We continue on the road to #150 right where we left off in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #145. Leonardo and April are dealing with the aftereffects of the wormhole and heaps of equipment in the woods of Northampton while Donatello, Venus and Bob are flung far into the future.
“Future” Bob and Leo tackle some mini Armaggon-like monsters while April tries to make sense of the equipment and what happened. April is completely overwhelmed by all of this advanced science or magic, really, but Leo encourages her to keep trying. Bob is somehow stealing QNA and feeding it to Armaggon through a talisman he wears on his chest – he did something similar in the previous issue with Venus, we just didn’t know what it was at the time. Bob remains very shady, but with everything going on, Leo and April don’t realize that he isn’t the Bob they know from the present.
Credit: IDW Comics
Venus, Don and “present” Bob manage to chase Armaggon through the time tunnels for a bit, before running out of magic and being deposited outside the Splinter Clan village in the far future. An older, grizzled Leonardo explains how the Turtles drifted apart over the years and no longer keep in touch. I think this is designed to echo how the Turtles ultimately split up just a few issues ago. This future splintering of the clan, however, seems to be based more on friction and hostility and to be far more permanent than how the turtles parted ways before. This splintering seems to be more of the type that Leonardo feared would happen to the brothers post-Armageddon game, while in actuality, they all left off on rather good terms with each other, and simply need time to find themselves.
They group enjoys some time together, celebrating and feeling like a family for the first time in a long time for the locals. Things take a drastic turn soon after when they are brought to Donatello’s tower, which we’ve already seen in TMNT Armageddon Game – The Alliance #4. They’re too late and have arrived right when Armaggon is attacking. Leo sacrifices himself to buy Don, Venus and Bob some time, and the issue ends with the arrival of a surprise trio.
Sophie Campbell continues to work her magic as we get closer to TMNT #150 and the end of her run. The issue builds tension by showcasing a potential future where the turtles have drifted apart and face a significant threat. The grizzled future Leonardo provides insight into a possible outcome for the Turtles if they don’t manage to reconnect. The pacing is dynamic, with a couple of action sequences sprinkled in and plenty of emotional beats. Campbell does a great job making the characters struggle, and therefore seem relatable – from April’s frustrations understanding magic, to Donnie’s revelations about creating Armaggon. By feeling his pain in the time stream, a new layer of complexity has been added to Don’s desperation to make things right. The full consequences of his actions are coming crashing down. The mystery surrounding Bob and his true intentions creates intrigue and suspense that will hopefully be addressed soon in future issues.
Credit: IDW
The art by Federici and colors by Pattison truly bring the script to life. Federici’s style is much more suited to these mystical time traveling adventures than the previous arc, which was much more grounded and realistic, mostly taking place in New York. Pattison brings a consistency to the colors that few other long-running books possess. The black void that Armaggon appears out of contrasts very well with the red, swirling almost Charybdis-like portal that he travels through.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #146 offers a captivating continuation on the road to TMNT #150, skillfully crafted by writer Sophie Campbell. The dynamic pacing and character development contribute to the overall engagement of the storyline. The tension escalates as the turtles face a formidable threat and potential future fractures within their clan. Campbell’s ability to make characters relatable and evoke emotional beats shines through, particularly in the struggles of April and Donatello. The mystery surrounding Bob’s true intentions adds an intriguing layer of suspense. Federici’s well-suited art style and Pattison’s consistent and effective use of colors bring the mystical time-traveling narrative to life, enhancing the overall reading experience. As the Turtles navigate through time and adversity, the stage is set for an impactful culmination in the upcoming milestone issue.
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