Publication date: 1993
Compiled and edited by: Dean Clarrain (Steve Murphy)
Penciled by: A.C. Farley
Researched by: Steve (SS) Sullivan, Stanley (SW) Wiater, Dean (DC) Clarrain
Inked by: Jon D’Agnostino, Eric Talbot, Ryan Brown, A.C. Farley
Colored by: Barry Grossman
Assisted and Typeset by: Robyn Harris
Cover: A.C. Farley and Ryan Brown
Contents:
This issue features profiles (physical stats, history, powers & weapons, appearance list) for the following characters (“N” through “Z”, only) along with the initials of those who researched their history:
Ninjara (SS)
Noi Tai Dar (SS)
Null (SW)
Oceanauts (SW)
The Other (DC)
Oyuki Mashimi (SS)
Paleocha (SW)
Prehistoric Manmoth (SS)
Raphael (SS)
Rat King (SW)
Rocksteady (SW)
Sasquatch (SS)
Scul and Bean (SW)
Scumbug (SW)
Sewer Jet-Ski (SW)
Shredder (SW)
Skullbuzzer (SW)
Slash (SW and DC)
Slujjj (SS)
Snake-Eyes (SW)
Sons of Silence DC)
Splinter (SW)
Stump and Sling (SW)
Stump Arena/Asteroid (SW)
Tantric Monkeys (SS)
Tattoo (SS)
TMNT Blimp (SW)
TMNT HQ
Trap (SW)
Turnstone (SW)
Tyme and Fayme (DC)
Umihaha (SS)
Uncanny Trio (SS)
Verminator-X (DC)
Vid Vicious (SW)
Warrior Dragon (SS)
White Ninjas (SS)
Wingnut and Screwloose (SW)
Wrestling TMNTs (SS)
Wyrdwind (SW)
Wyrm (SW)
Yaguaro (DC)
Yeti (SW)
Update Section
Dog Star Gang (SS)
Golden Triangle Gang (SS)
Johnny Yen (SS)
May East (SW)
Turtle Tips:
*This issue was preceded by TMNT Mutant Universe Sourcebook #1. It was followed by TMNT Mutant Universe Sourcebook #3.
*Being released in early 1993, this issue featured info up through TMNT Adventures #44.
*This issue mistakenly lists the Rat King’s first appearance as TMNT Adventures #1 rather than TMNT Adventures #11.
Review:
And lo, we have another installment of the TMNT Mutant Universe Sourcebook. I’ll try not to rehash my review for the first issue, since there isn’t a whole lot more to say about these things, but I’ll point out that I always loved them. In addition to organizing character appearances and stats, they gave a lot of additional background details on the characters that didn’t make it into the comic.
For instance, I never knew Maligna’s spaceship was called the “Wyrdwind”, nor that Stump and Sling’s stagehands were named “Tyme and Fayme”. And going even deeper than random names, we get origins to characters who never had theirs told in the comic-itself for space issues (such as Chien Khan's). On the down side, Clarrain (Murphy) and his team of researchers don’t seem to go quite far enough with additional info. As an example, this would’ve been a great place to give the Uncanny Trio individual names, but they opt not to bother.
Anyhow, my one real grievance with these sourcebooks that becomes apparent in this installment is that Robyn Harris tries to get too “clever” with the layouts and it sort of backfires. Characters that are drawn swinging swords in a “cutting” motion proceed to “cut” the text in half, or even into several pieces. This makes reading those sections of stats very, very difficult and very, very annoying. Ninjara, Slash and the White Ninjas are the major culprits.
That’s all I really have to say about these things that I didn’t say in my last review. Even if the info is available online in places, I’d recommend them anyway if you dig Farley art, as this is a tremendous resource for his purdy pi’chers.
Grade: N/A (as in, “No, Farley’s art is almost too cool, as it makes one-shot characters look so awesome you get depressed upon realizing they only appeared in a single issue. Just look at friggin’ Scumbug!”)
