The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are back in New York City. But this is not a celebrated glorious return. The first five issues of Jason Aaron’s run has established that the Hamato Clan aren’t return at their best. Each one of the Ninja Turtles is carrying baggage, some more than others, that creates a lot of questions around them as a family and individuals. That is on top of returning to New York City that may not be the most welcoming place to them after all that has gone on with Mutant Town and other events.
We got the chance to check out an early copy of this week’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6. Find out how it turned out with our advance review.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Juan Ferreyra
Letterer: Shawn Lee
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #6 SOLICITATION
“Superstar artist Juan Ferreyra (Batman & Robin, Green Arrow) makes his debut as TMNT’s new ongoing artist! The Turtles are back together, on the run, and at one another’s throats. Navigating a New York City that used to be their home but is now a hostile territory, the four brothers try to get things back to normal, but Donatello is deeply scarred following his captivity. Will the four brothers be able to rally? Or will they find themselves at the mercy of the Foot Clan?” – IDW Publishing
REVIEW
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6 is so incredibly impressive with how right when you open it you don’t want to put it down. Jason Aaron and Juan Ferreyra pace this issue in such an immersive way that you block out all distractions.
The most impressive part of the entire reading experience for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6 is how it acts as a new starting point. Aaron and Ferreyra frame the story in a way that you can get all the context of the story without needing to know what happened before. The opening page five pages summarize where Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello are all at individually and as a family.
At the same time, if you did read the previous five issues that preceded Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6 the words spoken carry even greater wait. This gives more credence to the first five issues, being prequels to the start of the bigger story Aaron is going to be driving through his creative run. It is a very cool way to reward readers who read the preceding issues while creating an entry point for new readers.
This set-up also works as a great transition between the personal individual-focus storytelling to the bigger story going on in New York City. There is absolutely no time wasted in getting into the bigger picture. This entire issue sets the stage for what is both a scary period for the Ninja Turtles and an exciting one for fans.
All that is done in a way that leaves Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello in a spot where they can’t just stop to assess their new status quo. Everything they do has a consequence that trickles down. It is all done in a way that really emphasizes the new direction of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. By the end of it there are serious questions about how the Ninja Turtles and their extended family will deal with this status quo.
There is also not enough that can be said about the incredible artwork done by Ferreyra throughout Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6. This is by far the best artwork I’ve seen from Ferreyra. He was made to draw a TMNT comic book and it shows here. There is such an incredible sense of momentum with everything that happens. Whether it is discussion scenes or actions scenes, the sense of movement makes all the characters pop off the panels. It all enhanced the greater vision Aaron has for the story that is unfolding.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6 is a amazing comic book is a must-read experience. Jason Aaron and Juan Ferreyra handle the story in a way that pays off the build up of the last five issues while creating a new starting point for the franchise. It’s such an immersive experience that when it ends you will just want to read what is next right away.
Story Rating: 10 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 9.5 Night Girls out of 10
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