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nooker's review
adventurous
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
tinkygirl's review against another edition
3.0
There were ninja turtles in it so that's definitely some points. This reboot starts with 3 of the turtles looking for their missing brother Raphael. As they search, we learn how they became mutants and how they lost their brother. The character of the different turtles didn't shine through much, mostly because there was very little dialogue. I don't think that'll stop me from reading more because NINJA TURTLES. Also I'm giving some point for this graphic novel requiring no prior knowledge of the TMNTs to understand it.
geese82's review
3.0
I didn't like the new origin story but the storytelling is good. I just wished they didn't change the origin of April and Casey. Other than that it is a decent read if you are not familiar with the TMNT.
bowienerd_82's review against another edition
3.0
Three and a half stars, really. I had mixed feelings about the origin reboot, but there was some good stuff in here, and I like the artwork (although I'll admit- I miss the turtles being color coded). I'm definitely up for continuing to check out the series.
easolinas's review
4.0
In 2011, IDW Comics made a very exciting announcement: they would be publishing a brand new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book series, completely separate from the series that had been published before.
And I have to say, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Volume 1: Change is Constant" is a promising launch for this new series. While the basic story of four ninjutsu-practicing anthropomorphic reptiles (tutored by a wise old rat) is there, Tom Waltz and Kevin Eastman (yes, the guy who co-created the Turtles) add some new elements to the franchise even as they remix some stuff from previous iterations.
Every night, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Leonardo, Donatello and Michelangelo – search for their missing brother Raphael, and fight off the street gangs of the mutant cat Old Hob with their father Splinter. However, the Turtles are beginning to lose heart, and Donatello is convinced that their father’s quest for Raphael is motivated by guilt at losing one of his sons, and that Raphael is probably dead.
He’s wrong, of course. Elsewhere in New York, Raphael wanders the streets as a shunned vagrant, unaware that his brothers even exist, and rooting through trash for basic sustenance. Then he stumbles across a man beating his teenage son Casey Jones, and rushes in to the rescue. He and Casey strike up an instant rapport, but their nightly excursion takes them into a dangerous confrontation with Old Hob’s gang.
And through flashbacks, we see how the Turtles came to be what they are – as adorable little lab experiments at Baxter Stockman’s genetics lab, and given their Renaissance names by an intern named April O’Neil. But something sinister is afoot at StockGen, and the four Turtles – plus Splinter, who is smarter than any ordinary rat – are swept up in a bizarre attack that transforms them forever. Shockingly, it involves glowing green goo.
As a start for a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book series, "Change is Constant" is a good pretty good launchpad. It throws the audience right into the action and quickly establishes where the central four characters are and what they’re doing – which is particularly important when one of the Turtles has been separated from his brothers for his entire mutant life and doesn’t even know about his family. Why yes, it is really wrenching to see poor Raphael wandering the streets alone, looking like he’s about to cry.
And it smoothly introduces new versions of classic characters (April O’Neil, Casey Jones, Baxter Stockman) as well as a handful of new ones, particularly the vicious mutant cat Old Hob. The story unfolds both in the present and the past, and by doing so, Waltz and Eastman weave in a number of moments that either make you go “Oh, so that explains it” (such as why Old Hob hates Splinter and the Turtles so much) or lays groundwork for future plot developments. The latter includes a rather mysterious line of Splinter’s about how he is the Turtles’ father and sensei “as before.” Stay tuned.
It also does a pretty good establishing the Turtles’ personalities, rather than just relying on readers’ familiarity. Leonardo is the dutiful, filial one who does sword practice in his spare time, Donatello is a pragmatist and has a rather antagonistic relationship with Leonardo because of it, Michelangelo is the easygoing and peacemaking one, and Raphael is the lonely brawler who lights up when he makes his first friend.
Dan Duncan provides some decent artwork here – the art style is rough but decent, and character designs are lanky and weedy and, in the case of the Turtles and Hob, pretty muscled. The only flaw is that… well, for some reason he makes the Turtles’ eyes completely white… when their masks are off. They look possessed.
But despite the eyes of the demon disciples, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Volume 1: Change is Constant" is a pretty solid start to an excellent comic book series, whether for newcomers or longtime fans who can spot all the references.
And I have to say, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Volume 1: Change is Constant" is a promising launch for this new series. While the basic story of four ninjutsu-practicing anthropomorphic reptiles (tutored by a wise old rat) is there, Tom Waltz and Kevin Eastman (yes, the guy who co-created the Turtles) add some new elements to the franchise even as they remix some stuff from previous iterations.
Every night, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Leonardo, Donatello and Michelangelo – search for their missing brother Raphael, and fight off the street gangs of the mutant cat Old Hob with their father Splinter. However, the Turtles are beginning to lose heart, and Donatello is convinced that their father’s quest for Raphael is motivated by guilt at losing one of his sons, and that Raphael is probably dead.
