TMNT #12 Preview/Discussion
 

Here's a nice preview of issue #12, in stores tomorrow!

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?p...eview&id=13082


Thanks much for your continued interest and support!

Tom W.

This issue is both a milestone and an end of an era for IDW.

This wraps up the whole first year story arc of this new continuity and represents Dan Duncan's final issue. At least IDW successfully wrapped up year one with a bang.

I can't wait for Year Two.

Of course I had to take a look, couldn't help my self. It was fantastic. I can't wait to have to full issue in hand and see how everything breaks down. Tomorrow is a doulbe treat with this and the Casey book.

Tom thank you for these awesome previews and issues.

I don't want to spoil myself, but I took a peak! Can't wait to read it

My question is will we get how Shredder is still around in this issue or are we going to have to wait tell the mini-series?

looked through all the pages... not the dialogue. That last page is just epic... "its about to go down!" Man am I super excited for this issue. Not to mention the Casey issue is released the same day. Its going to be one shell of a fight no doubt. The fight we've all been waiting for.

AHH! This is the last Duncan issue! I will have to wait until tomorrow to even take a peek.

-ms

I'm guessing there would be no need for the mini series if they spilled the beans here. Maybe we'll get a hint though!

Yeah, that is more of what I meant. Will we see some kind of illumination, a hint if you will, about what is going on? I mean it is a pretty big deal and to leave us in the shadows tell later in the year just seems cruel.

Now, that's how you do a rescue.

Yup... wait til the last possible second to stop an execution when all hope is lost, use a baddie for a test dummy, throw in some kind of witty line and drop in Batman style to the rescue. Badass indeed, Turtles.

^Indeed. The Turtles certainly exel at making dramatic rescues.

It almost reminds me way back in #4 when they came to rescue Raph when Hob came close to killing him.

I think I vaguely recall Bobby or Tom mentioning that they will be exploring Shredder's survival a little bit in the next few issues, but I don't know if that was changed because of the mini series. I'm sure, at the least, the turtles will be thinking about it!

Im gonna miss Dan Duncans art:tsad:. And this issues gonna be great! cant wait to get this and the casey issue!

Has it really been a year already since issue 1 came out? Wow, the time surely did fly by didn't it? Tom and the guys have really kept us talking about this series, and this looks just as good as the rest!

You guys really think Duncan has been improving over the past year? I loved his earlier stuff, but the last few issues have reeked, in my opinion. I miss background's and turtles/humans that don't look oddly shaped.

I like his art in this issue very well and the last few. Either way its not really worth complaining about anymore given this is his final issue forever.

Well you are definitely not alone. I guess I am of the minority here. I do adore some of his earlier stuff though. I get the impression he was trying harder. The splash page in issue 1 along with the first few covers, were great! They had grit, weight, and style.

I for one am glad to see him go at this point. Excited to see what Khun can really do.

I like the homage cover :D

Yeah, his Turtle heads look really "squeezed" and lumpy, all of a sudden.
He just needs to lay off on the excessively toothy expressions, and I think he'll do great.

his earlier Turtles were awesome... er. But his overall art did improve. And I liked the past few issues and I'm sad to see him go.

So excited for today. But my comic shop doesn't open tell 11 :-/ and I'm in class. So I'll have to wait tell about 2ish. The wait is going to kill me. lol

Woah. This issue was great. Duncan, you went out with a bang with this issue.

I read this a few days ago. I was really disappointed.

It's unsatisfying on several levels and with the issue being representative of the height of the "ninja action" in IDW TMNT, then it's pretty clear the bar is only set toe-high (and yes, I realize that is the fault of no one at IDW).

This issue was good and it brings a close to the first year nicely. It feels like there is a complete story now. However it just doesn't feel as satisfactory as it should I guess. I'm not sure why either. Regardless it was a nice ending to the first meeting with Shredder.

I don't think we've seen the last of him at all.

I don't honestly either, but I had to make a comment about it.

Man, I remember driving to the comic shop to pick up #1 so vividly and now we have a whole years worth of issues, plus micros and other goodies. Weird.

Anyways, good read. Nothing too shocking outside of Old Hob being "fired". The battle between Shredder and Splinter was pretty epic, and it was pretty cool once the turtles jumped in. I definitely enjoyed the call backs to Vol. 1 #1 when the turtles engaged Saki. And Leo's banter while he knocked out Karai was really cool, totally got a smirk out of me. And the April/Splinter thing at the end was totally sweet

Complaints: Not a fan of the Purple Dragons just yet, and I don't think I like where this Angel business is going.

Kinda felt like Splinter was being a drama queen :P I know he had a rough night, but he hadn't really received any devastating blows that I noticed. His fight with all those Foot goons should have made it look more difficult on him. Other than the MOUSERs dropping the roof on him, he wasn't even really touched until he started tangling with Shredder was he?

And the exchange between Leo and Shredder was... I don't even know. First of all, why was Shredder running around without his armor in the Leo micro. I know they didn't want to reveal him outside of the main book, but still. And Shredder saying "Yes. You have not forgotten."? Well no sh*t Oroku Sherlock, it was like 5 ****ing hours ago.

