Each issue of Jason Aaron’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles run has not only been surprising in terms of the twists he’s brought to the Turtles’ world, but in the emotional weight as well. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #8 is perhaps the hardest strike yet, as it shifts its focus to Leonardo and his efforts to try and find inner peace while dealing with his brothers – particularly Donatello, whose mental and physical health continues to fray.
I love the focus that Aaron puts on Leo in this book, especially with how it flips between his struggle in fighting the Foot Clan and his desire to return to the peace he felt at the banks of the Ganges. It reveals that there’s plenty of depth to Leo, despite the depiction of him being “the boring Turtle”. He’s struggling with a lot, and it’s clear that he’s going to reach a breaking point…and very soon, that breaking point comes when he’s forced to face off against Donnie. That fight, and the fallout from it, won’t leave a dry eye in the house.
Speaking of eyes, I once again have to point out how much of a phenomenal job Juan Ferreya is doing on the interiors. The issue opens with Leo literally kicking a Foot Clan ninja through a window, before shifting to his meditation in the Ganges, and then back to a two page spread of him, Raphael, and Michelangelo utilizing their own weapons. Ferrerya manages to capture each Turtle’s fighting style in this spread; Leo is precise in his movements, Raph goes for the most damage, and Mikey is a literal whirlwind of unpredictability.
There’s another visual trick that Ferreya uses to separate each Turtle: he adds their signature color to whatever movements and sound effects they make. Mikey’s nunchucks spin with a golden orange glow. Each of Raph’s punches and kicks have a blood red haze. Leo and Donnie’s battle is a flurry of blue slashes and purple whirlwinds, which doesn’t just represent their ferocity in battle but highlights how lost they are…and how they need to pull together. Shawn Lee also deserves credit for how he structures Leo’s inner monologue, delivering a series of royal blue captions that let us peek into the Turtles’ leader’s mindset.
When it’s not focusing on the Turtles’ inner turmoil, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #8 introduces a number of subplots that are very promising. Whether it’s Mayor Hale attempting to stir up more public sentiment against the Turtles through underhanded means, Karai’s mysterious plans (which leads to two of my favorite TMNT characters showing up) or a final page that further shakes up the status quo, it’s clear that Aaron is sowing seeds for the long haul. And knowing his past work, they’ll definitely bear fruit sooner or later.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #8 delivers what might be the most harrowing installment of Jason Aaron’s run yet, bolstered by intense artwork from Juan Ferrerya and a focus on Leonardo. It’s also going to be the comic I point to when I tell people why Leo is my favorite Turtle.
You must be logged in to post a comment.