Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5
Written by Kevin Eastman & Tom Waltz
Script by Tom Waltz
Art by Dan Duncan (New York City), Mateus Santoouco (Feudal Japan)
Colors by Ronda Pattinson
Letters by Shawn Lee
Covers by Mateus Santoouco, Dan Duncan, Kevin Eastman
IDW Publishing
Release Date: December 21, 2011
Cover Price: $3.99

Man, it’s a great time to be a Turtle fan! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5 is probably my favorite issue of the series so far. It’s got everything!

Tom Waltz lays out a killer script based on a story by himself and Turtles co-creator, Kevin Eastman. Just when we think we know where the story is going, they both pull the rug out from under us, and the payoff is one that fans have been waiting for and wondering about since the first issue. To their credit, they leave a huge part of a mystery unsolved, ready to be revealed in another issue.

What I like most about this incarnation of the Turtles is that it takes the very best parts of all past incarnations and blends then seamlessly together in a brand new, fresh, yet familiar story.

There are two artists on this issue, regular Dan Duncan and Mateus Santoouco. Both are very well suited for what they’re assigned to draw. They make the different parts of the book blend very well together, and sometimes the transition isn’t even noticeable. I’ve said it before, but I love how Duncan makes the Turtles look like they belong in the world of the humans. It’s a feat not many artists have accomplished with this franchise.

Another great issue by IDW and the TMNT creative team. This issue has tons of action, mystery, combat, and horror all wrapped up with the biggest heartwarming end you could ever imagine. BUY THIS BOOK!!