This brings me to my main critique of the whole first year: pacing, pacing, pacing. I love this book to death, I really do. But just to demonstrate what I'm talking about, remember Woody the pizza guy? Barely? That's because he was in the February issue, and yet Raphael just met him maybe 12 hours ago.

That's 8 issues all taking place in the same day. Not that I haven't enjoyed the ride, but I'm ready to get movin! However, the book is selling very well and I'm thoroughly hooked, so I'll just shut up now lol.

This issue was cool, I'm actually relieved that this arc is finally over with. I agree with those complaining about the pacing, but also wouldn't want the creators to rush through the arcs either. I just havnt felt any emotional jabs lately, probably since the brothers and Splinter reunited at the beginning of the series.

Hopefully the 2nd year run of this series elevates the status that they should be able to achieve. More epicness, more emotion, more deep issues into the psyches of the characters, etc.

[3/5 for this issue]

This issue was not bad, but not as satisfying a conclusion as the first story arc (#4). The highlights of the issue was seeing Old Hob's "firing," Krang's "Plan B" tease, and April's reunion with Splinter, but I couldn't help but feel the stakes were so low in this face off with the Shredder. All we learn by the end is that when the turtles fought together, they had him on the ropes, if not for Splinter's condition. Not the most suspenseful first encounter. I'm okay with knowing that Waltz does not want to waste such a good character by killing him off too soon, but it has to have meaning if you keep him alive... The writing is competently done, but with the decision to go with multi issue arcs, it's very important to make sure the payoff is worth the wait. I know it sounds like I'm being harsh, but it's only because this series has so much potential, and when it's on, it is really on. Every Micro-Series issue has been awesome, so I know IDW's got it in them. The ongoing has been a little more inconsistent, but as I've said before, I love the scope of its vision. Here's to year #2 going big and not looking back!

I like the fact that Shredder can't take all four turtles on his own. Now it makes sense for him to create more mutants. I think two thugs are gonna get their wish.

I'm perfectly OK with the turtles being able to take down the Shredder as a team. I'm perfectly OK if they aren't. What I'm looking for is a story that has weight and consequence. I know writing is tough, so I hope this comes off as constructive criticism and not ungrateful whining. I like the idea of him resorting to mutants, but he should also be a forceful threat in his own right.

It's a delicate balance because we don't want characters to have things too easy or too tough, or things become too predictable. For the build up of the Shredder, their archenemy and ultimate baddie (4 issues, 8 if you start from his introduction in Splinter's backstory in #5), getting your ass kicked in a few pages doesn't exactly feel like it lived up to the suspense. Hopefully the Shredder can find a way to terrorize our heroes in proper order this coming year!

Great issue, I thought. I liked how it showed that Shredder was not invincible as he himself would like to think. I would agree that the battle looked a tad sloppy, but that's my only real critique with the issue.

I'm not sure how I feel about Stockman "firing" Hob, although I'm definitely interested to see what Krang has in store for Stockman.

This issue was pretty enjoyable I'll say. I'll post my full thoughts later but I thought it wrapped up this long story arc nicely.

Well, you never know what crazy plan Shredder's got hidden up his sleeves. All I'll say is, there are a few clues in issue #12 during the fight.

Look for answers in the next few issues...

See you then!

Tom W.

There were two great moments in this.

Moment One:

Moment Two:



That being said on the whole it was a pretty good issue. I liked how a lot of the threads linked together and it was a great pay off for those who have been reading each months. The ninja action I agree was a bit disappointing it just wasn't on the same level as the characterization of each turtle. The narrative definitely felt stronger than the art of the fight scene. I hope in year two they can begin to better balance this out.

My biggest problem was with them just leaving things unresolved. I know its an ongoing book and you don't necessarily want to "Spiderman" yourself by doing away with villians at the end of each major arc. Yet having the TMNT leave their enemy wounded by using their sharp wit instead of their weaponry. Just feels wrong. Splinter had already accepted that Saki had to die so for him not to convey that to his sons even in all the confusion seems... off

Final thought I'm glad that we finally revisited the Baxter/Krang/Hob storyline after 4 issues. I can't wait to see where things go from here. However

I thought that was a massive missed opportunity. No need to actually end Shredder this issue, but Splinter telling them to forget the peaceful BS and kill Shredder would have been awesome, and a shocking moment for the guys. And the rest of the issue could have played out exactly the same as it did, since it would make sense to just book it after they successfully extracted Splinter.

I guess they plan to make a big deal out of it in the next arc.

Let's hope. I also thought it was odd that Splinter was too weary to inform his sons to kill Saki.

Actually, I interpreted the Splinter micro as him taking on this burden himself so that the turtles would not have to dirty their hands. It would certainly be interesting to see the turtles react to Splinter straying from their "path of peace" for their sakes.

I'll have to re-read the issue tonight, but last night during my original read-through I had the impression that while initially Mike was on the defensive to protect Don helping Splinter, Raph was on the offensive against Saki and Leo was definitely going for killing blows because his brothers' and father's lives were on the line.

Also, nice homages to the original Shredder fight in #1. :twink: