"TMNT: Bebop & Rocksteady Hit The Road" #5 Preview and Discussion

[AlZarkovski]

First look:

https://is2-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple118/v4/ad/93/22/ad9322e8-5320-4a80-ddd3-793589d1735d/source/360x480bb.jpghttps://is2-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple128/v4/75/e4/ce/75e4ce7c-c6ec-fe2f-ad05-4a6c51a4e121/source/360x480bb.jpghttps://is5-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple128/v4/5b/e1/bb/5be1bbec-99fc-4664-783a-3d8009d40d74/source/360x480bb.jpg

[ProphetofGanja]

Man, Bishop definitely rigged those restraint harnesses to fail :lol:
I guess we'll finally get to see just exactly what Agent Ravenwood can do

[AlZarkovski]

Full preview:

https://78.media.tumblr.com/a7d75b1ba3eec90650be7cea240ca36e/tumblr_pe4rvqUiWR1r7r5bto6_1280.jpg
https://78.media.tumblr.com/f22091e774b6b40beac00c2d00883c86/tumblr_pe4rvqUiWR1r7r5bto4_1280.jpg
https://78.media.tumblr.com/18c409f601e8b2f20829c91746998a11/tumblr_pe4rvqUiWR1r7r5bto5_1280.jpg
https://78.media.tumblr.com/d2dad8d99ffe3dc0c93547e552a9b994/tumblr_pe4rvqUiWR1r7r5bto7_1280.jpg
https://78.media.tumblr.com/1531302e9ab2599b58883e92bad00ff7/tumblr_pe4rvqUiWR1r7r5bto8_1280.jpg

[ChosenOne]

The look on their faces when Anchovy doesn't attack is pure gold! :D

[neatoman]

So does anyone think Anchovy is mutating?

[Powder]

Anchovy is using a machine gun. Oh my God. I love these B&R minis so much.

[CyberCubed]

Bishop sitting there scheming on Ravenwood like a spoiled child is hilarious.

[ChosenOne]

Anchovy is using a machine gun.

My scrapped-Jurassic-Park-4-script PTSD is acting up...

[Utrommaniac]

I was expecting Anchovy with a gun from the comment.


But what I was not expecting was Ravenwood straight-up calling them losers.




I love this woman and she better survive this. She's amazing.

[ChosenOne]

I was expecting Anchovy with a gun from the comment.


But what I was not expecting was Ravenwood straight-up calling them losers.




I love this woman and she better survive this. She's amazing.

"Ravenwood: Agent of EPF" needs to be a thing in the post-#100 future!

Seriously, the IDW crew make writing strong and amazing female characters seem so easy.

[Utrommaniac]

*Deep inhale*

BOY that was a ride!


This was basically my reaction when the BB&RS robots showed up:
https://i.imgur.com/ZHmHih5.png

All of Ravenwood's build making horrifying sense and then stuff only getting more horrifying from there! I mean, what the sh******t :o !?
Her disgust toward them makes a whole lot of sense now that we have some idea of what she's gone through, and what she stands for because of it.

Two instances of "who's he (she) talking to?" in one month, only with one situation having a much funnier end to it. "He already left".

I'm guessing that "N'sho-v" is slowly getting smarter and might end up being the smart one of their group...if only marginally. He's really keeping up with them in everything they do and even started to participate with their antics. So I'm really going to stick with my "gradual mutation" because he keeps biting them...and was in the previous issue.

Karai finally showed up and is getting the old gang back together.


I'm really looking forward to Ravenwood coming back around; she's freakin' awesome.


How exactly did they get better, though? They were practically melting into the concrete and then just suddenly recovered?

[AlZarkovski]

*Deep inhale*

BOY that was a ride!


This was basically my reaction when the BB&RS robots showed up:
https://i.imgur.com/ZHmHih5.png

All of Ravenwood's build making horrifying sense and then stuff only getting more horrifying from there! I mean, what the sh******t :o !?
Her disgust toward them makes a whole lot of sense now that we have some idea of what she's gone through, and what she stands for because of it.

Two instances of "who's he (she) talking to?" in one month, only with one situation having a much funnier end to it. "He already left".


I'm really looking forward to Ravenwood coming back around; she's freakin' awesome.


