If we learn one thing from this Triceraton invasion, I bet it’s going to be that Splinter has officially morphed into a full-fledged douchenozzle.
First Read Reactions
- So much fighting everywhere, but I think we all know what everyone’s really here to see…
- “Clam Hamato stands with the Triceratons.”
- Yep, Splinter officially sucks now.
- At least he can still fight well, though.
- Dang. Leave it to Mikey to really make this already awkward encounter even more intense.
- Oh sure, offer someone an island and everything’s forgiven…
- You know things are bad when Baxter Stockman’s ego still might not compete with Splinter’s.
The Verdict
I’m all for a good paradigm shift, but the way Splinter is behaving has gone from believably intriguing to downright ridiculous. That wasn’t hyperbole up there when I said the Turtles’ former sensei was on par with Baxter Stockman’s disposition. He might be a lot more zen about it, but Splinter’s decision making is so poorly thought out that it makes Raphael look like a master tactician.
All that aside, I also wasn’t a big fan of the artwork this time around. Revel can definitely whip up a kinetic frenzy, but much of the emotion (which is sorely needed in a big moment like this) gets completely lost in sketched/hurriedly drawn faces.
And then you have the issue’s resolution, which is long on convenience and short on logic.
On the plus side, we do get some cool action sequences and a very cool moment for Mikey. But by the time it’s over, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #80 is a supremely disappointing conclusion to what began as a potentially fantastic story arc.
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