Tales of the TMNT (Vol. 2) #66

[DrSpengler]

Here's my review. (http://tmntentity.blogspot.com/2010/01/tales-of-tmnt-vol-2-66.html)

A cute comedy relief issue that actually serves as a decent lead-in to TMNT (Vol. 4), probably only taking place a few days or weeks before TMNT (Vol. 4) #1.

Other than that, not a whole lot else to say.

[oldmanwinters]

So I guess it's out already?

[DrSpengler]

So I guess it's out already?

Eh, you know Mirage and Diamond. Some get it early, some get it late, no one gets it on the exact release day.

[***First of Two Latin Kings***]

Yeah. It came out yesterday.

[oldmanwinters]

Eh, you know Mirage and Diamond. Some get it early, some get it late, no one gets it on the exact release day.

I'm gonna miss that about Mirage. :tcry:*sniff*:tcry:

[Andrew NDB]

Really wanted to like the issue. Sadly, didn't do much for me.

[oldmanwinters]

I'd say it's a solid if unspectacular issue. Reads like a Christmas special, ala "Michelangelo #1, even if it is a New Years tale.

It is a decent lead-in to the Volume 4 tussles with the Madhattan Maulitia like Spengs said.

And I got a silent chuckle out of the lampooning of the hyper-corporate bowl games.And I got a silent chuckle out of the lampooning of the hyper-corporate bowl games.

[skaldicpoet9]

Man, I would have had this in my hands already had it not been for moving and switching banks. All of my orders are on hold online right now until I get my damn debit card in the mail.

btw: this will be the first, actual, Mirage Turtles comic I have ever bought and the first Turtle comic I have bought in about a decade or so (volume 3 being the last time I was purchasing Turtle comics on a regular basis). Needless to say I am uber excited to get some new Turtle comics comin' my way :P

[***First of Two Latin Kings***]

I have an extra copy if anyone needs one.

I agree with Andrew-- really wanted to like it and thought the ending was touching but it didn't do a whole lot for me. Would have been nice if they'd included an unrelated back-up story like they used to in some of the issues.

[Powder]

It was deffinately enjoyable as they all are but considering theres 4 books left you would've hope pete would only approve wild ass issues that were either DEEPLY emotional, informative to plot gaps or epic as hell. Oh well. At the least, this issue was one I can referance to when I say 'the turtles always care about a message, polution, saving animals etc'. Thats always good.

[CyberCubed]

Yeah, this issue wasn't that great. I usually like most of Dan Berger's stories, but this one just wasn't interesting.

The whole plot felt like an episode of the original 80's TMNT cartoon. Mike sees a kid who lost his puppy, he and the other Turtles go on an adventure to find it and beat up some criminals who are stealing dogs...give them back to their owners and everyone gets a happy ending. All it needed was some pizza and it would have felt like an episode of the original cartoon.

On top of that, I felt bored while reading it. I know its just a filler issue so it doesn't matter much, but with Tales coming to a close I wish the time was spent on something more interesting.

[Powder]

Well I always read my new issues on the toilet so boredum is met as a cure to itself.

[Venom]

Hehe, what, you're sitting there and think "Man, this issue's a peice of -*plunk* EXACTLY!" :lol:

[oldmanwinters]

Well I always read my new issues on the toilet so boredum is met as a cure to itself.

You gonna mention that if you ever decide to sell your collection? :P

[Ninjinister]

"Description: Issues are in perfect condition, other than a faint odor that may have been induced via reading whilst 'saving my game'."

[ToTheNines]

Sucks that this one's a dud...

I like Berger, and I also like Lawson... but is it just me or do they make an awful pairing? (This one, Mined Games, Curious Case of Mr. Jones, Nobody Does it Better, Splinter Cell... I guess the Proposal was o.k. and Day in the Life was great).

[Cipher]

Sucks that this one's a dud...

I like Berger, and I also like Lawson... but is it just me or do they make an awful pairing? (This one, Mined Games, Curious Case of Mr. Jones, Nobody Does it Better, Splinter Cell... I guess the Proposal was o.k. and Day in the Life was great).I have nothing bad to say about "Splinter Cell." Those other three you listed are clunkers though.

[ToTheNines]

It actually wasn't bad. A wee bit far-fetched, but hey... it's TMNT.

[Ninjinister]

This one was nowhere as bad as 'Rocks'.

[DrSpengler]

I suppose the problem is that this story is so entirely...''inconsequential''. Nothing of substance really happens in the story; its just a saccarine piece about rescuing puppy dogs and has no bearing on any larger scope of storytelling.

