Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

by James Tynion IV (Writer), Ryan Ferrier (Writer), Freddie E. Williams II (Illustrator)

The Dark Knight and the heroes in a half shell reunite! The team behind the smash-hit crossover series brings Batman and Robin to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' New York to fight the menace Bane! But will Donatello's attempt to fix things create an even deadlier threat?

When Donatello opens a portal to Gotham City in search of the Turtles' recent ally, Batman, he accidentally gets sent to Gotham City and someone else comes through--Bane! The villain who broke Batman finds a new world to conquer, developing a new strain of Venom to inflict on the Big Apple's unsuspecting population. Donnie manages to bring Batman and Robin (Damian Wayne) to his world to join the fight, but when they, Master Splinter, and the rest of the Turtles--Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael--disagree with his plans, the dejected Donatello takes matters into his own hands...with disastrous results!

Written by James Tynion IV (Detective Comics) and Ryan Ferrier (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Dimension X) and illustrated by Freddie E. Williams II (Robin), Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II collects all six issues of the thrilling miniseries event presented by DC Comics and IDW Publishing.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Batman, Dc Comics, Superheroes, Fiction, Science Fiction

160 pages, Hardcover

First published August 14, 2018

About the author

Prior to his first professional work, Tynion was a student of Scott Snyder's at Sarah Lawrence College. A few years later, he worked as for Vertigo as Fables editor Shelly Bond's intern. In late 2011, with DC deciding to give Batman (written by Snyder) a back up feature, Tynion was brought in by request of Snyder to script the back ups he had plotted. Tynion would later do the same with the Batman Annual #1, which was also co-plotted by Snyder. Beginning in September 2012, with DC's 0 issue month for the New 52, Tynion will be writing Talon, with art by Guillem March. In early 2013 it was announced that he'd take over writing duties for Red Hood and the Outlaws in April.

Tynion is also currently one of the writers in a rotating team in the weekly Batman Eternal series.

Reviews

[Jayson · Rating 3 out of 5]

(B+) 78% | Good
Notes: On roided thugs (say no to drugs!), feeling lesser-than, line-transgressing, failure-stressing, poorly thought-out plans.

*Progress updates: Preamble ◦ Issues #1-3 ◦ Issues #4-6

[Khurram · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of both Batman and the TMNT, so I knew I was either going to love it for doing everything right or hate it fit the errors. I loved it. I think the artwork suits the story and characters brilliantly. The story is also great. There are a few more fights than the first book I would not have minded a few more.

I also like that they made one of the Turtles less of a warrior than the others. That is not the turtle o would have chosen as the weakest, but with his other skill, I can see why he was the choice for the role.

If I had one criticism, it is simply that Damian was featured more than Batman. However, it did work for the story.

All in an excellent continuation of the last story arc, and respected the history of both Batman and TMNT. Love the cover gallery and sketches at the end of the book. Excellent, with a hint of more to come.

[Alejandro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brains over brawls!


I bought this in its single comic book issues, but I’ve chosen this TPB edition to make a better overall review.


This TPB edition collects “Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II” #1-6. Do not confuse with the two previously published crossover miniseries.


Creative Team:

Writers: James Tynion IV & Ryan Ferrier

Illustrator: Freddie Williams II


PIZZA VS VENOM

Strength is not just a physical force. It comes in many shapes, and it can be mastered in many ways.

I have all the three crossovers of Batman and TMNT, but the previous two, I found out too late about them, so I have to get them in its TPB editions, luckily with this third crossover, I knew on time and I was able to buy it on its single comic book issues. So, that’s why that I am posting its review before of the official publication of the TPB, since I read the story from the single comic book issues.

So, while this one has a “II” (romanized two), since it’s a sequel to the first crossover made by DC and IDW, there is another crossover that it was published as IDW and DC (inversed profit) and that it’s non-related to this “reality”, and using the animated versions of Batman and TMNT.

Following the events of the first crossover, Master Shredder was imprisoned, but instead of being a good thing, the leadership vacuum left by him in the Foot Clan, eased a takeover by the Elite Guard (another ninja clan) that note ven Karai (Shredder’s daughter) was able to impede.

Choosing to play under “the lesser evil” angle, the TMNT decided to back-up Karai attempting to reinstate her as leader of the Foot Clan, however they were overwhelmed for numbers and Donatello got beaten and the other three turtles had to go on his rescue.

