ryan Brown, Scott Fulop, Sling, Stump, Stump Asteroid, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, TMNT, TMNT Adventures, Victor Gorelick | Leave a comment »
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Full Post at TMNT Revisited |
Filed under: 2015 posts, The '90s Revisited, TMNT Adventures Revisited | Tagged: Adventure Series, archie, Archie Publishing, Barry Grossman, Comic Reviews, comics, Dave Garcia, Dean Clarrain, Gary Fields, Ken Mitchroney, Leatherhead, Mary Bones, Ninja Turtles, Of Turtles and Stones and Mary Bones, Ryan Brown, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures, TMNT, TMNT Adventures, Turnstone, Victor Gorelick | Leave a comment »
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Full Post at TMNT Revisited |
Filed under: 2015 posts, The '90s Revisited, TMNT Adventures Revisited | Tagged: archie, Archie Comics, Barry Grossman, bebop, Dave Garcia, Dean Clarrain, Gary Fields, Ken Mitchroney, Man Ray, Ninja Turtles, Ray Fillet, rocksteady, Ryan Brown, shredder, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures, TMNT, Victor Gorelick | Leave a comment »
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Full Post at TMNT Revisited |
Filed under: The '90s Revisited, TMNT Adventures Revisited | Tagged: archie, Archie Publishing, Barry Grossman, Beth Mitchroney, Comic Reviews, Dave Garcia, Eye of Sarnath, Gary Fields, Incredible Shrinking Turtles, Ken Mitchroney, Mirage, Ninja Turtles, Revisited, Ryan Brown, Sarnath, TMNT, Victor Gorelick | Leave a comment »
Quick Rating: Good
Story Title: All Tomorrow’s Yesterdays
The TMNT and the C.O.W.Boys of Moo Mesa team up again, this time to face the ultimate threat to the C.O.W.Boys’ Earth.
Plot: Murphy & Ryan Brown
Script: Murphy
Art: Dario Brizuela
Lettering: Eric Talbot
Frontispiece: Michael Dooney
Editor in Chief: Peter Laird
Managing Editor: Dan Berger
Design: Eric Talbot
Front Cover: Dario Brizuela and Steve Lavigne
Back Cover: Fernando Leon Gonzalez
This issue is the latest installment in a series of teamups between the TMNT and the C.O.W.Boys of Moo Mesa.
Picking up from the most recent installment a few months ago, Utromi Preservi (an elite/secret society of Utroms) has gathered what they need to awaken a cosmic vampire, Galactose (think “Milky Way galaxy” for the joke). While the Turtles and their allies rush to try to save the C.O.W.Boys’ Earth, Donatello may have the secret that will save everyone. We also have a brief appearance by Cudley the Cowlick, who longtime TMNT fans will recognize from the TMNT Adventures series…nothing too significant about the appearance, but a great nod to said fans. There’s also a moment where the Turtles are shown other incarnations of themselves, which was VERY cool to see.
The art by Brizuela is very good. The style is enjoyable, though different from other TMNT artists (while keeping the characters recognizable and other expected things with a comic). The comic’s interior is black-and-white, but as the front cover is done by the same artist as the interior pages, one can see what everyone looks like in color and almost forget the interior is not in color.
One of the thing that’s been great about this title shows through with this issue’s story. For the most part, each issue is its own standalone story. However, creative teams will re-visit and expand upon earlier stories, building larger stories, even if they’re not consecutive issues in this title (which is almost an anthology, except that each story/creative team gets a full issue rather than having multiple stories/creative teams in a single issue).
The story is fun, though one has to really suspend disbelief on a few points. The cosmic vampire as a nod to Galactus is–while derivative–also kinda cool if one recognizes the association–on a metatextual level it adds plenty that there’s not time for otherwise in a single-issue story.
This isn’t the best single issue for one jumping aboard clueless about the characters; but so long as one isn’t looking for lengthy, drawn-out continuity and depth, it’s a fun issue with plenty of action and some jokes thrown in.
Additionally, as I noted when I reviewed the prior chapter of this story, another thing Mirage gets right is not only including a pin up page in the back of the issue with an image related to the story but a color alternate image also related to the story is presented in color on the back cover…no need to seek out extra copies of this comic for these bonus images.
All in all, this continues to be a strong title, telling TMNT stories from throughout their continuity by different creative teams, keeping the book always fresh and with some real heart behind the individual tales.
