Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #72 review: Crashing the Pantheon party
By Alex Widen
The Pantheon party has just been crashed! Can the Ninja Turtles survive the experience?
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #72
Writers: Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman & Bobby Curnow
Artist: Dave Wachter
Colorist: Ronda Pattison
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As of this very issue, IDW Publishing’s TMNT has reached a milestone. This 72nd issue matches the longest running single volume of any TMNT comic across any publisher. This lofty honor had been bestowed to Archie Comics’ licensed series, which ran from 1988–1995. Even Mirage Studios‘ initial volume from 1984–1993 only lasted 62 issues. In addition, IDW’s TMNT reaches this milestone with the same writing team as well as the same colorist throughout the whole run!
Image by IDW Publishing
Considering how wide, wild and wondrous a universe every incarnation of TMNT is, it’s fitting that this issue features the Pantheon. A climax to a critical two-chapter story, the Turtles come face to face with the family of immortals who have manipulated both them, and the world, for centuries. Their original plan was to act as ninja and spy on the family as they had their centennial party to form strategy and gossip. Yet now, thanks to Michelangelo and some rats, the jig is up!
Image by IDW Publishing
Stockman May as Well Be a Fly on the Wall!
First of all, infiltrating the Pantheon party wasn’t easy. It required years worth of planning and a little luck. April O’Neil had to study a scroll she obtained way back in 2013’s Secret History of the Foot Clan miniseries. Angel and Alopex had to stumble into Toad Baron’s party trap in TMNT Universe #9—10. And all three of them, alongside the Ninja Turtles, had to once again form an uneasy alliance with their old enemy. Baxtor Stockman makes his return to the main series here!
Image by IDW Publishing
Baxtor Stockman is one of the oldest antagonists of the entire franchise, debuting in 1984’s TMNT #2. In fact, he was the second nemesis the Turtles ever fought after the Shredder. Every incarnation is a brilliant, if not ethically challenged, scientist. IDW’s version is more wily than others. He’s successfully formed alliances with both Krang and the Foot Clan and survived the collapse of both. While he’s tried to kill the Turtles many times, his lab is where they were reborn.
Image by IDW Publishing
As the result of having the same enemies, the Turtles and Baxtor Stockman are allies of convenience. The Null Group sent a mutant spy to his new laboratory, as Agent Bishop’s forces were raiding it. Without Harold Lilja to supply technology, the Turtles are desperate for a hi-tech ally, and Baxtor is the closest they have. April being his former intern gives them an in, although Stockman always has his own agenda. He aids them to fuel his own plans and amusements.
Image by IDW Publishing
The Craziest Party Around!
More curious than threatened by the Pantheon, Baxtor is convinced to help maintain the Turtles’ teleporter. Unfortunately, the rats of the Rat King wind up sniffing out Michelangelo, exposing the four to the immortal family. The end result is a chase throughout the Toad Baron’s “den of delights.” While Aka has pity for them, as the Rat King is bemused by their presence, both Kitsune and Jagwar agree they should all be killed. Manmoth and Gothano soon join in the melee.
Image by IDW Publishing
Outnumbered and overpowered, the Turtles play a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse as they await Baxtor’s teleportation. Because the den exists between dimensions, getting a lock on the shell-backs is difficult. As a result, the Turtles split up to await eventual rescue, a plan which quickly backfires. Before long, they are all fighting for their lives against immortals who either see them as prey, pawns or to be protected. Not even Raphael is a match for them in direct combat!
Image by IDW Publishing
Despite the seriousness of the situation, this is hardly an issue devoid of comedy. Toad Baron and his long suffering minion Alberto are mere bystanders to the chaos. The only thing Toad Baron hates is his joint being wrecked, and this time he can’t blame it all on the mutants. Pillars get smashed and paintings get punctured, while poor Toad Baron can only look agape in despair. Between Michelangelo’s quips and snark from Baxtor and Rat King, there’s additional chuckles to be had!
Image by IDW Publishing
The Pantheon Are All Distinctly Crafted!
