Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #7 Review

 

Writer: Erik Burnham

Artist: Sarah Myer

Colorist: Luis Antonio Delgado

Letterer: Ed Dukeshire

Cover Artists: Jack Lawrence & Raúl Angulo; Sarah Myer; Jon Lankry; Paulina Ganucheau

Publisher: IDW

Price: $3.99

Release Date: November 29, 2023

 

What? City Hall canceled this year's St. Nick-Con? How will revelers party it up if the NYPD arrests anyone dressed as Santa Claus? Let's order a pizza, tune into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #7, and find out!

 

Story

Eddiku Yuri once crafted a magical sword from meteorite ore. Shredder has secured more ore and wants Kai Eddiku to make another. The famed artisan is intrigued by Shedder’s proposition. If only his ancestor had passed down his secret methods of recreating the Tsuba, or hand guard!

 

Luckily for Shredder, an authentic hand guard will be displayed at the Mid-Manhattan Museum of Asian Art next week. Too bad the City Council banned St. Nick-Con! Holiday hooligans in Santa attire would have kept the police force busy! 

 

 

At least Krang still has his duplication beam. Like Rudy Russo in Used Cars, Shredder takes over the airwaves. City Hall can outlaw Santa suits, but they haven't banned other costumes! Forget St. Nick-Con. Shreddercon will be even better!

 

Leonardo suspects Shredder is planning something. But they can't arrest Rocksteady and Bebop for giving away costumes, even if the fabric is itchy and scratchy. (No wonder Shredder is always so irritable!) So, the turtles need to observe the festivities and try to spot the real Shredder amid so many imitations. And no, Mikey, you can't wear the helmet!

 

Erik Burnham’s story shows how easily holiday fun can get out of hand. It reminds us that the turtles may be superheroes, but they're weaker in some ways than humans. As for Krang and Shredder, both villains share the same goal in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #7 but choose different ways to accomplish it.  

 

 

Art

Sarah Myer opens Burnham's story in the greenhouse of a rooftop garden. Shredder may be a villain, but it's easier to identify with the lithe, good-looking villain than brainy Krang inside his avian cybernetic suit. Dressed like the hoodlums who get their clothes stolen by the Terminator, Rocksteady and Bebop's fear is palpable when facing their master's wrath. Yet their glee shows when they don their costumes and execute his wishes. Backgrounds may vanish in closeups, but Sarah Myer delivers action and people-packed panels in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #7.

 

While gray and purple invade pages, Luis Antonio Delgado’s vibrant colors prevent a hostile takeover. Contrasting color combinations may lessen readers’ ability to observe and report turtle identities, but our heroes in a half shell stand out amid the surging Shredder Sea. Even if Bebop, Rocksteady, and the Shredder lookalikes can't match the artistry of Miles Morales, Delgado gives their efforts potency in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #7. (Don’t look at your back, Mikey!)

 

 

 

Uppercase italicized black lettering fills white dialogue balloons. Words darken for emphasis and occasionally shrink for lowered voices. Ed Dukeshire’s appealing sound effects help us hear water spraying, swords swishing through slushies, and the annoying honking of air horns. Give those a rest, Shredder Clones, please!

 

Thanks to IDW for providing a copy for review.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

While returning readers to the era of rabbit-ear TVs, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #7 reminds us that everyone celebrates the holidays differently, benefactors may use and discard you, and artistry is better encouraged than demanded.

 

Rating 9.2/10

 

To preview interior art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.