And as mentioned in another thread, Lawson's style seems to be decaying ever more steadily. I didn't want to mention it in my review since I've harped on him enough on my site, but the action choreography and layouts were pretty...bad. Like that one page "free for all" image with all the Turtles, gangbangers and dogs. They're supposed to look like they're all partaking in a massive brawl but instead just look like they've all been tossed into the air haphazardly. It's pretty amateurish.


Though we've all known this for months since the story summaries were posted online, this last stretch of Tales issues aren't going to be anything too special (aside from perhaps issue #70). Just the usual fluff stories that, while fun, end up mattering little. They aren't going to take advantage of this last opportunity to tie up any loose ends or blow us away with some amazing stories of major consequence...

They just seem determined to go out on a whimper. I'll enjoy them as much as I've enjoyed most of the "meaningless" stories in Tales, but I'm really not very excited for them in any capacity, aside from perhaps #70, but that depends on whether its actually "Return to New York" era Lawson, or if its just "Brain Thief" era Lawson.

[ToTheNines]

69 looks like it will be interesting.

[CyberCubed]

This one was nowhere as bad as 'Rocks'.

Goodness, I liked that issue too.

Disliking Lawson's art is one thing, but the stories in many of those issues are good. And I have to use the cliche, "Lawson draws great Turtles and monsters/robots, but not human characters."

The last page on #66 with the people reuniting with their lost dogs had no impact on me because the humans were so flat and boring looking.

[ToTheNines]

Ugh, you were right about the OT vibe... I actually "heard" the OT voices when I read this lol.

My major gripe: The cover. I know they were just doing something out of the ordinary, but this book already doesn't sell well, no casual comic reader is gonna pick this up.

Cool pin-up though.

[CyberCubed]

Cool pin-up though.

The pin-up of Don fighting mutant frog monsters in the swamp would have been a better story than this entire issue. The art on the pin-up was great and god would I rather see Don fight mutant frog monsters in the swamp, than read a story about dogs being kidnapped.

[ToTheNines]

They just seem determined to go out on a whimper. I'll enjoy them as much as I've enjoyed most of the "meaningless" stories in Tales, but I'm really not very excited for them in any capacity, aside from perhaps #70, but that depends on whether its actually "Return to New York" era Lawson, or if its just "Brain Thief" era Lawson.

The sad thing is, Dan even said something about making the last 5 issues special (or something like that) in his opening letter.

[ToTheNines]

I like Berger, and I also like Lawson... but is it just me or do they make an awful pairing? (This one, Mined Games, Curious Case of Mr. Jones, Nobody Does it Better, Splinter Cell... I guess the Proposal was o.k. and Day in the Life was great).

To correct myself... Berger/Lawson also did "Temps", which was a cool story.

[Coola Yagami]

69 looks like it will be interesting.

*Chuckle chuckle *snort*

[ToTheNines]

Yesss! I was worried that would go un-noticed lol

[Ninjinister]

Goodness, I liked that issue too...

Ugh. That was such a dull issue. It was like somebody's sloppy bj to Lovecraft. A tribute, if well done, is welcome. Case in point: 2K3 episode "The Darkness Within", which was equal parts Lovecraft and Alighieri. Well scripted, and without too much hand-holding, and in fact, only those familiar with both men's works would get it. Kind of a bonus to an already outstanding episode.

However, "Rocks" is overly heavy-handed, practically beating you over the head with the book in a physical sense whilst asking you "Did. You. Know. This. Is. Based. On. Lovecraft? Huh? Huh? Huh?" in between blows. Some of Stephen King's short stories have the same problem.

[VaughnMichael]

I thought this was a cute issue but yeah, I'd think we'd get some more special issues that relate to other more important stories since we are getting so close to the end here.
I don't think this was as bad as the end of brain theif though, now that was crap.

[Venom]

Just finished reading this issue; I liked it. Nothing groundbreaking, but a nice story overall.

The one thing that I truly enjoyed this issue was Jim's artwork. It's was fantastic! The Turtles poses were a bit more dynamic and had a feeling of depth to them and Casey's face was more unique and his emotional expressions were quite readable. His linework this issue felt like some of his best in a while.

[Cipher]

Got this issue today among several others (and am bringing up a lot of old review threads, sorry).

Verdict: Cute.

Just cute. I had a good time reading it. Nothing special, but certainly more enjoyable and self-aware than other one-off stories like "The Decider."

Also, "Rocks" f*cking rocks, for the record. Get beyond the fact that it's a bright, big Lovecraft homage, and it's a fairly poignant story (the last page, gawd). And Lawson's work looks pretty good in that issue.