Over 35 years after Panda Khan debuted as a Playmates action figure in the Teenage Mutant Ninjas Turtle toy line, he is finally making an appearance in a TMNT comic. And there’s no better place for him than the Saturday Morning Adventures title, which perfectly captures the late ’80s/early ’90s feel of the original animated show and toy line. In this issue, PK is stranded in NYC from his own dimension thanks to a couple of spider sorceresses.
Courtesy IDW
The Story
At first, Panda Khan is a mysterious figure, striking from the shadows and helping those in need. When the Turtles go looking for him though, he mistakes their altercation with some criminals as an unfair fight and attacks the Turtles thinking they are preying on the weaker tomato-themed gang. As is often the case with these types of team-up issues, there’s a fight between PK and the Turtles that is soon resolved and the heroes all start working together. PK gives a quick explanation of how he ended up in New York, and the Turtles agree to help him find the ones responsible for his dilemma: a couple of spider sorceresses named Twixt and Tween.
Writer Erik Burnham continues to perfect the Saturday morning cartoon vibes that is the hallmark of this series. There’s some clever wordplay and trickery as both Panda Khan and Twixt and Tween try to get the better of one another in their various pacts and magical curses. The issue is a satisfying one-and-done story for Khan, but the possibility is left open for his return. I’m excited to see how his character is developed in future issues.
Courtesy IDW
The Art
Artist Sarah Myer is back on the book after a five-issue hiatus, switching off with other series regular Dan Schoening. The real stand-out in the issue is of course Panda Khan, who Myer renders perfectly to fit in with the existing Saturday morning cartoon vibe. The first time you see him as a black silhouette against the full moon is quite striking, and a great means of introduction. There are plenty of action sequences that are well choreographed, and we really get to see PK’s fighting prowess against the Turtles as well as the spiders. As always, Myer nails the different facial expressions of the Turtles and their different attitudes. Raphael balancing a sai on his fingertip before a battle was a great example of his cocky nature. Colorist Luis Antonio Delgado is also firing on all cylinders for this issue. There are some great contrasting panel backgrounds that really let the reader focus in on the action. The glowing effects on the spiderwebs and hypnotized turtles was also well executed.
Final Thoughts
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #37 proves exactly why this is one of the most consistently fun books on the shelves. It took 35 years for Panda Khan to leap from the toy box into a TMNT comic, and the wait was worth it. Burnham, Myer and Delgado once again craft a story that feels like a lost episode of the cartoon by balancing a fun, fast-paced narrative with great visuals.
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