Earlier this month comics publisher IDW Publishing wound down its Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles miniseries, Nightwatcher with the release of Nightwatcher #7. Spanning 22 pages, the culmination of this miniseries is a solid finish to the TMNT spinoff. That is due in no small part to its featured story, which will be discussed shortly. The writing used throughout the story adds to its appeal and will be discussed a little later. The artwork exhibited throughout its more than 20 pages once again serves as its own point of interest. When it is considered alongside the book’s story and writing, all three elements combine to make the whole a fitting finale for this standalone TMNT tale.
Nightwatcher #7, the final issue of IDW Publishing’s TMNT spinoff miniseries, is a solid ending to the offering. That is due in part to its featured story. Spanning 22 pages, the story picks up following the events of Nightwatcher #6, which was released in March. In that issue, Jennika has mostly wrapped things up with Lao Ben but now must deal with the very armor that she wore as the namesake crime fighter. The armor has now gained sentience and as a result has led Jennika to an existential crisis of sorts. All of that comes to a head in Issue #7 as it opens with Jennika facing off against the armor. As a matter of fact the pair’s battle makes up the majority of the issue’s story. There is some contemplative dialogue incorporated into the battle to slow things down here and there momentarily. The end result, which is one more of those moments, is so powerful because the Nightwatcher armor actually makes Jennika realize a very heavy truth. That realization is something that is certain to resonate with listeners in its own right because it is a reality that lots of people have to face in their own lives. This ties into the writing that went into the story and will be discussed a little later.
After her issues with the Nightwatcher armor ended, Jennika still had some loose ends to tie up. One of those loose ends involved Lao Ben. Jennika goes to Lao Ben to essentially force information out of him regarding District Attorney Hale (yes, that D.A. who has been a thorn in the turtles’ side in their flagship series) because of his role in how the citizens of Mutant Town have been treated by him and his cronies. The whole thing ends with a touching moment between Jennika and someone very close to her. For those who have yet to read this issue even this late in the game, that figure’s identity will be left to be discovered. Between this moment, Jennika’s face off with Lao Ben, and her confrontation with the Nightwatcher armor, a lot went into this final issue of Nightwatcher and writer Juni Ba is to be applauded for making it all tie together so fluidly. The transitions from one of Jennika’s conflicts to another are seamless. It shows once more, Ba’s attention to that detail to ensure readers’ engagement and entertainment.
Staying on that note, the dialogue that Ba incorporated between Jennika and the Nightwatcher armor is classic drama that has been used in so many superhero tales. Even Bruce Wayne himself, yes, Batman, has had to face some very similar mental health issues. Plenty of everyday people also face the issue of whether they are just running away from certain things in life. To that end, this discussion is sure to resonate with so many readers.
On a related note, the voice over style approach that Ba uses as Jennika and Lao Ben talk us another familiar approach that so many movie directors use. To that end, that familiarity makes it easy to see this sequence play out in full motion in their minds as they read. Keeping that in mind, it is yet another example of the positive of the writing. When that positive overall writing is paired with the equally strong story, the whole therein makes this final issue of Nightwatcher well worth reading among those who have yet to pick up this issue.
Putting the final piece on this issue of Nightwatcher is the book’s artwork. Handled once again by the team of artist Fero pe, colorist Luis Antonio Delgado, and letterer Nathan Widick, the overall visual presentation in this issue is just as appealing as the book’s primary content. For instance, the contrast of the rain falling over Jennika and the armor as a neon sign shines against them makes for a unique contrast of lighting and color. The addition of the cloudy skies – that grey/green mix – adds even more to that contrast. It makes the fight scene between the two really pop so much. The very use of motion lines and colors throughout the pair’s battle makes it so easy to see the fight play out, too, making for another example of the strength of the artwork. On the polar opposite end is a scene later in the story in which Jennika is sitting at peace in a park under blue skies. The momentary scene is so simple and powerful in that simplicity. It shows the trio’s ability to bring the best out both in action packed moments and in the simpler moments. The story’s final scene, which will not be revealed here, is yet another powerful example of the strength of the art. The figure in the clouds as Jennika stands before that close figure is simple in its own right but at the same time sees so much going on even being so simple. It is such a great way for this miniseries to end artistically just as much as in regard to story. When the overall artwork here is considered alongside the story and its writing, the whole makes TMNT: Nightwatcher #7 a great finale to the miniseries that gives hope for more stories focused mainly on Jennika with this creative team once more.
TMNT: Nightwatcher #7, the final issue of IDW Publishing’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles spinoff miniseries is a solid ending to the offshoot. That is due in part to its story, which in part finds Jennika finding peace with the very armor she used to fight crime and that became its own entity. It also brings closure for Jennika in another matter that again will be left for readers to discover for themselves. The writing that was used to tell the story builds on the story’s appeal, thus making for more engagement and entertainment for the book in whole. The artwork used here once again rounds out its most important elements as it offers plenty of visual appeal. Each item examined is important in its own right to the whole of TMNT: Nightwatcher #7. All things considered the group makes the book overall a presentation that firmly finishes the miniseries and gives hope for more work from the book’s creative team.
TMNT: Nightwatcher #7 is available now in comics shops nationwide. More information on this and other titles from IDW Publishing is available at:
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