Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #93

“City at War” starts off with a bang in TMNT #93. Things are really starting to ramp up and this is going to be an exciting arc leading up to issue #100. I also like that they are using the letters pages to interview the creators about the start of TMNT at IDW. It is very interesting to see how all this started and what some of the original ideas for the series were. Any TMNT fan is obviously not going to want to miss out on this jarring issue! Read Full Review

TMNT fans have been waiting for this story for years, and it's off to a strong start. Read Full Review

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #93 might not be the best place for new readers to jump in, but it is great for lapsed readers looking to return. Waltz and company have put the pieces in place for this to be an epic story " all that needs to be done is to execute over the next seven issues. If the writing can step up to the level of Wachter and Pattisons art, this City at War has a good chance of surpassing the original. Read Full Review

Long-time turtles fans will find plenty to love, and issue 93 is also a perfect jumping on point, too. The series is kicking off the "City at War" storyline, which finds Karai escalating her hostilities towards Splinter and his coterie. Read Full Review

I Review Comics

May 26, 2019

I've come to the conclusion after reading this issue that following Slashes death in issue #87 that the Micro-Series should have probably been folded into the main series or the main title should have have been placed on hiatus until the mini series had been completed.  My chief complaint about the series in the recent month is that it has been running in place and all forward momentum has all but ceased.  That changes with issue #93. This is the first time in a while that the story seems to be actually be going somewhere.  This is gonna be a longer review but I won't be getting into heavy spoilers. What I will say is that I implore any fan of the series to take the time and get the TMNT-Macro series that was released last year . I've reviewed each issue here and on my Youtube channel. That series actually does more to inform the current events than the last 5 issues. You can enjoy the current arc without he Macro-Series but you're missing out.  This comic is a lot of fun and feels like the book that Tom Waltz and company have been holding back for a while now. All of the characters are finally in play and Karai makes her move to secure the Foot Clan from Splinter and Clan Hamato.  Aside from Karai there are a few X-factors playing out in the background that I assume will factor into the event but at this time I have no idea.  1. The book opens up surprisingly on the Neutrino's spaceship. The characters have not been seen in a while and the fact that they are hovering in the background hints that something big is potentially developing.  2. It's pretty obvious that Baxter Stockman is going to win his mayoral campaign. April is working for him. One of the first things he will have to deal with is a full-scale war going on between Clan Hamato and the Foot Clan. How this is dealt with is going to be very interesting.  3. How will the Agent Bishop and Metalheads alliance factor into this story? The turtles may be in for a very rude awakening if the EPF shows up and teams up with Baxter the Turtles may end up in a no-win situation. 4. How will Old Hob and the Mutanimals factor into the story. Hob has the tech to bring his own war to bear on the EPF anyone that gets in his way. He's the biggest X-Factor in this conflict and it will be interesting to see if he ends the conflict or makes the situation even worse.  On top of those questions, we also have a situation developing between Raphael and Leonardo that shocked me even though it shouldn't have in light of recent events.  With the exception of Donatello nearly being beaten to death in issue #44 Raph has had it a lot harder than any of the other turtles and is still clearly traumatized by the events of Macro-Series Raphael.  He's another X-Factor in this war and his treatment also highlights the weakness of Leonardo as a leader. Something I never thought I'd be saying.  The emerging problem I see developing is that Raphael is at the end of his rope and tired of moving from conflict to conflict with no end in sight. He's not that far off from Michelangelo in that respect. The difference being that Raphael has had it a lot worse than Mickey and is a lot more jaded. Raph is in real need of a mental health check but he's not getting it and I can see Raph possibly leaving the team altogether. Leonardo is focused on keeping the family together and protecting the clan but he's missing the details.  This issue ends on a pretty shocking cliffhanger. The stakes for this conflict are established and going forward I expect to see casualties on both sides.  None of the characters feel particularly safe and we've seen that Tom isn't afraid to compromise our heroes in service of the story.  Dave Wachter is back on art and the series is better for it. He also gets a lot to do. This is a layered issue, there are quiet scenes interspersed with sudden violence. Everything feels right. Dave and Ronda establish the atmosphere and impending dread to come sure to come.  This issue gave me a lot to think about and that's an exciting prospect for me. There are a lot of threads being pulled to tell this story. It appears that the road to issue #100 may be paved in ruin.  more

Hislight

Mar 14, 2021

Momentum picks up even if it had to be forced to some extent. What happened to Jennika lacked the punch I thought it would she just doesn't feel like a character I care for that much yet.

myconius

Apr 24, 2019

an alright issue. things are finally starting to move. a few of the altercations and interactions felt overly forced, but it was still effective to the story. i like that more focus is finally being directed to the title characters. i'd like to see them become more of the driving force to the plot, rather than just being reactionary. unfortunately the preview of this year's IDW TMNT Free Comic Book Day issue gave away what would have been a nice surprise ending. but at least i know to be on the lookout for that comic so i don't miss anything for my set of single issues. Dave Wachter's art is probably some of my favorite from this series stable of artists. he has a great sense of drama, and really adds mood. i have just a few minor gripes. though the biggest is i could have really done without that page of Planet Neutrino. lets tie up some of the overabundance of plot threads, before dumping even more on the pile. more