Introduction
After another gut punch last night, I figured nothing to do but get back on the horse and ride again. Plus, I needed an escape from everything. So, here comes Spawniverse and TMNT November 2024. I only received the main TMNT title and everything but Rat City and the main Spawn title. Nevertheless, that gives me 4 comics to review. Perfect number to keep things rolling and get back into the habit of writing on the page.
In spite of everything, I kept this page going. To let it go at this point feels wrong. Hell, just a couple of months ago, I got some responses about the podcast and then abruptly stopped recording that. Also, got a few hits on the Instagram. I can make this what I want, but I need to commit to making it happen. Let’s get back to it.
Gunslinger 36
Quick Synopsis and Thoughts: Someone tries to negotiate with the White House to get Javi’s charges overturned. At first, they say no, until someone realizes just what an important bargaining chip he is. The story shifts to Javi in the hospital and it, turns out, he’s a miracle of healing, too. After knocking out a cop who tries to give him crap for shooting the other cops, he goes back to rest. The rest of the issue deals with the various people who are hunting Javi and ends with Monolith finding one of the others and casually threatening him.
The book is building to something big and I’m here for it, but he buildup is starting to feel a bit too long and familiar. I hope that Javi stops playing dead soon and starts kicking ass again. As always, Barberi’s art remains probably the most true to the original Uncle Todd version. My verdict: Good.
King Spawn 38
Quick Synopsis and Thoughts: Tyrone finds himself in quite the pickle, chained by his wrists and ankles with Simmons, Cy-Gor, and the Tinkerer standing before him. Al asks for some alone time and uses that to threaten Tyrone. With no powers, all of the agents of heaven and hell find themselves on the run. With Al, it’s the vampires and other creatures of the night. When some vamps think they get the jump on Al, Cy-Gor comes to his rescue and they realize that it’s gotten real.
So, the various factions work together to forge an alliance (uneasy as they often are between warring factions who use the “enemy of my enemy”) in order to take down Al. The issue ends with a standoff between Al and a ninja. On the final page, they pounce at one another.
More action in this one that Gunslinger right now. I appreciate that. Because the two stories mirror one another, I think that’s the reason for the familiarity and slight boredom with Gunslinger. The last page gives me hope that next one brings some beat em up for us. Cinar started last issue, I think, and his art isn’t quite at Barberi’s level, but it’s still very good. My verdict: Good, looking to be great maybe, next couple of issues.
Scorched 34
Quick Synopsis and Thoughts: Our girl Jessica is back and in disguise to meet Marc Rosen. They talk about her plan to infiltrate Wynn and the success of that plan. As they part, Jessica tells Rosen to relay a message to the team to watch out for retribution. Also, he needs to take better care of himself. Unfortunately, without Medieval, that’s going to be difficult.
Of course, during her trip back to the agency, she finds herself in a dark alley. And where there are dark alleys, there’s potential allies. Spawn “ambushes” her as a test and then they discuss her plans to help Rosen before getting out of the game. He says “that’s not how this works”. Before she can give a proper response, the alley reveals that enemies are around, too. Two thugs jump them. They dispatch of them quickly. Back at headquarters, Rosen looks at himself in a mirror before smashing his face in anger that Medieval is gone.
Layman’s voice is starting to come out in this title. I’m glad. I enjoy his writing and think the Spawniverse can only grow with new voices in it. Like, look at Gunslinger and King. They’re looking far too alike right now with Uncle Todd at the helm. Jessica, too, is on the run, but her story involves more intrigue and subversion. Plus, the band getting back together is going to feel so much sweeter after all this time. Segovia’s art and the colorful team members make this my favorite book in the Spawniverse. My verdict: Great.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3
Quick Synopsis and Thoughts: Somehow I missed the second issue telling the story of Michaelangelo. Hence this month’s Spawniverse and TMNT November 2024 title. Luckily, this one caught me up at the end. I’m glad this one came, though. My favorite, Leonardo, meditates along the banks of the Ganges river. Trying to find some level of completeness in his life, instead the Foot Clan finds him. He takes care of them easily and commandeers a helicopter.
Cut to Raph and Mikey also dealing with the Foot Clan. They bicker amongst themselves and they fight the enemy. Raph gets ready to peace out because that’s just what Raph does. Leonardo cuts him off and tells them both that Donatello is in deep and they need to go to his aid.
I will say this until it sinks in. Like Chris, I wondered how Jason Aaron might handle the TMNT. After the heart and affection of the previous writer, Sophie Campbell, I didn’t think I was ready for Aaron’s harsher version. But, he’s pulling it off so far. Dealing with the alienation of the turtles by starting them off cut off from one another is a nice touch and a chance to give them time to grow as a team again. The art in this issue makes me think of the old TMNT books and that’s a good thing. My verdict: Great.
The Verdict
While I missed a couple of titles from Spawniverse and TMNT November 2024, the ones that came impressed me. Yes, Gunslinger and King felt a little too much alike, but I can live with that because both books were unique in their own way. Hopefully some of the other books come next month or I can fill by heading down to That’s E over Thanksgiving break.
Images taken from, well, Image.