Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 (2016)

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 (February, 2016)
"Knights in a Half Shell"
Script - James Tynion IV
Art - Freddie Williams II
Colors - Jeremy Colwell
Letters - Tom Napolitano
Assistant Editor - David Pina
Group Editor - Jim Chadwick
Batman Creators - Bob Kane & Bill Finger
TMNT Creators - Kevin Eastman & Peter Laird
Cover Price: $3.99

Another weekend, another comic book movie I'm not going to see... man, it feels like I'm saying that a lot these days... 

Anyhoo... this week's offering is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, so I figure now's as good a time as any to finally dig the Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crossover from DC Comics and IDW Publishing out of my "to read" pile(s) and give it a go!

--

We open as ninjas swarm a gaggle of folks in long white lab coats.  They are the Foot Clan, and their bounty is the lab's generator.  The research team's security bursts in, and during the skirmish the lights go out.  A witness describes what occurs next as inhuman eyes behind masks of blue, red, orange and purple... and the sounds of weapons making contact.

This is the story she shares with Gotham's protector, the Batman.

Later that evening, a pizza delivery man is instructed to leave the pie on the street and vamoose.  Once he's out of sight, the pizza box is speared with a sai and dragged into the sewer.

In the Batcave, Bruce is recounting the events of the evening.  Alfred enters and expresses concern of the timing of Bruce throwing himself deep into a project... we are apparently drawing near to the anniversary of his parent's brutal murder.  I feel like this anniversary often surfaces at the most convenient times... anyways, Bruce tells Alfie to cool his jets, and heads back out to the streets.

Back in the sewer we join... Killer Croc?  Okay, that'll work.  He appears to have placed a tracker on the Batmobile, and is able to trace the Batman's location (hmm, Batman really wouldn't know he's being tracked?).  As he chats with his crew du jour, they manage to wander into a section of sewer that looks like a teenager's bedroom.

They acknowledge that the pizza on the table is still warm, and even admire what appears to be a Playstation 4/Sega Genesis hybrid they have hooked up to a cracked television set.

Heartless Monster!

Back at the research facility, it appears as though it's business as usual.  The Foot Clan takes the opportunity to strike... only to find that the workers are all hologram images.  They've been set up... by the Batman.

Meanwhile, in the sewers a battle rages between Croc's crew and the Turtles.  It doesn't take long for the crew to go down, Killer Croc on the other hand... is a different story altogether.  The four brothers launch an offensive assault!

Would love a wordless version of this...

Back with the Bat, he's made short work of the Foot Clan ninjas.  While he attempts an interrogation, he manages to get as far as the word "turtles" before being interrupted by the leader of the Foot Clan... the Shredder, who offers a proposal.  Much to Shredder's disdain, Batman doesn't negotiate with ninja terrorists.  With that (and a smoke bomb) the Foot vanishes into the night.

In the Turtle Lair, the boys have managed to outfight Killer Croc.  As they discuss their victory, their Master Splinter enters, and suggests they change locations due to having been discovered.  The Turtles ain't happy, but appear to understand their Sensei's logic.

They emerge from a manhole, and find the Batmobile!  

Bad news for them, while they're admiring it, they also find its owner...

ten-year old Chris just passed out...

--

If I read this when I was ten years old, I think I'd have had a heart attack.  Batman and the Ninja Turtles?  I can't even begin to imagine how many times I made this team-up happen with my action figures.  This book is adolescent Chris' dream come true!  What does old and jaded Chris have to say?

He's less excited, but can say that this was quite good.  There's absolutely no reason why this crossover should work (outside of a kid's action figure machinations)... but, it really does.  The Turtles squaring off against Killer Croc while Batman stares down Shredder... it just works, and works well!  Just wish we saw more of the actual fighting.  I suppose they gotta save something for the next five chapters...

