Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #14 Review

 

Writer: Erik Burnham

Artist: Sarah Myer

Colorist: Luis Antonio Delgado

Letterer: Ed Dukeshire

Cover Artists: Sarah Myer & Travis Hymel

Publisher: IDW

Price: $3.99

Release Date: June 26, 2024

 

Ogg The Magnificent tricked the Turtles into a Best Of Three Contest. If the Turtles win, Ogg loses his powers. If Ogg wins, the Turtles get erased from existence. Forget that song from the rock band in the GEICO commercial and that movie about a US Navy aircraft carrier time traveling back to Pearl Harbor in December 1941. The Final Countdown to Total Turtle Extinction begins now! After one win and one loss, can the Turtles defeat the wonderful wizard Ogg? Can the Turtles win the final round and return to our world? Let's order a pizza, tune into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #14, and find out!

 

Story

Mister Ogg is the overlord of Dimension Z. He controls everything, from April Ogg’neil’s news reports to the sequels, remakes, and mashups on his TV. In all his travels, Ogg only found one force that commands people's attention yet resists his influence. Ogg adores the Turtles' uniqueness but hates that he cannot control them. So, in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #14, Ogg vows to destroy them. At least he can claim he's the absolute ruler of everything, even if nothing surprises, amazes, or satisfies him again.

 

In Erik Burnham's story, Ogg pits the Turtles against their most remarkable Saturday Morning foes from the past, present, and future. Raphael struggles to invest in such a surreal fight. Leonardo works hard to wield his team as an effective fighting force. As usual, Michelangelo is ready for anything, provided there's a pizza attached. So it's up to Donatello and his fondness for solving puzzles to find the solution to their dilemma.

 

As readers will expect, the villains are always willing to attack the heroes. But uniting big-time egos isn't a prescription for effective teamwork, as Marvel’s Avengers movie so readily displayed. Unlike Bilbo Baggins, the Turtles don’t need a wizard to trick the villains into fighting each other. But that doesn’t mean the Turtles gain an easy victory. Ultimately, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #14 reminds us that playing to win doesn't necessitate maiming or murder and that wits are always stronger than steel. And yes, that includes Shredder’s Forever Blade! 

 

 

 

Art

 

Sarah Myer hurls the Turtles into action against villains like Shredder, Chrome Dome, Wingnut, and Screwloose. Of all of them, Ogg betrays a fondness for Shredder. Raphael kicks his foes away. Donatello slams his bō so hard on an opponent's head that it resembles a hockey stick. Michelangelo spins his nunchaku so fast while leaping that he evokes the aerial screw of Leonardo's namesake. And Leonardo smiles and gives his swords a rest while the villains battle. Amid a debate over classifications of villainy, Krang finds a body to love, and the Rat King meets somebody he'd like to know better.

 

Luis Antonio Delgado lavishes a loaded palette on the creature-feature mutant mayhem of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #14. Mr Ogg may not be a Flat Earther, but the grandstands fade away as heroes battle villains on a brown Discworld against a star-filled purple sky. Bluish-white explosions filled with blue dots portray Ogg's portals, and pink lasers from a villain's eyes and fingers make Mikey dance, dive, and do cartwheels.

 

Ed Dukeshire's uppercase black letters in white dialogue balloons will please pizza lovers of any age. Words rarely shrink and embolden for inflection, while Chrome Dome speaks white letters into black fields like a complete Cylon. Energetic and colorful sound effects help us hear frantic fistfights, sizzling lasers, and a portal open as Mr Ogg appeals to the gamesters of Turtleskelion. Yet Shredder upstages everyone by ripping a panel and sending purple titles flying. Thanks to my compadres at IDW for providing a copy of this cowabunga issue for review.

 

Final Thoughts

While the Turtles battle for their existence, Mr Ogg bows to a higher authority and agrees to play by Donatello's rules. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #14 introduces a new villain and foreshadows a supergroup to rock readers like a hurricane.

 

Rating 9.4/10

 

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

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #13 Review

 

Writer: Erik Burnham

Artist: Sarah Myer

Colorist: Luis Antonio Delgado

Letterer: Ed Dukeshire

Cover Artists: Sarah Myer, Ramon Rosanas & Gigi Dutreix

Publisher: IDW

Price: $3.99

Release Date: May 22, 2024

 

Ogg The Magnificent challenged the Turtles to a Best Of Three Contest. If the Turtles win, Ogg loses his powers. If Ogg wins, the Turtles lose their lives. Michelangelo’s genius brought his brothers their first win. But are the Turtles capable of defeating The Enemy Within? Let's order a pizza, tune into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #13, and find out!

