The debut issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Black, White & Green not only continues celebrating the Heroes in a Half-Shell’s 40th anniversary, but it takes a whole new approach to a TMNT comic. As the title suggests, the comic is mostly colored in shades of black, white and green – this doubles as both an homage to the Turtles’ early days, and a nod to the radioactive ooze that made them and their adoptive father Splinter into what they are. Other publishers, particularly Marvel and DC, have been experimenting with a similar format and I think it’s one that is a perfect fit for the Turtles.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Black, White & Green #1 consists of four stories in total:
- “Green Screen” is written and illustrated by Declan Shalvey.
- “The Brutal Sword of Leonardo” is written by Dave Baker and Jesse Lonergan, illustrated by Lonergan, and lettered by Dave Baker.
- “The Flame That Fuels You” is written by Gigi Dutriex & Lorenzo Hall, with Dutriex providing illustrations.
- “Identity Theft” is written and illustrated by Paulina Ganucheau.
Each one of these stories revolves around a different turtle. “Screen Time” belongs to Donatello, “The Brutal Sword of Leonardo” is obviously about the Turtles’ leader, “The Flame that Fuels You” centers on Raphael, and “Identity Theft” focuses on Michelangelo. Specifically, each creative team takes the time to actually focus on each Turtle’s personality trait and its ups and downs: Donnie’s skills with machines leads him to be distracted at crucial times, Raph’s anger has him pushing his brothers away, Leo’s dedication to leadership results in tunnel vision, and Mikey’s freewheeling nature can result in some chaotic moments (especially when Donnie’s latest science project comes into play.) It can be hard to write a TMNT story where each Turtle shines, but the beauty of an anthology format lends itself well to their family dynamics.
The artwork shifts depending on the story, once again letting each creator put a stamp on their individual vision of the TMNT’s world. Shalvey emphasizes their turtle aspects, giving them beaks along with scaly skin and weathered shells. Lonergan’s artwork has rougher edges, as well as designs that pay homage to Conan the Barbarian and other fantasy epics; true to the story’s name, Leo wields a double-bladed broadsword in place of his katanas. Dutriex’s has an anime-esque flair, and Ganucheau’s is very reminiscent of the 1987 TMNT animated series.
Something else that caught my eye is the various shades of green being applied throughout the issue. “Screen Time” and “The Brutal Sword of Leonardo” utilize darker hues of green, while “The Flame That Fuels You” is more yellow-ish green and “Identity Theft” is more vibrant. These different shades fit the various tones that each story is trying to accomplish, while also complementing their artists’ unique styles. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Black, White & Green #1 is an appealing start to this anthology series, and future issues look to continue the trends this issue has laid out.
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