How exactly did they get better, though? They were practically melting into the concrete and then just suddenly recovered?

OK. Sigh. In one of the reviews I read that Ravenwood is just a collection of disgusting mutant worms. Really? After 4 issues, she was the most interesting character in IDW. I really do not want that she it to be just Wyrm-2.:cry:

And in any case, I hope that she will return.

I'm just waiting for my copy of the comics...

[ChosenOne]

"Don't listen to her, God" was really funny! :lol:

Ravenwood is... A great character but her powerset turned out even weirder than I anticipated. She almost reminds me of Dragon Ball Z's Buu in this issue.

And Anchovy just getting smarter and smarter? Opposable thumbs now? Put that together with...

...Karai recruiting him, and can you say Chote?

[bushido]

She almost reminds me of Dragon Ball Z's Buu in this issue.

Funny I thought more of the Major from Ghost in the Shell for the inspiration. By the way I have seen that Bates and Weaver registered here so they can tell us what their sources of inspiration were for Ravenwood. Pity that the wait is long after the registration before being able to post.

[AlZarkovski]

My paper copy will not come soon, so I read the electronic version.

My English is not very good, so I rarely write here big reviews. But this is an ESPECTIVE case.

This is absolutely amazing! I've always loved the comics of Weaver and Bates, but now I'm their fan number 1!

In 2013 I read micro "Bebop and Rockstedy" and said "cool, these guys know, what they are doing." They understand these characters. They make them new and interesting. I never liked Bebop and Rocksteady. I’m huge fan of 1987 show, but these two mutants have always been boring and uninteresting for me. This micro changed mine attitude towards them. Clever humor, a lot of action, a brilliant story. It was gold. One of the best comics that I read.

"Bebop and Rocksteady Destroy Everything" blew my brain. It was awesome and brilliantly. I have only 2 problems with this mini-series. The first is too many artists. This is a bit confusing. Second - Donatello breaks the fourth wall. It was too different from the main series. In all other respects, it again was genius comics.

But if the micro was gold, "Bebop and Rocksteady Destroy Everything" was silver, then this series is a diamond, instructed with platinum! This is an IDEAL combination of humor, plot, characters and art! I read over 300 comic books about the TMNT before and none of them caused me so much emotion!


And two worlds about Agent Ravenwood. After this series, I think that this is the most interesting character in the entire TMNT Multi-Universe.

I will try to explain why such a character as Agent Ravenwood is EXTREMELY NECESSARY to the TMNT franchise and why she MUST be in the comics further.

Only one characteristic of Ravenwood which can change the entire world of TMNT forever.

She is a "bridge between mutants and humans." This is something completely new and it opens incredible prospects! We can get superheroes in the TMNT-Universe, like as "half-mutants." Also it is possible to show a completely new interaction between mutants and humans. Ravenwood could be a key figure in the war between the species.

Also there is another very important factor. In the TMNT franchise very few interesting female characters. Particularly, good female characters. Moreover, the Turtles always had a lot of enemies and very few friends. And especially friends, who have power or super powers. The appearance of such a character as Ravenwood is a refreshing new breath for the TMNT-Universe. She's smart, she's strong, she's charismatic and she has the right values. Turtles do not need a new enemy. They need such an ally like she. They need she.

Now she lost. She lost part of herself. A very large part. It was painful for her and it was painful to see. She does not deserve such a fate. She must get a new body, go back to the EPF and take revenge on Bishop and Bebop with Rocksteady.

I really hope that she will back and Dustin and Ben working again on the TMNT comics. They are the best thing that happened to the Turtles.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Hell of a finisher. Bebop and Rocksteady versus Agent Ravenwood.

Damn, Ravenwood might be the creepiest character we've seen in IDW TMNT now. Yuck. :tlol:

And as for who's back in town... :tgrin: :tgrin: :tgrin:

[ChosenOne]

And as for who's back in town... :tgrin: :tgrin: :tgrin:

There's no question now that said character will be heavily involved in the run-up to #100.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

There's no question now that said character will be heavily involved in the run-up to #100.

I really thought that'd be post #100, but I'm really, really excited for this! And who else wants to see Donatello versus Bebop and Rocksteady, Round Three?!

