Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Dimension X #1
Writer: Paul Allor
Artist: Pablo Tunica
Letterer: Shawn Lee
Publisher: IDW Publishing
A Review by Greg Brothers
I am sure over thirty years ago when Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird came up with the idea of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles they had no idea what type of crazy adventures their creation would go on. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Dimension X #1 just continues to add onto that list of crazy, epic, out of this world adventures.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Dimension X #1 places the four famous turtles on a mission to find various witnesses from across the universe to testify in a trial against the villain Krang. What our half-shell heroes do not know is that Krang has sent assassins to make sure those witnesses never make it to the stand.
Since I’m not a regular reader of the comics (but a big fan of the franchise), I was anxious to see how accessible this series would be for new readers. The good news is it feels like a great jumping on point. Longtime fans of the franchise should be familiar with Krang and his overall horrible being, so hearing that he is going to court is no surprise. Allor uses Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Dimension X #1 to explain what Krang has done to the Neutrinos specifically, and why it is important that he stands trial for those actions.
In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Dimension X, Allor seizes his opportunity to add to the mythos and large closet of unique characters. This first issue starts it off in the right direction, introducing not only the Neutrinos, but also the planet Go’mo. The distinct atmosphere and the way the planet and species react to the inhabitants’ moods and emotions could come into play for stories in the future. It is this idea of the planet changing with emotions that hooked me and I wish Allor would have explored it in more detail. We get a small example during one crucial scene, but it’s something that could have enhanced the storytelling even more.
The introduction of the assassin Hakk-R is another character that is ripe with potential. He is not your typical assassin; studying what makes his potential targets tick, while enjoying some of the finer things in life. The character design is intriguing, and his ability to use both his mind and force to defeat his target makes him unique in combat.
Beyond the designs of both Hakk-R and the Neutrinos, Tunico creates a planet that is bright and colorful on its surface and filled with vibrant blues and greens within its caverns. It is a look that fits and gives the reader the feeling of a planet that would easily adapt to its inhabitants’ emotions. Tunico’s designs of the Turtles fit with the traditional look most readers are accustomed to, focusing on the many emotions that the Turtles experience in this first chapter.
Verdict
Buy It! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Dimension X #1 is a great jumping on point for anyone who is a longtime fan of the franchise, but has been trying to figure out how to get involved in the comic book series. The strong pacing and the unique style of the story set the mark for what readers can expect from this solid creative team.
