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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Black, White & Green #1-4
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Black, White, and Green
An anthology of standalone TMNT one-shots in a new artistic style that brings some of the most popular voices in the wider comics world. See the turtles as you’ve never seen them in bold black, white, and green! This anthology of fresh yet evergreen Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles short stories brings together powerhouse artists and writers who have never before worked on this iconic franchise. Each creator gives the characters their own personal take while honoring the comic history that made them beloved characters in the first place. Talent ranges from indie up-and-comers to heavy hitters, highlighting diversity and unique voices. Collects Teenage Mutant Ninja Black, White, and Green #1–4 by creators Dave Baker, Paulina Ganucheau, Jeremy Holt, Declan Shalvey, Jesse Lonergan, Tyler Boss, Javier Rodríguez, Dave Wielgosz, Riley Rossmo, and Lee Garbett.
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First published November 12, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
September 12, 2024
This graphic novel is a collection of short stories by a variety of authors that give the spotlight to different members, explore the love between the brothers and, of course, pizza is always there for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
These short stories are around ten pages each. They are little vignettes of the turtles' life. Some of them are quite silly and comedic, some of them get a bit serious even with the short amount of time they have to explore deeper themes, like Raph's pride for example, or Donnie's self-isolation.
Though the art style varies, I really liked how cohesive this anthology feels with the black, white and green palette.
This was a fun time, but I think the stories were way too short and none of them truly stood out. I feel like I'm going to forget this collection in little time. However, if you are a fan of TMNT, I think you should give this one a try.
Thanks to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for this eARC.
January 31, 2025
In an age where Marvel and DC are publishing black-and-white anthologies for their most popular creations, it would make sense for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to have a similar treatment as not only TMNT has always poked at previous media, the original Mirage comics by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird were originally published in B&W. Throw in some green to represent the titular turtles, and you get a series of short stories that to be as diverse as TMNT has been throughout the decades.
The initial problem you have with an anthology series like this is that with the only colour being green, the only way you can distinguish the Turtles individually is the weapons they carry and occasionally their initials on their belt buckle, which is a nod to the original 80s cartoon. Fortunately, these stories resolve that issue, starting with “Green Screen” by Declan Shalvey, in which Donatello has to put his computer skills aside and learn to be a part of a team when his brothers are battling Leatherhead.
A lot of the stories touch upon a character trait that defines each of the Turtles, whether it is Raphael’s anger that often isolates himself from everyone else as explored in “The Flame That Fuels You” by Gigi Dutriex & Lorenzo Hall, or Leonardo’s leadership skills in “The Brutal Sword of Leonardo” is written by Dave Baker and Jesse Lonergan. The latter story, in particular, in which Leo is pulled into a fantasy world, pushes the envelope into how much visual storytelling you can tell with the number of small panels into a single page.
As much as I do enjoy the funny side of TMNT, I am always fond when they lean into Frank Miller territory that is almost to the point of parody, such as “Buddycount” which has incredibly detailed art by writer/artist Gavin Smith that features Michaelangelo and Casey Jones kick some scale. A special shout-out to “The Beast That Bleeds Green” by Jock (one of my favourite artists) and Dom Reardon, both of whose artwork create a horror-induced story where the Turtles are chasing down a mysterious mutant whose blood is laced with the same mutagen that transformed them.
Since I mentioned Frank Miller, who was a major influence on Eastman and Laird when they conceived TMNT, the standout story of the whole book feels like it could have come from Miller’s Sin City, which just happens to have a ninja turtle at the centre. "Sin Sewer” by Dave Wielgosz and Riley Rossmo focuses on Raphael who is approached by a mysterious girl asks for his help rescuing her sister. With Raph rocking his signature trench coat and fedora, Rossmo goes hard on the film-noir aesthetic that is nicely contrasted with Raph’s green skin.
The funny side of these characters is not neglected with a number of stories paying tribute to the 80s cartoon. There are also some strange ones, such as “Miami Vacation” by Alexis Ziritt and Carlos Giffoni that is a low-key comedy of errors that sees the Turtles trying to take a vacation. However, the weirdest tribute to the entire franchise is “Shredder Gets Caught on Things” by Chris Condon and Carson Thorn, in which Michaelangelo acting to like a newscaster and goes through the number of times where Shredder has been defeated across multiple media.
As often the case of these anthologies, the range of stories varies in quality, but along with the artists, each of which put their own visual stamp on the Turtles, all of these stories show how these characters seem to fit into almost every story, though I would like to have seen more stories about the supporting cast. However, what the best of these stories show is not just the individuality of the Turtles, but also why they need each other as both a team and a family. Whilst you have the ongoing Jason Aaron run that serves as a gateway for newbies getting into TMNT, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Black, White, and Green is another fun entry point.
The initial problem you have with an anthology series like this is that with the only colour being green, the only way you can distinguish the Turtles individually is the weapons they carry and occasionally their initials on their belt buckle, which is a nod to the original 80s cartoon. Fortunately, these stories resolve that issue, starting with “Green Screen” by Declan Shalvey, in which Donatello has to put his computer skills aside and learn to be a part of a team when his brothers are battling Leatherhead.