[CyberCubed]

This was the craziest comic from IDW TMNT I ever read, and funny too. I laughed out loud constantly at points, "He already left," and all the dialogue was very good. Loved the nod to the old Playmates toys too.

But also I'm also surprised how much this advanced the plot. Whereas Wingnut and Savanti Romero just seemed like one-shot adventures, this whole plot and story with Ravenwood is great. She is a great foil to Bishop too and her powers are amazing. Also loved the returning character at the end as she was out of the picture for too long.

I dare say this Rocksteady/Bebop mini is one of the greatest mini's IDW has done so far. I want another sequel next year....

[ChosenOne]

I dare say this Rocksteady/Bebop mini is one of the greatest mini's IDW has done so far. I want another sequel next year....

Agreed, but you mean two years from now. The first was in 2016, two-year intervals seem to wield the best results. 2019 is already going to be packed! I have no doubt we're gonna get another weekly mini in August but it'll probably focus on something else to build up #100.

Bring on "Bebop & Rocksteady: Mutants of Mayhem" (ha!) in 2020!

[Utrommaniac]

OK. Sigh. In one of the reviews I read that Ravenwood is just a collection of disgusting mutant worms.

"Worms" probably isn't the case at all. More of a mess of a horrifically mutated skin and sinew, and all the trauma that comes with it.

And we still don't know who did this to her!
Even more, I think we have some more of a hint of the "monsters" Bishop Sr was referring to in Area 51. Maybe Ravenwood's failed/dead/dying predecessors in whatever freaky alien was experimenting on humans?

But yeah, I'm going to agree that Ravenwood HAS to be in later versions. It feels like they took what 2012 tried to do with Mutant April, and made that sh*t into gold!

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Bring on "Bebop & Rocksteady: Mutants of Mayhem" (ha!) in 2020!

Absolutely. :tgrin:

Maybe it'll be Bebop and Rocksteady captured by the EPF and put in some sorta Suicide Squad? That'd be awesome. :tcool:

"Worms" probably isn't the case at all. More of a mess of a horrifically mutated skin and sinew, and all the trauma that comes with it.

And we still don't know who did this to her!
Even more, I think we have some more of a hint of the "monsters" Bishop Sr was referring to in Area 51. Maybe Ravenwood's failed/dead/dying predecessors in whatever freaky alien was experimenting on humans?

We'll find out in Issue #87!!! (I'm specifically guessing the middle issue of the Battle Lines story arc...)

[ChosenOne]

Absolutely. :tgrin:

Maybe it'll be Bebop and Rocksteady captured by the EPF and put in some sorta Suicide Squad? That'd be awesome. :tcool:

Sick idea! Please make it happen, IDW! :tgrin:

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Sick idea! Please make it happen, IDW! :tgrin:

Throw in a couple of Playmates action figure mutants (Groundchuck, Dirtbag, Tokka, Rahzar?) and kill them in spectacular ways. It'd be amazing. :tlol:

[ProphetofGanja]

Throw in a couple of Playmates action figure mutants (Groundchuck, Dirtbag, Tokka, Rahzar?) and kill them in spectacular ways. It'd be amazing. :tlol:

omg yes, do a whole Deadpool 2 type montage of everyone but Bebop and Rocksteady dying in ridiculous ways after hyping them up as hot sh!t :lol:

But man, what a wild ride that was! Weaver and Bates really f#cking get these characters, man. They manage to pack so much humor into B&R's dialogue yet also gift us with terrifying spreads like the one of B&R getting up, covered in blood. 10/10 would deff recommend

[ChosenOne]

Maybe it'll be Bebop and Rocksteady captured by the EPF and put in some sorta Suicide Squad? That'd be awesome. :tcool:

omg yes, do a whole Deadpool 2 type montage of everyone but Bebop and Rocksteady dying in ridiculous ways after hyping them up as hot sh!t :lol:

And bring back Wingnut & Screwloose for that!


