Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #1 Review

Writer: James Tynion IV / Artist: Freddie Williams II / DC Comics, IDW When I heard that the creative team behind the Batman/ TMNT crossover from last year were getting back together to tell another, I was giddy with anticipation. That first story was an incredibly fun read. The beginning of this installment does not disappoint and continues that same level of awesomeness we were left off with. Batman/ Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles II #1 is the first installment in a six-book story teaming up the Dark Knight of Gotham with the Shell Shocking Brothers of New York. James Tynion IV is no stranger to the Batman. He’s been writing Detective Comics these last couple years and holds his own alongside his fellow Bat-writers, Tom King and Scott Snyder.

In this comic, we get a smooth continuation from the last arc. With Shredder and Ra’s Al Ghul out of the picture (The Bat and the Turtles whooped dat ass). The League of Assassins and the Foot Clan are both reeling from the power vacuum left. Sounds like a job for our heroes. The story reads pretty standardly until something particularly wonderful seems to blossom. One of our heroes goes through a bit of a crisis. Feelings of failure and inadequacy push him to reach out for guidance. In the process, the two worlds are once again unexpectedly linked. This emotional drive gives the tale more heart than a standard “Gotta beat up some ninjas” story. Don’t get me wrong. There will be plenty of ninjas to beat up. Tynion just peppered his bo…