A lot of the stories touch upon a character trait that defines each of the Turtles, whether it is Raphael’s anger that often isolates himself from everyone else as explored in “The Flame That Fuels You” by Gigi Dutriex & Lorenzo Hall, or Leonardo’s leadership skills in “The Brutal Sword of Leonardo” is written by Dave Baker and Jesse Lonergan. The latter story, in particular, in which Leo is pulled into a fantasy world, pushes the envelope into how much visual storytelling you can tell with the number of small panels into a single page.
As much as I do enjoy the funny side of TMNT, I am always fond when they lean into Frank Miller territory that is almost to the point of parody, such as “Buddycount” which has incredibly detailed art by writer/artist Gavin Smith that features Michaelangelo and Casey Jones kick some scale. A special shout-out to “The Beast That Bleeds Green” by Jock (one of my favourite artists) and Dom Reardon, both of whose artwork create a horror-induced story where the Turtles are chasing down a mysterious mutant whose blood is laced with the same mutagen that transformed them.
Since I mentioned Frank Miller, who was a major influence on Eastman and Laird when they conceived TMNT, the standout story of the whole book feels like it could have come from Miller’s Sin City, which just happens to have a ninja turtle at the centre. "Sin Sewer” by Dave Wielgosz and Riley Rossmo focuses on Raphael who is approached by a mysterious girl asks for his help rescuing her sister. With Raph rocking his signature trench coat and fedora, Rossmo goes hard on the film-noir aesthetic that is nicely contrasted with Raph’s green skin.
The funny side of these characters is not neglected with a number of stories paying tribute to the 80s cartoon. There are also some strange ones, such as “Miami Vacation” by Alexis Ziritt and Carlos Giffoni that is a low-key comedy of errors that sees the Turtles trying to take a vacation. However, the weirdest tribute to the entire franchise is “Shredder Gets Caught on Things” by Chris Condon and Carson Thorn, in which Michaelangelo acting to like a newscaster and goes through the number of times where Shredder has been defeated across multiple media.
As often the case of these anthologies, the range of stories varies in quality, but along with the artists, each of which put their own visual stamp on the Turtles, all of these stories show how these characters seem to fit into almost every story, though I would like to have seen more stories about the supporting cast. However, what the best of these stories show is not just the individuality of the Turtles, but also why they need each other as both a team and a family. Whilst you have the ongoing Jason Aaron run that serves as a gateway for newbies getting into TMNT, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Black, White, and Green is another fun entry point.
November 30, 2024
A very enjoyable short story collection. The black/white/green color work is a fitting aesthetic and I like it more than the black/white/red comics by Marvel.
Only downside is that none of the stories had Jennika...
Only downside is that none of the stories had Jennika...
December 24, 2024
This anthology maintains a pretty high batting average in terms of both story and art while not sacrificing diversity in terms of style and themes. I definitely recommend for all shellheads! 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢
March 4, 2025
An anthology of stories by a variety of writers and artists, all unified by the fact that the only colours you'll get are black, white, and green. Makes sense, I guess.
I've never read one of these kinds of books before; I know Marvel have been doing their Black, White, and Red books, but I thought I'd check this one out first, and I was...mildly impressed, I guess? Like most anthology books, most of the stories here are fine, though nothing majorly impressive. There were a couple that stood out, like Shredder Gets Stuck On Things, and the Sin City parody, but most of these are told within nebulous continuity and don't really do much with the characters, nor the premise - the art's all pretty good, but I don't feel like the whole black, white, and green approach really changes any of the stories in a way that full colour wouldn't have.
Okay, but if this is indicative of the other black, white, and colour books, I'm kinda glad I've stayed away.
I've never read one of these kinds of books before; I know Marvel have been doing their Black, White, and Red books, but I thought I'd check this one out first, and I was...mildly impressed, I guess? Like most anthology books, most of the stories here are fine, though nothing majorly impressive. There were a couple that stood out, like Shredder Gets Stuck On Things, and the Sin City parody, but most of these are told within nebulous continuity and don't really do much with the characters, nor the premise - the art's all pretty good, but I don't feel like the whole black, white, and green approach really changes any of the stories in a way that full colour wouldn't have.
Okay, but if this is indicative of the other black, white, and colour books, I'm kinda glad I've stayed away.
September 5, 2025
Really enjoyed "The Brutal Sword of Leonardo,” ”Sin Sewer" and "The Shredder Gets Caught On Things." Most of the others felt like they were just too short to be developed well. It's really tough to write a good comic in 6 pages or less. Hope they do another volume, I would definitely check it out.