But man, what a wild ride that was! Weaver and Bates really f#cking get these characters, man. They manage to pack so much humor into B&R's dialogue yet also gift us with terrifying spreads like the one of B&R getting up, covered in blood. 10/10 would deff recommend

Seconded! The moment you see those two getting up like that in such a "Not enough gun" vibe is when you starting running for the hills as fast as your brown pants will let you. I'm one of the people who still don't quite get how they survived Ravenwood's poison literally between panels, but their healing factor is just... Over 9000! B&R can soak damage that would be enough to kill the Turtles and the Mutanimals combined ten times over, absolutely surreal and beastly. That probably had something to do with it. "Probably"... (cough)

August 2020 can't come soon enough!

[CyberCubed]

I wonder if Wingnut/Screwloose are even still alive after that first issue? Those time patrol people said they put them back in the lab that would burn down. Maybe this was just a one-and-done appearance for them.

It's not like every mutant has to be a recurring character.

[Utrommaniac]

They were dead; but they still had to be "gone" in a lab accident to fix the timeline.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

I wonder if Wingnut/Screwloose are even still alive after that first issue? Those time patrol people said they put them back in the lab that would burn down. Maybe this was just a one-and-done appearance for them.

It's not like every mutant has to be a recurring character.

I'm not interested in ever seeing them again. They came, they did everything Archie fans like, and I would really rather see some new fan-favorite mutants get a turn to show up in the next Bebop and Rocksteady mini-series.

[CyberCubed]

I'm not interested in ever seeing them again. They came, they did everything Archie fans like, and I would really rather see some new fan-favorite mutants get a turn to show up in the next Bebop and Rocksteady mini-series.

I agree because there's no place to take them but have them join the Mutanimals, but that group is already getting pretty large. There's also Dreadmon who only appeared in one issue so far, who knows what happened to him.

They've pretty much exhausted through the old mutant characters but a few (like Rahzar/Tokka, etc), hell even the Punk Frogs got a minor cameo/debut in the Ghostbusters mini.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

I agree because there's no place to take them but have them join the Mutanimals, but that group is already getting pretty large. There's also Dreadmon who only appeared in one issue so far, who knows what happened to him.

They've pretty much exhausted through the old mutant characters but a few (like Rahzar/Tokka, etc), hell even the Punk Frogs got a minor cameo/debut in the Ghostbusters mini.

It's a fine line. On the one hand, I love seeing all the old Fred Wolf / Archie mutants pop up. On the other hand, I don't want them all hanging around and taking up ongoing character space... mutant roster's already plenty crowded.

I think the right balance is what these Bebop and Rocksteady mini-series have done: we all enjoy seeing these (somewhat) obscure characters show up, and the more recognizable ones (like Wingnut and Screwloose) get a little more playtime than the mutant anglerfish and seahorse (I don't even remember their names... they never made it past concept art, the poor sushi bastards).

[AlZarkovski]

I think we need a new mini-series about the first days of the EPF. A story about Bishop's father, Ravenwood's experiment and other dark secrets.

It should be something like "Secret History of the Foot Clan". When we get a new story and in parallel there is a story from the past.

People of Professor Shevlin can save Ravenwood from the river. He is ashamed that he helped Bishop. Ravenwood wants to take revenge on Bishop and get a new body. She and Shevlin ask for help from the Turtles and tells them about the past of the EPF. Please, stop me ...:lol:

[ChosenOne]

In Wingnut & Screwloose's defense... Every Suicide Squad needs its Harley Quinn! Plus, I like the Deadpool 2 idea of assembling a team and quickly having it dwindle down to 2-3 essential characters. They could just be a cameo like all the others. More of an Anti-Mutanimals crew, really.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

In Wingnut & Screwloose's defense... Every Suicide Squad needs its Harley Quinn!

You think Wingnut and Screwloose should be added to the Mutant Suicide Squad for... for their sex appeal??? :teek:

[Coola Yagami]

You think Wingnut and Screwloose should be added to the Mutant Suicide Squad for... for their sex appeal??? :teek:

I guess the girls like the plankton chips they're packin

[ChosenOne]

You think Wingnut and Screwloose should be added to the Mutant Suicide Squad for... for their sex appeal??? :teek:

I was thinking more along the lines of their literal bashit insanity, but sure, whatever works! :lol:

[CyberCubed]

Dr. Shelvin is bit of an odd character, because he's kinda just there without any real quirks. I wonder what they'll do with him, he doesn't seem evil.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Dr. Shelvin is bit of an odd character, because he's kinda just there without any real quirks. I wonder what they'll do with him, he doesn't seem evil.

