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IDW has been on the cutting edge like a katana across all their TMNT storylines. With this one, they HOP to it and focus on the most honorable dimensionally displaced Samurai Rabbit in a one-shot that sees him finally get home!
A Plot That Took A Few Years Since 1989
Looking back at the old 87 Turtles, everything can be summed up in a cute 22-minute package. But this time, Donnie had a project on the back burner to determine what dimension Usagi came from. With the opening plot device, the turtles head to Usagi’s home world, which has been taken over. What’s great is they chose to use an already established race from the Turtles Dimension.
Ninjas That Fight Shadows!
It’s usually the other way around; the Turtles fight using the shadows as their allies. But in this case, our villain of the week is using some techno-magic, blacking out the skies and giving him a battalion of Shadow Warriors. As always, Donnie “Does machines,” and not only does he let the light shine, but he also gives Usagi the advantage over the wimpy Flageion, who makes a hasty retreat.
Usagi is home, and all is well…… FOR NOW…
Under the Shell
This 40 page one-shot read just like a perfect episode. It takes me back to the feeling of sitting in front of the massive console TV set in the living room with a bowl of sugar-frosted sugar puffs with marshmallows, of course. Burnham delivers a solid story, and the art by Lawrance, which is filled with color from Delgado, is perfect! They don’t try to overdo it. They all understand exactly where and what lens we are watching the turtles through. Let’s not forget one of my favorite letterers in the game, “The Duke” Ed Dukeshire.
TMNT Sat AM Adventures: Usagi Yojimbo is a 10 out of 10 Ninja Stars!!
The writing, art, and letters come together like “four ninja brothers ready to fight!” (IYKYK) if you are like me an elder millennial, you will hear the classic voice cast pop off the paneled page and ooze on your nostalgia glasses like a TMNT hand pie.
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