February 24, 2025
i really enjoyed this!! i loved seeing the range of artstyles and stories. whilst i enjoyed all the stories, some definitely stood out more than others
‘the flame that fuels you’ (gigi dutreix/lorenzo hall) was one of my favourites, an interesting perpective on raph’s lack of self-preservation. very sweet ending :’)
‘buddycount’ (gavin smith) was pretty cool, i enjoyed the art in this
‘if by feast or by famine’ (tyler boss) was fun, i’d looove a longer comic of detective mikey :)
‘deadly delivery’ (mikey way) was a fun little one
‘sin sewer’ (dave wielgosz) was an interesting look at how raph’s determination to do the ‘right’ thing and black-and-white thinking can actually work against him, i enjoyed this one a lot!
‘miami vacation’ (carlos giffoni) was one of my favourites!!!! i really really loved the art style in this (alexis ziritt), and this really highlights one of the great things about short story anthologies like this - whilst i probably wouldn’t be interested in a full comic as it’s geared towards a younger audience, i really enjoyed being able to read something as fun as this :)
‘shredder gets caught on things’ (chris condon) was fun!! love news reporter mikey!!
‘does this android dream of electric sheep?’ (jeremy holt) was an interesting look at a cyborg donatello’s isolation
‘the flame that fuels you’ (gigi dutreix/lorenzo hall) was one of my favourites, an interesting perpective on raph’s lack of self-preservation. very sweet ending :’)
‘buddycount’ (gavin smith) was pretty cool, i enjoyed the art in this
‘if by feast or by famine’ (tyler boss) was fun, i’d looove a longer comic of detective mikey :)
‘deadly delivery’ (mikey way) was a fun little one
‘sin sewer’ (dave wielgosz) was an interesting look at how raph’s determination to do the ‘right’ thing and black-and-white thinking can actually work against him, i enjoyed this one a lot!
‘miami vacation’ (carlos giffoni) was one of my favourites!!!! i really really loved the art style in this (alexis ziritt), and this really highlights one of the great things about short story anthologies like this - whilst i probably wouldn’t be interested in a full comic as it’s geared towards a younger audience, i really enjoyed being able to read something as fun as this :)
‘shredder gets caught on things’ (chris condon) was fun!! love news reporter mikey!!
‘does this android dream of electric sheep?’ (jeremy holt) was an interesting look at a cyborg donatello’s isolation
September 21, 2025
‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Black, White, and Green’ is a smorgasbord of Turtle tales for any reader. From a bedtime story to a smoky noir, there are plenty of TMNT one-shots to make this a great grab regardless of the reader’s knowledge on the Turtle-verse. However, for those in the know, there are plenty of Easter eggs to find - even a nod to the Image era. This anthology is well put together and the art styles vary extremely so the stories distinctly stand apart. It would be difficult to pin down one story that would be a “favorite”, but the ‘Turtle News Tonight’ story of ‘Shredder Gets Caught on Things’ was especially fun. Seriously recommended for any fan of TMNT.
February 9, 2025
The best starting point if you’re interested in the turtles or want to see the hype. Short stories within 4 issues, a little bit for everyone is here
September 24, 2024
My thanks to NetGalley and the IDW Publishing for an advance copy of this collection that portrays these ninjas of the sewers, these pizza-fueled fighters for the rights of everyone back to the colors they were born for, black, white and a whole lot of green.
To quote a lyric from the band the LCD Soundsystem, "I was there." I was there at a convention in New England where I paid the same price as my parents did to rent an apartment in the Bronx buying issues three and four of a comic that I had signed by the creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, with my name and something about don't stop believing, which I don't know why. I was there when Kaybee Toys was going out of business and and was able to get 4 Usagi Yojimbo TMNT toys, with change from a ten dollar bill. I was there when Radioactive Black Belt Hamster came out, along with a string of other imitators that I still have in a box. I was there when the black and white market crashed. I was there for Tundra Comics, and Heavy Metal days. I was there opening night for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Movie. Maybe I was a week late for Secret of the Ooze. I lost interest as I got older, but the good thing about turtles is they have long lives. And endlessly recreate themselves. And this new resurgence has been a lot of fun. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Black, White, and Green is written and illustrated by many hands and minds, bringing these Heroes-In-a-Half-Shell back for a new generation to proudly say I was there.
The book is a mix of stories based on a 4-issue miniseries. The length of each tale is about 10 pages and told of course in the black and white and green. The stories range in from juvenile fun to adult darker tales, across the city the sewers even time and space. There are plenty of mentions of pizza, and family, and lots of characters familiar from comics, cartoons and others things appear. Oh and there is a lot of fighting. And parodies of other comics, some might be clear, some might go right over reader's heads. I liked the Jock story, the art for that was creepy in way, with nice use of green. Sin Sewer is a perfect homage to Frank Miller, for without him, one really wouldn't have the turtles. Buddycount was a good one also, as Casey Jones and Michelangelo team-up together, with some odd results.