It had the usual contemporary comics crossover trope where the heroes don't meet until the final page of the first issue... which, I really can't hold against it... it's just the way things go.  Hell, even Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man and The Uncanny X-Men and the New Teen Titans crossovers were over-sized and sorta segmented into "chapters" where the company-crossed heroes don't really cross paths until well into the tale.

Both the writing and art were very well done, as should be expected from talents such as Tynion and Williams.  I especially dug the coloring... for whatever reason it gave the art a Christmas kind of feel, as silly as that may sound.  Even if that doesn't make any sense, take my word for it (for all it's worth)... this is a gorgeous book.

I'm looking forward to continuing through this miniseries, and from what I read so far I'd lean toward giving it a solid recommendation.  If you're patient, there will be a hardcover collection of this series hitting shelves on August 23.  This book is so beautiful I just may have to double-dip myself.  This one will look so nice in my ol' library.

Anyways, I hope you all enjoy the film should you choose to go see it.  I must admit I have a morbid curiosity about Sheamus' (from WWE) acting range, but I suppose I'm content to get my information second-hand.

Before you head out, be sure to check out some more great Turtle-centric posts from some pals of the site:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles meet Archie, The Crapbox of Son of Cthulhu
Various TMNT Related Reviews/Postings, Comics Reviews by Walt 
TMNT Presents: April O'Neil, Coffee and Comics Blog

--

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Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn II #4 (1991)

Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn II #4 (July, 1991)

"90 Days, Part IV: The Will to Power"

Writers - Keith Giffen & Gerard Jones

Pencils - M.D. Bright

Inks - Romeo Tanghal

Letters - Albert De Guzman

Colors - Anthony Tollin

Assistant Editor - Kevin Dooley

Editor - Andy Helfer

Cover Price: $1.00

Still chugging along through Emerald Dawn II.

If you need to catch up, you can do so here, here, and here!

--

As we ended the last chapter, Hal and Sinestro had made it to Korugar where Sinestro was expecting the hero's welcome... they were both rather surprised to find that rather than having rose petals dropped at their feet, they've got laser beams aimed at their heads!

We're not the only ones observing this scene.  From behind a monitor we see that Katma-Tui is also looking on, and she is joined by one of the alien leaders Hal and Sin ran into during chapter two's summit.  We get the impression that the Korugarians don't quite see Sinestro as a god... but, more as a tyrant.

Hal and Sinestro hold their own pretty well against the Korugarian forces until something inside Sinestro appears to snap.  He believes that his people must be under some sort of mind-control or have been corrupted by chaos, and completely loses his cool!

Hal is taken aback at Sinestro's ruthless assault on his own people and attempts to restrain him from causing any mortal damage.  The two bicker back and forth, Sinestro blaming Hal for what's going down.  He believes if his focus wasn't on training the rookie Lantern, he would have been their to save his people from the chaos corruption.

With Sinestro appropriately restrained, Hal tells him he'd summoned other Corps members to help subdue the Korugarian riot.  Well, this is absolutely not what Sinestro wanted to hear.  He bursts free from his restraints and redoubles his offense, now completely focused on Hal.

Sinestro manages to get the upper hand, and puts Hal in a devastating choke.

Luckily for Hal, Sinestro's head isn't quite in the game.  He is able to break free and pop Sin with a ring-blast.  This causes Sinestro to believe himself as a victim of chaos corruption, and as such... does a little twirl and an Ole pose?

Ole!

In all seriousness, Hal is able to take Sinestro down and talk some sense into him.  Sinestro pleads with Hal that they must leave Korugar at once.  Without truly thinking it through, Hal agrees.  We see that he almost immediately regrets his decision as it only makes the pair look guilty... as sin.

Back on Earth, Gentleman Will is recuperating from his recent shivving.  He is joined by Guy Gardner, who is trying to get him to spill the beans on his attacker(s).  Will knows what happens to stoolies in the joint, and remains silent.  Guy gives a disappointed "whattayagonnado?" shrug and takes his leave. 

