Crossovers and tournaments are all the rage in comics these days, and a new contender enters the ring with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Battle Nexus. Out on December 24th, the story is confirmed to be canon, seeing TMNT characters across the multiverse battle to see who is the best. We’re talking video games, animated shows, movies, and more! At the center of it all is IDW’s main TMNT characters, who just wrapped up their latest story arc with Jason Aaron and Juan Ferreyra. The five-part weekly series aims to keep your pulse up while delivering surprises, and the first issue does just that.
The first thing you’ll notice when cracking open Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Battle Nexus #1 is how gorgeous the art is. Rendered in high detail by Esau and Isaac Escorza, the characters practically come out of the page and clock you one. Bebop and Rock Steady are so well drawn, from the stretched t-shirt to the veiny muscles, it’s hard not to linger on every single page. Meanwhile, the Ninja Turtles all have their unique details, from skin tone to size. This is event-level triple-A art from cover to cover. That includes the colors by Luis Antonio Delgado.
The second thing you’ll notice is the fun of it all. The opening three pages set up the story, similar to something like Marvel’s Battleworld. The captions carry us through, making it clear that the sky is the limit when it comes to who may appear in this battle royale.
Courtesy IDW
Once transported to the battlefield, the story kicks into gear, establishing key enemies and stakes. Writer Tom Waltz keeps the Turtles guessing and commenting as new details emerge and surprising faces appear. The inclusion of Ninjara, which isn’t really a spoiler, is a welcome addition. The creative team makes it abundantly clear she’s not to be trifled with.
Eight or so pages feel a bit long to set all this up, but the final page that follows should have everyone excited. While this issue sets things up, it also means the next issue, just a week away, will be wall-to-wall action and entertainment.
Closing out the issue is a fun one-page horizontal story you need to turn your comic to read. Written by Erik Burnham with art by Sarah Myer, we learn of another character getting in on the crossover fun. The page’s style is similar to a comic strip, leaning into the fun of it all, even with the movie and animated show Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles present on the page. The mix of styles is very well done, making the eclectic group stand out.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Battle Nexus #1 is an exciting start to a multiverse brawl that feels both nostalgic and new. With dazzling art, witty writing, and a sense of pure Saturday-morning fun, it’s a love letter to every incarnation of the Turtles, one that promises bigger clashes and even bigger surprises as the series unfolds.
You must be logged in to post a comment.