As with most collections there are some good stories and some stories that are ok. I think it was the format that had different effects on stories, either too long, or too short. I liked the fact the stories weren't linked allowing different interpretations of the Turtles, even a story sending one into the past. And the fact that some were more cartoon based, though the mix of stories might make this more skew towards older fans. The art is good. Some know how to use the extra color well, and really include it in the story. Jock as stated and a few others. I've read a lot of these, use the color of choice is red, and sometimes the story tends to just be ehh, while letting the red take center stage. Here I thought the green was more integrated with the stories, and added to the fun. Or the ick factor.
Fans will like this a lot. Seeing the Turtles come back so strongly is always good. Seeing them come back with decent stories and creators that care is even better. Shell on brothers. I eagerly await new adventures.
To quote a lyric from the band the LCD Soundsystem, "I was there." I was there at a convention in New England where I paid the same price as my parents did to rent an apartment in the Bronx buying issues three and four of a comic that I had signed by the creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, with my name and something about don't stop believing, which I don't know why. I was there when Kaybee Toys was going out of business and and was able to get 4 Usagi Yojimbo TMNT toys, with change from a ten dollar bill. I was there when Radioactive Black Belt Hamster came out, along with a string of other imitators that I still have in a box. I was there when the black and white market crashed. I was there for Tundra Comics, and Heavy Metal days. I was there opening night for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Movie. Maybe I was a week late for Secret of the Ooze. I lost interest as I got older, but the good thing about turtles is they have long lives. And endlessly recreate themselves. And this new resurgence has been a lot of fun. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Black, White, and Green is written and illustrated by many hands and minds, bringing these Heroes-In-a-Half-Shell back for a new generation to proudly say I was there.
The book is a mix of stories based on a 4-issue miniseries. The length of each tale is about 10 pages and told of course in the black and white and green. The stories range in from juvenile fun to adult darker tales, across the city the sewers even time and space. There are plenty of mentions of pizza, and family, and lots of characters familiar from comics, cartoons and others things appear. Oh and there is a lot of fighting. And parodies of other comics, some might be clear, some might go right over reader's heads. I liked the Jock story, the art for that was creepy in way, with nice use of green. Sin Sewer is a perfect homage to Frank Miller, for without him, one really wouldn't have the turtles. Buddycount was a good one also, as Casey Jones and Michelangelo team-up together, with some odd results.
As with most collections there are some good stories and some stories that are ok. I think it was the format that had different effects on stories, either too long, or too short. I liked the fact the stories weren't linked allowing different interpretations of the Turtles, even a story sending one into the past. And the fact that some were more cartoon based, though the mix of stories might make this more skew towards older fans. The art is good. Some know how to use the extra color well, and really include it in the story. Jock as stated and a few others. I've read a lot of these, use the color of choice is red, and sometimes the story tends to just be ehh, while letting the red take center stage. Here I thought the green was more integrated with the stories, and added to the fun. Or the ick factor.
Fans will like this a lot. Seeing the Turtles come back so strongly is always good. Seeing them come back with decent stories and creators that care is even better. Shell on brothers. I eagerly await new adventures.
September 28, 2024
Thank you to IDW Publishing and NetGalley for the ebook ARC. I'm very grateful to review this book.
I have a lot of thoughts on this collection of short stories, but I’ll be upfront and say most are positive - I really enjoyed my experience with this.
If you are wondering what this is about, it’s essentially a collection of short stories about the ninja turtles in different scenarios. There’s no connected story, aside from references and pieces of comic history (as mentioned in the description of this material). There are themes of found family and selflessness conveyed throughout. It’s overall a wholesome experience.
The book has a wide variety of art, which I enjoyed. Some pieces will have similar art styles, while others will have drastically different styles. Do keep in mind this collection is not all cartoon, as I got spooked from turning a page from cartoon to hyper-realistic Casey Jones with his skull mask. It was…terrifying haha but not at all a criticism. I love all the art in the stories and don’t have one bad thing to say about it. My favorites are Gavin Smith, Jesse Lonergan, and Sebastian Piriz, whose stories are also my favorites. Again, I love all the art but these were the ones that stuck out to me. IDW did a great job at selecting everyone who joined this project.
While it’s nice to have references in the story, and I’m so happy they admit to following comic book lore to respect the characters and fans (which is amazing as a company to show that level of transparency and care), some things might’ve swooped over your head. I know who Shredder and Stockman are, but I don’t know much more beyond that. Keep this in mind, as I believe this collection to be a tribute to the die-hard fans of the series.
That being said, some pieces weren’t my favorite. I won’t say which or give away too much of what happens, as I also don’t know what happens exactly myself, but a couple of stories I noticed had one big bad then the turtles run into an even bigger bad then they somehow solve it, and then a group of even bigger bad shows up. If that sounds confusing, it’s because that’s how my mind felt. The art was the only thing that got me through those instances, and I saw them more as interludes because as stories they felt rushed. There is also another story where Michaelangelo is a news anchor and does a reel of “the best and whackiest moments in TMNT history” which felt a bit lazy when recollecting bits of the past. I wished they would have taken one of those stories and expanded on it. Or make an entirely new story with Mikey as an up-and-coming news anchor, and Donatello has to help him practice to land an interview even though Mikey is acting like a goofball and not taking it seriously. That would have been a lot more interesting to read.
