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We have Gale from Comic Force in Branson, MO to thank for this column as it was she that suggested this new Batman series for me. And now I’m suggesting it to you. It’s like the Circle of Life in the comic book world.
Normally I would automatically be down for any new short Batman Series, but I have a “thing” about the Ninja Turtles, so I usually shy away from anything having to do with them, but Gale insisted that this was a great book ,so I put my Turtles thing in the back of my brain and bought it.
This year Batman turns 80 and the Turtles franchise turns 35. I’m 53 which means that I was 18 when TMNT mania hit the streets. You see, my problem with the Turtles is that my first memories of them are as an 18-year-old watching four people running around in crappy felt costumes, fighting.
But enough about me and my Turtle, whatever it is. Let’s get to the comic book!
Of course, it opens with Batman on a rooftop talking on his communication device to someone. I mean, isn’t Batman always on a rooftop skulking around? Bruce Wayne has been having dreams of a boy with black hair fighting by his side and for some reason, he thinks the youth is at the Natural History Museum.
He’s not, but Harley Quinn is, along with the rest of The Smile Clan. They’re there along with their leader The Laughing Man, who looks an awful lot like the Joker, only with a smiling mask over his mouth. He makes a grand entrance knocking Commissioner Gordon off a balcony without a scratch on his body. Amazing how that happens…
As if on cue, Batman drops in and is closely followed by TMNT, Raphael. The other three are right behind and are making pizza jokes from the start. The Turtles have this thing for pizza. They eat it, talk about it and for inexplicable reasons, Michelangelo carries pepperoni around in his shell.
Mikey decides to get Zen and states, “Pizza is the path to peace.” He may actually be right about that, but still, who would put pepperoni slices in a turtle shell?
The obligatory fight ensues between the team up of Bat/Turtles and The Smile Clan. In the end, the Laughing Man orders the roof to be blown so they can make their escape, which, of course, they do. This is issue 1 of 5, so Batman can’t take them down yet, can he?
After The Clan bounces, much pizza is eaten in the sewers of Gotham City, bad pizza jokes are made, Batman rests and a giant Ninja Turtle statue starts talking. All in all, not a bad first book in this final installment of the Batman and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle trilogy.
Get down to your local comic book shop and grab issues 1 and 2 of Batman and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III before they’re all gone. And don’t forget to grab a pizza to eat while you’re reading it.
If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to grab a thin crust with sausage and read issue 2.
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Photo courtesy DC Comics.
I am looking forward to reading this. I really liked Batman TMNT 2 and one was also pretty amazing. Great article man!