Is anyone else confused?  Okay, well, not in general.  If that were the case, then I’m always confused.  In this case, I’m talking about the multiple Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle series written by some of the greatest comic book storytellers of our time: Kevin Eastman, Bobby Curnow, and Tom Waltz.  But, hopefully, I am here to clear up any confusion my readers may have. 

What I love about the Universe series is that we have multiple storylines involved, whereas the regular ongoing series for our heroes-in-a-half-shell follows one central plot.  I assume where readers get confused is that the main storyline in TMNT Universe coincides with everything going on in the ongoing series.  For me, however, I clarify any confusion by remembering that the Universe series follows Baxter Stockman and other mutanimals, while the ongoing comic books focus on Master Splinter and his new regime over The Foot.

Last month in TMNT Universe #2, Baxter Stockman trapped April O’Neil and the turtles inside his lab, along with the Earth Protection Force who wish to wage war on all mutants, and a mysterious mutant scorpion out to seek revenge on only she knows who!  Meanwhile, Leonardo has his own adventure storyline called “Inside Out,” where he’s after someone by the name of Koya, but has been shot with some sort of trippy tranquilizer, making it difficult for him to escape those in full pursuit.

This month, in TMNT Universe #3, Donatello is (of course) knocked out from our last issue and awakens to find that chaos has ensued.  But at least we find out the name of our mysterious scorpion: Zodi!  And April O’Neil comes up with a dangerous plan to help her friends, but it could cost her her life…

Meanwhile, Leonardo finds Koya, and it appears we’ve met him before: The Rat King!  Looks like April isn’t the only one in need of an escape plan…

I can’t tell if I prefer the TMNT ongoing series or TMNT Universe more, but I will say that with author Paul Allor behind the helm of the main storyline in Universe, he has proven himself a necessity in the future of any comic book series that involves our pizza-loving friends.  And with artists like Damian Couceiro and Bill Sienkiewicz and colorists Ronda Pattison and Tomi Varga behind each of these universal storylines, my favorite childhood super mutants have a talented team behind each of their every moves!

Now, if only Renee were here to bring us forward in time, so that we can see if both April and Leonardo escape their separate challenges…alive!

Until next issue,
#TurtlePower