That being said, that is my only criticism. I just love this collection so, so much. It pulled on my heartstrings at times. There was a first-person comic story about Donatello, which I won’t spoil, that was very emotional and had an earnest and wholesome message. I don’t know if it was a reference in TMNT history, but I loved it. Even if I didn’t understand everything in this collection, I still loved the ride. I’m going to ask for this book for Christmas to add to my shelf.
5 / 5 please, PLEASE read this. It’s so, so good. Well thought out, and well put together.
I have a lot of thoughts on this collection of short stories, but I’ll be upfront and say most are positive - I really enjoyed my experience with this.
If you are wondering what this is about, it’s essentially a collection of short stories about the ninja turtles in different scenarios. There’s no connected story, aside from references and pieces of comic history (as mentioned in the description of this material). There are themes of found family and selflessness conveyed throughout. It’s overall a wholesome experience.
The book has a wide variety of art, which I enjoyed. Some pieces will have similar art styles, while others will have drastically different styles. Do keep in mind this collection is not all cartoon, as I got spooked from turning a page from cartoon to hyper-realistic Casey Jones with his skull mask. It was…terrifying haha but not at all a criticism. I love all the art in the stories and don’t have one bad thing to say about it. My favorites are Gavin Smith, Jesse Lonergan, and Sebastian Piriz, whose stories are also my favorites. Again, I love all the art but these were the ones that stuck out to me. IDW did a great job at selecting everyone who joined this project.
While it’s nice to have references in the story, and I’m so happy they admit to following comic book lore to respect the characters and fans (which is amazing as a company to show that level of transparency and care), some things might’ve swooped over your head. I know who Shredder and Stockman are, but I don’t know much more beyond that. Keep this in mind, as I believe this collection to be a tribute to the die-hard fans of the series.
That being said, some pieces weren’t my favorite. I won’t say which or give away too much of what happens, as I also don’t know what happens exactly myself, but a couple of stories I noticed had one big bad then the turtles run into an even bigger bad then they somehow solve it, and then a group of even bigger bad shows up. If that sounds confusing, it’s because that’s how my mind felt. The art was the only thing that got me through those instances, and I saw them more as interludes because as stories they felt rushed. There is also another story where Michaelangelo is a news anchor and does a reel of “the best and whackiest moments in TMNT history” which felt a bit lazy when recollecting bits of the past. I wished they would have taken one of those stories and expanded on it. Or make an entirely new story with Mikey as an up-and-coming news anchor, and Donatello has to help him practice to land an interview even though Mikey is acting like a goofball and not taking it seriously. That would have been a lot more interesting to read.
That being said, that is my only criticism. I just love this collection so, so much. It pulled on my heartstrings at times. There was a first-person comic story about Donatello, which I won’t spoil, that was very emotional and had an earnest and wholesome message. I don’t know if it was a reference in TMNT history, but I loved it. Even if I didn’t understand everything in this collection, I still loved the ride. I’m going to ask for this book for Christmas to add to my shelf.
5 / 5 please, PLEASE read this. It’s so, so good. Well thought out, and well put together.
January 4, 2026
Short stories have to be tight. Few of these were. Overall, I wonder who this comic is for. Surely if authors and artists had the chance to write one turtle story, I would expect each of them to come up with something moving. Is our only emotional connection to these characters pizza? To many of these author--the answer is yes.
I trade waited for these because the single issues were too expensive for my taste. This is clearly IDW's attempt to follow what DC has done for years with Batman and what Marvel has followed too. The difference is that when DC started Batman: Black and White, they got top tier artists/authors. This collection has some of that but not enough to warrant this short lived line.
Each story attempted a twist or cute ending, with only a few truly succeeding. I'll review in publishing order and star* the stories are are worth reading:
-Declan Shalvey's "Green Screen" story tells an over-told story of family from Donatello's perspective. (A later story does a much better job.)
-"The Brutal Sword of Leonards" makes little sense to me.
-"The Flame that Fuels You" makes little sense to me either.
-"Identity Theft" is a cute children's story.
-The art in "Buddy Count" is a breath of fresh air, but the story does not have the grit to match.
*-Tyler Boss' "If By Feast or By Famine" is the first story that stood out to me. The twist ending near the ending makes the story worth it for sure.
-"Deadly Delivery" is a child's story with weirdly creepy depictions of April.
-I'll give it to the "Green Dogu" by Javier Rodriguez for making the foot clan dance! This one isn't bad, but one page can't warrant a whole story being successful.
-I expected to like the Jock story but he has nothing to say.
-*"Sin Sewer" (an allusion to "Sin City" by Frank Miller, obviously) might be the most complete story in this bunch. I'm sure it will be most people's favorite. The story contains a character arc!
-"Miami Vacation" is filler.
-The art in "Green Means Go" stands out. It's manga influenced and Michael Shelfer draws the best April. The story is weak, however.
