Chris Cooper reviews Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #44…
“Attack on Technodrome” Part 4! Minutes remain before the Technodrome fully activates and Shredder, Krang and the Turtles all vie for control. No side will be left unscathed in this epic climax as one character makes an ultimate sacrifice!”
I can’t explain how big a deal this issue is. Past issues may have had big impacts on the story before, but the ramifications of what happens in TMNT #44 are monumental. I may even be under-selling it.
Rarely do I feel a need to stop and take a moment on panel. But here I had to put the laptop down, then pick it up again to show my wife (who doesn’t read the comic but does like the Turtles) what’s happened. I’m left shell-shocked. So much so that I almost don’t want to read #45.
I’ll do my best to skirt around the main talking point that will arise and go into the rest of this issue, as it’s a great one.
This arc has been big on action, and it wrapping up doesn’t mean it starts to skimp. We get some punches that made me wince, along with a triple kick that wouldn’t have looked out of place in the films (in a good way). Cory Smith does an awesome job here, and even manages to incorporate a wrestling style fight (he’s got a TV!) as various items are used to devastating effect.
More important though are the expressions he gives all the characters which match the emotions of the scenes perfectly. Mateus will be back soon, and though I’m looking forward to that, I’ll miss you Cory. Hopefully it won’t be too long before you’re back.
Tom Waltz….I’m not sure I like you right now. You put me through the wringer. Give me a few weeks and I’ll be able to like you again, but right now I’m really holding this against you. Of course there’s nothing better than bringing a true emotional response from the readership, so massive kudos to Tom and the team.
The Technodrome may have been stopped (for now?), and much like after City Fall I’d expect time to decompress. But I really hope that IDW don’t bottle it and show a real desire to shake things up.
Time to recuperate and get ready for next month. I’m looking to seeing what you all have to say about this issue.
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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ONsp_bmDYXc&list=PL18yMRIfoszFLSgML6ddazw180SXMvMz5
Originally published March 18, 2015. Updated November 7, 2019.
