Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles [2024] #1 - IDW Publishing

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES No. 1, July 2024

Billed by “IDW Publishing” as both a “new series premiere” and “new jumping-on point”, Jason Aaron’s script for Issue One of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” probably caught many a fan of the media franchise by surprise in July 2024, due to it focusing solely upon the perilous predicament of Raphael as opposed to all four of the “anthropomorphic turtle brothers.” Happily however, this insight still proves incredibly enthralling, as the Alabama-born author pens a fascinating solo tale involving “everyone’s favourite brawler” deep behind the iron bars of San Quentin State Prison; “At night, the cells go quiet. Unless you’ve got the senses of  shadow warrior.”

Arguably the biggest of this twenty-two page book’s ‘hooks’ has to be the mystery surrounding just why Raph is locked up in the first place. It’s clear that the character has been residing at the correctional facility for some time before “Inmate” begins, and resultantly he has gotten to know the ‘lay of the land’ reasonably well. Furthermore, “the most aggressive of the turtle brothers” is clearly capable of fighting his way to freedom whenever he wants, so just what the Warden’s hold over him is that prevents the mutant from doing so is equally as prevalent in the audience's mind.

Indeed, perhaps the glue that holds this entire publication together lies in the strange relationship between the turtle and Starnes. The prison official is clearly using Raphael’s skills to keep his penitentiary running smoothly - as seen when the super-hero absolutely pummels three potential escapees in the sewers one night. But the open hostility and aggression on display whenever the pair converse also strongly suggests that the vigilante has actually committed some unlawful indiscretion in the past which has provided the Warden with both plenty of leverage, and a locked safe full of paperwork.

Definitely providing this tome with a surreal sense of realism is Joelle Jones, whose pencils provide all the action sequences with plenty of bone-breaking energy and much-appreciated gratuitous violence. Of particular interest is the American illustrator’s willingness to depict the central protagonist being occasionally bested during his fights, such as a shank shattering upon his shell or a blade marginally catching his flesh – something which adds a welcome layer of vulnerability to the battles and keeps the reader heavily invested in the combat’s final outcome.

The regular cover art to "TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES" #1 by Rafael Albuquerque