-"Legends" attempts a layered story and a meaningful ending, but it didn't move me.
-"Shredder Gets Caught on Things" is fun and worth a read. The allusions will be fan favorites. It's the only story that plays with multiple art styles.
-*"Does This Android Dream of Electric Sheep" is interesting. It uses the Image version of Donatello, which is fun. The authors also create a new way of tapping into the topic of family. They took the assignment seriously and took some risks that pay off.
-*Patrick Gleason goes for it in the last story of this collection, and it works. He has something to say about AI and what it means to be human. This story deserves multiple reads for sure.
Looks like 4 stories out of 16ish are worth re-reading.
I trade waited for these because the single issues were too expensive for my taste. This is clearly IDW's attempt to follow what DC has done for years with Batman and what Marvel has followed too. The difference is that when DC started Batman: Black and White, they got top tier artists/authors. This collection has some of that but not enough to warrant this short lived line.
Each story attempted a twist or cute ending, with only a few truly succeeding. I'll review in publishing order and star* the stories are are worth reading:
-Declan Shalvey's "Green Screen" story tells an over-told story of family from Donatello's perspective. (A later story does a much better job.)
-"The Brutal Sword of Leonards" makes little sense to me.
-"The Flame that Fuels You" makes little sense to me either.
-"Identity Theft" is a cute children's story.
-The art in "Buddy Count" is a breath of fresh air, but the story does not have the grit to match.
*-Tyler Boss' "If By Feast or By Famine" is the first story that stood out to me. The twist ending near the ending makes the story worth it for sure.
-"Deadly Delivery" is a child's story with weirdly creepy depictions of April.
-I'll give it to the "Green Dogu" by Javier Rodriguez for making the foot clan dance! This one isn't bad, but one page can't warrant a whole story being successful.
-I expected to like the Jock story but he has nothing to say.
-*"Sin Sewer" (an allusion to "Sin City" by Frank Miller, obviously) might be the most complete story in this bunch. I'm sure it will be most people's favorite. The story contains a character arc!
-"Miami Vacation" is filler.
-The art in "Green Means Go" stands out. It's manga influenced and Michael Shelfer draws the best April. The story is weak, however.
-"Legends" attempts a layered story and a meaningful ending, but it didn't move me.
-"Shredder Gets Caught on Things" is fun and worth a read. The allusions will be fan favorites. It's the only story that plays with multiple art styles.
-*"Does This Android Dream of Electric Sheep" is interesting. It uses the Image version of Donatello, which is fun. The authors also create a new way of tapping into the topic of family. They took the assignment seriously and took some risks that pay off.
-*Patrick Gleason goes for it in the last story of this collection, and it works. He has something to say about AI and what it means to be human. This story deserves multiple reads for sure.
Looks like 4 stories out of 16ish are worth re-reading.
October 31, 2024
Being born in the early 80s I grew up with TMNT being a big part of my childhood, one I look back on fondly. While I don't generally keep up with the modern iterations, I do on occasion, when feeling nostalgic, like to to take a dip back into the world of mutant animals, both new and old. I also happen to REALLY enjoy the recent rash of "Black, White & X" color-centric anthology comics, so reading this was a no brainer!
The stories are fun, and largely accessible for people not mired in modern TMNT lore, standing on their own as they should, with a wide variant of tones. This I quite enjoyed. The art, again each story with it's own artist, are also all great, and I really enjoy seeing all the different interpretations. The use of colors on the other hand was much harder to appreciate.
To be fair, it COULD simply be the color itself...green, or more importantly the shades used, but I felt it was more the actual use. Other books in this trend tend to use the colors sparingly, making the color's important, and stand out, and are very particular, not the case here. The color is used quite liberally, and often I don't understand why they chose to highlight what they did.
You may think - "Of course there's LOTS of green, it's the Turtles!" but, the Turtles themselves are almost never colored. If they are, it's their bandanas...I suppose a nod to the OG, but then, that would make more sense as a Black, White & Red.
Maybe it's me, but something about the choices in how to use the color didn't quite hit as it should, still worth a read!
*ARC provided by NetGalley & IDW*
The stories are fun, and largely accessible for people not mired in modern TMNT lore, standing on their own as they should, with a wide variant of tones. This I quite enjoyed. The art, again each story with it's own artist, are also all great, and I really enjoy seeing all the different interpretations. The use of colors on the other hand was much harder to appreciate.
To be fair, it COULD simply be the color itself...green, or more importantly the shades used, but I felt it was more the actual use. Other books in this trend tend to use the colors sparingly, making the color's important, and stand out, and are very particular, not the case here. The color is used quite liberally, and often I don't understand why they chose to highlight what they did.
You may think - "Of course there's LOTS of green, it's the Turtles!" but, the Turtles themselves are almost never colored. If they are, it's their bandanas...I suppose a nod to the OG, but then, that would make more sense as a Black, White & Red.