 

Story

Mister Ogg is tired of people not living up to their potential. He craves originality, not sequels and variations on a theme. So, he’s getting to the heart of who the Turtles are by forcing them to fight their evil selves. Perhaps the Turtles will achieve greatness by beating versions of themselves that value victory over principles and achievements over a good time. If not, Ogg will wipe them out of existence. No pressure.

 

As Raphael points out, Ogg's stacked the deck in his favor. He's forcing the Turtles to fight five evil Turtles in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #13. Too bad, Raph! Ogg’s throwing the party. Or rather, he’s hosting the Ogglympics. Versions of the magnificent Ogg sell drinks, snacks, pennants, and foam fingers to the cheering crowd. To make things interesting, Mister Ogg throws out an additional incentive. If the Turtles don't give their best, he will wipe their evil twins from existence.

 

In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #13, Erik Burnham forces the brothers to go against their instincts. Ogg tricked them into this contest by appealing to their vanity. He nearly won Round One because most of the Turtles were overthinking. Round Two will test their compassion and what unites them as brothers. But most of all, it will push each Turtle before a mirror and force him to confront his greatest weakness.

 

While their unprincipled evil selves go for the win by any means necessary, Ogg makes our Turtles' task harder. He splits them up so they cannot function as a team. Should just one of them lose his battle, all four lose Round Two. Man, Burnham, that Ogg is evil! Like Michelangelo, I think I liked Ogg better when he was just a weird little guy who ate porcelain!

 

Art

Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo confront their evil sides in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #13. The rascally Raphael resembles a pirate. The dastardly Donatello packs bulging muscles. Lawbreaking Leonardo looks ferocious in Black And White. Bizarrely, menacing Michelangelo resembles a wide-eyed innocent. Still, the sinister Shredder Turtle looks more dangerous than any two of the other reptile reprobates!

 

Sarah Myer does All-Mighty Ogg’s bidding by tossing Leo into a Hoth-like snowfield. She spirits Donatello to a ramp evoking the elevated bridge of Darth Vader's Star Destroyer. She hurls Raphael to a savage land with an active volcano. As for Michelangelo, he lands beside a small spaceship outside a futuristic pizza palace. Who knew there was a thriving Italian community on Coruscant?

 

Purple and blue dominate a packed stadium. Lights glare before a planet- and star-filled purple sky. When Leonardo’s sword transforms into an Oggish snake, white dots and a starburst appear. Green foliage and vines surround a Black-And-White Turtle. Leonardo battles in blue-white knee-high snow before purple and pink mountains. Luis Antonio Delgado lavishes a loaded palette of attractive and vibrant colors on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #13.

 

Ed Dukeshire's uppercase black letters in white dialogue balloons will please pizza lovers of any age. Words rarely shrink and embolden for inflection, while every word lawbreaking Leo utters is bold. Energetic and colorful sound effects help us hear Ogg banish the turtles to their separate trials, blades clash, and the Oggling crowd boo. While some sound effects coordinate with turtle colors, the red letters that announce a table-turning development have nothing to do with Raphael.

 

Thanks to my compadres at IDW for providing a copy of this cowabunga issue for review.

 

Final Thoughts

From a jungle to a futuristic city, the All-Powerful Mister Ogg tests the Turtles' mettle using a divide-and-conquer strategy in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #13. The pressure is on Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo. If anyone stumbles, they all could die!

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

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

 

 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #12 Review

 

Writer: Erik Burnham

Artist: Sarah Myer

Colorist: Luis Antonio Delgado

Letterer: Ed Dukeshire

Cover Artists: Sarah Myer, C. P. Smith & Kyle Willis

Publisher: IDW

Price: $3.99

Release Date: April 24, 2024

 

Ogg The Magnificent is bored again. His thoughts return to the Turtles and how Donatello tricked him. Ogg promised he wouldn’t put them on trial again, but he must do something to pass the time. Can Mister Ogg put Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo back in their bubble again? Let's order a pizza, tune into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #12, and find out!

