TMNT: Journeys #6 is written and lettered by Peter Laird and published by IDW Publishing. Pencils and Layout is by Jim Lawson, Inks are by Erik Talbot. Main cover art (left) is by Jim Lawson & Michael Dooney
TMNT: Journeys #6 is available from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.
Synopsis
Shadow Jones’ boyfriend Jay starts sneaking around and spying on where she’s staying with Master Splinter and runs afoul of METALHEAD! While back in New York City, the Turtles face off against a squad of Utroms and try to figure out what they want—and what is the Fugitoid’s involvement in all of this is. As the threats against the Turtles and their allies multiply and it seems they are being attacked on all sides, will they have what it takes to fend off all these attacks?
Review
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Journeys #6 is a reprint of the classic Mirage Studios (vol. 4) series by Peter Laird and Jim Lawson, and what a treat it was to revisit this love from long-ago- a grounded tale that shows the physical and emotional growth of our heroes and perfectly balances the Turtle’s signature street-level, gritty aesthetic, with out of this world sci-fi elements, that take the story to another dimension- but IDW’s choice to reprint this is maybe just as interesting as the comic itself…
The original Mirage Studios, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Volume 4 is very much considered ‘unfinished business’ with various plot points left dangling that were never resolved- the return of this classic comic did lead me to wonder if this IDW reprint would lead to additional issues being published, ala the TMNT Image Comics (vol. 3) run, which took around a decades hiatus between 1999 – 2020 before coming back to finish their story.
As it stands, there’s nothing to suggest that a similar completion is on the cards, but re-visiting this timeless classic did leave me yearning for that kind of retrospective return- dare I dream?
Those who know their TMNT history, know that this was the ‘original continuity’ Turtles’ return to black and white- after their initial 62 issue run between 1984 – 1993 in black and white, subsequent volumes between 1993 – 1999 were in colour- something that still divides fans.
Jim Lawson’s triumphant monochromatic return helped bring back that raw-underground feel that had made the initial run, so unique and popular- stopping the subtle artistic slide towards the prominent Saturday morning cartoon series and returning to tried and tested basics to create what many consider to be Lawson’s most refined Turtles work.
I remember as a boy, scanning each and every fine line, flicked across the page- seemingly purposefully penned with precision and pertinence in a way that coloured comics often do not appear to be.
Creative uses of contrast, cultivating character and tone in a way, that at the time no other comic I’d seen did. Re-visiting this craftsmanship at the grand-old-age of 37, it still holds the same majestic magic – if anything I appreciate it even more in retrospect, admiring the pure power conveyed in many of the books panels.
Under the sole stewardship of Peter Laird, this iteration of the Turtles continuity took a hard turn into science-fiction. In this book we see the Utroms in both battle and conversation with our heroes in a half shell, delivering exposition that goes towards subtly reframing April O’Neil’s story to fit our newfound sci-fi focus.
While some may take issue with this paranormal-pivot, it is the kind of big experimental creative swing that made the Teenage Mutant Turtles the phenomenon they are today. The real art of Laird’s hard sci-fi turn is how he juxtaposes this alien-influenced, high-fantasy, otherworldly element with the very human and ‘normal’ way in which the Turtles have grown- No longer teens, in this run they are grown-green-adults, living independent lives, having independent experiences and Laird explores this difference and the growth of the characters throughout the series with a slower pace that encourages us to look deeper inwards at our protagonists.
As a fan in the early 2000’s I struggled to get hold of copies of the original run,
these books were rarely found in the high-street due to Mirage lacking any real kind of large scale international distribution. I missed issues regularly as a kid, in a world where the internet wasn’t as it is now, I often had to make my own head-canon to fill-in the gaps, left by my failure to secure an issue.
No such dilemma in the digital world of 2026, however, now thanks to IDW Publishing fans have the chance to access and own physical copies of this pivotal plot with ease. I am very grateful for the opportunity to once again enjoy this terrific tale that set the tone for the multiple magnificent mutant misadventures that proceeded and I am sure this re-print will bring joy to fans both new and old.
Verdict
An experimental, out-there, character driven, turtley awesome blast from the past that reminds me *why* my love for the Turtles continued beyond the 90’s hype and well into the early 2000’s and beyond. A perfect pick up for both the completionist and casual, alike.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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