Maybe it's me, but something about the choices in how to use the color didn't quite hit as it should, still worth a read!
*ARC provided by NetGalley & IDW*
April 2, 2025
Anthologies are a lot like a pizza buffet; there's never enough of the pizza you like, and there's always a baffling amount of pizza nobody wants, and somehow, your favorite pizza isn't even on the menu. Also, you might get salmonella.
More than one story revolves around the disappointing trope of "hur dur Donatello is weak and needs machines to be effective", which always leaves a bad taste in my mouth, almost exactly like the lukewarm BBQ chicken pizza every buffet offers. And there are also a number of expected "Mikey does something silly" or "Raph is angry" stories. Surprisingly, there's really only a single story focused on Leonardo.
There are some delicious standouts among the short stories, however.
Shredder Gets Caught On Things is the best story in the collection, worth the price of admission by itself. "Some might call that murder... but in the comic book biz, we call that drama."
Legends is a compelling and believable bedtime story told by Splinter to the Turtles, which manages to carry more emotion and meaning than the entire remaining contents of the collection. "Not all creatures have shells."
Green Means Go is fantastically drawn with a short but satisfying story that feels at home in multiple TMNT canons.
The Beast That Bleeds Green was a fun horror story effectively drawn by Jock, but brought down IMO by a cliffhanger ending and no resolution.
All in all, there are some surprises scattered throughout the pages, but it's still an anthology with a lot of forgettable, skippable stories.
More than one story revolves around the disappointing trope of "hur dur Donatello is weak and needs machines to be effective", which always leaves a bad taste in my mouth, almost exactly like the lukewarm BBQ chicken pizza every buffet offers. And there are also a number of expected "Mikey does something silly" or "Raph is angry" stories. Surprisingly, there's really only a single story focused on Leonardo.
There are some delicious standouts among the short stories, however.
Shredder Gets Caught On Things is the best story in the collection, worth the price of admission by itself. "Some might call that murder... but in the comic book biz, we call that drama."
Legends is a compelling and believable bedtime story told by Splinter to the Turtles, which manages to carry more emotion and meaning than the entire remaining contents of the collection. "Not all creatures have shells."
Green Means Go is fantastically drawn with a short but satisfying story that feels at home in multiple TMNT canons.
The Beast That Bleeds Green was a fun horror story effectively drawn by Jock, but brought down IMO by a cliffhanger ending and no resolution.
All in all, there are some surprises scattered throughout the pages, but it's still an anthology with a lot of forgettable, skippable stories.
October 22, 2024
Growing up in the 80s, I have fond memories of Saturday morning cartoons, with one of my earliest VHS experiences being the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 1990 in which holds a special place in my heart, reminding me of the joy and excitement of my childhood.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Black, White, and Green features a collection of short stories that range from lighthearted and humorous to more serious themes. Each tale showcases a unique artistic style, adding to the overall charm of the series.
If you're a fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, this collection is sure to resonate with you. The variety in storytelling and animation makes it a delightful experience for both new and longtime fans alike.
Thank you NetGalley and IDW Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Black, White, and Green features a collection of short stories that range from lighthearted and humorous to more serious themes. Each tale showcases a unique artistic style, adding to the overall charm of the series.
If you're a fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, this collection is sure to resonate with you. The variety in storytelling and animation makes it a delightful experience for both new and longtime fans alike.
Thank you NetGalley and IDW Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.
February 10, 2025
When I initially heard the concept: A collection of one-shot stories put together by some of the best comic-book writers and artists in the biz, all told in unique art-styles that maintain a black, white and green color scheme, I thought this was going to kick ass.
I assumed that each issue told a different story, but was in the dark about each one containing not 1, not 2, not 3, but a total of 4 stories! Oh no! Some people may think, the more the merrier, but the comics are forced to cram so much into so few pages that it's difficult for any of them to leave a lasting impression.
Still, there was some beautiful artwork, and I certainly found it to be "fun", I just feel like there was a big missed opportunity here and I'd still like to see a Turtles anthology that provides the writers more room to work with someday.
I assumed that each issue told a different story, but was in the dark about each one containing not 1, not 2, not 3, but a total of 4 stories! Oh no! Some people may think, the more the merrier, but the comics are forced to cram so much into so few pages that it's difficult for any of them to leave a lasting impression.
Still, there was some beautiful artwork, and I certainly found it to be "fun", I just feel like there was a big missed opportunity here and I'd still like to see a Turtles anthology that provides the writers more room to work with someday.
September 26, 2024
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Black, White and Green was a pretty weighty anthology. With almost a dozen stories highlighting the turtles individually and as a team.
I like seeing a bunch of different art styles on display like this. From some that seemed very detailed to others that definitely looked more sketch like.
The stories ranged from noir to a more high tech vibe. With quite a few others, in between.
I liked the theme of Black, White and Gree. It lent a nice motif to the stories. Bringing to mind Sin City from Frank Miller.
All in all, if you like the Turtles, you’ll enjoy reading this. If you haven’t really given them a shot, you’ll most likely find something in there that you’ll enjoy.
