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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures #4
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures, Volume 4
The all-ages TMNT action continues in this collection of TMNT Adventures! Enjoy classic Turtles tales like "The Final Conflict," "Leave Heaven Alone," "The Howling of Distant Shadows," and "Dreadging The Ocean Blue."
124 pages, Paperback
First published March 19, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 30, 2017
The end of one story is merely the beginning of another. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures, Volume 4, collecting Issues #13-16 of the bygone Archie series, sees the conclusion of the series’ first original story arc, the eponymous Final Conflict saga, and the commencement of the South American tour. New allies and foes are unveiled, moments of peril are coupled with patches of winking levity, and globe-trotting adventures are waylaid by real-world ecological horrors. Frontrunner Dean Clarrain (a.k.a. Steve Murphy) continually used the series as a platform to promote greater environmental awareness and stewardship, though his occasionally anvilicious message is easy to get past.
Volume 4’s inaugural story, prophetically titled “The Final Conflict”—the televised sobriquet given to the epic battle by intergalactic wrestling promoters Stump and Sling—is an all-action issue wherein the Turtles, Leatherhead, and assorted comrades battle Maligna’s warrior insectoids in defense of the ancient Turnstone. With inadvertent (or predetermined?) aid from Leatherhead, warlord Cherubae uses the Turnstone to imprison Shredder and his goons. At which point, Cherubae deems the artifact too powerful for anyone to wield and erases the stone from existence. Despite its deus ex machina plot device, the story has the bold trappings of a season finale in how it decisively removes key players from the board: Shredder is incarcerated, Bebop and Rocksteady are exiled to a lush East African-type planet, and Krang is banished to a desolate world brimming with toxic refuse. Dismissing these prominent villains represents not only a major turning point in the series itself, but a marked step in distinguishing this TMNT adaptation from its cartoon progenitor.
The second installment, “Leave Heaven Alone,” denotes a return to the mutant-of-the-month issues in which the Turtles befriend an anamorphic jaguar following an unexpected layover in Brazil. Upon narrowly escaping some trigger-happy mercenaries, the Turtles listen as Jagwar laments recent deforestation woes and the union assassination of Chico Mendes. Jagwar ultimately aligns with the heroes to save a kidnapped journalist from the States—April O’Neil. Visually, this issue is an eyesore. Artist Don Simpson, who (thankfully) made few contributions to the series, draws the most bizarre Turtles you’ll ever see. Although quite expressive the Turtles are depicted as scaly, bug-eyed, and malformed, with occasionally elongated arms and slight overbites. As hideous as his Turtles look, Simpson still manages to pen a very attractive April O’Neil (and a brawny, formidable Jagwar).
As told from the narrative diary of April O’Neil, “The Howling of Distant Shadows” follows the Turtles and Jagwar in their ongoing journey through the Amazon, and more notably, their encounter with a Jamaican werewolf of sorts, Dreadmon. Plesiosaurs and Coipacu tribesmen abound this curious tale in which the intrepid heroes team up with Dreadmon to liberate enslaved villagers from pirate-miners. Nearby, a Clint Eastwood-esque gunslinger reports the Turtles’ interference to his employer in New York. Readers are offered mere glimpses of the latest villain, a corporate exec named Null, concealed behind an imposing chair a la Doctor Claw. Needless to say, Null will have big shoes to fill in Shredder’s absence. The talented Ken Mitchroney returns with his usual quality that readers like me have come to appreciate; his delightfully whimsical style is unsurpassed by the occasional stand-in artist, and his character designs are consistently clean and recognizable.
As the South American tour draws to a close, the Turtles are reunited with Man-Ray in Volume 4’s closing issue, “Dreadging the Ocean Blue.” Bidding farewell to their newfound friends, April and the Turtles happily set sail for home—but not without another overt PSA on pollution. When they’re accosted by a giant high-tech submersible piloted by Kid Terra, Mr. Null’s henchman, the Turtles and April are briefly interned. Man-Ray and his shrimpy sidekick, Bubbla, are also being held captive. As the heroes force their way out of Terra’s underwater facility, Bubbla is killed by a stray bullet from the cowboy’s pistol. The scene transpires rapidly without so much as a heartfelt goodbye. You have to admire the writers' cajones—killing an adorable character in an all-ages comic was a gutsy move. As unexpected as Bubbla’s death was, readers will feel little pathos for the puny second-banana whose life in the series spanned no more than a dozen panels. Nevertheless, Bubbla’s demise signified not only a certain loss of innocence but the ongoing evolution of the series, one in which death plays a pivotal role…and readers must concede the cold truth, that no one is safe.
Volume 4’s inaugural story, prophetically titled “The Final Conflict”—the televised sobriquet given to the epic battle by intergalactic wrestling promoters Stump and Sling—is an all-action issue wherein the Turtles, Leatherhead, and assorted comrades battle Maligna’s warrior insectoids in defense of the ancient Turnstone. With inadvertent (or predetermined?) aid from Leatherhead, warlord Cherubae uses the Turnstone to imprison Shredder and his goons. At which point, Cherubae deems the artifact too powerful for anyone to wield and erases the stone from existence. Despite its deus ex machina plot device, the story has the bold trappings of a season finale in how it decisively removes key players from the board: Shredder is incarcerated, Bebop and Rocksteady are exiled to a lush East African-type planet, and Krang is banished to a desolate world brimming with toxic refuse. Dismissing these prominent villains represents not only a major turning point in the series itself, but a marked step in distinguishing this TMNT adaptation from its cartoon progenitor.