Donatello is a genius, no one argue about it, not even himself, but he wished to be as good fighter as he is a scientist, therefore, in a moment of doubt…

…he did something too dumb…

…and opening again the dimensional portal to ask Batman how to be an equally champion in the fields of thinking and fighting…

…however that action provoked that Donatello and…

…BANE!!!…

…interchanged places in dimensions…

…and the unstable lead combined forces of the Foot Clan and the Elite Guard find what they were looking for…

…a new powerful leader, Bane!

Soon enough, New York will become a war zone!

It’s up to Batman and Robin to go with Donatello to the TMNT’s Earth and join forces with the rest of the Cowabunga Team before it’s too late.

However, Donatello will be still in his existential crisis…

…and Bane’s Venom will be something too tempting for so easily dismiss!

[Sam Quixote · Rating 1 out of 5]

If could do just one long burp, that’d about sum up this book. So Batman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cross-over again because I suppose the first one sold well enough!

James Tynion IV writes Donatello out of character by making him kinda dumb and kinda weak. Feeling insecure, Donny decides to irresponsibly ‘port over to Batman’s dimension for a pep talk from the Dark Knight, inadvertently zapping Bane, who was having a bath in a Lazarus Pit for no reason, into the Turtles’ universe. D’oh! Batman and the Turts gotta team-up to fight Bane, Bebop and Rocksteady. Guess who winz… snore…

Characters bumble around pointlessly fighting one another, some of them take venom (aka super-steroids), Bane’s trying to take over New York or something to do something dumb like give everyone venom… god, this is terrible. Batman’s basically a supporting character and Tynion completely mismanages a couple of subplots which get rushed through at the end like Splinter being healed in Gotham and taking out the League of Shadows’ ninja man-bats and Batman and Shredder having a rematch, both of which were covered in a single panel each!

Freddie Williams draws Bane, and everyone taking venom, in that hyper-exaggerated style where they’re utterly stupidly inflated and giant-sized, which looks awful.

Batman/TMNT II is six issues of the most tedious nonsense - don’t do it!

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Boom! That's how we do!" -- Raphael, leaping into action alongside Robin, Nightwing, and Batgirl

Although not quite as engaging as the initial volume, this follow-up was still another spry teaming of the fictional costumed crimefighters. This time the plot hinges on Batman's brutal nemesis Bane utilizing a portal to jump from Gotham into New York City, and quickly taking control of the Big Apple's criminal underworld. Enter Batman and Robin (and, pleasingly, soon to be also joined by Nightwing and Batgirl) to assist the Turtles in vanquishing their now-shared foe. While the storyline was serviceable enough it was still fun with the increasing number of action scenes, featuring our united teams of heroes expertly kicking and stomping the blazes out of the assembled bad guys.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best thing about this was Freddie Williams's art. I love his new approach with shading. It gives the characters a nice finished texture.

The story is very over the top. Bane gets transported to the TMNT universe and takes over the Foot, roiding everyone up on Venom. Batman and Robin crossover to help. I think my favorite moments were when Robin would get into it with the Turtles. Damon's even more of a jerk than normal in this one. There's some mindless fun to be had with this, but not much else.

[Cyndi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent art and story line. The teen turtles add some humor to the dour Batman and especially his sour side kick, Robin.

[Subham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so fun lmao1

It starts wth Donnie feeling inadequate and he asks Bruce for help but inter-dimensional hopping goes wrong as we see Bane enter the TMNT uninverse and he is hopped on some new Venom formula and thus we get Batman and his family coming to the TMNT universe and we see the two team up to fight new venomous Foot clann laid by Bane and well fight they do and at the same time some awesome interactions between Raf and Damian or whatever Donnie goes through again and then the epic fight with Bane and all, Shredder and whatever other forces gather, Its Batman and TMNT vs Bane to save NYC and their world!

Epic story-telling and I love the way Tynion makes it all feel seamless and he protrays Bruce so very well showing him for how awesome he is and at the same time showing TMNT and I love the convos and the character arcs for each of them and the artist gives it such a different looks and it makes for a great read though I would have liked a bit more fight, I liked the inclusion of Batgirl and Nightwing here, its fun! A high recommendation from me! <3!

[Aldo Haegemans · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5/5

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well that was...OK?

Honestly, I enjoyed the writer taking the piss out of Bane's over-the-top megalomaniacal tirades, but honestly he could have used some more (useful) support in the villainous dialogue department as it became quite monotonous after a while, much like Donatello's "I'm too much of a feeb to fit in so I'd better take venom®️ and get swole" storyline.

