TMNT

• Title: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures #7
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Brian Smith
• Artist: Chad Thomas

It’s a date night (of sorts) for the Turtles. Donatello and April spend some time alone together trying some of the city’s various food choices, Michelangelo convinces Raphael to dress up to see the latest kung fu action flick in a theater, and Leonardo spends some rooftop flirting with Karai who he attempts to convince they could be friends.

Eventually all three stories merge as Donnie and April are attacked by the Purple Dragons and Dogpound and lead the small army to the theater where the battle interrupts Mikey and Raph’s movie night. Eventually the fight even spills back out into the open ending Leo’s opportunity to win over the Shredder’s daughter just as he was appearing to make some progress.

The ridiculousness of Mikey and Raphael in women’s clothing doesn’t go unnoticed by both friends and enemies, and Donnie’s attempts to shrug off any romantic aspects of his night with April seem only partially successful. And I always enjoy the combination of Leo and Karai, which is one of the TV show’s most interesting pairings. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

• Title: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #29
• Comic Vine: link
• Writers: Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz
• Artist: Mateus Santolouco

Beaten, battered, and broken, the Turtles exile from New York City begins with a trip to April‘s family farm in Northampton. The journey not only allows the Turtles time to rest and lick their wounds, and for Leonardo to come to terms with Shredder‘s brainwashing, but also for April to spend some time with her parents (which may also hold some important answers for the Turtles as well).

Splinter, the Turtles, Casey, and April aren’t the only ones who make the trip north as a former Foot lieutenant decides to stowaway with them. With Leonardo’s mind still far from right I’m going to be very interested to see what Alopex‘s true motives are and whether the arctic fox becomes a friend and ally to the Turtles.

From Leonardo and Raphael‘s continued squabbling, and Leo’s refusal to accept Splinter’s commands, it’s obvious there’s much healing to be done over the next few months but the tale April’s parents have to tell may give the Turtles yet another reason for returning home sooner than planned. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

• Title: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #28
• Comic Vine: link
• Writers: Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz
• Artist: Mateus Santolouco

“City Fall” concludes as Splinter, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael fight to free a brainwashed Leonardo from the Shredder‘s control. Things were looking pretty good for the group, at least until the arrival of Karai and her two new mutant soldiers Rocksteady and Bebop. With the help of Angel, Casey, Old Hob, and Slash the Turtles are able to reunite their family but their small victory is overshadowed by the Foot Clan‘s larger victory and total control over New York City.

Leo returns to his family, thanks in large part to Raphael, but the scars of his time of his brainwashing look like they may take quite a long time to heal. Karai proves her worth as he finally earns the role of Chunin, but all is not perfect for The Foot as Rocksteady and Bebop are unable to prevent the Turtles escape and Alopex seizes the moment to take his revenge (leaving the future of the character very much up in the air).

With The Foot in control of New York and the Turtles in exile to lick their wounds and put their family back together the series moves forward into its new arc beginning next month. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]