The Earth Protection Force wants a war with mutants. They’re about to get exactly what they asked for.
Writer: Tom Waltz
Artist: Mateus Santolouco
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Observations
- Yeah, I’d be pretty scared too if a naked humanoid gecko jumped me in the bathroom.
- Even when Bishop shows some genuine humanity, he still manages to come off like a complete dick.
- Nice to see Leo leading instead of whining for a change.
- GET SOME, HOB!
- Mind controlled Slash is one VR game you DO NOT want to be on the wrong side of.
- Sally = Newest under-appreciated Mutanimal who just became one of my favorite characters.
- I’m not sure whether to feel sick/terrified or give Hob a standing ovation. Maybe I’ll just do both.
The Verdict
Wow.
Between the crazy good art by Mateus Santolouco and the incredible script by Tom Waltz, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #69 is easily the best issue of the series so far this year.
Santolouco really does go nuts in this one, especially when Hob unleashes some new weapon tech during one of most incredible action sequences you could ask for. He also does a fantastic job with the issue’s more quiet/intimate moments, particularly when we see Bishop speaking with his father.
And as good as all that aforementioned action is, those quiet moments are where Waltz’s script truly shines. He’s somehow able to make Bishop slightly more human/relatable without every losing the character’s edge and ruthlessness. He also uses that moment to set up a home run of a cliffhanger that will have you wishing the next issue was coming out Thursday.
He also managed to make another underutilized Mutanimal seem cool and somehow able made Mondo Gecko intimidating. Combine that with some of the best character work we’ve seen for the Turtles in a long time (particularly for Leo), and you can’t really ask for a better issue.
I was hard on this book last year, but 2017 has turned out to be a very good year so far for IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. If the rest of the issues are anywhere near this good, then it could end up making an indie comic snob like me consider naming a big franchise book as the best series of the year.
Join the AIPT Patreon
Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:
- ❌ Remove all ads on the website
- 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
- 📗 Access to our monthly book club
- 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
- 💥 And more!
