3 out of 5

It’s on par with the ongoing Amazing Adventures.  Which, hey, isn’t really a bad thing, as far as these celebrity cameo one-shots go, as they usually amount to novelty wastes of page.  The ongoing AA volleys between moderately amusing and clever chuckles, and writer Manning keeps the one-shot spinning similarly, mostly because he uses his required cameo in the least “guest star” way possible: Anthony (a basketball player; no I don’t know him either) shows up, someone goes “hey are you so-and-so,” and then Shredder kidnaps him to try out a new mutagen.  Which leads to rinse-and-repeat mutant battles, but that’s all fine and good as long as the art and energy are up to snuff, which they are.  Chad Thomas on art gives it his requisite zip, although he relies on a “draw a character with an oversized head to emphasize something” gag a bit too much, and the colors (Heather Breckel) for this “special” feel like they’re printed “specially” – like, better paper stock? – which somehow ends up making them seem flat.

Also, Carmello’s mutant attire has basketball pads, which cracks me up because it suggests Shred’s tailor’s have a sense of humor, or are some form of OCD.

A harmless one-shot, which is for the best.