Batman. Raphael. Leonardo. Donatello. Michelangelo. As a child, they met frequently on my bedroom floor as one action figure pummeled another or saved a plastic life, so needless to say that this cross over is something I have been unconsciously waiting for more than twenty years, before I even realised that the two properties came from comics.

Before I knew what comics were.

I tell you this so that you’ll get an understanding of just how excited I am to read this because as of this writing, I haven’t opened the comic, no that’ll come later; a mere paragraph break for you, but several hours for me.

Several hours later, and after a full day at the daily grind, I finished the first of six issues in the Batman/TMNT crossover miniseries, and the question that needs to be answered now is whether the first issue was worth the wait; is it worth spending your hard-earned cash

Well in a turtle shell, I’ll be picking up the second issue but the first didn’t exactly knock my socks off, but if I’m being completely honest issue #1 was exactly what I  expected (and hoped for) from the first issue of the crossover; it was a fun, not too serious introduction for the two properties.

Admittedly I don’t read many Ninja Turtles comics, but I still felt that writer James Tynion IV captured their individual personalities brilliantly within the opening salvo that set up the remaining five issues really well. Freddie E Williams II art style captures the turtles brilliantly, but the first image of his Dark Knight felt a little off for me, a minor complaint because by the next page or two I’d quickly forgotten my concerns as I settled in to the art. Whilst the colouring style my not be for everybody, I felt that Jeremy Colwell delivered an almost hand coloured comic, because of the less than smooth edges of the colours throughout the issue, giving a more organic feel which was something that I really enjoyed, Indeed, it felt almost as if it was an homage to the black and white beginnings of the turtles and the caped crusader’s more brightly coloured world – whether that’s the case or whether I’m reading too much into the art style, I’m not sure.

I really wanted to love this comic, and for the most part I do. Honestly, my only real issue was with the first time we saw Batman; the writing was fantastic throughout, the dialogue between the four brothers felt spot on to me, and other than the previously mentioned panel, then art was brilliant.

With the ending of issue #1, I can’t wait to get my hands on the second issue, because the first issue had something that too many comics don’t these day: fun.

A month is just too long to wait.

Story: James Tynion IV Art: Freddie E Williams II Colours: Jeremy Colwell
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.75 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Also posted on Ramblings Of A Comics Fan