TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: CASEY JONES #3: Size Doesn’t Matter

It’s not the size of the dog in the fight but what’s inside that counts. A mutant bounty hunter, Ludovic, makes his entrance and gives Casey Jones one hell of a fight. He’s hunting down mutants to deliver to a mysterious buyer who will help keep him a mutant. This fight takes Casey to the brink of death as something sinister has befallen Mutant Town.

Creative Team: Alex Paknadel (WRITER), Amancay Nahuelpan (ART and COVER), Luis Antonio Delgado (COLORS), and Darran Robinson (LETTERS).

The Story:

Alex packs a punch in this issue as we meet a powerful and mysterious villain in Ludovic. It’s a tragic case, and Alex does a great job both making us feel bad for him while also wanting to see him defeated, as humans are the monsters they always are. Ludovic is hunting mutants to deliver so that his boss can hunt them, and in return, Ludovic gets mutant serum. I enjoy how Casey is narrating and talking about his relationship with Raphael, who shows up to help fight, and then how he is willing to do anything it takes to save the day and the inhabitants of Mutant Town. There are some tense moments, such as Casey jumping off the rooftop to take down Ludovic, and I cannot help but feel something more is to come with Casey taking the serum that Ludovic had to help heal himself after the fall.

The Art and Letters:

Amancay draws some intense action sequences and pulls the fear out of Casey as he details his reactions and the intensity perfectly. There are great moments, such as Casey stabbing Ludovic with the broken bat and the scene of Casey tackling him off the rooftop, which is drawn so well that it nails the tone of the scene playing out on the splash page. Antonio colors the gritty and violent art, enhancing the details laid out. The rooftop sequences feel grimy and truly an all-out street brawl. Seeing Casey and Ludovic broken and bloody is a sequence that captures the moment through the art, and the sequence lands hard. Darren’s lettering is done well, whether it is Casey’s monologue or how the interview with Ms. Getz on the late-night show slowly builds in the background of the story.

Final Thoughts:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Casey Jones #3 packs a brutal punch and shows how far Casey Jones is willing to go to save those he cares about. Something sinister is happening to the mutants, and we are just getting started.

Overall Grade: 10/10

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