Book Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures vol #2

Book: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures volume #2 (issues #5-8) by various writers and illustrators

Edition:

Digital: Issues #5 and #6 
Print: Issues #7 and #8


Rating: 5 stars

Review:

This was a fun and action packed read for all ages. Reading them was just like watching the animated series and should be a treat for fans of the show. I like that the turtles always find some kind of way to stop their enemies even in some of the most ridiculous ways.


Issue #5 written by Kenny Byerly with illustrations by Adam Archer with color by Heather Breckel

In this water filled issue, the turtles on a tip from April head out to a cruise ship to stop Fishface who was set on revenge against his former childhood friend Vitor Sousa. Tension grows between Raph and Leo after the two disagree about trying to stop Fishface and save Sousa, who is now one of the most powerful gangsters in Sao Paolo.

With a ship that's quickly sinking, are the turtles heading into deep water trying to save the day.


Issue #6 written by Cullen Bunn with illustrations by Dario Brizuela and color by Heather Breckel

In this issue, the turtles were simply supposed to be going out on a reconnaissance mission to observe the Krang and according to Master Splinter to only engage the enemy if absolutely necessary. However, they didn't stick to the plan and were soon taking on the Krang. But the turtles problems started when they ended up taking an unusual device from the Krang. Donnie thought maybe it was bomb but as they were on their way back to their lair to further study it, a large squishy tentacle monster burst out of the device and took over the turtles' vehicle the Shellraiser.

The turtles were having a difficult time trying to stop the monster but they had a great plan to stop it and give the Krang a dose of their own medicine.


Issue #7 written by Brian Smith with illustrations by Chad Thomas and color by Heather Breckel

This issue has the turtles each doing their own thing but somehow they wind up in a huge fight with Dogpound and the Purple Dragons.

First up is Donnie and April who were enjoying the Chinatown Food Festival when they ended up crossing paths with the Purple Dragons and Dogpound. They had no problem fighting off a couple of Purple Dragons but they were no match for Dogpound who was accompanied by more of the Purple Dragons. Not liking their odds, the only thing for Donnie and April to do was to escape.

Meanwhile, Mikey and Raph were planning on going to the movies but Raph really did not want to use Mikey's top secret ninja method to get into the theater. However, it was either going to be Mikey's plan or not seeing the movie but Raph really wanted to see that movie. Last is Leo who was on one of his solo patrols when he ran into Karai.

Trying to get away from Dogpound and the Purple Dragons, Donnie and April went to the movie theater to get help from Mikey and Raph. Leo was already at the same theater but was unaware of the situation going inside because he was on the roof talking with Karai.

The turtles and April get a little inspiration from the movie in stopping Dogpound.


Issue #8 written by Kenny Byerly with illustrations by Dario Brizuela and color by Heather Breckel

In this last issue, the turtles, April and Dr. Rockwell go up against the Rat King.

The turtles and April had been attacked by the Rat King but got help from Dr. Rockwell who used one of his inventions to incapacitate the Rat King. The group then took the Rat King back to Dr. Rockwell's lab because the doctor wanted to find a way to neutralize the Rat King's powers. But the Rat King summoned his rats and during the chaos he took control of Dr. Rockwell's invention and used it to boost his powers.

With the Rat King all powerful, how will they stop him? 

Currently Reading: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures vol #2

I really like the Nickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series and season 4 should be airing soon.

Anyway, about this comic book series, I read the first volume as an Advanced Reader Copy and liked it so much I wanted to continue reading it. But by the time I started picking up the series at the comic bookstore, issues #5 and #6 were the only two I couldn't find (they were sold out).

So thanks to this new era of digital comics, I was able to get those issues and now I can finally get around to reading volume #2.


Book: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures volume #2 (issues #5-8) by various writers and illustrators

Edition:

Digital: Issues #5 and #6 
Print: Issues #7 and #8

Description:

Spinning straight out of the hit Nickelodeon show, Volume 2 collects four more fantastic tales. The Turtles battle Fishface, the Shellraiser goes haywire, a movie night for the group, and Monkey Brains squares off against Rat King!

Book Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters

Book: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters (issues #1-4) by Erik Burnham and Tom Waltz with illustrations by Dan Schoening

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: April 14, 2015

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Description:

When a new invention goes haywire, the Turtles are sent to a whole new type of New York City. One with a whole lot more ghosts... and Ghostbusters! The two teams will have to learn to get along quickly, because a new foe from the Turtles past has followed them and aims to conquer NYC!


Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Review:

This was a pretty good crossover between the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the Ghostbusters.

The story opens in the past with an immortal being tossed through a portal and becoming trapped in limbo. Meanwhile, in the present day New York City, Donatello had been working on a teleportation device but an accident occurred during a test sending the Turtles, April O'Neil and Casey Jones to another dimension. They wound up in another New York but they didn't show up alone, the immortal Chi-You was finally free and immediately started to cause trouble.

Help wasn't far away because the Ghostbusters (Egon, Winston, Ray and Peter) showed up. It didn't take long before the Turtles, April and the Ghostbusters teamed up to figure out a way to stop Chi-You. But they also plan to free all the people Chi-You has possessed and turned into his army (which also includes Casey Jones). Lastly, they were also working on a way to send the Turtles and their friends back to their own dimension.

