TMNT: CASEY JONES #4 (IDW Publishing)
Casey Jones has a new lease on life as the Nostrum he ingested has given him more power and energy than he’s ever had. But are the side effects worth it? The changes that this made to his personality could strain more than one relationship.
TMNT: Casey Jones #4 - Written By Alex Paknadel – Art By Amancay Nahuelpan - Colors By Luis Antonio Delgado - Letters By Darran Robinson - Edited By Dave Wielgosz - Published By IDW Publishing
Credit: IDW Publishing
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
STORY OVERVIEW:
We discover in the open of the issue how Ludovic came to be. He was originally a snow leopard who was given Nostrum which turned him into a mutant. We then catch up with Casey jones who is feeling like a million bucks due to his ingestion of Nostrum. As him and Raphael are fighting crime, he realizes that he’s not tired and that Raph is struggling to keep up with him. This gets him thinking about all the times he was the weak link and how it makes him feel. Meanwhile, Ludovic is trying to get some more Nostrum and is captured and beaten by Marlin’s militia men. Worse than that, Casey allows his new attitude to put a strain on his relationship with April.
WRITING:
This issue really dives into the ups and downs of depending on a drug that changes you. Alex Paknadel does a wonderful job of showing the changes both physical and mental to Casey after the ingestion of Nostrum. Paknadel really focuses on the mental toll it’s taking on Casey and the strain his attitude is having on his friendships. The action beats are really good, but the emotional stuff is that much better. Mix in learning more about the backstory of Ludovic and his treatment by the people who made him, and this is an issue that truly tugs at your heartstrings.
ARTWORK:
This issue’s artwork is notable for its vibrant and immersive style, vividly portraying the TMNT world with impressive attention to detail. Amancay Nahuelpan skillfully conveys both character appearances and settings, adding depth and distinctiveness to every scene. The characters are finely detailed, with each mutant boasting visual features that distinguish them from one another.
Adding to this is the color work by Luis Antonio Delgado, whose palette brings extra vibrancy to the illustrations. Delgado’s use of color draws readers’ attention across the panels, accentuating the characters and their movements while enriching the overall mood throughout the issue.
CHECK OUT MY REVIEW OF TMNT: CASEY JONES #3
Final Thoughts:
TMNT: Casey Jones #4 is an emotional ride that highlights the highs and lows of medicated improvement. The message about what addiction looks like is not missed on the readers for sure. This series has been incredible, and this issue follows suit perfectly. This book and series are a must pick up at the shop this week.
FINAL GRADE: 9.2/10
Let me know your thoughts on TMNT: Casey Jones #4 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