Back on Korugar, Katma-Tui is addressing the masses.  They are cheering the end of tyrannical Green Lantern rule on their planet.  It's becoming more and more clear that these folks only held Sinestro up as a deity because they feared what he would do if they didn't.

During her address, the rest of the Green Lantern Corps arrives on the scene.

After a brief skirmish, Lantern Tomar-Re is able to convince Katma that they mean the Korugarians no harm... in fact, they're there to help them.  The Lanterns see the Sinestro shrines-a'plenty, and express concern that he just might have overstepped his authority.

Before we wrap up, we check in with the zzzzzzz.... Guardians.  They are not happy with the events of the day, and decide they must track down the pair of errant Green Lanterns... Sinestro and Hal Jordan.  To do so, they call in the (Guy Gardner uniform bedecked) Fists of the Guardians!

--

Well, we're four issues in and I have mixed thoughts on this one.  First, it's a space story... and in my last review, I discussed my relative disinterest in space stories.  That having been said, it was an engaging space story.  I enjoyed it for the most part, however, I'm still a bit conflicted.

A lot went down this issue, and it still kinda felt like it dragged.  I really can't explain it... it's certainly not decompressed... so it's not that.  Maybe I'm just comparing it to the issues that came before.  But, again... I did like it.

I'm interested to see what's up with these Fists of the Guardians.  Their armor having the design of the (now) classic Guy Gardner Lantern uniform is intriguing.  I gotta wonder if we're gonna get Guy in green by the end of this series.

We also find out that... shock of shocks, a man named Sinestro (as in sin and sinister) isn't all that great a guy.  They should really put spoiler alerts in super villain names!  Sinestro's a great bad guy, so I can't complain... I just wonder how the all-knowing Guardians would ever think he'd be one of the good guys.  I really like that Hal is portrayed as headstrong, yet a bit naive.  He knows he shouldn't be following Sinestro off Korugar... yet does anyway.  I enjoy a conflicted Hal Jordan.

As with the past three issues, words and art are top notch.  I received a comment earlier today about how the covers of these issue don't do proper justice to the interior art, and I totally have to agree.  I think the covers for the first and fourth issues are amazing, striking, and memorable... but the second and third are a bit ehhh.  Interiors always deliver, however... this is such a fun book to both read and look at!

Really enjoying this series.  We're going to return to our discussion and review of it this weekend.  Tomorrow we're got a special.  We're gonna be staying green... but there won't be a Lantern in sight...

--

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Man, I really wish I got the Legion...

The more things change...

Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn II #3 (1991)

Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn II #3 (June, 1991)

"90 Days, Part III: Power Play"

Writers - Keith Giffen & Gerard Jones

Pencils - M.D. Bright

Inks - Romeo Tanghal

Letters - Albert De Guzman

Colors - Anthony Tollin

Assistant Editor - Kevin Dooley

Editor - Andy Helfer

Cover Price: $1.00

Another day, another chapter of Emerald Dawn II.

If you need to catch up, you can do so here and here!

--

Picking up right where we left off, Hal is reentering his prison cell in direct view of his new cellmate Willie.  The poor gent begins to panic, and Hal quiets him down with an emerald muzzle.  When he finally settles down, Hal comes clean about his dual identity... I honestly wasn't expecting that to happen so soon.  I really thought, from the final image in the previous chapter, that Willie had hurt his head in the fall, and Hal would be able to talk his way out of spilling the beans.

Hal seems more than willing to share his story with his new bunkmate, and appears to even look somewhat relieved that he's been "outed"... like, he's happy he has someone "on Earth" who he can confide in.  Anyways... after giving Willie the news, Hal tries to fall asleep.  Sadly after having spent his entire night out, he barely closes his eyes before the morning alarms go off.  In his brief moment of shut-eye, however, we observe Willie admiring Hal's ring...

