Magazine: 4 out of 5

Johnny Ryan bit: 5 out of 5

Pig Goat Banana Cricket!  Yes, that’s why we’re here.  I have been hankering for this series ever since the short of Pig Goat Banana Mantis premiered, and while the lack of consistent Cooper involvement is a bummer, and some episodes do drift more toward hijinx than nonsense, the look established by Dave and the very Ryan vibe of the whole thing (as well as his writing credit on most eps) have absolutely made it worth it.

Nick magazine does what I wish the TMNT mag would do and commits itself almost exclusively to comics.  That, along with its nice production values (the color is great) and getting the show creators involved with the strips really kicks things up a notch; if I watched these Nick shows, this mag would make me so happy.  I don’t, and mainly because the series featured here – Sanjay and Craig, Breadwinners, Harvey Beaks – pale in comparison to the insanity of PGBC, but that doesn’t mean they’re bad… just means I’m not the audience.  Again, I’m certainly convinced that the gist of each show is perfectly represented here, which should be the goal.  If not for a note of high-falutin’ “peace love and kindness” emanates from the editorial bits – which rubs up oddly against the joke when editor Jim Salicrup makes them – the mag would be an easy five stars.

The PGBC pages, while only a few, are delightful insanity, fully rendered in the prickly Cooper style – including his mottled color scheme – and Ryan’d up with “orgle borgle” ridiculousness.  It’s basically a take on the monster-throwup gag in the opening credits, but seeing as how I get such a thrill from the theme music and opening of the show, I’m more than fine to have another variation on it.  That I can hear the character’s voices loud and clear speaks to the great characterization Ryan and Cooper have put in place, as well as the smart casting calls that have embodied those characterizations.

Woop and woop.