Publication date: July 23 - August 19, 2015
Originally published in: TMNT Magazine (Panini) #30
Script: Jessie L. McCann
Art: Iain Buchanan
Colours: Kat Nicholson & Jason Cardy
Colour assist: E. Learner, K. Carter, J. Stayte, SAW
Letters: Alex Foot
"Master Splinter's Evening"
Summary:
Down in the lair, the Turtles try to sneak out for their nightly patrol without disturbing Splinter, who is deep in meditation. They bug him, of course, and Splinter finds that he cannot regain his focus after they leave.
Splinter heads down the sewer tunnels for a few miles to find a better meditation spot. He does, but as soon as he begins to focus, a trio of mutant raccoon thugs (Esteban, Rash and Little Kit) assault him. They try to mug him for his staff, but Splinter makes short work of them. He then thanks them for the relaxing meditation workout and leaves.
Later, back at the lair, the Turtles return and find Splinter exactly where they left him. They assume he has remained motionless the entire time they were gone and marvel at their sensei's resolve.
Turtle Tips:
*This story is continued from "April in a Half Shell". The series continues in TMNT Magazine (Panini) #31.
Review:
Yeah, this one wasn't good by any metric. An empty plot, a bad parting joke and Buchanan's art is as stiff as Molesworth's. The two stories featured in this issue of TMNT Magazine are both pretty bad, but I think this one was worse.
The mutant raccoon thugs are a reminder that the Panini stories are still working their way through season 2, when mutants were popping up everywhere thanks to the stray Kraang mutagen canisters. Actually, it's more a reminder of how far I've fallen behind in reviewing these comics, seeing as how the show is closing in on season 5 as we speak. But with scripts and artwork this lifeless, can you blame me for losing interest?
Anyway, the raccoon mutants were alright, but it would've been cool if they'd been a revamp of the Uncanny Trio from the Archie book. That might've given this lazybones script some extra superficial zing without having to make any substantial improvements.