We join our hoosegow pair getting their eats at the mess hall.  It would appear that our Willie is something of a prison legend.  A revolving door jailbird who is referred to as Gentleman Will.  He may be a gentleman, but he's also something of a klutz... he accidentally spills the entire contents of his tray onto a rather unsavory (yet sorta-kinda familiar) convict. 

I suppose it goes without saying that this con ain't all that pleased having the... well, pink goop Willie was carrying splattered all over his clean jail-togs.  He gets up and, very calmly, very rationally, punches Willie in the face.  He continues slapping the poor little dude around, until...

Our hero Hal intervenes.  He tells the creep that he's made his point, and that he'd best sit down.  Before their altercation devolves into a brawl, the prison guards (where have they been, anyway?) get involved and attempt to haul them both off for disciplinary action.  Lucky for Hal that his plucky caseworker, Guy Gardner arrives on the scene just in time to save his bacon.

As the guards drag the bully away, he notices Hal's ring... and makes the connection.  As it turns out, this goon was one of the bank robbers Hal wrangled back in the first issue.  Guy wants some one-on-one time with Hal so they can discuss his situation... however, Willie inserts himself by comically stealing (and returning) most of Guy's personal effects.

That night, back in the cell Sinestro comes a'calling.  He eyeballs Willie, and immediately attempts to give him the ol' mindwipe.  Much to his (and I would assume several readers') annoyance, Hal stops him before he can.

The next several pages is a montage of the coming weeks.  Hal is, by all accounts working a double-shift, and burning the candle at both ends.  He's awake all day as prisoner Hal Jordan, and training all night as Green Lantern... we see him taking part in chess matches and football games, while attempting to learn better control over his ring-wielding prowess.

One day, while mopping up the floor, Gentleman Will is approached by the goon he spilled his food on those several weeks (and pages) earlier.  They share some brief yet contentious repartee before the goon pulls a shiv.

Next we are treated to some hot showerin' action with our pal Hal.  A guard frantically enters the communal showers and informs him that his cellmate has just been shanked... still alive, but not in good shape. 

As Hal is heading out to see his fallen friend, Sinestro makes his nightly appearance.  He informs his trainee that time is of the essence... there's no time to check on Willie.  Hal begrudgingly suits up, and the two fly off... to Korugar.

Hal is shocked to see the regard in which Sinestro is viewed on his home planet... less like a hero, more like a god.  He is also rather confused that the planet appears to be completely empty... that is, of course, before the Lanterns are attacked by an armed uprising!

--

Okay... another great issue!  I must admit that I feared this would be like 95% space battles to 5% Hal in jail... which would have bored me, quite honestly.  I, having started with Green Lantern during the 1990's became more accustomed to a more terrestrial/Earth-bound Green Lantern.  Every time he went into space, I kinda glazed over.  Even to this day... although I've softened somewhat to the space stories, I'd much prefer Hal (or whoever) be on Earth.

This issue was mostly Hal as Hal... on Earth, and it was a great, fun read.  Gentleman Will is an interesting addition to the cast, and, while I get the feeling he could (have) become rather annoying, managed to win me over.  His appearances were well placed, and well spaced... that is to say, I don't feel as though he overstayed his welcome.  Of course, if I find out in the next issue that he didn't survive the shank... I think I'll be a bit bummed.

Staying on Willie for a moment longer.  I really liked that Hal had somebody he could speak with about his dual lives.  Emerald Dawn has made Hal a more well-rounded character, in giving him flaws... and making him "less cool".  I don't mean cool like Fonzie, mind you... I mean cool as in totally collected, all the time.  His need to have an outlet with whom he could decompress after a night out with Sinestro really helps to humanize him.  Dare I say, make him relateable...

As for the creative side... I gushed during the first issue... and my gushes still stand.  This is one helluva creative team, and definitely among my favorite Green Lantern architects (are we still calling comic creators that, or has Marvel found another way to avoid labeling them as "comic book creators"?).

We're halfway through, and I'm still quite pleased.  Definitely recommended.

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