3 out of 5

While issue 11 holds the special distinction of having a back-up that far exceeds the main content, overall, the feature is business as usual, which is getting a little staid to me.

Caleb Goellner’s 2-parter is a well-written balance of escalating antics, banter and action, focusing on Muckman getting a lesson in humility when his self-promotions run afoul of a fouled-up Baxter Stockman experiment, temporarily turning him into a muck-making menace.  The narrative hiccups to get the boys from point A to B to C, but the story is given some good levity by a pokily written Joe the eyeball and an inventive ‘adversary’ that doesn’t just draw from existing stock. But, as usual, the stakes are absolutely non-existent, and the Turtles are sort of faceless throughout (although on the other hand, I appreciate when writers don’t force unnecessary specific-turtleisms into a story); most frustrating, though, is that this would’ve been a great opportunity to leave some change un-reverted in the animated book.  I get that this is the non-continuity- laden alternative to the show and “adult” comic, but when you have a cool idea like mechamuckman, it’d be cool to let it ride, at least for an issue or so.

Endless praise for Chad Thomas, as usual, who has also smartly toned down the manga-esque embellishments to rely on his own expressive style.

Both backups, by Matthew K. Manning on writing, are good, but ‘A Day in the Life’ in #11 breaks out of the usual nyuk-nyuk gag setup for a great chasing-its-own-tail story that gives us a page dedicated to the same day from different characters’ points of view.  It’s smart, legitimately funny, and gets extra points for starring ice cream kitty.  The second backup goes back to normal get-in get-out pacing, but I dig the character callback in the reveal.  Artwise, I’m realizing that, with Heather Breckel coloring the whole book (main and second story), though her colors are fine – well-blended, vibrant – the backups have to have a distinctive style to really stand out, since Breckel uses the same approach / palette regardless of the artist.  The Gaylords in 11 (Jerry on art, Penelope on inks) have a really embellished style that fits this bill, but Jamal Peppers in 12 has a more static, almost flash-like look that too closely follows the Chad Thomas template to establish itself.

Lord knows I will keep reading these, and they remain not horrible distractions, but lord also knows I will continue to hope for some ongoing (or longer than faux two part) storylines…