Reviews – Dick Tracy: Dead or Alive, Shredder In Hell, Judge Dredd: Toxic & Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IDW 20/20

Some thoughts on some of this weeks digital comics from IDW Publishing – Dick Tracy: Dead or Alive #3, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder in Hell #1, Judge Dredd: Toxic #3 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IDW 20/20

Dick Tracy: Dead or Alive #3

The pop-art event of 2018 continues! Dick Tracy finds himself on the run from both crooks and cops! Can he survive long enough to clear his name? The iconic comic-strip hero reimagined for the 21st century through a retro lens by the superstar team of Michael Allred, Lee Allred, Rich Tommaso, and Laura Allred! Cover art and co-written by Eisner Award-winning superstar Michael Allred (Madman, iZombie, Silver Surfer, Batman ’66)! Illustrated by Rich Tommaso (Spy Seal, Dry County) with Michael Allred inks! Each issue features a ‘mug shot’ alternate cover by Rich Tommaso!

Lee Allred – Writer
Michael Allred – Artist, Cover Artist
Rich Tommaso – Variant Cover Artist

This issue really picks up the pace. You also get a good look at Dick Tracy’s support crew. It’s well introduced, with some fun ‘science’ thrown in! I like the way this built up, and there are a few discoveries in this issue.
Dick Tracy’s disguise is pretty funny, with a nice twist at the end. This has been a real fun series – slightly updated for the now, but with some good old fashioned twists!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder In Hell #1

Abandon all hope…The Shredder returns in this brand-new mini-series! Oroku Saki’s death is just the beginning, and his journey through the depths of the underworld proves to be anything but a divine comedy. How much of Shredder’s soul will remain after he’s faced the horrors of hell?
Fan-favorite artist Mateus Santolouco returns to the world of TMNT as both writer and artist!

The most infamous villain in the TMNT universe gets his own mini-series.

Mateus Santolouco – Writer, Artist, Cover Artist
Gabriele Dell’Otto – Variant Cover Artist
Rafael Albuquerque – Variant Cover Artist
Kevin Eastman – Variant Cover Artist
Creees Hyunsung Lee – Variant Cover Artist

Massive amounts of variant covers with this new mini series. It’s hard to chose the best as they are really good!
This is quite a dialog heavy issue. It does do a really good job though – it shows the different parts of Shredder’s soul! I like the way there are the two aspects of Shredder – it makes him a very interesting character and makes this series all the more interesting! Shredder has a bit of a guide – Splinter is there for him, but he has been ‘reduced’. There’s also the darker side too – and this is part of what Shredder is fighting against.
There is some fights too – there are the sins of the past and the present for Shredder, with the end of this issue making an interesting fight.
In the background there is also those who wish for his return – where this ends up, with the main series coming to #100 will be very interesting!

Judge Dredd: Toxic #3

Acclaimed British writer Paul Jenkins takes his first shot at Judge Dredd! Everything comes to a head with Dredd and the Justice Department, the only things standing in the way of Mega-City One becoming a toxic wasteland! Cutting satire and gritty action from writer Paul Jenkins (Hellblazer, The Inhumans) and artist Marco Castiello (Star Wars)! Covers by Jenkins’ Peter Parker: Spider-Man teammate Mark Buckingham (Fables, Marvelman)! Painted variant covers by concept artist John Gallagher (The Flash, Supergirl)!

Paul Jenkins – Writer
Marco Castiello – Artist
Mark Buckingham – Cover Artist, Variant Cover Artist
John Gallagher – Variant Cover Artist

There’s a lot going on in this issue, but it kicks off with a good old-fashioned block war!
That’s just the least of it as Dredd, Anderson and the Judges are trying to get to the bottom of the issue with the Blenders – and get the city running again. Anderson shares a good moment with the aliens and there are some interesting aspects there – especially towards the end. There’s also some old fashioned rabble rousing, which will escalate things in the two blocks – I’m sure he’ll get his comeuppance!
This was a slick issue, which drove the story forward well, increasing the stakes in the story too! The artwork is pretty smooth, and some of the larger pieces are excellent!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IDW 20/20

Meet the Turtles of tomorrow in this adventure set 20 years in the future! The Utrom Civil War rages across Earth. When news of a backup Technodrome threatens hundreds of millions of innocent lives, it’s up to the Turtles to do what they do best-save the world.

Paul Allor – Writer
Dave Wachter – Artist, Cover Artist
Gabriel Rodriguez – Variant Cover Artist

A potential look into the future for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. There’s no Shredder, Splinter or the Foot here, and it’s mainly the brothers. 20 years older and the team has changed. Raph is tactics, Donnie is the diplomat, Leo has gone really spiritual and Mikey is…leading the team!
Yes, really, but it works. Mikey still retains some of his humour, and the rest of the team are as they were, but it seems increased. Leo is the most removed of the four and we can only guess on how much he has gone through.
The story is about fighting against the Ultroms – who themselves are going through a civil war. It’s pretty much all go!
It’s an interesting one-shot and a possible future….

Product Search

Huge Discounts on your Favorite Comics @ DriveThruComics.com
Comic Reviews

Review: Hawk The Slayer #5

August 10, 2022 Michael Nimmo 0

From Rebellion comes the last in this mini-series. This is Hawk The Slayer #5. UK and DIGITAL: 10 August £3.99 NORTH AMERICA: TBC $6.50 DIAMOND: TBC Don’t miss the all new comic-book sequel to the classic eighties fantasy […]

About Michael Nimmo 11221 Articles
Owner of the site, lord of all....