Publisher: IDW
Writer: Paul Allor
Artist: Andy Kuhn
Colorist: Bill Crabtree
The story so far…“On Burnow Island, Krang struggles to build a home for the remnants of his once powerful people, the Utroms. He is joined by the human scientist Baxter Stockman, who seeks to use Krang’s technology for his own purposes. Krang’s success lies in the brilliant mind of the robot Fugitoid, who has been captured and is in the process of having his knowledge downloaded.”
And that is where I picked up reading Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Utrom Empire #1 from IDW Publishing. Here is what I really liked about this initial issue…the backstory. I have said time and time again, I’m a sucker for backstories and history and this issue of did not disappoint.
It was interesting to see Paul Allor and Andy Kuhn’s imagining of Krang’s homeworld of Utrominon and beginnings of where the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles foe began. Before the reader gets to that however, the story begins with Fugitoid’s (aka Chet Allen, Professor Honeycutt) attempted suicide. That is to say if a fugitive android can in fact commit suicide? Can they? I’d like to think so if only so I can imagine the NS-5 from I, Robot doing so…but I digress.
The story continues with talk of a “Terrordrome” Krang is attempting to build, the scheme to destroy Krang by Baxter Stockman who is being held prisoner on Burnow Island, and of course the flashbacks to Utrominon which includes young Krang and revolution. Intertwined through the multiple storylines going on in this issue, we also get a mutant turtle sighting, learn a little bit more about Fugitoid, and the origins of the Triceratons.
What made this issue so much fun was the art behind it. Andy Kuhn’s (‘Firebreather’) artwork, to me, seemed like a cross between Mike Mignola and Erik Larsen (think, instead of mixing DNA to create Serpentor, Dr. Mindbender was trying to put together a great artist for Cobra). A comic book about mutant turtles and other worldly brains riding around in robot bodies I think lends itself to a more cartoonish/comic/fun art style as opposed to the ultra-realistic style of some artists. The writing by Paul Allor was good, even as different plots were woven through the story and he navigated us through a brief history of Utrominon’s, everything moved with a nice flow.
All in all, I enjoyed the issue and look forward to the rest of this 3-part miniseries.
I give TMNT-Utrom Empire #1 a 3 out of 5 Saluting Caps
*Rating system is based on Captain America Salutes . The worst rating is 1 saluting Cap (which means he’s saluting you just to rub it in because he gave you a red/white/and blue beatdown). The best rating is 5 saluting Caps (which means a Living Legend is acknowledging just how kick ass you are, congratulations soldier)