Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #65

I have been a big fan of this book since it launched, but this just might be my favorite issue of it! It is just a fun Christmas time read. Minor spoiler there are no "action" scenes in this book but it does not matter one bit. The story and art are almost perfect, it's hard to do a review with out spoiling any of the great moments in this issue. If you are not even a fan of TMNT and have never read an issue I would still say just pick this up to get in the Christmas spirit. I might have got something in my eye at the ending also. Read Full Review

With little bearing to the main narrative this isn't quite a must read, but it's a thoroughly enjoyable one that provides a welcome and entertaining aside. Read Full Review

Then there's the ending. It could easily have become melancholy but instead makes fantastic use of the current situation to highlight what Christmas means. Read Full Review

In all honesty, I might not be the best person to rate/review this particular issue. Holiday specials - especially ones that insert themselves into otherwise separate storylines - almost always make me feel like a Grinch. But in spite of my personal bias, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #65 was still able to make my small heart grow two sizes (but not quite three). Read Full Review

Ultimately, this is an unapologetically silly and incredibly superficial festive romp, and should be viewed accordingly. Its entirely skippable if youre of the bah humbug persuasion, but is well worth a look if youre not. Read Full Review

myconius

Dec 14, 2016

truthfully i wasn't expecting a whole lot from this issue. i just figured i't be just a silly/fun throwaway issue!

there definitely was plenty of silly/fun moments, but there was also a LOT of sentiment and heart to be found in the issue as well!

the timing and pacing in this issue was perfect! it played out like a very well done comedy special.
the art was also TOP NOTCH!

anyone looking to come on board with this series, would probably find this issue as a very good 'jumping-on' point.

the epilogue was also very emotional. sweet and sentimental, it was the perfect conclusion to this issues.

Gizmo

Jan 08, 2017

A much needed pallet cleanser after the emotional roller coaster that was issue #64. Christmas party comics are usually garbage, but not this one. It's a good excuse to touch base how all of our favourite secondary characters are doing. The overhead shots are a smart way to show the many conversations taking place throughout the party. The issue comes to a close with a touching moment which most readers can relate to from our own childhoods, which makes it all the more heart wrenching given the current rift in the family. It certainly put me in the mood for the holidays.

+ Like • Comments (8)

• Likes (1)

• myconius

Show all comments

myconius - Jan 11, 2017

i know it's unlikely, but i really hope we get more issues like this.

Gizmo - Jan 11, 2017

Ya, that would be cool.

myconius - Jan 12, 2017

as much as i'm loving the story, since #50 things have just felt so dire and hopeless for a good long while. this issue was a nice breath of refreshing air. but maybe that's how it was supposed to feel? i'm just not a huge fan of unsettling cliffhangers that overstay their welcome. it's one thing if someone is reading it as a trade, but for us as monthly readers, it can be a drag if it goes on way too long. the Wayward Raph, Dark Leo and Robo-Donnie stories didn't get dragged out TOO much.

myconius - Jan 12, 2017

but this feeling of everyone becoming emotionally unraveled after the events of #50 has been feeling a bit like a drag most of the time. hopefully the series has more glimmers of some joy injected into the story more often? :)

Gizmo - Jan 12, 2017

I think we will continue to see uplifting issues like this. I do notice that TMNT likes to put out a short arc or a one-off story as a reflection piece after the most emotionally scarring arcs. I think it's a good formula, so it makes sense to keep that going. I would also expect the stories to continue to get even more dire as the series continues because I imagine the writers are aspiring to outdo themselves with each arc.

myconius - Jan 13, 2017

i just hope they don't over-play the character in distress card? one problem when writers constantly get too caught up with trying to outdo themselves is it can become too formulaic at times. and in some senses i can be a little exhausting. that's one of the things that wore me out on series used to read was it's over-use of the "shocking" cliff-hangers. after a while it gets tired. i did love seeing Woody's reaction to Slash. not many comics keep continuity as tight as IDW Tmnt does.

Gizmo - Jan 13, 2017

That seems to be one thing that IDW is really good for, continuity. I love that Transformers has continued with the same continuity since IDW started publishing it and you get to watch Cybertronian society go through different periods of socio-political growth as a result. It's really interesting.

myconius - Jan 18, 2017

and to think for a brief moment i hesitated to add this series to my pull-list when it was first announced!!! man would i have been kicking myself in the arse!

Hislight

Feb 18, 2021

Yeah despite starting off kinda corny this issue hit some good family notes and was a lil heart warmer for the holidays.

Mister Bungle

Dec 15, 2016

Very funny.