Maybe Slash will kill him. It's Shelvin's fault the Mutanimals and TMNT couldn't rescue him back in Desperate Measures...

[martinitolove]

Ravenwood in spider form reminds me of Baxter 2003 - all the forms he has changed from one episode to another. It would be a great adaptation with this new character I personally feel not beeing an interesting one.
The mini didn't blow my mind but was very enjoyable indeed. Waiting for Karai's Anti-Mutanimals. And Mutants of Mayem (thaught of it as an amazing new title for the next series as I've read it first time) in 2020!

[ChosenOne]

The third Bebop & Rocksteady mini just has to be called Mutants of Mayhem now! :D

And I think I'm gonna start referring to Karai's posse as the Footanimals (not all of them are mutants, but all of them are Foot and all of them are animals).

[Sophie Campbell]

*Deep inhale*

BOY that was a ride!


This was basically my reaction when the BB&RS robots showed up:
https://i.imgur.com/ZHmHih5.png

All of Ravenwood's build making horrifying sense and then stuff only getting more horrifying from there! I mean, what the sh******t :o !?
Her disgust toward them makes a whole lot of sense now that we have some idea of what she's gone through, and what she stands for because of it.

Two instances of "who's he (she) talking to?" in one month, only with one situation having a much funnier end to it. "He already left".

I'm guessing that "N'sho-v" is slowly getting smarter and might end up being the smart one of their group...if only marginally. He's really keeping up with them in everything they do and even started to participate with their antics. So I'm really going to stick with my "gradual mutation" because he keeps biting them...and was in the previous issue.

Karai finally showed up and is getting the old gang back together.


I'm really looking forward to Ravenwood coming back around; she's freakin' awesome.


How exactly did they get better, though? They were practically melting into the concrete and then just suddenly recovered?

I finally read the series, and all that dinosaur species discussion we had earlier is moot: Anchovy is definitely mutating because he ate Rocksteady's ear in the first issue!

[Utrommaniac]

Oh yeah, he totally did! I forgot about that.

He was also biting Rocksteady at some point in issue #4; which I'm going to guess is a regular thing.

But eating an entire ear would be a game-changer in regards to mutating.

[neatoman]

I finally read the series, and all that dinosaur species discussion we had earlier is moot: Anchovy is definitely mutating because he ate Rocksteady's ear in the first issue!

Oh yeah, he totally did! I forgot about that.

He was also biting Rocksteady at some point in issue #4; which I'm going to guess is a regular thing.

But eating an entire ear would be a game-changer in regards to mutating.

If you go back and compare, you can clearly see that Anchovy's appearence is changing. Just take a look at him around the time ate the ear and at the end of this issue.
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uGuEvV3qHKU/W2JQLjnfzzI/AAAAAAAAAH4/A9L2neMfzUoWX5ohqF76sDQyJsrDsLMgwCHMYCw/s1600/RCO004.jpg


https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YaIZtNOZXMA/W4aqNltOY7I/AAAAAAAAJbc/mg7c6iGLM-EoOSJ-Y_Bz8Y6aIfC9tE1rgCHMYCw/s1600/RCO021.jpg
He's clearly bigger, has longer arms, is overall more muscular, different claw shape, etc. Most notably, he no longer has that vacant stare, he's much more expressive now.

[Utrommaniac]

Also, he knows how to use guns and how to participate in their activities.


It probably would make some sense for him to start learning to speak at least a little bit...and that in turn might push some headway in Pepperoni mutating (as she often literally dreams of doing).

Shouldn't be hard with the Utroms and Triceratons around.

[Sophie Campbell]

Now I want to draw mutant Anchovy!!! I guess I'll have to come up with a pitch for a Pepperoni/Anchovy mini-series.

[neatoman]

Now I want to draw mutant Anchovy!!! I guess I'll have to come up with a pitch for a Pepperoni/Anchovy mini-series.


What would the title even be? Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Presents Pepperoni and Anchovy? Time Warped Pet Dinosaurs? Jurassic Beasts in New York City?

[Utrommaniac]

They're actually Cretaceous, but yeah, that would be awesome!

[funatic]

What would the title even be?

Pep & Chovy Get A Pizza the Action