By: Kevin Eastman, Bobby Curnow, Tom Waltz (story), Mateus Santolouco, Mark Torres, Cory Smith (art), Ronda Pattison (colors)
The Story: There are some rats even Splinter can’t stand.
The Review: As someone who considers himself a militant moderate who’d rather avoid unnecessary confrontation whenever possible, I always appreciate seeing characters who handle conflict appropriately. I wouldn’t like it all the time, of course; there wouldn’t be many stories if all problems end on a smile and a handshake. But it lends credibility to the characters when they tend to react with reason rather than hostility.
Take Splinter, whose entire personality is based on his Zen attitude toward everything. You respect him not only because he’s ostensibly the wisest figure in the series, but because he respects everyone else. Humility is as rare and powerful a quality in fiction as it is in real life. He doesn’t resent Leo’s less than total support for his plans to confront Shredder, nor does he dismiss his son’s concerns out of hand. By having Splinter take Leo’s objections seriously, Eastman-Curnow-Waltz avoid needless drama while still lending tension to the story.
Anyway, once the Rat King enters the story, we get plenty of conflict without having Leo and Splinter bring it upon themselves. I have to admit, I had a definite WTF moment when the Rat King suddenly appeared from nowhere, spouting riddling limericks and manipulating Splinter and Leo for no apparent reason. But I suppose after 30+ issues, I should have more faith that the writers know what they’re doing. The Rat King turns out to be a natural extension to the mythology already established on this series, as he refers to Kitsune as his sister and mentions an upcoming point when his family will contend with each other to control the world. TMNT being the amalgam of urban-ninja-supernatural-sci-fi that it is, Rat King’s revelations promise an even stronger focus on the supernatural later on. For now, the ninja and sci-fi material dominate, especially once the big baddies from both ends arrange a face-a-face.
I’ve often noted that Leo and Splinter get most of the character development in this series, and that trend continues here. It’s not just that they get a lot to do; it’s that whatever they’re doing, it always says something about who they are. That whole sequence of them caught in the Rat King’s illusion is a typical bit of psychological torture, but it also reveals that Splinter’s love for his family makes him vulnerable to manipulation (turning a strength into weakness) while Leo’s prior brainwashing has made him less so (turning a weakness into strength). If only the others can get this kind of treatment.
TMNT exists on a very delicate suspension of belief. If for one moment you allow yourself to consider that you’re watching a big rat and turtle in ninja gear referring to each other as father and son—really, truly consider that—you may just start laughing and never stop. In that respect, good art is vital to the series. Santolouco’s sharp, dimensional figures gives credibility to a pretty incredible premise, and he’s so emotionally committed to what he draws you can freely invest yourself in the scenes and never one reflect on how ridiculous they may be.
Pattison is no less invaluable in this regard. She plays the lighting absolutely straight, so that you’re not looking at a whimsical, cartoon version of a sewer, but a real sewer with all its eerie shadows and hollow glows. That’s how you make a discussion between a rat and a turtle heartfelt and serious; you can believe this is a real world in which some of the characters just happen to have unusual shapes.
Conclusion: Solid work for two of the title’s strongest protagonists, and a promising expansion of its mythos.
Grade: B+
– Minhquan Nguyen
Some Musings: – I was very touched to see the O’Neils take Casey in. He could use some decent parental figures in his life, and a bearded rat isn’t going to cut it, methinks.
Grade
Conclusion