From writer Juni Ba (Boy Wonder, Monkey Meat) and artist Fero Pe comes a new vigilante in a world of new mutants with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Nightwatcher #1. Featuring colors by Luis Antonio Delgado and lettering from Nathan Widick, this debut chapter brings action and heartfelt emotional stakes to a new era for the TMNT. With a fun, poignant script and great visual direction, Nightwatcher is a must for TMNT readers new and old.
“Violence and discrimination against mutants is running wild, and a new vigilante will rise up to combat it… but who is this fearsome armored fighter standing bravely against the criminals who wish to harm mutants?”
Writing & Plot
Juni Ba finally answers the question asked since Free Comic Book day with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Nightwatcher #1. The answer as to who the Nightwatcher is is pretty obvious, but it doesn’t diminish the effect of the comic at all. Another comic starring a beloved TMNT character is just a bonus, especially when this comic is being written with as much heart as it is. Ba goes to lengths to parallel this world of new mutants to our own world, with people’s reactions to a new city of human-animal hybrids being *exactly* as you’d expect. Ba bounces between the action of Nightwatcher busting a kidnapper and a series of news interviews with people and mutants alike as they comment on the current social landscape. The script firmly plants readers in the conflict of not just this comic, but this new era of the TMNT, and makes this series possibly as prescient as it has ever been. Ba’s dialogue is simplistic but effective, relaying social messages and kick-ass one-liners without skipping a beat. I can’t get into the identity of the narrator for most of the comic (spoiler), but their inclusion makes for yet another simultaneously thematic and fun story beat. Overall, Ba’s script reads like a great TMNT book in all the right ways, layering poignant messaging with great action and beats of humor.
Art Direction
Fero Pe is no stranger to drawing the Turtles, but Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Nightwatcher #1 is their biggest project yet – and they’re off to a stellar start. The returning artist crafts a vision of this beloved universe that is unmistakably TMNT, but also retains Pe’s own visual style. Their animations and character designs are charming and full of life. The background settings are rich with detail, with the dirty urban environment bolstered by Pe’s own use of inks and shading. The sequential direction gives each moment the perfect amount of attention, letting the interview moments sit with the reader while the action moves at breakneck pace. Pe’s thin pencils and shading give ever scene a sense of fluidity, and their action work really shines because of this. Luis Antonio Delgado’s color art perfects the atmosphere and tone of the comic, with every panel having that dingy, smog-covered effect that TMNT books have had for years. Delgado’s color palette adds a hint of classic indie newspaper aesthetic to this issue that is very much appreciated. Nathan Widick’s lettering is a great finishing touch to the reading experience, with hand-drawn letters and SFX work that fits in perfectly with the rest of the art direction. Overall, Nightwatcher is yet another stellar TMNT comic with an aesthetic that fits right in with the rest of this universe.
Verdict
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Nightwatcher #1 is a great opening chapter for this new story in IDW’s relaunch. Juni Ba’s script connects the new mutant struggle with our own reality, all while still writing and fun and kick-ass Ninja Turtles story. The art from Fero Pe and Luis Antonio Delgado is gritty and well-animated, capturing a classic Turtles feel while still maintaining their own sense of style. Be sure to grab this debut issue when it hits shelves on August 14th!
