To put it simply, the current IDW run of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has been nothing short of stellar. Many of IDW’s titles fall by the wayside with little to no recognition, but as TMNT has progressed, it has become better and better:
TMNT #44 Spoilers Inbound:
With the addition of new characters, while still paying homage to the gritty, mature-style turtles loved by Mirage fans, TMNT has truly gained speed as one of the best available ongoing series. In last month’s issue #44, readers watched in horror as Bebop and Rocksteady beat Donatello to a pulp, cracking open his shell with a sledgehammer, and appearing to leave him [unconfirmed] dead. This type of risk shows the series is not afraid to take risks, pushing the envelope where beloved childhood characters are not safe from harm. And as comic shops will tell you, issue #44 flew off the shelves, even pushing the issue to a third printing. The month of waiting for this Wednesday’s TMNT #45 has felt like an eternity, with countless forums and discussion boards all asking the question, “can they actually kill off one of the Ninja Turtles?”.
One thing is for sure: IDW has found a phenomenal recipe for a great TMNT book. With the series’ attraction to a younger demograph, it can be easy to forget how appealing four turtle ninjas can be to a mature audience. As the series approaches #50, readers can only hope that more good things are to come. And with TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman signing an exclusivity contract with IDW, things are continuing to look up for the heroes in a half shell for the long haul.
Gamenomics & Comicology 