Written by Gary Carlson
Illustrated by Frank Fosco
Published by IDW Publishing
Oh, yes. This is the book that made me shiver as a teenager. It’s the most violent Turtles book ever. The opening page is Donatello getting blown up!
This is a reprint of the Image Comics series from years back. It’s in full color for the first time. The reason for that is Carlson and Fosco are going to finish the story in three brand new issues for the first time!
I’m not sure how many people are out there waiting for the conclusion of this. I picked it up to read and I immediately was horrified all over again. Donatello is blown up and beaten to a bloody pulp by unknown aliens. He is taken away. The three other brothers try to get him back. In the process, Raphael gets half his face blown off and Splinter disappears. And this is all in the first issue!
Carlson keeps the story fast paced. And it does have its merits. You do get caught up in all the tragedy and if you haven’t read it these moments are pretty shocking.
If you view it as an “Elseworlds” Turtles (like I had to do) then it has it’s enjoyments.
The art by Fosco is very good. You can definitely see Erik Larsen’s influence on this title(he’s the one who originally brought it to Image back in the day and does some of the inks). The color adds a new dimension to the art that we haven’t seen before. It deepens it and makes the action more horrifying. It gave me chills all over again.
This book is a curiosity that’s enjoyable if you’re a Turtles fan. It’s also enjoyable if you’re a bit deranged (I don’t judge). And then when you’re done, go read the delightful books IDW are currently putting out. This comic will never be canon, but it’s worth checking out, if only to see a crazy version from the past.
RATING: B
