Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe #6 Review

Look out, Turtle fans. You’re about to get a heaping dose of nostalgic weirdness via the first appearance of everyone’s favorite invertebrate: Wyrm.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe #6 (IDW Publishing)

Observations

• Good lord! This is definitely not the loveably annoying Wyrm we were expecting.
• Someone should tell that police officer that going down into the sewers alone is a bad idea no matter what universe you’re in—fictional or otherwise.
• “How bad can it be?” + Random red balloon = Never a good sign.
• If you’re going to set up a creepy underground lair, then having a giant clown head entrance is basic a requirement.
• Nice to see Wyrm doesn’t kill when the plot requires a bit more tension.
• BOOM!
• Of course that’s how it ends…

The Verdict

On one hand, I really like the horror vibe that Nick Pitarra and John Lees give to this classically obscure character. Unfortunately, we don’t get much motivation for his actions (especially the rampant murdering) besides him being sad and alone. I guess that’s enough for most monsters, but the TMNT Universe has been a lot better about providing deeper motivations for the actions of its mutants characters.

Also, I’m not sure Mikey was the best choice for a script like this. The issue vacillates between horror and comedy, but never really settles into a groove with either tone. Thankfully, another (even more obscure) character from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ past is introduced, providing a grounded perspective that keeps the script from ever getting too silly.

I also love Lees’ design for this new version of Wyrm, particularly when it becomes enraged and goes into full John Carpenter mode.

But even with those complaints, along with a few other plot contrivances (like the aforementioned “death delay”), there’s a really good horror story lurking somewhere inside this issue. It just doesn’t quite come together like I’d hoped. Still, if you’d told me I would be able to tolerate reading a Wyrm story before now, I wouldn’t have believed you. This one was not only tolerable, but fairly enjoyable, too.