Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #24
Written by Kevin Eastman, Bobby Curnow & Tom Waltz
Script by Tom Waltz
Art by Mateus Santolouco with Mike Henderson
Colors by Ronda Pattison
Letters by Shawn Lee
Editor: Bobby Curnow
Covers by Mateus Santolouco, Kevin Eastman & Freddie Williams II
IDW Publishing
Release Date: July 31, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #24 is the latest chapter in the “City Fall” storyline, and to say it’s dark and gritty would come close to being the understatement of the year!

Writers Kevin Eastman, Bobby Curnow, and Tom Waltz turn out what is the darkest chapter in this story so far. And, believe me, that’s saying something. The Turtles are forced to team up with Old Hob to find Leonardo and I’m pretty sure they wish they hadn’t. This is the best issue of Turtles that I’ve read in quite a while. Although, if you’ve been keeping up with the series, you know what’s coming, it doesn’t make it any less surprising or shocking when it does happen. There’s a bunch of great twists and turns here, as well as a compelling subplot that you care about just as much as you do the main story. Overall, a great issue by the writing team.

Artist Mateus Santolouco does a fantastic job here, filling the issue with terrific page layouts, some great detail, and some kick butt action scenes. This ability to tell fighting stories is fantastic, and he does it so well, you really don’t need the dialogue to go along with them. There are also some quiet moments in this issue, and he draws them just as well as the action, which is a treat. Bottom line, this issue is packed with emotion. Every kind of emotion that you can think of from pure rage to tears to out and out horror, and they’re all presented with equal talent on each and every page. Santolouco is a great choice for artist of this book, and I’m very glad that he’s aboard.

If you’re not reading Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I feel bad for you. You’re really missing out on a lot. Those of you who think that this is a “kids” title are sorely mistaken. In fact, quite the opposite. It’s a great action title that just happens to star four turtles, and you should pick it up, because it will blow your expectations away.