Tag Archives: Bobby Curnow

Preview: My Little Pony: Friends Forever Omnibus, Vol. 2

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My Little Pony: Friends Forever Omnibus, Vol. 2

Jeremy Whitley, Bobby Curnow, Ted Anderson, Christina Rice (w) • Agnes Garbowska, Brenda Hickey, Jenn Blake, Jay Fosgitt (a) • Jay Fosgitt (c)

Friends Forever celebrates the magic of friendship in these stand-alone tales featuring all of your favorite characters. Share adventures with Princess Luna and Spike, Applejack and Mayor Mare, Twilight Sparkle and Big Mac, Rarity and The Cakes, and many more! Collects issues #13–24.

TPB • FC • $24.99 • 292 pages • 6” x 9” • ISBN: 978-1-63140-882-3

Preview: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe #9

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe #9

Sophie Campbell, Bobby Curnow & Brahm Revel (w) • Pablo Tunica, Brahm Revel (a) • Freddie Williams II (c)

“Toad Baron’s Ball,” Part 1! Alopex and Nobody are looking for a little rest and relaxation but get more than they ask for when they become the unwilling guests of a never-ending party thrown by the hedonistic Toad Baron!

FC • 32 pages • $4.99

Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #59

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TMNT59_cvrA“Players and Pawns”

So I must confess it’s sure been a long while since I picked up an IDW comic featuring our favorite half-shelled heroes. Last I left they were going to have a final showdown with their arch nemesis and world’s best improper can opener: The Shredder.

That was then and this is now. The Shredder apparently did not survive that final encounter. We open up this issue with Master Splinter (Now Master and ruler of the sacred Foot Clan )and one of his new pupils, conversing at the Shredder’s tomb. The new pupil Jennika is confused as to why they would honor such evil with a monument. He tells her calmly “You may not want to honor the one holding the title, but the title itself always demands honor.” (Interesting words to remember, however I don’t think this rule applies to politicians)

The talk is cut short as Splinter decides he has other rounds to make. He ends up going to see Kitsune. A character that I am not yet familiar but has obvious ties to the Shredder and not an apparent fan of Splinter aka Hamato Yoshi, who is her new Master as well.

They talk back and forth over a hot cup of tea (the only way true powers delegate) Kitsune eludes to the fact that Yoshi maybe a soft leader and not what the Foot Clan needs to proceed into the future. So at this point even Helen Keller could tell you a mutiny is a comin’. Splinter leaves her presence and that is where things start to heat up. A plan is formed and it appears Kitsune has designs on reincarnating her true master: The Shredder.

The rest of the issue consists of a conversation between April O’ Neill and her ally Angel about the whereabouts of their long time friends and April’s ex-boyfriend Casey Jones. We see the betrayal unfold and of course we are left with a “we all saw it coming” cliffhanger.

Overall: So a return to the world of the Turtles for me (Aside from actually going and paying to see the new movie Out of the Shadows) and though there wasn’t a whole lot of Turtle action here, there was more than enough intriguing plot changes to keep me interested. I am definitely a fan of Splinter running the Foot Clan, it’s a different twist for sure. There were a few new characters that threw me, but it does make me want to go back and read the rest of this IDW series run.  On a side note, the art was pretty rad for the battle scene between Splinter and the Clan. This installment was not quite enough to elicit a cowabunga from me but I definitely will be peeking down the manhole to see what’s brewing next time.

Story: Kevin Eastman, Bobby Curnow, & Tom Waltz Art: Dave Wachter
Story: 7.5 Art: 7 Score: 7 Recommendation: Read

IDW Publishing provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

SDCC 2015: IDW Games Launches Turtles Adventure Board Game

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TMNT Board GameAt San Diego Comic-Con, IDW Games announced a big box Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles adventure game complete with sculpted miniatures that is going to shell shock gamers. Debuting in early 2016, the game will let players step into the roles of their favorite Turtle or ultimate villain, Shredder. Designed by Kevin Wilson with input from IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles creative team, franchise co-creator Kevin Eastman, Bobby Curnow, and Tom Waltz, the game will be available in a standard and special limited-edition format, featuring artwork by Eastman.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shadows of the Past will be a scenario-driven campaign game that features story content from the hit ongoing IDW comic. Two to five players will battle their way through a series of 60-90 minute missions where players develop their characters strengths, fighting styles, and equipment along the way to create a lasting story arc. Fan-favorite characters like Casey Jones and Alopex will appear throughout the missions, as the Turtles call on their closest allies for help in battling their deadliest foes.

Expect to see plenty of overlap between the ongoing comic and the board game as game previews and exclusive content begin to show up in the back of the hit ongoing series. Contributions from the creative staff of IDW’s hit TMNT comic will make this board game come alive in ways not seen in past adventuring games. From expansions based on different micro-series and ongoing events, to character expansions featuring IDW’s awesome line-up of heroes, mutants, and miscreants, the turtles have never been more ready for adventure!

In January Animal Cops Face Freakish Beasts in Creatur Cops from IDW and Comics Experience Publishing

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In January 2015, a ragtag group of Animal Control Officers will be facing off against freakish, gene-spliced beasts in Creature Cops: Special Varmint Unit, a new creator-owned miniseries from IDW Publishing in alliance with Comics Experience Publishing.

