Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hungar #1 – The Hunger to Live

New York City is going through some very concerning changes, all thanks to the Ninja Turtles. This dark magic change is starting to affect others within the city. Come along and see the devastation that is brought to the door of the Purple Dragons…

Creative Team

Pallie Paul Allor (Writer), Gavin Smith (Artist/Cover Artist), Luis Antonio Delgado (Colorist), Shawn Lee (Letterer)

Nathan Widick (Designer), Tommy Stella (Assistant Editor), Jake Thomas (Editor)

Publisher: IDW Publishing

The Hunger to Live

This new one-shot issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hungar is a tie in to the main TMNT story that is currently going on. With that said, readers will not see the Turtles or Splinter or any of the other heavy hitter characters from the main story within this issue. That is because this is a side story that WILL directly feed into the main storyline. Which is awesome (in my opinion) because this allows other creators an opportunity to give their spin on the TMNT brand while also adding to the continuation story!

This issue shows another side of New York City that is now starting to see the repercussions of the mistake the Turtles caused by ignoring the messages from the Land of the Dead. Readers will be introduced to the previous leader (Hun) of the Purple Dragons, another crime syndicate within New York like the Foot Clan. But Hun has been dead for some time. Until a magical portal presents itself allowing him and other dead members of the Purple Dragons to pass through back to the Land of the Living.

Within this story you will be reintroduced to Slash and Ninjara. Two foes who have no choice but to team up and try to survive. They do not come from hero backgrounds. But within this issue, it seems that they are doing their best to change that negative stigma that over shadows them. Especially when they witness the carnage and devastation that is awakening within the city. Things take an interesting turn when Slash stumbles upon Hun in the streets.

While Hun has returned to the Land of the Living it is very apparent he has but one mission, reclaim control over the Purple Dragons. But while that is going on within the background of this story, there is another issue that Slash and Ninjara are focused on. The citizens of the city are being attacked by the souls of the dead who are returning to the Land of the Living via the portals. One would think that once they are dead and make a return that they would simply stay dead… Wrong. Each dead soul has a “hunger” to live again. But in order to satisfy that hunger they must take the life of someone living.

The ending of this story plays into the theory of an internal hunger within everyone. It is in no way suggesting that the internal hunger in question is to cause harm to individuals. But rather has a general undertone of a hunger or striving for something. Could be love, friendship, belonging and a multitude of other things. Having a hunger for something in a strong way can have different effects to different people. But within this story that hunger is to live again.

The Writing

Pallie Paul Allor brings a dynamic tie-in story to the TMNT main line! This story is so well written, bringing backstory mixed with current storyline events. I love the fact that this is a TMNT story without having the Turtles within it. Giving other characters within the TMNT scope some “page time” within the story. The narration within this story carries a gloomy tone to it as it explains events to readers. That same tone shifts over to the character dialogue as well! The plot for this one-shot tie in fits the scope of the main story so perfectly! This gives off a feel of Avengers: Infinity War/Endgame in the sense of separate stories under the same umbrella. I really hope TMNT continues this if that is in fact what they are trying to accomplish!

The Artwork

Gavin Smith and Luis Antonio Delgado are rock stars on this issue! I was first introduced to Gavin’s work on TMNT: The Last Ronin. I was also looking forward to this issue since Indiana Comic Con this past June. Gavin shared with me the details of his work on this issue, and I am beyond impressed by the work he put into this story. The linework is rough which helps to give the tone of the story a dark and gloomy feel. Flowers also go to Luis for his coloration of this issue! The dark shades that engulf this issue are brightened up with bright neon greens and purples that adds to the “zombie” lore of the story! You will continue to see Luis’ work on the main TMNT storyline as well!

Shawn Lee gives the lettering of this issue so much power! The narration boxes are a faint yellow color which gives them their own distinct look. Slash also gets his own style of text box coloration as well! The sizing of the text boxes is perfect within the panels. Not one complaint from me when it comes to the lettering of this story!

Variant Covers

Final Thoughts

A dynamic one-shot tie-in story to the TMNT main story! This issue will have you entranced from page one. This issue also gives more plot lines to the main story, giving other TMNT characters their moment to shine. A great story with amazing dark art that will send your eyes on a wild ride between reading and witnessing. You are not going to want to miss this story, especially if you’re reading the main TMNT arc right now. Part one and part two of the main story are in shops currently. So while you’re picking up your copy of this story, make sure to pick up parts one and two as well!

Overall Grade: 10/10

Links

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Previous TMNT Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #22 – The City That Never Dies Pt. 2
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