Comics Bulletin logo
Search
  • Columns
    Random
    • Finally, A Picnic. 52 Picnics!

      Daniel Gehen
      May 9, 2007
      Comic Effect
    Recent
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 2

      Daniel Gehen
      December 4, 2020
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 1

      Daniel Gehen
      October 30, 2020
    • Comictober 2020: DRACULA MOTHERF**KER

      Daniel Gehen
      October 27, 2020
    • What Looks Good
    • Comics Bulletin Soapbox
    • The Full Run
    • Leading Question
    • Top 10
    • The Long-Form
    • Jumping On
    • Comics in Color
    • Slouches Towards Comics
  • Big Two
    Random
    • 3.0

      Exiles #72

      Daniel Gehen
      November 29, 2005
      Big Two Reviews, Marvel Comics, Reviews
    Recent
    • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

      Daniel Gehen
      December 3, 2020
    • Stan Lee

      nguyen ly
      November 7, 2020
    • Collecting Profile: Jack O’ Lantern

      nguyen ly
      October 31, 2020
    • DC Comics
    • Big Two Reviews
    • Marvel Comics
  • Indie
    Random
    • 5.0

      Review: A Wondrous Journey With "Wandering Island Vol. 2"

      Daniel Gehen
      February 7, 2019
      Dark Horse, Manga, Reviews
    Recent
    • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist

      Daniel Gehen
      December 14, 2020
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 2

      Daniel Gehen
      December 4, 2020
    • 4.5

      TMNT: The Last Ronin #1 Lives Up to the Hype (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      October 29, 2020
    • Reviews
    • Archie Comics
    • Boom! Studios
    • Dark Horse
    • IDW
    • Image
    • Oni Press
    • Valiant
  • Reviews
    Random
    • 4.5

      Review: 'Goodnight Darth Vader' is the 'Return of the Jedi' of cartoon collections

      Daniel Gehen
      August 13, 2014
      Reviews
    Recent
    • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist

      Daniel Gehen
      December 14, 2020
    • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

      Daniel Gehen
      December 3, 2020
    • 4.5

      TMNT: The Last Ronin #1 Lives Up to the Hype (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      October 29, 2020
    • Singles Going Steady
    • Slugfest
    • Manga
      • Reviews
    • Small Press
      • Reviews
      • ICYMI
      • Tiny Pages Made of Ashes
  • Interviews
    Random
    • RB Silva: Time is My Ally

      Daniel Gehen
      September 19, 2011
      Interviews
    Recent
    • Interview: Jon Davis-Hunt Talks SHADOWMAN

      Daniel Gehen
      June 8, 2020
    • Interview: Becky Cloonan talks DARK AGNES and Her Personal Influences

      Mike Nickells
      March 4, 2020
    • Simon Roy

      Interview: Simon Roy on His Inspirations and Collaborations on PROTECTOR

      Mike Nickells
      January 29, 2020
    • Audio Interview
    • Video Interview
  • Classic Comics
    Random
    • Steve Gerber's Son of Satan Pt. 3: From Barefoot Innocents to Satanic Worshippers

      Daniel Gehen
      April 29, 2016
      Classic Comics, Classic Comics Cavalcade
    Recent
    • Countdown to the King: Marvel’s Godzilla

      Daniel Gehen
      May 29, 2019
    • Honoring A Legend: Fantagraphics To Resurrect Tomi Ungerer Classics

      Daniel Gehen
      February 15, 2019
    • Reliving the Craziest Decade in Comics History: An interview with Jason Sacks

      Mark Stack
      January 2, 2019
    • Classic Comics Cavalcade
    • Classic Interviews
  • News
    Random
    • Exclusive Preview: MONIKA Vol. 1 by Guillem March and Thilde Barboni

      Daniel Gehen
      February 29, 2016
      Previews
    Recent
    • 2020 Ringo Awards Winners Announced

      Daniel Gehen
      October 26, 2020
    • BAD IDEA Announces 2021 Publishing Slate

      Daniel Gehen
      September 29, 2020
    • A Full Replay of NCSFest 2020 is now Available

      Daniel Gehen
      September 15, 2020
    • Press Release
    • Kickstarter Spotlight
  • Books
    Random
    • 'The Smell of Starving Boys' is a Brilliant, Haunting Western

      Daniel Gehen
      November 29, 2017
      Books
    Recent
    • Collecting Profile: Disney Frozen

      CB Staff
      November 22, 2019
    • Collecting Profile: NFL Superpro

      CB Staff
      August 31, 2019
    • “THE BEST OF WITZEND” is a Wonderful Celebration of Artistic Freedom

      Daniel Gehen
      September 15, 2018
    • Review: ‘Machete Squad’ is a Disappointing Afghan Memoir

      Jason Sacks
      July 31, 2018
    • Review: ‘Out of Nothing’ is the Antidote to Our Sick Times

      Jason Sacks
      July 23, 2018
    • Review: ‘Bizarre Romance’ Shows Rough Edges in the Early Days of a New Marriage

      Jason Sacks
      July 10, 2018
What's New
  • Collecting Profile: Batwoman
  • Collecting Profile: Daredevil
  • Collecting Profile: Floronic Man
  • Review of Cheetah in Wonder Woman 1984
  • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist
  • Collecting Profile: Transformers
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Contact Us
  • Write for us!
  • Visit Video Game Break!
Home
Indie
IDW

Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #100

Daniel Gehen
December 20, 2019
IDW, Reviews

IDW Publishing

(w) Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman, Bobby Curnow (a) Dave Wachter (c) Ronda Pattison

Warning: This review contains spoilers.

