To commemorate 30 years of Ninja Turtle awesomeness (before Michael Bay takes a sizable dump on it all this summer), IDW releases a comic featuring all new stories from the franchise’s greatest creators over the years… including Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman! Is it good?
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: 30th Anniversary Special #1
Plot? Well…there’s not much of one, honestly. But in this case, that’s totally fine. This book is all about celebrating the Turtle’s comic book history. Short vignettes are written and drawn from creators of all the different eras, including the first collaboration by TMNT creators Eastman and Laird in 20 years.
From Mirage, to Archie, to Image, back to Mirage, and then to IDW, all the eras (and many of the best creative teams) are covered. Each one gives us a completely different flavor and iteration of our favorite heroes in a half shell to sample before quickly moving onto the next one.
Nothing of major consequence happens in any of the stories (including the one set in the current IDW continuity), but all of the tales are very enjoyable…if still a bit confusing. This is definitely a book designed for hard core shellheads, steeped in continuity and backstory so deep that even my esteemed colleague, Mark Pellegrini, may struggle to recall the older story lines.
Is it Good?
It’s hard to believe that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been around for 30 years (and holy crap does that make me feel old).
While this book may not be very good for someone new to the Ninja Turtles, it is a great way for old timers like myself to look back on TMNT’s storied history.
Add in some very cool pinup pages to the entertaining stories…
GOONGALA!
…and the $8 price tag ALMOST doesn’t feel like a ripoff. But even if it was $20, those of us who love TMNT would probably still buy it.
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