I like seeing a bunch of different art styles on display like this. From some that seemed very detailed to others that definitely looked more sketch like.
The stories ranged from noir to a more high tech vibe. With quite a few others, in between.
I liked the theme of Black, White and Gree. It lent a nice motif to the stories. Bringing to mind Sin City from Frank Miller.
All in all, if you like the Turtles, you’ll enjoy reading this. If you haven’t really given them a shot, you’ll most likely find something in there that you’ll enjoy.
October 23, 2024
Whoa this is a smorgasbord of short but good stories and amazing artworks by some popular artist. If you don't want big story arcs then this one is for you. If you don't want invest so much in a TMNT story get this one. Lots of enjoyable moments whether action, drama and comedy presented in this collection. This is not just for TMNT fans but those who love them in their TV series or casually know them. Every turtle got their spotlight in this collection.
The black, white and green motif of the interior illustration are a thumbs up for me although at first I didn't think it will work out. Stay for awhile to enjoy a ton of artworks at the gallery in the end of the book.
Overall, an entertaining book about our favorite turtles! Thank you IDW and Netgalley for the review copy!
The black, white and green motif of the interior illustration are a thumbs up for me although at first I didn't think it will work out. Stay for awhile to enjoy a ton of artworks at the gallery in the end of the book.
Overall, an entertaining book about our favorite turtles! Thank you IDW and Netgalley for the review copy!
September 18, 2024
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Black, White and Green follows the trend that several companies have done lately where they tell short stories by various writers and artists that are told in Black and White and in the case of this story, a third color; green. Like any collection of stories, some are better than others. They were all very entertaining but none of them were incredibly mind blowing. It was very cool to see IDW doing this series and I'm hoping we'll get another collection that lets a new batch of writers and artists tackle the TMNT.
Special Thanks to IDW Publishing and Netgalley for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.
Special Thanks to IDW Publishing and Netgalley for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.
December 12, 2024
IDW gets in on the black, white and one color game that the big two love so much. The stories are all about 10 pages and generally pretty good. The last two stories make the mistake of using white lettering with no background color and I couldn't read the narration at all. The one story that stood out to me was the one from Dave Weilgosz and Riley Rossmo, mainly because I typically hate Rossmo's art with a passion. He's adapted a Frank Miller, Sin City style though that really works and ditched the caricatures he typically draws.
August 23, 2025
I've always enjoyed watching TMNT and reading some of the comics, so I was really excited to give this book a try. Some of the stories were interesting, but most of them were too short to be memorable and wrapped up too quickly. I wanted them to be a little longer. I did enjoy seeing all of the different art styles, but only using the color green did make it difficult at times to tell the turtles apart easily. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys TMNT.
Thanks to Netgalley and IDW for allowing me a copy of this book to read and review.
Thanks to Netgalley and IDW for allowing me a copy of this book to read and review.
September 12, 2024
ARC from Netgalley.
As someone who owned the TMNT blimp as a child, and occasionally references the Neutrinos in conversation, I feel obligated now and then to pop in and see what's going on with the franchise. This book satisfies that need. Good look at the turtles, a fun pastiche of Frank Miller, and no fomo from not having read the comics for the last eight years.
As someone who owned the TMNT blimp as a child, and occasionally references the Neutrinos in conversation, I feel obligated now and then to pop in and see what's going on with the franchise. This book satisfies that need. Good look at the turtles, a fun pastiche of Frank Miller, and no fomo from not having read the comics for the last eight years.
December 24, 2024
A collection of short stories. Most no more than 5-10 pages.
As with all anthologies, there was some hit and miss. It was interesting to see authors work with just the 3 colors. The title is literal.
A couple I really enjoyed. A couple were grating.
Worth your time if you're a turtle-fan.
As with all anthologies, there was some hit and miss. It was interesting to see authors work with just the 3 colors. The title is literal.
A couple I really enjoyed. A couple were grating.
Worth your time if you're a turtle-fan.
December 26, 2025
It is rare to find a short story that is complete. Most shorts feel like parts of a bigger story; an intro, or excerpt, or a scene in the middle. Things are missing, things are left hanging, or things are not clear. Unfortunately, most of the sorts in this book feel like snippets instead of stories, and most of the snippets were fairly forgettable.
Some of the art was pretty good.
Some of the art was pretty good.
September 16, 2024
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this!!! I really love Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but I think the coloring scheme on this was something I had trouble reading. The stories are fun and leave you wanting for more of that timeline though.
April 2, 2025
A nice sampling of TMNT stories, with perhaps a bit too much focus on the old cartoon version of the turtles and perhaps a bit too much green in the art. It would have been nice to see more black & white, like in the original comics.
September 11, 2024
Great TMNT anthology of stand-alone one-shots by highly talented creators with some really great artwork.
Thanks to IDW Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.
Thanks to IDW Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.
July 24, 2025
Some variety in the art and types of stories being told although nothing really stood out to me.
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