IDW Publishing 12/18/24 reviews – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5 has a killer cover featuring Casey Jones, but the spotlight is on new villain Hieronymus Hale.
Writer Jason Aaron crafts a classic villain origin story. Aaron works in enough detail to make Hale somewhat sympathetic but smartly makes him enough of a tool that he’s not a likable character even with a strong motive for going after the mutants.
Hale narrates his own origin so some aspects of Turtles #5 might be slanted in favor of the unreliable narrator.
Jones make a memorable appearance as he rises up to fight against Hale’s FOOT Patrol, a suspicious security force utilizing the techniques and weapons of the FOOT Clan.
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Artist Darick Robertson delivers some high end work this issue. That’s key as Turtles #5 is heavy on emotional exposition from Hale’s simmering frustration of being ignored to Casey’s attempts to keep the Six Burroughs safe.
The action sequences have an almost tangible sense of threat and danger.
Tony Avina’s color work is sharp with a varied array of rich colors and heavy blacks. Letterer Shawn Lee provides solid dialogue exchanges and narration that’s easy to read.
For an issue that features minimal involvement and what amount to a brief cameo from the titular characters, Turtles #5 was a strong installment in the series. The Turtles get a mid-level boss with a serious desire to see them and other mutants thriving in New York.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5 is another tantalizing installment of a series designed to (and succeeding) deliver a TMNT title that appeals to longtime fans and those giving it a shot for the first time.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Photo Credit: IDW
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