Here's an idea- pull a free-radical element like Catwoman into the story. Maybe she could even rob Trump's penthouse? Fun times. And then she could interact with April O'Neil in meaningful ways, etc. Wouldn't have been so hard.

I didn't mind the art as much as some. Sure, Bane was absolutely fuckin' MASSIVE...but they comment about that all the time, as well. Super-Venom®️, you know?

[Ondra Král · Rating 3 out of 5]

S odřeným krunýřem 3*. První díl vynesl všechny trumfy a dvojka nemá moc na čem stavět.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another good volume, with Bane as the big bad this time. I will say I didn't like the catalyst for the story. Donatello is presented as a weak link who has a personal crisis because he's the weak link of the TMNT. Now I haven't read or watched a ton of TMNT material, but I never realized Donatello was considered a weak link? He's the brains of the operation, which I also never knew, but the whole Donatello as a weak fighter thing just didn't work for me. Maybe that's a theme in the TMNT comic and/or cartoons? I'm not sure, but it didn't work for me.

Basically Donatello gets beat up and the other turtles have to save him. He almost has a breakdown about it and attempts to travel back to Batman's universe for advice, but instead ends up transporting Bane to his own universe where he wreaks major havoc. It just seemed like a weak set up.

I still love the art here, as JH Williams is doing an Eastman type style and the coloring makes the art really pop.

While I liked the first volume better, I did like this one volume too and I will be reading the final volume in the trilogy.

[Dr Rashmit Mishra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following the success of the first Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles , James Tynion IV & Freddie E are back for more of the same , this time however Bane and the Batfamily travel dimensions to TMNT New York and as the first book , lots of fun ensues

The art is the best part of the book , just like the first book , but in this book we focus mainly on Donatello and it's a good tale woven , as Donatello is reminded that he may not be the best fighter in the team , but his importance in the team is 2nd to none .

There's also a bit of Raph and Damian banter/attempt-to-kill-eachother side story and that I fun as well .

However the book did have a dull period and I can't explain why it is so , there's still enough action and fun to keep everyone happy and Bane remains a super threat , but I guess the dull period arises because there were some tropes that may feel repetitive from countless similar books , or even the first book .

But honestly the dull phase isn't long and it's all fun

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun follow-up to Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
I really liked how this book spotlighted Donatello (I loved watching his character growth throughout), but was bummed at how Batman was relegated to the shadows. To be fair, this book did host a full house: Splinter, April, Casey Jones, Shredder, Karai, the Turtles, Bane, Batman, Damian, & even Batgirl and Nightwing make an appearance! So, I get why Batman wasn't the main character here.
And Donatello & Damian did have a sweet team-up...
So, all in all, a fun read!

[AltLovesBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another delightful mashup between the bat family and the turtle family, this time in New York City. Donatello makes several bad decisions in a row, resulting in Bane escaping Gotham and taking over the big apple. He then makes even more bad decisions trying to fix things, but don't worry because everyone else has got his back.

This was still great fun to read, however it just didn't hit the same right notes as the first. I felt Donatello was shoehorned into the plot, and everything he did short of fixing everything was out of character. Maybe the crossover shtick has lost its magic here? Unsure.

Still a four star read though, and I'm still going to round out the series with volume three.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite as good as the first mini-series, which was to be expected given how bloody awesome that one was. An accident causes Donatello to end up in the DC Universe, while Bane ends up in the Turtles Universe and promptly takes over the entire city, before flooding the place with mutagenic Venom. Oops.

This is kind of a logical progression from the first story; that one had the Turtles in Gotham, so it makes sense for this one to be predominantly about Batman going to New York. The character work is a bit more focused this time around - it's mostly Donnie's story, as he deals with feelings of inadequacy and the inevitable spiral that that brings with it, while Robin and Raphael get a little closer. Leo and Mikey don't get much to do, while Batman's mostly there to guide the story along. It's not a bad thing, but given how well balanced the first volume was, I was a bit disappointed.

The main problem is Bane, however. Writers often fall into the trap of having him be a muscle-bound nutcase, whereas he's a much more intelligent villain than people give him credit for. James Tynion IV and his dialogue writer Ryan Ferrier fall into the opposite trap, trying to make him seem to be an intelligent villain by having him monologue about absolutely bloody nothing for pages and pages. Long speeches do not a smart person make.

Freddie Williams II's art is still phenomenal though - his mutated creatures and the sheer enormity of Bane (and the other Venom-fueled characters) still look crazy, but they're now meant to, which makes his giant Batman look more at home with everyone else. He really is the perfect artist for these stories.