 

Story

Mister Ogg is the ruler of Dimension Z. (He got it on a short sale). Ogg has everything an all-powerful imp could ask for. He's got TV news reports from April Ogg’Neil, Saturday Morning Cartoons, and monster movie mashups on Dimension Z’s Syfy channel. (Yes, it's as wonderfully wacky as Earth's Syfy channel). Yet Ogg’s not satisfied. So, his mind fixates on what he can’t have: power over the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

 

Wait! I thought you said he was all-powerful, Erik Burnham?

 

Like Dan Brown, Mister Ogg has angels and demons. Well, tiny ones. While they disagree on many issues, his angelic and demonic advisors agree to punish the turtles. But how? Instead of Wingnut, Screwloose, and their robot roaches, the turtles face big bad Billy Boom in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #12. Billy may have horns, a gruff voice, and a sonic disrupter, but he’s no #GOAT. Still, Billy is only the opening act (Or should I say, second opening act) in this long-awaited cosmic rematch.

 

Burnham’s story plays on the turtles’ vanity and pride. (Sure, they’re selfless heroes. Still, to paraphrase Raphael, that doesn’t stop them from selling their action figures). In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #12, Ogg’s challenge will test the turtles’ teamwork. The stakes are higher this time. But can they trust Ogg to abide by his own rules? Or will he get bored by the contest and kill the turtles anyway?

 

Let’s hope Q doesn’t read this comic and take the turtles to task for contravening universal law. (Or worse, put me on trial for breaking the fourth wall in a comic review!)

 

 

 

Art

Sarah Myer reveals Ogg’s unbalanced nature through strangely shaped TV sets and framed art. Myer also hints at Ogg’s motivation with the imp's interior décor. Panels showcase the turtles’ back alley brawl, a magical portal, and a distraction worthy of Star-Lord. I liked the characters' expressiveness and appreciated how Myer enlivened the story with attractive backgrounds. Star Trek fans should also check out the wallpaper in Ogg’s living room.

 

Luis Antonio Delgado lavishes bright colors on Ogg’s home in Dimension Z. By contrast, the characters and the circular sound waves breathe life into a dark alley. When a book sparks a blue-white storm, the turtles get sucked into a green tornado and transported to a pink and blue land under a starry purple sky. (Raphael, I don't think we're in New York City anymore).

 

Ed Dukeshire’s uppercase black letters in white dialogue balloons are a sight for sore mutant-lovers' eyes. Energetic and colorful sound effects help us hear Ogg blast his TV, Billy Boom blow the turtles off their feet, and Donatello's shuriken strikes an electric fire. Multicolored stylized lettering in balloons ensures the series' logo won't lapse, while a wall calendar and a fluttering banner in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #12 prevent readers from Googling complicated words. Or worse, prompt them to reach for a dictionary!

 

Thanks to my compadres at IDW for providing a copy of this cowabunga issue for review.

 

Final Thoughts

When an all-powerful imp loses his taste for porcelain, he challenges the heroes in a half-shell to face epic odds and be entertaining in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #12. Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo must be light on their feet and not overthink their strategies as they take on the almighty Ogg.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

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

 

 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #8 Review

 

Writer: Erik Burnham

Artist: Sarah Myer

Colorist: Luis Antonio Delgado

Letterer: Ed Dukeshire

Cover Artists: Sarah Myer; Travis Hymel; Esau & Isaac Escorza

Publisher: IDW

Price: $3.99

Release Date: December 27, 2023

 

Wingnut and Screwloose once used a mind-altering device to turn people into zombies and unleashed a robot cockroach on New York City. How will they try to take over the world this time? Let's order a pizza, tune into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #8, and find out!

 

Story

April discovers Screwloose and Wingnut assembling a strange device. When the turtles rush to her aid, their alien foes activate the device. At least they try to. Sadly, the kit they ordered didn’t come with all the parts!

 

Watching the battle from Dimension Z, Mr. Ogg is unhappy with what he sees. The cosmic imp takes issue not with Screwloose and Wingnut's nefarious scheme but with the turtles' banter. As a master of illusion, Ogg particularly objects to how they continually break the fourth wall. He takes them to court, acting as judge, defense counsel, prosecutor, and jury.

 

In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #8, Leonardo gets overwhelmed by The Magnificent Ogg’s machinations. While Raffael doesn't attempt to deal rationally with an irrational opponent, he's no happier to be drawn into court proceedings than your average juror. Donatello seems more interested in how Mr. Ogg transported them and populated his courtroom than why the imp’s doing all this. That leaves Michaelangelo to ask the zillion-dollar question. The imp-dude has cosmic powers. Wouldn't he rather chew up some old porcelain instead?

