TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #14 (IDW Publishing)

As the Turtles try to close in on the Ujigami, they most resort to some desperate measures, protecting their enemies. That even includes Karai and the Foot Clan. But will these efforts be enough to stop the Ujigami?

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #14 - Written By Gene Luen Yang – Art By Freddie Williams II - Colors By Andrew Dalhouse - Letters By Shawn Lee - Edited By Jake Thomas - Published By IDW Publishing

Credit: IDW Publishing

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

STORY OVERVIEW:

The Turtles in an effort to try and capture the Ujigami resort to protecting their enemies as he seems to be picking them off one by one. To cover more ground the Turtles and friends split up. However, this leads to one-on-one match ups with the Ujigami. Raph comes out on top, but barely. However, Leo is not that lucky as Lao Ban is murdered under his watch. After this the Turtles regroup and decide that to defeat Ujigami they will have to do it together. But what enemy is the most tempting bait? That of course is an easy answer as that would be the leader of the Foot Clan Oroku Karai. Like clockwork the Ujigami shows up, and the battle is on. Will the Turtles be able to stop Ujigami? The more important question is will the Turtles be ready for the surprise this issue ends with?

WRITING:

This issue continues to prove why the TMNT line is one of the best in all of comics today. Gene Luen Yang does an incredible job of showing the desperation of the turtles, well at the same time showing their hesitations and fears. The fear of the unknown Ujigami is matched by the fear that they deep down know that the Ujigami is a guardian angel of sorts. The double-edged sword of protector but also violating the moral code of our heroes is an interesting plot device. As true heroes due they always side with their morals and don’t lose focus even when that means you must protect terrible individuals.

Yang also does a fantastic job with the surprises and reveals to the story. Revealing a new puppet master of sorts that is a legit demon in the ear of Karai really allows the reader to start to see the bigger picture at hand. But the huge reveal on the final pages really brings the heart and soul to the story. There are so many ways for this story to go and all of them will surely keep the readers hooked and engaged.

ARTWORK:

The artwork in this issue is stunning and really brings the world to life. Freddie Williams II does a fantastic job of immersing the reader into the entire world of TMNT. The fight scenes feel epic and big; well, the dramatic and surprising scenes really capture your heart. Williams attention to detail really shines through with his character designs. The designs are familiar to the reader, but at the same time show the uniqueness of each individual character.

Andrew Dalhouse keeps that classic look alive with the color choices and the technique he uses to apply the colors. The color scheme furthers the individualism of every character well also highlighting the incredible art. Not to be outdone, Shawn Lee brings a great deal of emotion and tone with the lettering in this book. Much like the Turtles, the art team really crushes it as a team.

check out my review of teenage mutant ninja turtles #13

Final Thoughts:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #14 continues the trend of great issue after great issue in this series. The combination of an emotional story, with amazing action, and twist, turns, and surprises to keep the reader on their toes is a sure-fire winning mix. Each issue captures your heart and imagination, well also leaving you with perfect cliffhangers that make you crave more. This is a series that you need to be picking up at the LCS. If it’s not on your Pull List already make sure you add it ASAP, and if you are trying to find a new series for yourself, this is one you should try, you won’t regret it.

FINAL GRADE: 10/10

Let me know your thoughts on TMNT #14 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!