Swing Kinker Comic Reviews

So with the first arc coming to an end I have high hopes for this series but I hope it delivers on it's promise to focus more on the fringe characters of the TMNT universe, villains, heroes and everyone else. It has a real chance to become something incredibly interesting and act as a conduit for fleshing out characters that some might not know much about in the main series. It worked well for Batman in the 90s and I'm on board for more IDW Turtles comics because they nearly always nail it. Fun times ahead.

Things are heating up and this arc has been really well paced and built up with new and effective art from Wachter. I'd be more than happy for him to fill in whenever my boy Mateus Santolouco whenever he's taking a break from the series. All in all a high quality issue this month and let's be honest, what have we come to expect over the last wee while. The team is on fire and long may it continue.

Another solid issue, probably the best so far and things are really heating up. It's like a mix between The Raid and (REC) which is just fine by me. If this keeps up we could be looking at one hell of a series here.

With great art and an engaging story TMNT continues to be one of the best and most underrated comics currently running. If you're not picking this up already then tell yourself you need this series in your life".and then tell your friends. They'll thank you for it.

Much like my review for issue one the main event for me is the backup story from the team of co creator Kevin Eastman and the legendary Bill Sienkiewicz. It's a simple Mirage style backup but the art is just as beautifully grimy as I'd hoped. Eastman did the layouts for Sienkiewicz who took them and made them his own. Two of my favourite artists coming together even for a short backup story is something I'll never tire of. Good stuff all round.

All in all the series is finding it's feet again after a slightly shaky start to the new status quo established post issue 50. Issue 62 builds towards the future with some great character development and intriguing questions about where the family goes from here.

The real attraction for me here is the back up story that sees series co creator Kevin Eastman and the legendary Bill Sienkiewicz on artistic duty over Tom Waltz' script. It's great to see two of my favourite artists with wildly different styles, work together and the results are lovely. It's a very basic Leonardo vs The Foot story reminiscent of Leo's solo issue from the old Mirage series and that also ends with a bit of a cliffhanger so it'll be nice to see how that unfolds but really it'll just be awesome to see more of that wonderful art.

All in all it's hard for me to say whether or not to recommend this as it's not your typical book, it all depends on how interested you are on hearing Dini's story. I personally found it a bit of a slog and often arrogant in it's depiction of his life and work. Reading around it's clear I am in the minority and that's fine, I'm glad most people got something out of this that I didn;t but I can only tell you my truth"..and unfortunately it pains me to be a negative truth this time out.

As usual there's a little backup story that deals with a day in the life of several characters from the series. It's a fun idea but most of the jokes and punchlines fall a little flat. It's still a fun issue overall and well worth it for kids and big kids alike"..that's embarrassingly cliche for me but hey it's true. I can imagine parents reading this with their kids and having a blast with it. Job done.

So it's a case of too little too late for me but nonetheless credit where it's due this was a really fun issue with bright, expressive art working side by side with humorous and playful storytelling. As I've said before I really hope that the duo get more chances to shine in their own miniseries', perhaps away from the conceit of time travel.

A slow burning sub plot has now become the main focus and what seemed like a distant threat is a now a terrifying reality. The status quo could be in for yet another shake up just as we were getting comfortable with the last major shake up. If one thing's for sure it's that in this brilliant series, nothing is guaranteed other than consistent quality. Another positive in a long line of positives for IDW's best ongoing series.

As has been the case thus far Ben Bates' art is the highlight but even his stellar work isn't enough to alleviate my frustrations. It's a shame too as this series had the potential to be an absolute riot and I really hope it picks up from here"..it's not got long to do that though. I still hope for more Bebop and Rocksteady spinoffs every now and again but without time travel and as harsh as it sounds"..another writing team.

Great art compliments very strong storytelling in a very domestic issue which is just what was needed to slow the pace down slightly.

If Flynn gets a chance to run with this series for a while then along with Chad Thomas it's in very good hands.

Great dream sequences keep the tension building in this little horror gem.

Things are firmly back on track with a break from the Foot Clan plot and more focus on Mikey's adventures away from his brothers.

Dredd is back with a new and interesting creative team that are doing a very good job of building tension and intrigue.

Volume one is very nearly at it's end and with it ends the team up of Eastman and Laird. A fitting way to end it perhaps as City At War is one of the best Turtles stories ever told. Us fans live in hope that they will reunite and write together again.

Great art was not enough to save this issue for me as the writing felt disconnected and missed the mark when aiming for humour.

IDW are continuing their good work reprinting the best arc from the original Mirage series and we're coming to the end shortly. It'll be interesting to see if they continue when it's done.

I remain a huge fan of this series but will also say when I think an issue is a little off the mark. That's the case here and although nothing terrible, a little happiness would be welcomed.

If things continue as strongly as they have started then we are in for a hell of a good series. The franchise is in very good hands.