The more things change, the more they stay the same. Everyone knows that timeless adage about how, well, things change so little even when so much time passes. For the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, it is an adage that has held true for more than four decades (yes, it has been that long since Leonardo, Donatello, Michaelangelo, and Raphael first debuted on the printed page). The “mean green machine” has faced so many tough spots both externally and internally throughout their time on the page and on screen, and in the latest coming anthology from IDW Publishing – The IDW Collection Volume 17 — the brothers of the Splinter Clan face one of their most challenging situations yet when some of their most feared foes team up to destroy them and take over the planet. Due in comics stores nationwide Apr. 1, the 407-page anthology proves an engaging and entertaining read for established TMNT fans and more casual readers alike. That is due in no small part to its story. The general writing within the story, which includes its transitions, builds on the foundation formed by the story and enhances the overall presentation even more. The artwork exhibited throughout the course of the story rounds out the presentation’s most important elements and when it is considered alongside the story and the writing, the whole therein makes Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The IDW Collection Volume 17 a strong new chapter in the expansive universe of everyone’s favorite heroes on a half shell.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The IDW Collection Volume 17, the forthcoming new anthology of TMNT comics from IDW Publishing, is a strong new entry from the comics publisher. The collection’s success comes in large part through its story. The story in question is a multi-faceted tale that centers on the Turtles’ efforts to stop The Rat King from trying to destroy them and essentially the world. In his evil efforts, the Rat King has assembled Krang (yes, that Krang), Baxter Stockman (who is now the Mayor of New York City), and Null to carry out his plan, with each member of his so-called “Trio of Terror” having their own end game along the way. Stockman has only political aspirations while Null has an even more nefarious goal, that being the aim to turn every human into a mutant and sell them to other civilizations. This is all fine with the Rat King since his end game is to simply bring chaos to the world.
Along the way, Stockman and Null employee a group of mercenaries known as the “Group of 4” to impersonate the Turtles and turn Mutant Town against itself; to make its mutant citizens turn on one another so they can be controlled. That plan includes Stockman staging the mercenaries, disguised as the Turtles, holding him hostage at one point live on television. As all of this is going on, Leonardo and Shredder have actually joined forces (believe it or not) and journeyed to Dimension Z with the help of the Neutrinos (yes, those familiar friends from long ago) to get help in their battle against the Rat King while Raph has to help Jennika in Mutant Town and Donnie does his own part in defeating the Rat King and protect another key figure in the whole. That figure will be kept for readers to discover for themselves. Shredder’s own granddaughter, Karai Saki, has taken control of the Foot Clan and is also working to defeat the Rat King. Simply put, the whole herein is one of those familiar stories of unlikely alliances being formed to defeat a bigger evil. This is a familiar plot device that has been used more times across the comics (and television and movie worlds) than can be counted on just two hands. The way in which the story’s writing staff has handled its execution here is to be applauded as it is never allowed to take that campy turn that has happened in so many other franchises out there. The whole maintains a certain edge that ensures readers will remain engaged and entertained throughout from beginning to end from one TMNT to another. Not to give away too much, but the story here does not necessarily have a firm ending. Rather, it sets up the next installment from this ongoing story arc. How it does this will be left for audiences to discover for themselves. Even with this in mind, the buildup to that point still proves worth the read because of everything that goes into reaching that point.
Speaking of readers remaining engaged from one part of this expansive story to the next, the general writing exhibited within the story also plays into this. The scenarios of higher powers using people’s own fears to make them battle one another is something that is so relevant even here in the real world today. One need just look at the stories on the news to see the relevance. The evil force in the White House today is doing exactly what Stockman is doing in this story. Along the way, the dialogue between the characters is simple, and in turn, accessible for readers. Donatello’s scientific lingo, Raph’s attitude, Shredder’s cold, stoic nature, and even Mikey’s own lighter attitude is delivered clearly through their respective dialogue among one another and with other characters. That in itself ensures readers’ entertainment, especially as many (like this critic) will likely hear the voices of the original voice actors of the Turtles and even Casey Jones and April as they read through the story.
On another note, the clear, simple scene transitions also play into the writing. The transitions are delivered with the introduction of new scenes partnered with one final line of dialogue from a given character in the previous scene. This is executed seamlessly in every scene transition, and in turn keeps the story’s energy and tension moving. It is such a simple way to keep the story moving and in doing so proves that sometimes the simplest plan is the best considering that it keeps the story’s pacing stable from beginning to end, making for even more appeal.
Knowing the positive that comes from the writing and the story, there is one more plus to note of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The IDW Collection Volume 17. That positive is the artwork exhibited throughout the collection. From one “chapter” to the next, various art styles are presented, putting on full display the talents of so many artists. This may seem a stretch to some, but in an age when so many animated featured on screen are so cookie cutter thanks to computer generated imagery (CGI), having so many different styles of art presented maintains a certain positive aesthetic to the presentation. At their core, each style still ensures the characters have a look that is connected to the others. That familiarity even among the varied styles makes the artwork just as accessible as the story and its writing. Keeping this in mind, the artwork featured throughout the many TMNT titles and issues that make up this collection puts the finishing touch to the overall presentation. When it is considered alongside the story and its writing, the whole therein makes Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The IDW Collection Volume 17 just as good a jumping on point as it is a continuation for established TMNT fans.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The IDW Collection Volume 17 is a strong new, expansive story from IDW Publishing. The expansive anthology proves successful in part because of its story. The story finds the Turtles facing some of their most well-known foes in a battle for the fate of the world, which includes their own fates. At the center of it all is none other than the Rat King. Ther are “evil twins” who set out to discredit Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael. There is a crooked politician, and a multiverse-spanning journey in the effort to get help to defeat the collected villains. It is all so familiar but also so edgy, engaging, and entertaining. The writing that went into the story’s execution plays into that engagement and entertainment. That is because the writing keeps the story moving fluidly from beginning to end and ensures the accessibility of the dialogue. The varied art styles exhibited throughout the story put the finishing touch to the whole. They ensure a positive aesthetic, which will appeal to readers in its own right just as much as the story and its writing. Each item examined is important in its own right to the whole of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The IDW Collection Volume 17. All things considered they make this anthology another enjoyable, successful collection of TMNT comics for established audiences and more casual readers alike.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The IDW Collection Volume 17 is scheduled for release Apr. 1 in comics shops nationwide. More information on this and other titles from IDW Publishing is available at:
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