Originally published in: TMNT New Animated Adventures #18
Publication date: December 17, 2014
Story: Matthew K. Manning
Art: Paulina Ganucheau
Colors: Heather Breckel
Letters: Shawn Lee
Edits: Bobby Curnow
“Secret Santa”
Summary:
Christmas is just around the corner, and down in the
lair, that means “secret Santa”. Mikey
draws Raph’s name, much to his chagrin, as Raph is impossible to buy gifts for
(since he hates everything). Mikey tries
to swap names with his brothers, but Don and Leo won’t budge.
Later, the Turtles are out patrolling Chinatown. When no trouble can be found (much to Raph's disappointment) they head
home. Along the way, Mikey peeks into
the skylight of a warehouse and notices the perfect gift for Raph.
Christmas. The
Turtles exchange gifts: Don gives Leo a mint-on-card ultra-rare Super Robo
Mecha Force Five action figure, Raph gives Don a box of high tech scrap he
found in a dumpster, Leo gives Mikey a year’s supply of pizza coupons (which
will last a month), and Mikey gives Raph… a piece of paper with an address on
it.
The Turtles go to the address and Mikey tells Raph to
take a peek through the skylight. Raph
does so, becomes absolutely giddy and dives through the window. The other Turtles decide to take a peek and
quickly see why Raph is so elated: It’s a Kraang facility. As Raph joyously busts Kraangdroid heads, Mikey declares himself
the winner of secret Santa.
Turtle Tips:
*The story continues in TMNT New Animated Adventures #19.
Review:
This is one of the better one-shot short strips to appear
in TMNT New Animated Adventures in a while.
It concerns a dilemma I hadn’t thought about before (what DO you get
Raph for Christmas?) and the character pairings were all great matches. Of course Donatello would get Leo the
nerdiest sort of present (that appeals to Leo’s nerdy hobby in this
incarnation), and of course Raph would get Don a box of trash he found (which
just happens to be what Donatello wanted).
Even the pizza coupons, obvious as they might be, were done with some
fun banter between Leo and Mikey.
It was paced really well, had some great payoff and,
well, it was just a solid short strip.
Good one on Matthew Manning!
Ganucheau is an artist I don’t think we’ve had before in
the book. She’s got solid fundamentals
and emphasizes the “cute”, which is perfectly fitting for this sort of
saccharine Christmas comic. Motion is a
little stiff (like the panel of Raph hugging Mikey with glee), but otherwise it
isn’t bad.
Overall, I think this was the winner of the issue.
Grade: B (as in, “But perhaps Ganucheau does resort to
the Turtles making the ‘awesome face’ a little too much”.)