I thought the authors did a good job with keeping these characters' personalities in tack as well as making the interactions between them not seem forced. I like this story but I do wish it had been longer since it felt a little rushed with only four issues. Some may or may not like the artwork since it has sort of a cartoony look to it but I think it goes with the story.

Book Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time

Book: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles book #9.5) (issues #1-4) by Paul Allor and Erik Burnham with illustrations by Ross Campbell, Charles Paul Wilson III, Ben Bates and Dan Duncan

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: December 30, 2014

Description:

The Turtles become unstuck in time and go spinning into the past!

No time period is safe in this epoch-spanning epic!


Rating: 4 stars

Review:

The title says it all, in this book the turtles find themselves traveling through time.

1st Issue:

In this issue the turtles found themselves in prehistoric time and were escaping not only from the Krang scientists but also from dinosaurs. Raphael got caught by the Krang leaving the other three turtles to try to rescue him. But after getting Raph back they found themselves dealing with the military Krang.

While they were wondering if they were going to be stuck in the dinosaurs era until their friend Renet shows up they started to transport somewhere.

I like this story, it was really funny.


2nd Issue:

This issue opens with them immediately being transported to ancient Japan. I have to admit this story sort of confused me on a few things because if these are supposed to be the same characters then how old are Master Splinter, Shredder and the Turtles. If they were all around during this time they must be sort of immortal or something like that. But I'm not sure that's how this story reads.

Anyway, in this issue the four brothers stepped into a fight that had Hamato Yoshi being attacked by a group of ninjas. As thanks for helping Hamato, he invited the turtles to a meal at his house where they meet his wife and their four sons. Leo attempts to put an end to Shredder for good but Raph tries to talk him out it because by getting rid of Shredder it may make the future even worse.


3rd Issue:

After leaving Japan, they were transported to 1726 were they met pirates. They ended up joining up with a band of pirates who had told them about the Kraken and his men who have been terrorizing the waters. The turtles noticed how advanced the Kraken's men's ship was and decided with the help of the pirates to go after them.


4th Issue:

In the last issue, the turtles traveled to the future where they we in NYC and it was filled with mutants but what they thought was a peaceful future quickly turned into a horrible situation. They found out that Shredder is in charge of nearly half of the world with the Krang ruling the rest. Anyone resisting or rebelling were arrested and executed. Even more horrible they found out that only one of the Turtles were alive and had given up on the fight.

The guys finding out that some people were about to be executed the along with the remaining future turtle sprang into action to try to save them before returning home to the present.

When they got back home the guys realized how bleak the future was especially Donnie who seemed to take it the hardest.


This was an interesting four part story. It was action packed filled with humor and drama. And something else I found interesting about this was with each trip through time they encountered something or someone that they eventually see in the present.

Book Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures vol #1

Book: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures volume #1 (issues #1-4) by Kenny Byerly with illustrations by Dario Brizuela and color by Heather Breckel

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: January 21, 2014

Description:

Spinning straight out of the hit Nickelodeon cartoon comes an all-new, all-ages TMNT book perfect for fans both old and new!

Four fantastic tales pin the Turtles against villains new and old like Snakeweed, the Shredder, and a horde of zombies?


Rating: 5 stars

Review:

If you're a fan of the Nickelodeon TMNT animated series then you might want to pick up this book. These four action packed and funny stories had Michelangelo, Raphael, Donatello, Leonardo, along with Master Splinter and April O'Neil going from one adventure to the next.


1st story:

Donatello and April O'Neil take a trip to a secret government junkyard so Donnie could find a part for one of his latest inventions. However, things don't go exactly as planned when April inadvertently gets caught. So, Donnie along with the Raphael, Leonardo and Michelangelo attempt a rescue mission but April is no damsel-in-distress she had her own rescue plan going.


2nd story:

This story had the guys and April trying to find out what's behind the plant over growth in one NYC neighborhood. Turns out Master Splinter was right that whatever's happening definitely isn't natural. They find out soon enough that one of their old villains, Snakeweed is behind what's going on. While April distracted the bystanders the guys attempted to stop Snakeweed. For all you TMNT fans (myself included) there's scene with April that might have you smiling.


3rd story:

After a long night of watching zombie movies, Mikey not being able to sleep goes out for a nighttime skateboarding run but ends up running into a pack of zombies. He runs back to tell the guys but thinking Mikey's crazy, they don't believe him. However, with a firm suggestion from Master Splinter that they go out to check Mikey's claim. Turns out it's not really zombies but a Kraang plan to control people.


4th story:

The last story had the guys, after getting a tip from April, going out to see what one of Shredder's Foot Clan soldier was doing lurking around the neighborhood. Once they got there they found themselves ambushed by the Foot Clan and Raph ended up getting poisoned. With Raph out of commission it was up to Leo, Donnie and Mikey to find the ingredients that Master Splinter needs for the antidote. But not before they run into a little problem...Dogpound and the Foot Clan.


I really enjoyed this, the stories were funny and exciting and well written. It feels exactly as if I were watching the TV show with each character's distinct personality showing through each scene. Even though this is based on the TV series, it's written in a way that's easy to follow and the reader doesn't necessarily need to have watched the show. Overall, I would say this is a solid book with amazing stories, and I can't wait to read more.