Tag Raphael (TMNT)

A TMNT #138 Micro-Review – “Gettin’ Way Too Big For Us”

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***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

TMNT 138, variant cover, March 2023, Kevin Eastman, Sophie CampbellTITLE: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #138
AUTHORS: Sophie Campbell, Kevin Eastman & Tom Waltz (Story Consultants)
ARTISTS: Fero Pe, Ronda Pattison (Colorist), Shawn Lee (Letterer). Variant cover by Eastman & Campbell.
RELEASED: March 22, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Raph has a line early in this issue: “This is gettin’ way too big for us, Leo.” That feels like a thesis statement for this Armageddon Game stuff at large. I don’t know if I’ve ever been happier to see a TMNT story wrapping up.

On the plus side, I’m still really enjoying Fero Pe’s work. Ronda Pattison compliments him very well, as she’s done for virtually all the artists she’s worked with on this series. I’m hoping he sticks around post-Armageddon Game.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

A TMNT: The Armageddon Game #6 Micro-Review – Herman’s Time to Shine

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

TMNT The Armageddon Game 6, variant cover, March 2023, Vincenzo Federici, Matt HermsTITLE: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game #6
AUTHOR: Tom Waltz
ARTISTS: Vincenzo Federici, Heather Breckel (Colorist), Shawn Lee (Letterer). Variant cover by Alex Sanchez & Gigi Dutreix.
RELEASED: March 15, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Herman, the hermit crab with heavy artillery, gets a nice moment in this issue. That was nice. As was the Krang-centric moment we get toward the end. So we’re getting isolated character moments that are fun and memorable, even though the larger tapestry of The Armageddon Game is a mess.

Raphael has been wearing a trench coat during fight sequences for several issues now. An interesting choice, as you’d think that would restrict his movement, and what not. But what do I know? I’m no ninja…

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

Astonishing Art: Raphael by Neil McGregor

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By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Hyper-real takes on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles aren’t usually my thing. I find that artists tend to lean a little too hard into making them look like realistic turtles, when there’s really nothing realistic about these characters. So why go there? Just my opinion.

This Raphael piece by Scottish artist Neil McGregor is an exception, though. He manages to find the right blend of ninja and turtle. It resembles what we remember from the comic book, while still retaining enough of the realistic turtle likeness. I like this enough that I’d actually be open to seeing McGregor do the other turtles as well.

TMNT Raphael by Neil McGregor

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

Toy Chest Theater: “I Am Here, My Son.”

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By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

As far as toy photography is concerned, those Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie figures from NECA are like the gift that keeps on giving.

TMNT, Splinter and Raph, dr mumbles

This image from @dr_mumbles recreates a moment from the film where Splinter is comforting Raphael, telling him, “I am here, my son.” It’s a fine shot in that regard. But what I really dig is how Splinter is lit. He’s cast in white light, which suggests he might be dead. I like that idea of Splinter watching over his son from beyond the realm of the living.

Granted, it also helps that Splinter is dead in the IDW comic books right now. I say “right now” because we know he’ll be back…

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

Astonishing Art: TMNT by Richard Chen

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TMNT, Richard Chen

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

It’s criminally easy to breeze by this piece by Richard Chen, as it appears to simply be a shot of four teenagers eating at a pizza place. But if you really stop and look at it for a moment…

They’re the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. How cool is that?

One of the things I’d love for someone to do with the TMNT someday is figure out how to integrate them into an everyday American high school. Get them hanging around other teenagers to get a better sense of who they might be if they weren’t mutant turtles. What would they be like? What would they do for fun? What would they wear/ This image prompts those kind of intriguing questions, and I love it.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

Toy Chest Theater: TMNT in Black and White

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By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were created in a black and white comic book. So they’re perfectly at home in such a cinematic setting.

What’s more, Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s TMNT originally all had red bandanas, as we saw on the color covers. So this image from Choi June is that much more authentic as a result of the red accent, which is a little reminiscent of Schindler’s List or Sin City.

TMNT Black and White by Choi June

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

A TMNT #129 Micro-Review – Hovering Near Horror

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

TMNT 129, cover, 2022, Pablo TunicaTITLE: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #129
AUTHORS: Sophie Campbell, Kevin Eastman & Tom Waltz (Story Consultants)
ARTISTS: Tony Gregori, Ronda Pattison (Colorist), Shawn Lee (Letterer). Cover by Pablo Tunica.

RELEASED: May 25, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

That cover, while very well done, isn’t indicative of what’s in this issue. If it were my choice, I’d have depicted a fight between the Turtles and the Punk Frogs.

Raph and Casey Jones get into a scuffle here that’s very well written, and true to both characters.

I like the detail Tony Gregori puts into Dr. Barlow and his mutant creations. He’s not going for a horror vibe, necessarily. But he’s not far removed from it.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

TMNT #29–37 | Comic Book Transmissions

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By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

The latest installment of my YouTube series, “Comic Book Transmissions,” went live recently. It continues my coverage of IDW Publishing’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book, this time with issues #29-37.

This is the fourth installment of “Comic Book Transmissions.” For reference, the first episode is attached below…

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.