My relationship with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) franchise and love for it can be counted in the many (No, seriously it’s a lot.) quarters I willingly proffered up for the chance to play as one of my favorite titular mutants (That would be Donatello.) for just a few minutes more. What’s strange is that I’ve engaged with TMNT through every medium except comic books, and I’m the proud owner of an entire room dedicated just to comic books. And anyone who grew up with me knows how deep my love for He-Man and the Masters of the Universe runs. From pretend sword fights to wanting to own every figure to still sometimes finding myself humming the song of the Master Key in the shower almost forty years later, I love this franchise. I’ve particularly enjoyed Kevin Smith’s recent series on Netflix and many of the recent comic book adaptations, as well.
So, you can imagine my excitement when I learned that Dark Horse would be publishing a mash-up of these two iconic brands. I was glad to see the high quality of creatives involved, as well. Tim Seeley takes on the writing duties, and Freddie Williams II provides the artwork. Seeley has a long history of adapting our favorite toys into quality comics. He has had multiple runs on GI Joe and has written for He-Man, as well. Seeley has previously teamed up with Williams in Injustice v. Masters of the Universe and their prior chemistry shines through in this book. Williams also brings prior experience drawing the turtles from the series, Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Seeley begins the issue with the Turtles already having found themselves on Eternia, home to the Masters of the Universe, a decision I would usually applaud. I don’t mind a comic that leaps head-first into its story, except here it leads to a lot of panels of exposition. I am, however, intrigued with the direction the story seems to be following, which seems to honor both He-Man lore and TMNT’s past. It also allows for the co-existence of these two universes to seamlessly fit within each other’s established world. Not an easy feat.
After the opening with the Turtles narrating their story to Master Splinter and April, the comic drives straight into the action. The Turtles join Man at Arms and the heroes of Eternia, minus He-Man who is currently missing in action, against the joint hordes of Skeletor’s army of Snake Mountain and Krang and Shredder’s army of foot clan soldiers. This simple opening premise is almost a red herring for the real journey this series intends to take us on. Fairly soon, the stakes of their mission are raised and the outcome of the present battle almost becomes moot. I won’t reveal what happens, but it was a welcome surprise that ensures that this crossover will not just follow the usual clichés of crossover comics. It also promises to provide an interesting take on He-Man’s metaphysical role in the multiverse.
On the art front, Williams’s character models are a delight here, and I can see the detail and love put into their design. The Turtles’ Eternia costumes fit right into the Masters of the Universe and are a treat to see. It’s great to see him working on a TMNT project again. He also brings a lot of emotion and life to the faces of the brothers. And I love Michaelangelo’s eighties hairdo. Williams’ art also meshes really well with Andrew Dalhouse’s color work which features a bright color palette. After reading the darker Turtles’ tale, The Last Ronin, it was nice to have a book that veered closer to the cartoon’s aesthetic.
Turtles of Grayskull presents a wonderful premise for having these two iconic franchises collide. The central mystery focused around He-Man’s unique place in the universe is a great catalyst for a chaotic and fun adventure book. While the excitement of this first issue is a bogged down by exposition in its early pages, I do have faith that these two comic veterans, Seeley and Williams, can correct these issues as the series progresses. Unhampered by the need to set up the characters and the premise, I expect the story and dialogue will be given a greater opportunity to breathe.
Creative Team: Tim Seeley (writer), Freddie Williams II (artist/cover artist)
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
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