TMNT Macro Series Collection // Review

Going all the way back to the earliest days of the franchise, the concept of a “Macro Series” has been part of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ comics. Starting as a parody of the mini-series that had become a favorite part of comics offered by both DC and Marvel in the mid-80s, the original creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird would instead make a collection of four issues that focused on each of the four turtles. This would provide the first bits of depth for the characters, and subsequent volumes that made use of this concept would turn them into character analysis issues - tons of character depth with a bit of plot motion as well. This time, IDW took their modern re-imagination of the series and decided to take a brief series of time-outs with double-sized issues to look at each of the four turtles, and where they are in the world.

All of these issues are spectacular on their own, with the only flaw being that this collection is not necessarily for new readers.

Donatello’s chapter was written by Paul Allow. Braham Revel is credited as the leading artist, while Cris Peter assists with colors. Shawn Lee letters the issue. Donatello finds himself troubled after encountering his future self and seeing nothing but regret, Donatello tries to recruit his estranged scientist friend Kirby to build a machine to predict the future. This actually attracts the attention of Metalhead, Donatello’s mechanical clone/twin. Can the two put aside their drastic differences in order to make sure the worst can’t happen again?

Paul Allow has some real writing chops working here. Donatello and Metalhead’s paired regret is palpable, even when a character like Metalhead claims to have no emotions. What results is some fantastic depth for Donatello and fleshing out of what had become little more than a generic robot in Metalhead. Braham Revel’s art is also excellent, straddling the line between traditional cartoony and modern detail that results in some fantastic facial expressions and great action.

The chapter for Michangelo was penned by Ian Flynn. Michael Dialynas worked on the art solo, while Shawn Lee continued to letter the issues. This one-shot examines what could push the happy-go-lucky Michangelo too far. With his father Splinter now running the Foot clan and forgetting the kindness he once had, Mike winds up playing a deadly game of cat and mouse with his father in the sewers of New York. This time, what’s at stake are the fates of orphans adopted by the Foot.

Ian Flynn was the perfect writer for this tale. Already familiar with comics that need to be happy with drama embedded within from his run on comics like Sonic the Hedgehog, Flynn shows Mike doing his best to keep up a happy face for the kids with him while dealing with potentially deadly consequences. Michael Dialynas’ art is also spectacular, with a ton of nuance in facial expressions and body language. Even better is that the inevitable fight between Splinter and Michangelo is brutal, and the reader can feel every blow through the page. The collection is almost worth it for this issue alone.

Leonardo’s chapter was crafted by Sophie Campbell, who handles the words, pencils, and inks. She is joined by the colorist Brittany Peer and letterer Shawn Lee. Having left New York to escape the drama of the Foot Clan and their father’s slow corruption as their head, the turtles find themselves in the woods of upstate New York. With Leonardo’s mind lost in indecision, his worst decisions come back to haunt him as enemies from the past return.

If the previous comic looked great, Sophie Campbell’s issue is a work of art. The world of upstate New York actually feels mysterious and filled with a bizarre mystic energy as Leonardo tries to find his path in life again. What combat that appears is lovely, and flows fantastically. Brittany Peer’s colors only help improve what is an already great comic, working with the mystical feeling of the book and using dull tones to make the entire story feel like a dream. Again, worth reading.

The final chapter belongs, of course, to Raphael. Kevin Eastman returns to the comic to provide story and layouts for the pages, while he shares scripting duties with Tom Waltz. Ben Bishop did the actual pencils and inks, with Romi Varga providing colors, and Shawn Lee letters once more. If the other comics were works of art, this issue is downright visceral and violent. Captured by a shadowy organization, Raphael is forced to relive his past as he tries to escape, and as his friends try to rescue him.

True to the angriest turtle, Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz explore the anger of Raphael, and what could have made him so violent in his life. Flashing back to when he was a more innocent soul, Raphael is forced to confront what he became as a child on the surface. Ben Bishop’s art is both direct and angry itself, while the flashback scenes focus on how disoriented Raph must be in his situation. What happens when combined with Romi Varga’s colors is a story that feels like a Wolverine Weapon X tale adapted to the TMNT. This is far from a bad thing, as it still feels original and fresh, with the loner of the turtles being forced to see what happens when he is truly alone.

This is a set of wonderful comics. While it is going to be hard for a new reader to truly understand what is happening, the book doesn’t ask you to follow to get at the core of each Turtle. To any turtle fan, this collection is well worth your money.

Grade: A+