The second installment, “Leave Heaven Alone,” denotes a return to the mutant-of-the-month issues in which the Turtles befriend an anamorphic jaguar following an unexpected layover in Brazil. Upon narrowly escaping some trigger-happy mercenaries, the Turtles listen as Jagwar laments recent deforestation woes and the union assassination of Chico Mendes. Jagwar ultimately aligns with the heroes to save a kidnapped journalist from the States—April O’Neil. Visually, this issue is an eyesore. Artist Don Simpson, who (thankfully) made few contributions to the series, draws the most bizarre Turtles you’ll ever see. Although quite expressive the Turtles are depicted as scaly, bug-eyed, and malformed, with occasionally elongated arms and slight overbites. As hideous as his Turtles look, Simpson still manages to pen a very attractive April O’Neil (and a brawny, formidable Jagwar).
As told from the narrative diary of April O’Neil, “The Howling of Distant Shadows” follows the Turtles and Jagwar in their ongoing journey through the Amazon, and more notably, their encounter with a Jamaican werewolf of sorts, Dreadmon. Plesiosaurs and Coipacu tribesmen abound this curious tale in which the intrepid heroes team up with Dreadmon to liberate enslaved villagers from pirate-miners. Nearby, a Clint Eastwood-esque gunslinger reports the Turtles’ interference to his employer in New York. Readers are offered mere glimpses of the latest villain, a corporate exec named Null, concealed behind an imposing chair a la Doctor Claw. Needless to say, Null will have big shoes to fill in Shredder’s absence. The talented Ken Mitchroney returns with his usual quality that readers like me have come to appreciate; his delightfully whimsical style is unsurpassed by the occasional stand-in artist, and his character designs are consistently clean and recognizable.
As the South American tour draws to a close, the Turtles are reunited with Man-Ray in Volume 4’s closing issue, “Dreadging the Ocean Blue.” Bidding farewell to their newfound friends, April and the Turtles happily set sail for home—but not without another overt PSA on pollution. When they’re accosted by a giant high-tech submersible piloted by Kid Terra, Mr. Null’s henchman, the Turtles and April are briefly interned. Man-Ray and his shrimpy sidekick, Bubbla, are also being held captive. As the heroes force their way out of Terra’s underwater facility, Bubbla is killed by a stray bullet from the cowboy’s pistol. The scene transpires rapidly without so much as a heartfelt goodbye. You have to admire the writers' cajones—killing an adorable character in an all-ages comic was a gutsy move. As unexpected as Bubbla’s death was, readers will feel little pathos for the puny second-banana whose life in the series spanned no more than a dozen panels. Nevertheless, Bubbla’s demise signified not only a certain loss of innocence but the ongoing evolution of the series, one in which death plays a pivotal role…and readers must concede the cold truth, that no one is safe.
August 2, 2020
Starts off with the finale for the previous storyline, after which the series fully comes into its own, setting up a new metaplot with new villains and introducing some supporting characters (Jagwar and Dreadmon) that will be important later (as well as reintroducing another). We also see the Turtles on their first international trip, and much more pointed environmental messages. An important volume in setting up things to come. (B+)
August 9, 2023
We get a proper end to the Turtles' latest intergalactic adventure (and wrestling match?) and a seemingly random but heartfelt series of rather ecologically-focused stories.
I wasn't as invested in the first story arc because it got a little silly with some rather deus ex machina elements, especially for its resolution. It's not to far-fetched given the tone of the series thus far - just saying it wasn't my cup of tea.
It was when the Turtles return to Earth that surprisingly engaged me more. Maybe I'm just getting old and I have a bit of nostaliga mixed with healthy appreciation for environmentalism that liked the slant of the adventures with Jagwar and later (Manta) Ray. How the Turtles end up in South America and their even stranger plan for getting back to New York are easly dismissed as the stories themselves are pretty fun on their own.
And man, what's up with Donatello's staff?
I wasn't as invested in the first story arc because it got a little silly with some rather deus ex machina elements, especially for its resolution. It's not to far-fetched given the tone of the series thus far - just saying it wasn't my cup of tea.
It was when the Turtles return to Earth that surprisingly engaged me more. Maybe I'm just getting old and I have a bit of nostaliga mixed with healthy appreciation for environmentalism that liked the slant of the adventures with Jagwar and later (Manta) Ray. How the Turtles end up in South America and their even stranger plan for getting back to New York are easly dismissed as the stories themselves are pretty fun on their own.
And man, what's up with Donatello's staff?
February 19, 2019
More nostalgic fun, but even darker than volume 3. This one deals a lot with environmental damage from humans, and even includes an anti-gun message. Also, will the turtles ever get home? Maybe in volume 5? Recommended.
February 3, 2021
The Turtles meet new weird warriors while fighting against rainforest destruction and ocean pollution. Zany entertainment.
March 13, 2022
It's fun reading about characters who aren't typically in the cartoons like Cudley, Jagwar, and Manray.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews