Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #40

TMNT, as written now and drawn by Santolouco, is never better than when there’s lots of action. It’s the purest kind of escapist fiction, where the suspension of disbelief comes easy because you want to believe that mutant animals can be ninjas, street punks, skateboarders, and military nuts. To be fair, the writing team has put in a lot of work to make the story as credible as possible (aside from its fantastic premise), but when there’s a good fight going on, who gives a crap, really?

What makes it good is that it lasts a long time, thanks to the seeming indestructibility of Rocksteady and Bebop. They spend practically the entire issue shrugging off attacks from nearly the whole Turtle family, Hob’s gang of Mutanimals (even knocking out Slash at one point), and the latest duo of Angel and Alopex. Everybody gets to show off their skills along the way, but that doesn’t make it any less apparent how outclassed they are by merely two of the Foot Clan’s minions. That bodes ill for their chances against the whole Foot, if they can barely handle its two biggest toes.

Good thing Donnie is singlehandedly occupying the clan’s attention by pitting them against Krang. This is the only viable course the Turtles can take against two superior opponents, a fact which only Donnie seems to realize and act on. But even if it’s at the cost of his family’s sense, I appreciate the ballsiness of Donnie, the nerd, making moves on his own against Shredder.

But let’s go back to the big fight, which is the real meat of the issue. In between excellent moments of action, we do get some development on a few relationships, mostly between Alopex and Raph. It’s nice to see the two setting aside their differences, but you feel a little iffier about the meet-cute vibe from their embarrassed grins while trapped in wire netting together (“So, uh, this is, umm…” Raph begins; “Yeah. Awkward,” Alopex finishes). It’s even more awkward because cute is a mode that doesn’t really fit either of them, even when they’re making heartfelt apologies.

Fortunately, instead of wrapping things up bringing Alopex into the Turtle family, the fox decides to grant my fondest wish and team up with Angel instead. Besides loving the idea of a two kickass ladies cleaning the streets of its lowlifes, you’re also relieved that you have to see any more shy smiles and glances between Alopex and Raph anytime soon. It feels unnatural and wrong, no matter how sweet it’s supposed to be.

There’s the cute that doesn’t quite work and then there’s the cute that for some, inexplicable reason does. Hob’s no less gruff than Raph, but he clearly has a soft spot when it comes to his fellow Mutanimals, and he’s also not that cute even at his sweetest. When Pete the pigeon apologizes for inviting Bebop and Rocksteady to the party, Hob forgives him readily: “Right idea, crappy execution.”

“So I’m still in the army?”

“Yeah, kid, you got a good heart, so you’re still a mighty mutanimal in my book.” It’s like the mutant version of Rick and Renault walking off into the night in Casablanca.

TMNT is at its best when there’s lots of action because that’s also when Santolouco’s at his best. I’m not sure anyone else can sell turtles doing ninja tricks, or skateboarding geckos, or a crab with a dumpster shell firing off heavy artillery, not to mention all the other conventionally cool moments in the issue. He’s also emotionally sensitive enough to almost pull off the Raph-Alopex scenes, although he fares better with more palatable relationships, like the father-son bond growing between Casey and Mr. O’Neil.* Pattison has been a staunch force for this title since day one, regardless of which artist she works with, delivering vivid colors that play into the series’ fantasy without going overboard.

Some Musings:

* Wonder how Hun will grapple with that latest betrayal from his son. Badly, I assume.