He’s wrong, of course. Elsewhere in New York, Raphael wanders the streets as a shunned vagrant, unaware that his brothers even exist, and rooting through trash for basic sustenance. Then he stumbles across a man beating his teenage son Casey Jones, and rushes in to the rescue. He and Casey strike up an instant rapport, but their nightly excursion takes them into a dangerous confrontation with Old Hob’s gang.
And through flashbacks, we see how the Turtles came to be what they are – as adorable little lab experiments at Baxter Stockman’s genetics lab, and given their Renaissance names by an intern named April O’Neil. But something sinister is afoot at StockGen, and the four Turtles – plus Splinter, who is smarter than any ordinary rat – are swept up in a bizarre attack that transforms them forever. Shockingly, it involves glowing green goo.
As a start for a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book series, "Change is Constant" is a good pretty good launchpad. It throws the audience right into the action and quickly establishes where the central four characters are and what they’re doing – which is particularly important when one of the Turtles has been separated from his brothers for his entire mutant life and doesn’t even know about his family. Why yes, it is really wrenching to see poor Raphael wandering the streets alone, looking like he’s about to cry.
And it smoothly introduces new versions of classic characters (April O’Neil, Casey Jones, Baxter Stockman) as well as a handful of new ones, particularly the vicious mutant cat Old Hob. The story unfolds both in the present and the past, and by doing so, Waltz and Eastman weave in a number of moments that either make you go “Oh, so that explains it” (such as why Old Hob hates Splinter and the Turtles so much) or lays groundwork for future plot developments. The latter includes a rather mysterious line of Splinter’s about how he is the Turtles’ father and sensei “as before.” Stay tuned.
It also does a pretty good establishing the Turtles’ personalities, rather than just relying on readers’ familiarity. Leonardo is the dutiful, filial one who does sword practice in his spare time, Donatello is a pragmatist and has a rather antagonistic relationship with Leonardo because of it, Michelangelo is the easygoing and peacemaking one, and Raphael is the lonely brawler who lights up when he makes his first friend.
Dan Duncan provides some decent artwork here – the art style is rough but decent, and character designs are lanky and weedy and, in the case of the Turtles and Hob, pretty muscled. The only flaw is that… well, for some reason he makes the Turtles’ eyes completely white… when their masks are off. They look possessed.
But despite the eyes of the demon disciples, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Volume 1: Change is Constant" is a pretty solid start to an excellent comic book series, whether for newcomers or longtime fans who can spot all the references.
shiregreen's review
5.0
wow so this is a new origin story to the turtles. the turtles and splinter were lab experiments. Raphael was homeless and the other 3 had to find him.
rosepetals1984's review
4.0
I suppose one of the reasons why I picked up this volume of the reboot Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series is for the nostalgia factor. I can still hum the tune and sing the lyrics to the 80s TV series theme song (don't laugh, it's catchy. The series was pretty cool, including the fact that Uncle Phil - James Avery - from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air did the voice of Shredder). And I've seen all of the live action movies of the 90s. Take of that what you will, but suffice to say the franchise was a staple of my childhood.
In any case, "Change is Constant" is the first in a series of comics designed to tell the Turtles' and Splinter's story from the very beginning. The comic flips between the present day (during a tense confrontation) and some months before the Turtles' conversion when they were subjects in a research lab. A very curious April O'Neal is introduced during the flashback, and gives the turtles their respective names and picks their personalities up right off the bat. The cast of characters is small, probably not enough information to give much insight about them yet, but enough to give an idea of a potential conflict and momentum towards something greater. The comic ends on a harrowing moment that sets up for the next comic, but I have to say I was kind of disappointed it wasn't a bit longer read. I enjoyed it very much and liked the structuring of the story. The art style mimics more gritty adaptations of the Turtles franchise, and I liked the character design and coloring of the comic. I think it'll be appealing for those who are collectors of the franchise and a good intro for those of a younger generation just getting to know the Turtles.
Overall score: 3.5/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher IDW Publishing.
In any case, "Change is Constant" is the first in a series of comics designed to tell the Turtles' and Splinter's story from the very beginning. The comic flips between the present day (during a tense confrontation) and some months before the Turtles' conversion when they were subjects in a research lab. A very curious April O'Neal is introduced during the flashback, and gives the turtles their respective names and picks their personalities up right off the bat. The cast of characters is small, probably not enough information to give much insight about them yet, but enough to give an idea of a potential conflict and momentum towards something greater. The comic ends on a harrowing moment that sets up for the next comic, but I have to say I was kind of disappointed it wasn't a bit longer read. I enjoyed it very much and liked the structuring of the story. The art style mimics more gritty adaptations of the Turtles franchise, and I liked the character design and coloring of the comic. I think it'll be appealing for those who are collectors of the franchise and a good intro for those of a younger generation just getting to know the Turtles.
Overall score: 3.5/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher IDW Publishing.
beorn_101's review
2.0
I didn't finish this volume, I got half thru and it wasn't grabbing me. I love the original ninja turtles movie, but i'm not a huge fan of this rewritten origin and backstory.
The dialogue is still campy, but I didn't find it as amusing.
The dialogue is still campy, but I didn't find it as amusing.