After a promising debut issue, Masters of the Universe/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles of Grayskull #2 has finally hit stands. Does it keep up the adrenaline blast of having He-Man meet the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Yes. Does it keep up the plot’s momentum? Sort of. While Turtles of Graykull #1 had a seemingly clear-cut plot involving the Turtles getting whisked to Grayskull to stop an unholy alliance between Krang, the Shredder, and Skeletor, this issue weirdly throws time travel into the mix.
That’s not to say that time travel is a bad element. I’ve read plenty of comics that manage to use it. But it feels like Tim Seeley threw everything and the kitchen sink into this comic. The impulse is admirable, since this comic involve two franchises that’ve crossed a number of genres. But I do feel that the standard “crossing over into different worlds” was enough of a hook. Ironically, Seeley pulls this trick again in Turtles of Grayskull #2’s closing pages – and the end results are gonna be fun to explore.
Seeley does deserve plenty of credit for exploring the unlikely dynamic between He-Man and the Turtles. They connect due to their youth, and the strange types of adventures they have, but what’s most prominent is their connections to their respective families. He-Man laments the fact that he has to hid his powers from his parents, while the Turtles’ dialogue hints that they miss Splinter.
Dark Horse
Turtles of Grayskull #2 is also a very action-packed comic thanks to the work of Freddie E. Williams II. Williams doesn’t let up on the gas for a moment, kicking off with a two page spread of He-Man and the Turtles facing off against the Triceratons. Let me repeat that: this is a piece of comic art featuring alien dinosaurs fighting mutated turtles with ninja weapons and a magical barbarian. It’s everything you could want in comics, and Williams pulls it off – then cranks things up even further with a massive mechanical monster and having the Triceratons be able to “cyberboost” themselves into massive status…only to learn the hard way why He-Man is called the most powerful man in the universe.
I think what really helps Williams’ art feel so epic is Andrew Dalhouse’s colors. The Turtles don’t just differ in terms of mask and weapons; they’re also different shades of green, which makes them feel distinct. Whenever Michelangelo or He-Man launch into a flashback, the art takes a sepia tone. And the background is dotted with stars, as a reminder that we aren’t on planet Earth anymore. So does Andworld Design’s lettering; an announcer shouts He-Man and the TMNT’s names, which are depicted in their respective logos – making it feel like an actual sports event.
Turtles of Grayskull #2 might be a little overstuffed, but it more than makes up for it with good character dynamics and great art. I also still want to check out the next issue so that’s more than a plus.
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