Not a bad follow-up, but certainly not a patch on the first. Some poor choices with the villain and a tighter focus on individual characters to the detriment of others mean that this one definitely falls short of the mark.

[Colby Searcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Undeniable Charm? Check! Heart-wrenching Emotion? Check! Action-packed fun? You better believe it! This book has all of this and then some. While Volume 1 of the Batman/TMNT team-up was great in it's own way, there were definitely some faults that were corrected upon here. The personalities of the individual turtles came through much more significantly here, while also giving a good balance of "screen-time" between Batman and the Turtle Bros. This volume had a much more cinematic feel(in a good way) but also made the characters more grounded and relatable. The writing and dialogue are strong here throughout and enough can't be said about the gorgeous art. I hope that this team-up is something that will occur frequently for many years to come. Keep them coming!

Disclosure: Thanks goes out to DC, IDW and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

** I received anARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. **

Just as good as the first volume, if not better! Poor Donatello is super down on himself after accidentally reopening the portal and allowing Bane to reek havoc on New York City. Then he feels he has to keep putting himself in danger to try to save the turtles and the rest of the city because he sees everything as his fault. I’m hoping there are more comics with this mashup of Batman and TMNT because I’ve really enjoyed these two volumes!

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, and actually a slight improvement on the first volume in my opinion.
The art and writing is great once again, particularly the artwork which is very detailed and colourful. It was interesting having Bane as the villain this time, and I think they did a very good job with him. It was also cool and refreshing to have Donatello as the central Turtle in this story. Reading this reminded me of why I love these crossovers, because anything can happen!
I’m now looking forward to the 3rd book. Would recommend.

[Julio Bonilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our target has never been more clear. New York is already in our grasp. This city rests in our palms.

[Matthew Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impressively captures Batman, Damian, the turtles, and Bane as they truly would react in these situations. Absolutely beautiful Donatello story within these issues that are worth of a 5-star review alone, though the rest of the story and the art would boost any rating anyway. I also love a good Bane story! Best of the crossovers so far.

[Nicholas Dehler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little looser than the first entry but super fun and very reminiscent of a special episode from the 2012 tmnt series to me. Bane taking over the foot clan was a cool premise and we get to see the brawn of the tmnt world as well in bebop and rocksteady. So many characters show up in this book, it is awesome. If the first book has a Raph focus, this one has a Donatello focus. Fun stuff great art💯

[Theediscerning · Rating 1 out of 5]

After the shock of seeing me give the first book in this series three stars, comes – well, what I had expected all along. Here the two franchises just don't gel, and the crossover between the two of them is needless. Of course, the creators have had to go further than before, so it's Bane vs the Turtles – and not even all of them. Batman's checking out a Lazarus Pit, then he's not, Bane's venom is running out, then it isn't, and here's a Brundlefly flapping about with unreadable font, just because. The action artwork is a right mess, the story is a right mess of unjustified problems for all characters, and Batbrat even seems sensible compared to the Halfwits in a Halfshell.

[Lizzie & Koala Skywalker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great series! Batman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles make an awesome team. I really enjoyed seeing them fight crime together. ~ Lizzie :)

[Troy · Rating 4 out of 5]

You've got Batman and the Ninja Turtles. What's not to love?

[Keegan Schueler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bane works really well into this crossover story and like the new creative stuff they do with him.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fun, action-packed and suitably ridiculous. What more could you really ask for from a crossover like this one?

[Blake Hurt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t quite work for me, not exactly sure why. Think it’s because so many characters were on the page that the only one I got to really engage with was Donatello.

[Colby Searcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Undeniable Charm? Check! Heart-wrenching Emotion? Check! Action-packed fun? You better believe it! This book has all of this and then some. While Volume 1 of the Batman/TMNT team-up was great in it's own way, there were definitely some faults that were corrected upon here. The personalities of the individual turtles came through much more significantly here, while also giving a good balance of "screen-time" between Batman and the Turtle Bros. This volume had a much more cinematic feel(in a good way) but also made the characters more grounded and relatable. The writing and dialogue are strong here throughout and enough can't be said about the gorgeous art. I hope that this team-up is something that will occur frequently for many years to come. Keep them coming!

Disclosure: Thanks goes out to DC, IDW and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.

[SaraKat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Donnie has an accident and we get to visit Batman again! Bane was a pretty awesome villain.

Everyone has their own unique abilities, and it is their responsibility to tend to those abilities so that they may grow. Strength is not just a physical force. It comes in many shapes, and it can be mastered in many ways.

Splinter always has a wise word or two for his wayward sons. :)