 

 

Erik Burnham’s story riffs on two animated classics: Zach And the Alien Invaders and Mr. Ogg Goes To Town. Despite its silly nature, the story forces the turtles to use brainpower rather than rely on their ninja skills. It reminds us that having everything we want won’t necessarily make us happy. If the proposed solution to Ogg’s ills can't provide lasting happiness, it may help the imp to discover what he needs.

 

Art

From a high-tech computer console in a brick warehouse utilizing interior columns to a historic wooden courtroom with a symbolic portrait of Ogg on the wall, and finally, to an organic space platform that evokes a sea creature, Sarah Myer adds visual interest to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #8. While Wingnut and Screwloose lack menace, Myer gives the latter an impressive 3D effect on the first page. Pointy ears, a long nose, and extravagant costumes suggest that, despite Ogg’s magnificent powers, he’s got a lot of growing up to do. Caught between a Triple Ogg argument, Leonardo, Raffael, Donatello, and Michaelangelo’s expressions and mannerisms reveal how out of depth they are.

 

 

Luis Antonio Delgado’s vibrant colors make every panel pop in Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #8. Ed Dukeshire’s black and colored dialogue in white balloons is easy to read, and his sound effects help us hear teleportation, malfunctioning computerized machines, and a banging gavel. Thanks to my compadres at IDW for providing a copy of this cowabunga issue for review.

 

Final Thoughts

While tackling an all-too-familiar malaise, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #8 reminds us to look inward to find solutions to our problems rather than look for others to blame.

 

Rating 9.4/10

 

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

 

 

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.

 

 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #6 Review

 

Writer: Erik Burnham

Artist: Sarah Myer

Colorist: Luis Antonio Delgado

Letterer: Ed Dukeshire

Cover Artists: Jack Lawrence & Raúl Angulo; Dan Schoening & Raúl Angulo; Travis Hymel; Jon Sommariva & Jean-Francois Beaulieu

Publisher: IDW

Price: $3.99

Release Date: October 25, 2023

 

The Turtles want to watch wrestling, but April's covering the mayoral debate. Master Splinter says they should be politically aware. So the Turtles remain on the couch. What issues will the candidates address? And what's their position on pizza? Let's tune into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #6 and find out!

 

Story

With the candidates running neck and neck, great answers are crucial. Mr. Polk downplays the New York Hamburger Association's fears over the rise in pizzerias. As he points out, New York is the Pizza Capital Of The World. Before Polk’s opponent can reply, another candidate takes the stage. Chrome Dome announces his candidacy on behalf of the Foot Party. But will voters accept a third-party candidate? And who would vote for an evil robot?

 

 

 

While the Turtles thought Chrome Dome was dead, they've no objections to dismantling him again. But as Donatello points out, Chrome Dome is playing by the rules. If they attack him, they'll be the villains. So the gang must sit on their green thumbs as the robot campaigns in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #6. Chrome Dome will slip up sooner or later, right? When he does, they'll be ready to take him down!

 

Erik Burnham infuses his story with cheeky humor and pop culture references. The Turtles occasionally break the fourth wall and address their TV series creators. Twists and turns accompany reflections on the democratic process and voters' concerns. As relevant today as when the original animated TV series aired, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #6 satisfies.

 

If only the movie mentioned on the final page was real! 

 

 

 

Art

Thanks to Sarah Myer, the turtles look good from any angle. They’re expressive and move well, whether leaping into battle, relaxing on the couch, or wearing disguises at April’s TV station. Chrome Dome resembles a Cylon Centurian wearing a Colonial Warrior’s helmet.

 

Luis Antonio Delgado’s vibrant colors enhance Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #6’s all-ages appeal. While gray invades panels and pages, it never overwhelms.

 

Uppercase black lettering inhabits white dialogue balloons, while white letters glow amid Chrome Dome's black fields. All are easy to read thanks to letterer Ed Dukeshire. Sound effects enhance the action when the Party Wagon hits the streets, swords clang against metal arms, and Chrome Dome activates his weaponry in this pleasurable plot involving politics, pandering, and (What else?) pizza!  

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

An idealist discovers what paves the road to hell in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #6.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

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