IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has always been known as a quality series. That has made what Jason Aaron has done even more impressive. He’s not only been able to match what Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman, and Sophie Campbell accomplished and made sure to continue to raise the bar. Each issue of this volume of TMNT has escalated the dire situation the Hamato Clan are in as all of New York City has turned against him. With this us against the world story where will things go next? Let’s find out with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #10.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Juan Ferreyra
Letterer: Shawn Lee
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #10 SOLICITATION
“The trial of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles begins here! Framed for a murder they didn’t commit, the brothers Hamato are prisoners of the Foot Clan, awaiting the judgment of the city’s greatest criminals. In the battle for New York City, the TMNT have officially… lost.” – IDW Publishing
REVIEW
“Us against the world” is the first thing that come to mind when reading Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #10. Just when the Hamato Clan were growing as a tight family unit in the new world order where mutants were able to walk in public that is no longer a reality. It is a reality that has hit Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello learn, or most of them do, hard. And that is proven with what the situation they all find themselves in.
It is really hard to think of another time where Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello were in such a dire situation. Sure they’ve had difficult times with overwhelming odds. But in things like all the gang wars or previous battles with the Foot Clan they had Splinter and other allies to lean on. Here the four are alone and after they have all been broken in one way or another that it’s made their situation even harder.
That is where Raphael as the narrator for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #10 such a strong choice. His view point is grounded in a way that we haven’t seen Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Donatello. Because of that we see the big speech he makes about his family’s situation hit harder. He really paints a picture that everything they did just left them with nothing but pain.
It all adds to how Raphael comes to admit he is the one member of his family who can’t “hear” Splinter in the dead rat Donatello has been carrying. The way he admits that drives home not just his pain but the rest of the family. Juan Ferreyra really nails the moment and how mentally each of the Turtles view themselves.
It all set the stage for the Hamato Clan’s trial to be a major turning point scene. The entire trial does well to paint the picture of there is no getting out of the world turning against them. There is a constant thought of there being no last second save. Which is made even more apparent with the key decisions they decide to make. It is one that you immediately question and aren’t surprised what it leads to. Which makes the real surprise in this issue to hit even harder.
This all ultimately further paints the picture of how deeply ingrained the Foot Clan are in the world. Without even stating it, the Foot Clan have made themselves stronger than ever before. That strength simply doesn’t come from numbers or skilled members. It’s clear they have learned from all that they’ve had to deal with in their war against the Hamato Clan and their allies. This in turn makes you wonder what their ultimate end game is and what exactly they want to do with the Turtles.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Teenage Ninja Turtles #10 is another excellent entry in what is one of the must-read comic books on the market right now. Jason Aaron and Juan Ferreyra get over how bad of a situation Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello now that they’ve been captured by their adversaries. It all leads to really getting you to wonder if there is any way out of what is going on. As a reader that creates an even greater investment in wanting to find out what happens next.
Story Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
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