More often than not, milestone issues are used to celebrate the past rather than drive the story forward. Look no further than this year’s Spawn #300, which brought back (very) lapsed readers with a story designed to catch people up on over 25 years of story. But everyone once in a while, a series comes along which opts to buck established trends and use a milestone issue to push the narrative forward. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #100 is one such issue. As impressive as it is for a comic series to reach the 100-issue mark in today’s comic market, it’s perhaps even more impressive that the writing trio of Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman, and Bobby Curnow have managed to keep this series at such a consistently high quality throughout this run, and that streak continues here.

The “City at War” storyline has ravaged New York, with the Foot Clan, Mutanimals, Earth Protection Force, and Hamato Clan (that last one being the Turtles), battling for different ends. But an uneasy truce is established when Kitsune, a member of this world’s Pantheon (basically a bunch of gods), begins a ceremony that will resurrect her love, Oroku Saki… the Shredder. If it sounds like there’s a lot going on, that’s because there is. However, the writing trio have become adept in navigating the multiple plot threads, giving each one room to breathe so that they together coalesce into a cohesive narrative.

Despite its big action, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #100 ultimately is a story of family, honor, and rebirth. With the exception of the Earth Protection Force, their are familial bonds between each of the aforementioned groups at war. While it may be simplistic to say “City at War” is a heightened family squabble, it is demonstrative of how misunderstandings and disagreements can have devastating results in relationships. This issue is about repairing those bonds, and how the price to repair them can be far greater than anticipated. In the end, Splinter sacrifices his life in order to stop the war and save his son’s lives. While real-life disagreements among family members – especially long-estranged ones – do not rise to the level of requiring someone to give their life, it is symbolic of the heightened price that is sometimes required.

With the core characters of the series – the Turtles, Splinter, and Shredder – having been reborn or reincarnated, it is unsurprising that this would also play a crucial element in this issue. Splinter’s aforementioned sacrifice is a catalyst for the Shredder’s return. Oroku Saki, who has endured his own afterlife journey in the pages of the Shredder in Hell miniseries, returns to the land of the living a changed man. Having learned from his past experiences, this version of the character is no longer the cruel, power-hungry villain most know him as, but rather a repentant man looking to change his legacy. While it remains to be seen how this plays out in the future, the series has shown the ability to significantly change its characters in a manner that is organic and earned.

Dave Wachter has been the primary artist for a quarter of the series, giving superb attention and care to each one. With Issue #100, Wachter delivers arguably his finest work in this series to date. For the Turtles, he is unafraid to give them a less cartoonish appearance and make them look like actual turtles. But unlike the 2014 and 2016, Wachter’s turtles aren’t monstrosities. This approach extends to the other characters, mutant and human alike. Furthermore, this issue demonstrates Wachter’s impressive range as an artist. There are introspective character moments, big action sequences featuring a giant dragon, gritty street battles, and surreal dreamscapes. Each one is convincing and immersive for readers. Of course, I’d be remiss if I did not mention Ronda Pattison’s varied colors, which are critical to this issue’s dynamic visuals.

TMNT #100 is by all accounts a success. Though imperfect from a craftsmanship perspective, it is a perfect capstone to 100 issues of storytelling while springboarding the series into the future. IDW Publishing deserves a lot of credit for putting together this creative team, as their efforts have resulted in the definitive version of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #100
4.5Overall Score

Dave WachterKevin EastmanRonda PattisonTeenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesTMNT #100Tom Waltz

Share On:
Tweet
What Looks Good for the Week of December 18, 2019
Collecting Profile: Bumblebee (Transformers)

About The Author

Daniel Gehen
Editor-in-Chief

Dan was introduced to the 1960s Batman show at a young age, which developed into a lifelong passion for comics. When he's not grinding out his day job, he can be found reading about Scarlet Speedsters, Web-Heads, or Sagas just about anywhere. If it's good he'll read it. If it's bad... there's a chance he still might read it.

Related Posts

  • 4.5

    TMNT: The Last Ronin #1 Lives Up to the Hype (Review)

    Daniel Gehen
    October 29, 2020
  • What Looks Good for the Week of 9/9/2020

    Daniel Gehen
    September 7, 2020

Support Us!

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

Friends of the Site

  • SOLRAD
  • Your Chicken Enemy
  • Psycho Drive-In
  • Women Write About Comics
  • The Beat
  • Loser City
RSSTwitterFacebookgoogleplusinstagramtumblr

Comics Bulletin is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, audible.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, Comics Bulletin earns from qualifying purchases.

All content on this site (c) 2018 The Respective Copyright Holders