Some thoughts on some of the digital comics out this week from IDW Publishing – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #81, DuckTales #8 & Back To The Future: Tales From The Time Train #4
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #81
‘Kingdom of the Rats,’ Part 1. New York City is in ruins after the Triceraton Invasion. Various groups jockey for control in the power vacuum. But there is one who doesn’t care about power, only chaos? the Rat King! Will the TMNT be able to stop him from doing the unspeakable?
Tom Waltz – Writer
Brahm Revel – Artist
Dave Wachter – Cover Artist
Mark Torres – Variant Cover Artist
Kevin Eastman – Variant Cover Artist
Coming straight after the previous arc, this new one brings back the Rat King, by far the most mischievous of his brothers and sisters. He has not gone unnoticed though as Leo and Splinter both see him in their meditations. Splinter is unsure, but Leo knows that something is up. The TMNT’s reaction sets up nicely the status quo with both April and Baxter. Talking of Baxter, I can see him making a run for more power in the future. That was a nice little mention!
Meanwhile, we also see the arrangement between The Foot and the PDF is holding – for now…..
I like the twist at the end, setting up the next issue nicely!
DuckTales #8
Scrooge finally finds someone he trusts to run his business while he’s out adventuring: Manny, the Headless Man-Horse! Mrs. Beakley is called back into spy duty by British Intelligence, but when she isn’t available, she’s replaced by Webby and Lena Le Strange!
Joe Caramagna – Writer
Antonello Dalena – Artist
Marco Ghiglione – Cover Artist, Variant Cover Artist
The Beast In The Board Room! features Scrooge trying to get one over on his board. I love that they are all vultures BTW! While adventuring, he has a replacement in his place. This doesn’t go to plan as the replacement goes power mad – it’s well done, and fast moving, with some fun sub-texts!
Sleep (Walk) Of Doom! Dewey’s sleepwalking has got really out of hand, with the help of a cursed coin. I like the set up, although you could see that and the ending coming, but the way it was all put together was really good!
Back To The Future: Tales From The Time Train #4
Doc and the Brown family venture ever deeper into the 1939 World’s Fair as a case of mistaken identity puts Jules and Verne in the crosshairs of German spies!
Bob Gale – Writer
John Barber – Writer
Megan Levens – Artist, Cover Artist
Charlie Kirchoff – Colorist
Philip Murphy – Cover Artist
This issue is full of chases – just as we look to be getting towards the end of the arc. We’ve got chases for Einstein – both the dog and the professor (who isn’t here) as well as chases for dogs – both royal and not, and finally chases for the children – with good and bad intentions in mind. It looks like everything is coming to a head, and Doc’s wife’s commentary of the future and it’s tropes make this a fun read!
