Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #96 // Review
It looks like there's 5, count'em F-I-V-E, lean mean green fighting machines on the streets now. After a desperately needed blood transfusion from Leo, Jennika, the "Jonin of Master Splinter" looks just like another member of the Hamoto Clan. Written by Tom Waltz, with the pencils of Michael Dialynas, colors of Ronda Pattison, and lettered by Shawn Lee, chapter 96 sees the Turtles divided and Splinter possibly humbled.
While Jennika tries to deal with carrying a shell on her back, the team is still on the run from Metal Head and Bishop. Raphael, again taking care of things in his own way, doubles down on his alliance with Hobbs. April catches Baxter Stockman, being... Baxter Stockman. Splinter introduces a new blindfolded, assassin, who wants ALL THE SMOKE! Splinter ties up loose ends but takes no prisoners.
Tom Waltz has been fantastic at juggling B-I-G events and managing subplots within the story that eventually become their own events. The cogs in that man's mind produce perpetual genius. This issue has a bit of emotional weight, along with a healthy amount of action, and Dialynas captures the interactions and mood of each character perfectly. Pattison"s choice of hue in certain scenes is superlative. From blood splatter to sweaty faces, "and maybe even a lightsaber?" it all pops. Speaking of POPPING, the onomatopoeia (sound effects) in this issue is (are) 4D. Every arrow and knife is literally HEARD. Shawn Lee brings the noise with dope calligraphy style broad brushes.
Other than a cliffhanger ending, this issue with Splinter getting the Okey-Doke... The biggest takeaway from this installment is the future of Jennika. Is her transformation permanent? Will she blame Splinter or the Turtles?. How will it affect her relationship with Casey? How will Splinter react? And Why does she pick yellow instead of TEAL? Can she even right now???
The Turtles were born as they are. And, Jenny, though a ninja assassin badass, was at the beginning of a budding relationship. It's all very Grimm and Fantastic story-telling
