Chris Cooper reviews Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #56…
“The Turtles return to the Technodrome to monitor the revival of the Utroms. They are surprised to meet a new mutant there— Leatherhead! Will the mysterious mutant be friend or foe?”
All change this month!
Without meaning any disrespect, it’s fantastic to have Mateus Santolouco back in the artist’s chair. There’s a real vibrancy and sharpness to his work this month. I felt myself falling in love with his designs all over again. Do I detect more difference in the sizes and shapes of the turtles? Perhaps I’m just excited. Either way the art is fantastic (that includes Pattison’s colours and Lee’s lettering), and each page is a joy to pour over. If you hadn’t guessed already, Mateus’s designs are right up for me personally.
This is further bolstered by the gang all being back together. Raph comments on how it’s good to have Mikey back in the fold but despite my reservations about his ‘solo story’ I have to agree.
Considering the cover, I don’t think it’s a spoiler to mention that Leatherhead is in the issue. His size and presence immediately lead to me comparing him to Slash; I wonder if they’ll ever interact as that would be very interesting. He has appeared previously but this is his unveiling. The breathing apparatus placed over his nose is sort of cute, but there is nothing else about him giving off that vibe. He’s a big guy, and if isn’t all he turned out to be he’d be a big challenge for the turtles. Perhaps they’d need Slash in that situation.
We get some backstory too, which will tie in nicely for those who have read Turtles In Time. Tom Waltz has given him a refined manner, but I do wonder what his goal is. I’ve not been so keen to see next month’s issue in a while.
Real life is imitating art as the premier TMNT creative team and the turtles themselves get back together. We’re left with a real doozy of a cliffhanger. It appears obvious what the situation is but I doubt we’ll find out straight away. If next month could hurry up though that be great.
Chris Cooper is a Flickering Myth Staff Writer, and owner of Super Duper Stuff. Follow him on Twitter @Superdstuff or visit the site’s Facebook page.
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Originally published March 23, 2016. Updated November 13, 2019.