Creature Cops: Special Varmint Unit tells the story of burned-out animal cop Al Kaminski, as he investigates a death cult with ties to a case from his past. But, in the style of a police ensemble drama, it also follows all the officers of the precinct, in cases ranging from fighting rings to hoarding.

The miniseries is the premiere title in a line of creator-owned comics from new talent published by IDW in alliance with Comics Experience, the online educational company.

Creature Cops: Special Varmint Unit is written by Rob Anderson with nterior art by Fernando Melek, inks by Novo Malgapo, interior colors by Juan Romera, cover colors by Kevin Volo, letters and design by E.T. Dollman, and edits by Paul Allor, Andy Schmidt, and Bobby Curnow.

Issue #1 of the monthly, three-issue miniseries ships in late January 2015 and is available for pre-order in the November Diamond PREVIEWS catalog. (Order Code: NOV140526) Each issue will be a full-color, standard trim comic book, priced at $3.99, and may be pre-ordered at your local comic shop. It is rated TEEN+ for mature themes, language, and violence.

CreatureCops001Cover-1000pix-200dpi

Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 30th Anniversary Special

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20140524-163532-59732501.jpgWhile I’m back from a review hiatus, I’ve continued on my ‘ode-to-turtles’ in this third review of a TMNT-related comic. It is a fitting continuation seeing that this month is the Turtle’s 30th anniversary, having been conceived, written, and drawn by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird in a small New Hampshire studio this month three decades ago. I can only imagine the initial concept, and just how utterly unpredictable it was knowing what a global franchise it is now. “Reptiles, trained in martial arts? Yep. With a rat for a father? Yep. Sounds good, let’s do it.”

Though the franchise itself has been through an ownership roller coaster, Eastman sold his shares to Laird and Mirage Studios, Laird and Mirage sold it to Nickelodeon, and Nickelodeon licensed the comics to IDW Publishing, the property itself has remained relatively untainted and wildly popular (alien origins in this summer’s blockbuster aside). In a special glossy trade, IDW does the anniversary justice by bringing back a wide variety of writers and artists to showcase the Turtle’s evolution from early Mirage Studios through Archie Adventure Series, Image, Mirage Publishing, and finally IDW.

Reprints of the initial advertisements, first press releases, and debut comic con pamphlets of the TMNT origins are worth the $7.99 price tag alone. But once you make your way through the book, you’ll be even more satisfied by witnessing the full gamut of writing and illustration from Eastman and Laird’s gritty beginnings to Jim Lawson‘s abstract drawings to Dan Duncan‘s more recent refined artistry. Dean Clarrain and Chris Allan‘s eco-friendly TMNT Adventures story is one of my favorite pieces from this special, not because it has the best writing or art, but because it reminded me of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles I grew up with in both TV and print.

For the casual fan, the NickToons kid, the everyday comic reader, or the diehard loyalist…this is a must buy/read/save. It misses perfection being too short in length, but still delivers on all other accounts. Thirty years in and Turtle Power! has yet to let up.

Story: Various Art: Various Editing: Bobby Curnow
Story: 9 Art: 9 Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy

IDW Publishing provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #21-28, City Fall

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TMNT_ongo_22-pr-1_ee9efOccasionally, popular long-running comic series with a traditionally younger following get stuck in mediocrity, and it takes a brilliant creative team and a mature concept to elevate it to exceptional. Afterlife with Archie is a hallmark example. City Fall is another. Including issue #21, the prologue, City Fall is an eight-issue story arc in IDW‘s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles continuity that revolves around Shredder’s diabolical plan to take over the city’s warring criminal factions and crush the turtles. What begins with an attack on Casey Jones and Raphael by the Foot Clan, ends with Leonardo’s abduction…all of which is according to plan. Once in captivity, the recently resurrected Kitsune uses her dark magic to invade Leo’s mind and turn him against his loved ones. Can Splinter get back his sage leader or will his family be ripped apart his sworn enemies (which includes a mutant warthog and rhinoceros)?

Writer Tom Waltz‘s script stays on point the entire length of the arc. With the story assist from Bobby Curnow and TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman, Waltz is able to keep scenes tense, pacing fluid, and action fierce. Unfortunately, they are partial to a comic pet peeve of mine. While not as detestable as another peeve of mine, the entire plot in one sentence trick, I am oddly averse to the in-story captions that reference other story lines (i.e. “See Michelangelo Microseries”). These books are littered with them.

Artist Mateus Santolouco captures the modern essence of the turtles. He could have settled on childish, gimmicky heroes, but instead went for muscular, adult characters up against equally matured villains. My only complaint is not what Santolouco did, but what he failed to do. The bottom panel on the final page of Part Three shows a grief-stricken Splinter holding Leo’s blue bandana in front of a glowing cityscape. Why was that not made into a full page?! As one of the most iconic images in the entire story arc, it should have been capitalized on.

While City Fall‘s predecessor issues are by no means mediocre, this story arc brought the TMNT series out of the status quo and into the well-earned limelight. I’m ashamed to admit I had forgotten that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles preceded my childhood–now lifelong–love affair with Batman. This story arc, and series as a whole, brought it all back. Eastman, Waltz, and Santolouco take the iconic reptilian protagonists to a whole ‘nother level and have set the standard for issues to come.

Story: Kevin Eastman, Bobby Curnow, Tom Waltz Art: Mateus Santolouco
Story: 9 Art: 8 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

IDW Publishing provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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