Tom Waltz (Author) Kevin Eastman (Author, Cover Artist) Dave Wachter (Cover Artist) Bobby Curnow (Author) Michael Dialynas (Artist) Ronda Pattison (Colorist) Shawn Lee (Letterer)
Thanks to IDW Publishing for the review copy!
Issue 97 picks up where issue 96 left off – with Karai’s assault on Splinter’s Foot Clan. It’s a bloody affair with some well executed action sequences. Characters (as opposed to random mob dudes) die. The fighting is often visually stunning, and I appreciated how easily I could follow the ebb and flow of the battle. After moving around on the fringes of the conflict, the Turtles finally get drawn all the way in. After a few issues of them mostly talking (aside from Raphael who did some fighting with Old Hob), it was great to see them in action.
Jennika’s story takes an interesting turn as she comes to grips with her new status as a mutant turtle. I’m really interested to see where the writing and art team take her character. After an issue off, we also get to see some of the supporting characters. Metalhead and the captured scientists Harold and Libby. Not much happens, but they have an interesting philosophical debate that foreshadows potential future events and you can feel the writers pulling all the characters closer to the central conflict.
This issue felt a lot like the second to last episode of a Game of Thrones Season. With epic fight scenes and some huge plot points, the game is being elevated even further as issue #100 nears (and like Game of Thrones, some parental discretion is advised based on the violence). This issue skews heavy towards fighting, so if you want to see some cool battles, it is a decent issue to start with even though we are mid-story arc. The oral history of IDW’s TMNT comics at the end can help answer some of the questions you may have, such as why Splinter is in charge of the Foot Clan and where Jennika came from. New readers may benefit from reading that first.
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #97 is now available.
Check back tomorrow for my thoughts on TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #98
Have you read the issue? What are your thoughts? Feel free to chat with me on Twitter or leave a comment below!
[…] Issue 97 culminated in Karai’s takeover of the Foot Clan. In doing so, she captured Splinter and the Turtles retreated. This issue largely pushes the Foot Clan to the side. Instead, the focus shifts to three other threats. First, Bishop’s plan to capture the Turtles becomes more clear. I liked how the storyline, which has largely been treated as a separate conflict over the past few issues becomes intertwined with other characters. […]