IDW PUBLISHING – @IDWPublishing
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
CARTOONIST: Stan Sakai
COLORS: Tom Luth
LETTERS: Stan Sakai
EDITORS: Bobby Curnow, Philip R. Simon, and Megan Walker
COVER: Stan Sakai with Tom Luth
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Stan Sakai; Stan Sakai with Tom Luth; Sergio Aragones with Tom Luth; David Petersen; Kevin Eastman with Stan Sakai and Tomi Varga; Kevin Eastman
48pp, Color, $7.99 U.S. (July 2017)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird; Usagi Yojimbo created by Stan Sakai
“Namazu of The Big Fish Story”
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (also known as TMNT and Ninja Turtles or sometimes as “the Turtles”) are a media empire that began with four fictional characters created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. The comic book, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 (cover dated: May 1984), introduced four teenage anthropomorphic turtles (meaning they walk and talk like humans).
Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael were adopted by an anthropomorphic rat, Master Splinter, who was their sensei and who trained them in the art of ninjutsu. The Turtles live in the sewers of New York City and battle every bad guy, from petty criminals and overlord-mastermind types to alien invaders and mutated creatures.
Usagi Yojimbo, which means “rabbit bodyguard,” is an anthropomorphic rabbit ronin who is sometimes hired as a bodyguard. His adventures take place in Edo-era Japan (specifically the 17th century). Created by Stan Sakai, Usagi first appeared in the small press comic book, Albedo Anthropomorphics #2. He is the star of a long-running comic book series, Usagi Yojimbo, which is currently published by Dark Horse Comics, but was previously published by Fantagraphics Books (1987) and Mirage Publishing (1993).
TMNT and Usagi Yojimbo team up (not for the first time) in the new full-color comic book, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo. This recently published one-shot is written, drawn and lettered by Stan Sakai and is colored by Tom Luth.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo (“Namazu of The Big Fish Story”) opens with Usagi dispatching a group of bandits that have been infesting a section of a road used by pilgrims. A group of people on a pilgrimage thank Usagi for getting rid of the bandits, but they also inform Usagi that “the Old One” is expecting a visit from him.
The old one is Kakera-sensei, who wants Usagi to be his bodyguard as he travels to Tashima Shrine to deliver a special object. One bodyguard will not be enough, so Kakera summons Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael – the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! However, these turtles are not quite like the ones Usagi remembers, and their opponent, the evil Jei, is the obstacle in their big fish adventure called Namazu.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo is one of the best comic books I have read this year. I have even put it on my my short list of best comic books of 2017. Why? First, it is really a good comic book. The fact is that Stan Sakai is a master cartoonist and superior comic book creator. I don't read Usagi Yojimbo that often (which is a shame on my part), but every time I have read it I have marveled at Sakai's imagination and inventive storytelling and, of course, his beautiful artwork.
I think Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo's format plays a big part as to why I like it so much. This comic book is a one-shot. It is like a magical item that shows up once, delivers some magical storytelling, and then is magically spirited away. It is also a comic book that is appropriate and accessible to anyone who can read comic books, regardless of age. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo is an example of a perfect (or near-perfect) comic book. It features venerable, beloved comic book characters, and it is the creation of two master comic book creators, Stan Sakai and Tom Luth.
9.5 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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