Ratings:
Story: 3/5
Art: 3.5/5
Overall: 3/5
Filed under: Classic Reviews | Tagged: Comic Reviews, Dan Berger, Dario Brizuela, Eric Talbot, Michael Dooney, Mirage, Murphy, Ninja Turtles, Peter Laird, Ryan Brown, Steve Lavigne, Tales of the TMNT, TMNT | Leave a comment »
Quick Rating: Good
Story Title: The Crystal at the Heart of the World
Investigating a worrisome shutdown of an important machine, the Turtles and Utroms find themselves on Moo Mesa, where they encounter a plot that might just be bigger than the TMNT and C.O.W. Boys of Moo Mesa combined can handle…
Plot: Murphy, Brown and Laird
Script: Murphy
Thumbnails: Ryan Brown
Art: Dario Brizuela
Letters: Eric Talbot
Frontispiece: Michael Dooney
Back-Up Story: The Mission by: Dan Berger
Editor in Chief: Peter Laird
Managing Editor: Dan Berger
Design: Eric Talbot
Front Cover: Dario Brizuela and Steve Lavigne
Back Cover: Fernando Leon Gonzalez
The issue opens with the traditional frontispiece with one of the Turtles in cowboy getup, fixin’ to tell us a story…one that begins with the opposite of a certain cliche, as a figure on horseback in the desert rides toward us–OUT OF the sunset rather than off into it. We quickly see that it is an Utrom, who has infiltrated the place known as Moo Mesa. He shuts down a device to spark his own agenda into motion–though the shutting-down of the device draws the attention of Utroms on Earth who soon journey to Moo Mesa (with Turtles and Casey in tow) to investigate the device’s shutdown. (Re)uniting with their now “old allies”, the C.O.W.Boys of Moo Mesa, and a new (deja-vu-inspiring) ally, the immediate threat is faced, while yet a greater threat is revealed.
This is the third issue to unite the Moo Mesa crew with the Mutant Turtles crew, and I’m certainly enjoying the recurring crossover. Writer Ryan Brown has done plenty of work in the TMNT-verse, and created the C.O.W. Boys (you might remember them from a two-season animated series). It seems only natural to bring the two properties together for another go-round, and it’s done so to great effect. While perhaps part of a larger meta-arc, this issue stands alone fairly nicely–we have a good introduction bringing characters to the forefront, rising into the action, a climax, and then things settle out…both closing this story and setting up the next (due next year).
The art works very well here–visually, it has the appearance of an “animated” sort of style, without losing the feel of being its own original comic work. While I don’t know any of the C.O.W. Boys characters well enough to recognize individuals, I do notice how hard it is to tell the Turtles apart–it’s only dialog or visible weapons that allows that discernment. Still, all fits together quite well, and neither set of characters seems out-of-place in the presence of the others.
For me, the highlight of the issue is a guest-appearance by a certain transdimensional Cowlick. This has me totally chomping at the bit for the next part of this series of issues and itching for the long-promised Forever War–I actually got my hopes up that this issue would actually kick that off, but we’re left with a simple “To Be Continued in Tales of the TMNT #58…”
There’s also a two-page micro-story of no small amusement to close out the issue…which is another thing this title has going for it. As a package, we get a nice cover, an extra artist’s work on the frontispiece, a 28-paged story, a 2-page backup story, a pin-up page with another artist’s take on characters found in this issue, and a full-color image on the back-cover worthy of being a poster…with nary an ad to be found. A comic this pure to its title/self–and for the (relatively low) price point–is hard to come by, and such a real treat.
If you’re looking for decompressed, deep character-studies, you’ll probably be disappointed. Looking for a simple, old-fashioned TMNT adventure with the bonus of having the C.O.W. Boys of Moo Mesa along, this issue’s for you. Recommended to any TMNT fan, C.O.W. Boys fan, someone contemplating checking out “a” Turtles book, or anyone just looking for an enjoyable single-issue that packs the value in under a single cover.
Ratings:
Story: 4/5
Art: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
Filed under: Classic Reviews | Tagged: C.O.W.Boys of Moo Mesa, Crystal at the Heart of the World, Dan Berger, Dario Brizuela, Eric Talbot, Michael Dooney, Mirage, Ninja Turtles, Peter Laird, Ryan Brown, Steve Lavigne, Steve Murphy, Tales of the TMNT, TMNT | Leave a comment »
Quick Rating: Very Good–Fun!
Story Title: The Eye of Aga-Moo-Tou
Summary: The TMNT and the C.O.W. Boys of Moo Mesa team up again to tackle the threat posed by Savanti Romero gaining access to the Eye of Aga-Moo-Tou.
