REVIEW: ‘Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Vol. 1′ – The Turtles or The Bat?
Company comic-wide crossovers are rare nowadays, unlike during the 1990s where Marvel, DC, Image, Valiant, Dark Horse and other had their major characters interacted, fought one another, and eventually, teamed up to defeat a common foe. Formulaic as it is, and that is the case of Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Vol. 1, a six-issue mini-series […]
Company comic-wide crossovers are rare nowadays, unlike during the 1990s where Marvel, DC, Image, Valiant, Dark Horse and other had their major characters interacted, fought one another, and eventually, teamed up to defeat a common foe. Formulaic as it is, and that is the case of Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Vol. 1, a six-issue mini-series brought to us by the collaborative efforts of DC Comics and IDW Publishing.
The plot by James Tynion IV revolves on an anomaly in time and space, warping our beloved ninja turtles and their master Splinter, and even their worst adversaries, Shredder and the Foot Clan, to Gotham City, domain of the Dark Knight. To make a long story short, a case of simple misunderstanding that results to a confrontation between Batman and the entire TMNT crew (well, he is THE BATMAN!). And later on, the Dark Knight and TMNT join forces to defeat the common threat and the end, happy ending! Predictable indeed, but the narrative has its share of good moments, like the fights themselves, Batman’s private talk with the temperamental Rafael, Batman versus Shredder and TMNT against Ra, and the father-and-son moment that makes Father’s Day worth waiting.
Artistically speaking, it is consistent all throughout, even the fight scenes are believable and enjoyable to mesmerize. The facial portrayals are even distinguished despite having their masks and/or bandanas on. The paneling is lucid and very accessible to follow from start to finish. Thus, artist Freddie Williams II did an amazing job.
Yes, there are plot holes here due to the limited number of issues allotted to the creative team led by Scott Snyder protégé, James Tynion IV, and the abovementioned predictable storyline and outcome this company-wide crossover showcases. Nevertheless, fans longing for this rare kind of opportunity of anything crossover, they should pick up Batman/TMNT for it is a good and enjoyable read. And personally, this one is more superior to this over-hyped then Spawn-Batman crossover in the 1990s.