When we were little …
The first volume of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles published in Poland by Amber begins with a clash of three of the title characters, supported by Splinter, with a mutated one-eyed cat known as the Old Hob. However, we quickly get a flashback scene in which we go back 18 months and meet the turtles and their mentor before mutating. April O’Neil looks after them. It turns out that secret experiments are being carried out on them to create super soldiers. As a result of a series of events, the animals leave the building and end up in the sewers. One of them, Raphael, however, disappears without a trace. The brothers and their mentor try to find him at all costs.
Then and today
It is impossible to approach the described comic without comparing it with the original. So let’s start from the beginning. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles made their market debut in 1984. Their creators were Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. They were the most popular at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s, when they received their own animated series, as well as an acting film. Eventually, they permanently entered the world of pop culture and, despite the passage of time, have not been forgotten. At the moment, we have four cartoons, three animated films and five live action films with their participation. New comics are also being created that tell the adventures of the group, including several crossovers. In one of them, Donatello, Raphael, Leonardo and Michaelangelo even went to Gotham City and met Batman himself .
Returning, however, to their genesis, according to the first version, everything starts with the Splinter. He was still an ordinary rat and belonged to Yoshi, one of Ancient One’s students and a martial arts teacher. Its owner, however, was killed by Shredder, and during their fight, the cage with the Splinter crashed and the animal spilled out. While escaping, she witnessed a truck nearly run over a blind boy and the four turtles he was carrying. The reptiles went straight to the sewer, and by the way, they were poured with an unidentified liquid that fell out of the car. Splinter wanted to wash the substance off the tortoiseshells, which made himself dirty in it. Soon after, all five began to grow, become more and more intelligent, walk on two legs, and finally become the mutants we know today.
The comic we are discussing is a newer and revised version of this story. Tom Waltz and the original creator of the story about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are responsible for it- Kevin Eastman. Comparing them with each other, it should be said that the latter is simpler and has several shortcomings. Tu Splinter is an extremely intelligent lab rat at Stock Gen Research. For unknown reasons, he takes care of the four turtles from the very beginning. At the very beginning, the character of April O’Neil is introduced, who works at the center as an intern. Secret research is being carried out here on a serum for the super soldier for General Krang. Someone, however, decides to steal them, there is a lot of confusion, the turtles get out of the aquarium and are doused with liquid, and the rat saves them and takes them to the sewers. There, three of them are trained by him, although it is not known where Splinter knows martial arts from. At the beginning, we also get the missing Raphael and the introduction of Old Hob, the cat, who was also accidentally doused with liquid and is now an enemy of the team. The whole story unfolds very quickly and after a dozen or so pages we get mutated characters ready to fight evil. Overall, thanks to this, the action is fast-paced, but at the same time it raises several questions, the answers to which may be found in the next volumes.
Do you recognize us
Dan Duncan is responsible for the graphic design of the comic. I must admit that the pictures he created look very good. We have very interesting framing, clear lines and dynamic combat scenes (especially the duel between Splinter and Old Hob can make an impression). The artist also took care of numerous details in the background, adding the right atmosphere for the events being played. The reader will be able to feel as if he himself found himself in the street, in the sewer or in the laboratory. Care was also taken to choose the right colors. This is important because initially the turtles do not wear their signature blindfolds, and when they do, they are all the same color. We will probably come to the colorful ones in the next volumes. Meanwhile, we can recognize individual characters by their shade of green. It is also worth adding that the creators added a small detail to the first volume that will appeal to the fans. Well, one of the frames shows a T-shirt with the inscription “Cowabunga”! A small thing and many people will surely enjoy it.
And that’s it?
Amber is responsible for publishing the first volume of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in Poland . We get a hardcover comic and an enlarged format, thanks to which we can see the characters themselves and their actions even better. As I have already mentioned, the graphic design here pleases the eye, so there is also a lot to watch. The shortcoming is how quickly the adventure ends. The notebook is only an introduction to the whole story, and it is read quickly. It is only 80 pages long and before we get into it for good, we have to finish reading. Of course, the next five volumes have already been announced. Let us also add that the price for the album is on average PLN 40. Is that a lot for a few turtle pages? Judge for yourself.
Nostalgia calls!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a refreshed version of a well-known story. It’s pretty well written, although it has some storytelling flaws. The graphic side of the album deserves a big plus. It is a pity, in turn, that we only have a prelude to further events, which breaks off at a very interesting moment. We will have to wait for the rest. Overall, however, the turtles look decent and should not disappoint those who followed their fate in the 80s and 90s with bated breath. Will they attract new fans? There is a chance for this, especially if someone has only had contact with movies or numerous figurines. They will probably want to check for themselves what the four reptiles and the rat have to offer.
