Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1
DC Comic/IDW Publishing
Written by: James Tynion IV
Art by: Freddie E. Williams
Color by: Jeremy Colwell
My childhood was full of color characters from page and screen that still define and influence my fandom today, but none define it than Batman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Batman and the Turtles are the reason I started reading comics, without their cartoons, of which I watch incessantly as a young man, I may have never picked up that first comic and fallen cowl over capes in love. I have spend countless hours with the Dark Knight and the turtles and now thanks to DC Comics and IDW Publishing I can enjoy them together, and 10 year old me is freaking the hell out.
Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 begins ominously as a survivor of a vicious and strange attack on a high tech research lab recalls her story to the one and only Caped Crusader. James Tynion IV begins this clash of icons crossover by thrusting us right into the action but revealing little on how we got here. Tynion’s action scenes are solid and I love the juxtaposition he uses to show of how our heroes interact with each others worlds, but the initial face to face meeting between Batman and the Ninja Turtles is subdued and not as flashy as you might expect.
Tynion story starts off strong and definitely hooks the ready with an air of mystery but its Freddie E. Williams’ art and Jeremy Colwell’s coloring that really made me salivate for this comic. Freddie pencil’s mimic though’s of TMNT creator Kevin Eastman but with a more modern touch. These aren’t your Saturday morning cartoon Turtles, these are teens have a much harder edge with deeper color tones that really put them at home in Gotham. William’s and Colwell create some of the best imagery for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and their villains that I have seen across all media. Each panel is truly a sight to behold as the artist mastery invoke the cartoons and comics and create something unique and perfectly fitting. If the story isn’t for you the art and character design alone are a good reason for any TMNT or Batman fan to pick up this book.
Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 didn’t offer anything fantastical or groundbreaking in the world of publisher cross-overs. What it does offer are some amazing visuals of some of your favorite characters with an engaging and intriguing story by a proven creator. This is a 90’s kid’s dream and I still can’t believe its real.