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Can you believe it?! The Heroes in a Half-Shell are 40 years old! To celebrate this momentous occasion, IDW has pulled out all the stops, giving us an anthology that takes you down memory lane, but for those who might not be entirely versed in all things Ninja Turtles, you’ll see things from every angle you can throw a ninja star from.
IT’S A SHELL OF A GOOD TIME
Eleven stories and phenomenal artwork wrapped up in 84 pages of pure love for your favorite fighting band of mutant brothers.Spanning every iteration of Turtles possible: From SatAM to The Last Ronin and everything in between. So yes, Jennica and Venus get their nods, too.
The Art
Each of these stories is done in a different art style, all indicative of their series, so you won’t get confused by a Mirage story versus one from the three separate cartoon series. Going across 40 years of stories, the artwork doesn’t seem dated, not in the slightest. It pops off the page if you’re in the lair, on the rooftops, or in the woods. You feel the shift from story to story and don’t get lost along the way.
The Stories
Each of them feels unique—a different time, place, and perspective from turtle lore. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the era, you will know these characters and feelings through and through. Whether it’s Leo’s stalwart heroics, Raph’s brazen attitude, Mikey’s panache for life equaled by his near prodigal ninja technique, or Donnie’s vast skills in science. They are all there; some might be drawn differently than others, but, at the heart, they are OUR TURTLES.
TMNT 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION IS A PERFECT 10 OUT OF 10 COWANBUNGAS
As someone who always uses the term “Ninja Turtle Generation,” I use it as a reference to the fact that the Turtles have changed and evolved over the years. They have adapted their stories for new generations, both old and new, to enjoy and have done it with such skill that we, as readers, forget that WE have evolved along with them!
From the whole team at Nerd Initiative, we can’t send enough love to both Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird for creating a story that has jumped off the paneled pages to the small screen, the big screen, our toy boxes, video games, the small screen again, the paneled pages again, the small screen in CGI, then CGI on the big screen. You get the idea no matter what format, it wouldn’t have been possible for that first comic with the now iconic black and red cover that got the whole ball of turtle wax rolling!
What’s your favorite version of the Turtles? Who is your favorite Turtle or Villain? Is this going on your shelf? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, and please consider following me personally at OFF THE CUFF TOM on social media. Don’t forget to support your LCS and tune in to all the content here at the Nerd Initiative.
