Chris Cooper reviews the first issue of IDW’s latest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles mini-series, Turtles in Time…
“A brand new mini-series from Paul Allor, Erik Burnham and some of the best IDW TMNT artists ever! The Turtles become unstuck in time and go spinning into the past! First stop: the prehistoric age, where they are far from the most dangerous reptiles around! Will the Turtles be able to find their way home without damaging history?”
In many a comedy film review you’ll see mention of the ‘laugh test’. Now I’m not sure exactly how many laughs are needed but I will tell you that if Turtles in Time #1 was subjected to the same test it would pass without a doubt. Not only is Paul Allor’s dialogue funny, but Ross Campbell’s art also does a great job at tickling my funny bones.
That the two come together so well too is an awesome bonus.
Looking through I can see at least 7 scenes that made me laugh out loud. Some of them I need to keep with me for daily chuckles.
But it’s not all histrionics. There are feels too, and a new hero! Who could well be the cutest little hero I’ve ever seen.
With a foreword explaining that this story might not make complete sense as characters will be met properly in the TMNT 2014 Annual (is that just bad planning covered nicely?), we’re thrown in right at the deep end, as are our heroes.
I would write a longer review, but you should really go and buy this now and then enjoy it. I don’t want to ruin anything for you. This is a relatively straightforward tale, and I don’t mean that disparagingly. It’s not some far out story you need to get your head around. It’s there and you enjoy it. Simple. With this being the first in a four part mini-series I’m expecting each issue to be a standalone romp with the turtles in odd situations sprinkled with beats leading to a return home. They may also be helping create the future they live in. Time travel malarkey! I won’t dwell on it too much.
We’ve covered dinosaurs and had a very cool homage to a famous book/film, and next month issue looks like it’s going to cover Feudal Japan. Can it do it better than the third live action film? Of that I have no doubt.
Chris Cooper is a Flickering Myth Staff Writer, and owner of the blog Super Duper Stuff. Follow him on Twitter @SDCCooper or visit the blog’s Facebook page.
Originally published June 18, 2014. Updated November 7, 2019.