Plot: Laird & Brown
Words: Murphy
Layouts: Ryan Brown
Pencils: Dario Brizuela
Inks: Joe Rubinstein
Letters: Eric Talbot
Editor, Creative Consultant: Peter Laird
Managing Editor: Murphy
Production, Design: Eric Talbot
Covers: (main): Dario Brizuela, (variant): Andres Ponce, Ryan Brown, Steve Lavigne
Publisher: Mirage
Despite never having been a fan of the C.O.W. Boys (I was aware of them briefly in the 90s, but never "into" them), this is great fun. We get those characters back, interacting side-by-side with the TMNT in a way that makes perfect sense in the TMNT-verse, and is just…fun.
A nearly-immortal figure locates the mystical Eye of Aga-Moo-Tou, though the Eye is also located by old TMNT villain Savanti Romero. Meanwhile, at Moo Mesa, the C.O.W. Boys are going about their regular business, when things go all wacky thanks to Romero. Back on Earth, Tsou-T’an-Jin makes contact with and transports the turtles to Moo Mesa, where they find their old friends mind-controlled/possessed by Romero, and the battle for the Eye is joined…
At its surface, this is a rather simple, stereotypical story…mega-powerful mystical artifact located by a villain, first protagonists on the scene defeated and turned on second-wave fellow heroes, yadda yadda yadda. Then again, it really isn’t much deeper than that, if you look strictly at story elements. The fun and enjoyment comes from the specific characters–here, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles AND the C.O.W. Boys of Moo Mesa thrust together in a single story.
The story flows, hitting key beats of structure. Not being terribly familiar with all the characters, I can’t say for certain that everyone’s in-character; the turtles seem to be right on track, so I presume the COW Boys are, too..and given that (as far as I can tell) original creators of all characters involved are…well…involved with this issue, I’ve no reason to believe this does anything but fit both sides of the "crossover" of the properties.
The art throughout is just fine, with all the characters being totally recognizable, and panels clear/clean as to what’s going on. This isn’t just some comic adaptation of a cartoon, but it’s also not one of the darker, gritter of the TMNT stories.
For jumping in cold and just wanting "a" TMNT story, this is a great issue to do so with, and it’s even kid-friendly on the whole–probably moreso than a certain teen wizard’s exploits, for point of comparison.
The great thing about this title is that it features a monthly supply of in-continuity TMNT stories by a variety of writers and artists that include stories set in the characters’ past, present, and future, as well as easily contain property crossovers like we have here. While many titles from bigger publishers might suffer from radical shifts in creative teams from issue-to-issue on writing and visuals, it’s become a sort of staple for this book.
If you can find it, I highly recommend this issue…and really, the series in general for any of you longer-time TMNT fans.
Ratings:
Story: 3.5/5
Art: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
Filed under: Classic Reviews, INDEPENDENT/SMALL-PRESS PUBLISHERS, Tales of the TMNT (Mirage) | Tagged: Andres Ponce, C.O.W.Boys, C.O.W.Boys of Moo Mesa, Comic Reviews, Dario Brizuela, Eric Talbot, Eye of Aga-Moo-Tou, Joe Rubinstein, Mirage, Mirage Publishing, Moo Mesa, Murphy, Ninja Turtles, Peter Laird, Ryan Brown, Savanti Romero, Steve Lavigne, Tales of the TMNT, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, TMNT | Leave a comment »
Full review posted to comixtreme.com.
Story: 3/5
Art: 3.5/5
Overall: 3.5/5
Filed under: cxPulp.com, INDEPENDENT/SMALL-PRESS PUBLISHERS, Tales of the TMNT (Mirage) | Tagged: All Tomorrow's Yesterdays, C.O.W.Boys, C.O.W.Boys of Moo Mesa, Comic Reviews, Cowboys of Moo Mesa, cxPulp.com, Dan Berger, Dario Brizuela, Donatello, Eric Talbot, Fernando Leon Gonzalez, Leonardo, Michael Dooney, Michelangelo, Mirage, Mirage Publishing, Moo Mesa, Ninja Turtles, Peter Laird, Raphael, Ryan Brown, Steve Murphy, Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Tales of the TMNT, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, TMNT | Leave a comment »
Filed under: Comic Reviews 2008, cxPulp.com, INDEPENDENT/SMALL-PRESS PUBLISHERS, Tales of the TMNT (Mirage) | Tagged: Comic Reviews 2008, Dan Berger, Dario Brizuela, Eric Talbot, Fernando Leon Gonzalez, Michael Dooney, Mirage, Mirage Publishing, Ninja Turtles, Peter Laird, Ryan Brown, Steve Lavigne, Steve Murphy, Tales of the TMNT (Mirage), Teenge Mutant Ninja Turtles, TMNT | Leave a comment »
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