Tag Shawn Lee

A Starsigns #1 Micro-Review – No Complaints

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.***

Starsigns 1, cover, May 2023, Megan Levens, Kelly FitzpatrickTITLE: Starsigns #1
AUTHOR: Saladin Ahmed
ARTISTS: Megan Levens, Kelly Fitzpatrick (Colors), Shawn Lee (Letterer)
RELEASED: May 3, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

We spend most of this issue with our main character, a young woman of Lebanese descent who likes smoking joints when she’s not working as a caterer. No complaints.

I picked up this series because it sounded a little bit like Power Rangers. Everyday people getting superpowers from a cosmic event. But my initial impression is that it’ll be a little more like Heroes. Again, no complaints.

I can’t say Starsigns #1 makes a hell of a first impression. But my interest is piqued just enough to want to come back for more.

Email Rob at PrimaryIgnition@Yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter and TikTok. 

A TMNT #139 Micro-Review – “I Know You Wish For This to Be Over…”

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.***

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 139, cover, April 2023, Fero PeTITLE: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #139
AUTHORS: Sophie Campbell, Kevin Eatman & Tom Waltz (Story Consultants)
ARTISTS: Fero Pe, Ronda Pattison (Colorist), Shawn Lee (Letterer)
RELEASED: April 26, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Kitsune, early in this issue: “I know you wish for this to be over, and so do I.”

This whole Armageddon Game story? You have no idea, lady.

The Turtles learn some more meta-physical, extra-dimensional stuff in this issue. It results in a big exposition dump early on where the returning Kitsune essentially has to explain what it all means. On the upside, we then get some pretty cool splash pages, each featuring an individual Turtle. I don’t think I’ve ever complained about Fero Pe and Ronda Pattison’s art. Just the story they wound up in…

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

A TMNT: The Last Ronin – Lost Years #3 Micro-Review – A Definite Cuteness

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 Last Ronin Lost Years 3, cover, April 2023, SL Gallant, Maria Keane, Luis DelgadoTITLE: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin – Lost Years #3
AUTHORS: Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz
ARTISTS: SL Gallant, Ben Bishop, Eastman, Maria Keane (Inker), Luis Delgado (Colorist), Shawn Lee (Letterer)
RELEASED: April 26, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Artistically, I’m impressed this book has been able to mostly maintain the quality of the work done in The Last Ronin. From a writing standpoint, there’s an argument to be made that Lost Years is actually better.

There’s a definite cuteness factor that’s present in the scenes with April, Casey Marie, and our next-gen TMNT. For instance, there’s a panel in this book where young Yi comes into the room clutching her finger and says, “I cutted myself.” That actually kind of reminded me of my own young daughter.

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

TMNT: The Armageddon Game – The Alliance #6 Micro-Review – A Larger, Messier Picture

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 the Alliance, cover, April 2023, Roi Mercado, William SoaresTITLE: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game – The Alliance #6
AUTHOR: Erik Burnham
ARTISTS: Roi Mercado, William Soares (Colorist), Shawn Lee (Letterer)
RELEASED: April 19, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

In the smaller sense of things, this final Alliance issue is executed fine. The art is good. The characters all feel true to themselves. It’s everything you’d expect from the creators involved.

But the overall Armageddon Game story still feels like a jumbled, bloated mess. That’s not Burnham or Mercado’s fault, per se. But their work is caught in the middle of a larger, messier picture.

On the upside, in this issue Rocksteady gets to do a “thunderclap” like the Hulk does. That’s a fun little moment.

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

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

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 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.

A TMNT: The Last Ronin – Lost Years #2 Micro-Review – Onyx, the Anxious Turtle

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 Last Ronin Lost Years 2, wraparound variant cover, March 2023, Kevin EastmanTITLE: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Lost Years #2
AUTHORS: Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz
ARTISTS: SL Gallant, Ben Bishop, Eastman, Maria Keane (Inker), Luis Delgado (Colorist), Shawn Lee (Letterer). Variant wraparound cover by Eatman & Bishop.
RELEASED: March 15, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Onyx, one of the new little kid Ninja Turtles, gets really anxious over a spilled cup of water in this issue. It kind of stole my heart.

I can be particular about the way the Turtles are drawn. I get picky about the shape of their heads, the bandana-to-head ratio, that sort of thing. With that in mind, I really enjoy SL Gallant’s take on the Turtles. I’d love to see more TMNT work from him.

I’m still waiting to hear why April and Casey Marie mutated these four new Ninja Turtles. Just saying…

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

TMNT: The Armageddon Game – The Alliance #5 Micro-Review – Spotlight on April O’Neil

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 Armageddon Game Alliance 5, cover, March 2023, Roi Mercado, William SoaresTITLE: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game – The Alliance #4
AUTHORS: Paul Allor, Erik Burnham
ARTISTS: Pablo Verdugo, Gigi Dutreix (Colorist), Shawn Lee (Letterer), Roi Mercado, William Soares (Colorist). Cover by Mercado & Soares.
RELEASED: March 8, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This is a nice little April O’Neil-focused issue. Nothing too complicated. She’s running from some bad guys. It’s a fine little piece of the larger Armageddon Game story, which is a big mess.

We don’t actually see the Turtles in this issue. But I like Pablo Verdugo’s take on their world. It’s got a nice animated look to it. I’d enjoy seeing more from him.

Nice to see Paul Allor and Erik Burnham working together on an issue. Reminds me of their work together on Turtles in Time.

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

A TMNT #137 Micro-Review – Storylines Converging

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 137, variant cover, February 2023, Kevin EastmanTITLE: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #137
AUTHOR: Sophie Campbell, Kevin Eastman & Tom Waltz (Story Consultants)
ARTISTS: Fero Pe, Ronda Pattison (Colorist), Shawn Lee (Letterer). Variant cover by Eastman & Campbell.
RELEASED: February 15, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Great variantscover by Eastman and Campbell. One of my favorites the series has had in awhile, despite Casey Jones not actually being in the issue…

Storylines seems to be starting to converge in this big Armageddon Game story, as four of our five Ninja Turtles are now back together. That’s a good thing, as I’m dying for us to have a more focused narrative. Great art notwithstanding, this story continues to be a big mess.

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

TMNT: The Armageddon Game – The Alliance #4 Micro-Review – More Old Man Donatello

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 Armageddon Game the Alliance 4, cover, February 2023, Roi Mercado Wiliam SoaresTITLE: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game – The Alliance #4
AUTHORS: Sophie Campbell, Erik Burnham
ARTISTS: Brittany Peer, Roi Mercado, William Soares (Colorist), Nate Widick (Letterer), Shawn Lee (Letterer). Cover by Mercado & Soares.
RELEASED: February 15, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Artistically, this issue is really strong. Brittany Peer has a knack for the TMNT universe, and she does her own inks and colors to boot. Meanwhile, Roi Mercado’s work is delightfully clean, with figures that are dynamic-looking even while not necessarily doing anything dynamic.

This issue gives us another version of Old Man Donatello in the IDW continuity. Granted, it’s not the same Old Man Donatello we saw in the Turtles in Time book. But still.

I like this duo of Venus and Bludgeon (the big shark guy). More of them, please.

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