Review: Stalking The Sewers In ‘TMNT #107’

With something strange in the sewers threatening kids in Mutant Town, the Turtles finally suit up again and go out to investigate as a team. It’s been awhile since they worked together, but it’s like riding a bike. They’re all back at it, especially with lives on the line.

We knew the logical conclusion for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #107 after being introduced to the new mutant lurking below the city. The only path we could possibly take was one that would lead the heroes on a half shell into direct conflict with this monster. While this part of the issue was predictable, writer Ronda Pattison weaves in some nice surprises within Sophie Campbell’s story.
The biggest revelation of TMNT #107 is just how far the effects of Old Hob’s mutagen bomb reached. It’s one thing to turn a bunch of people at a rally into mutants, but it’s quite another to transform any and all wildlife in the area as well, not just on the street, but above and below it. This opens up some interesting ideas about life and sentience too, although those aren’t explored here just yet. The Turtles were…well…turtles before their encounter with mutagen. Now they’re walking, talking not-quite-people.

It’s great to see the Turtles in action again. I love their new designs too. Each has a unique look to them. They appear more grown up in these outfits, while still maintaining the core essence of each character. For example, Raph doesn’t have a shirt as he’s more like an exposed nerve, while Mikey has a comfy sweatshirt. These touches bring out parts of their personality. Artist Nelson Daniel makes this team look great as they stalk through the sewers.
It’s also interesting to see how Jennika fits into this group. She has been immediately accepted as one of the Turtles and it’s like she’s been with them for years. It’s not a perfect fit just yet as she’s still figuring out where she stands with this family. It’s a strange shift as she was basically carrying this series for a few issues while the Turtles were scattered and now she’s a supporting player. There are some interesting conversations at work that letterer Shawn Lee handles well.

There’s a creepy tone to TMNT #107 due to the shadowy setting of the sewer. Pattison excels not just with the script for this issue, but the colors too. There’s one sequence in particular that really stands out. The page is broken up into a few horizontal panels, each featuring a Turtle attacking. Each one is highlighted in the color of that character with Leo in blue, Mikey in orange, and so on. It’s a nice touch that really works well.
While we knew where Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles would go next, it doesn’t make the journey any less intriguing. Now that the characters are settling into their new normal, it will be interesting to see how they interact with each other and other mutants. This is their first real test as a team since Splinter died. Will they stand together or fall apart?
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #107 from IDW Publishing is currently available at your local comic shop and digitally through ComiXology and Amazon Kindle.