The Turtle tome trio of Waltz, Eastman and Burnow once again turn in a fantastic issue. It simultaneously elevates the threat of the Pantheon without overdoing them. As a mysterious cabal pulling all the strings, they could become redundant if overused. Yet without some direct conflict, their threat is minimized. These two issues strike a perfect balance between such extremes. Having met all of the Pantheon, we now get to see their family fight the Turtle family.
Image by IDW Publishing
Jagwar’s strict code of honor, as well as her sword weapon, reminds me a bit of Karai and Leonardo himself. Perhaps to avoid being too predictable, the Turtles she interacts with the most are Michelangelo and Raphael. She winds up causing the most distress to the Ninja Turtles, albeit unintentionally, when she breaks Mikey’s transponder. It seems like there is little mercy to her, at least so far. For now, she sees the Turtles as intruders on an ancient tradition.
Image by IDW Publishing
Manmoth, in contrast, is something of an elder jock. He cares about hunting and fighting, yet more as sport than as a zealous code. He takes on Leonardo and Donatello more because it’s a good way to stretch after a meal, rather than to defend their sacred meeting. Hunters in comic books will always remind me of Kraven the Hunter from Spider-Man, even though the ancient and hulking Manmoth is very different. We only get a taste of his power and skill, which is enough.
Image by IDW Publishing
Which Antagonist Steals the Issue This Week?
Kitsune is the member of the Pantheon with the biggest grudge against the Turtles. They and Splinter cost her the Shredder as well as her position within the Foot Clan. They’re also allies of Alopex, who recently fought off her possession. This time, Kitsune tries to control Donatello, which sets Leonardo off. Having once been brainwashed by her and Shredder into becoming an elite Foot ninja, Leonardo gets the most out of confronting Kitsune to save his brother. It’s great drama!
Image by IDW Publishing
Once again, the Rat King steals the issue. He’s a conniving mischief maker who could give Loki a run for his money. He continues to needle Kitsune about her role in the disappearance of their brother Chi-You from the TMNT/Ghostbusters crossover. He mocks Gothano’s silence and, overall, likes to stir the pot. Whether it’s trying to kill Mikey with rats or talking Jagwar into going easy for the sake of entertainment, Rat King is a merry mischief maker who often gets the best lines.
Image by IDW Publishing
This time, however, he gets some competition in Baxtor Stockman. As the Turtles’ second oldest villain, the writers pay him a lot of respect. While his history with flies from the 1987 cartoon has been shouted out too, he’s settled into a role as a morally ambiguous mad scientist. He may have no love lost for the Turtles, but he’s not about to refuse an alliance if it suits or defends him. Baxtor is also arrogant and sassy, and more often than not turns out to be the smartest guy in the room.
Image by IDW Publishing
A Great Artist and a Record-Breaking Colorist Make This a Thrill!
Dave Wachter once again returns on art and gets a lot of action to handle here. He has a great take on Toad Baron, and the designs for Jagwar and Manmoth continue to impress. Few comics seem able to effortlessly insert female characters without needlessly “sexing them up” or giving them stereotypical feminine traits like this run of TMNT, and I don’t think it gets enough credit for that. In addition, Gothano is properly creepy, even more so than the Rat King, which isn’t easy!
Image by IDW Publishing
The issue’s climax weaves between hiding, chasing and fighting, and Wachter handles the flow very well. Manmoth’s raw power is established and Rat King’s hordes have never looked more gross. Yet he also handles elegant characters like Aka with the grace they deserve. The sheer amount of characters of various sizes, genders and species would test many artists, but Wachter is unflappable. Ronda Pattison, as always, brilliantly colors the world, especially Kitsune’s spells.
Image by IDW Publishing
In Quality and in Issue Number, This Run Will Be Historic!
In conclusion, Aka has a point that the Turtles are very much like them. Not only due to their adventures in another dimensions, but their reincarnation. Via a mixture of both science and mysticism they’re a reincarnated family from Feudal Japan reborn in new and more powerful animal forms. They may not be immortal, but their souls have survived generations. They just visited Usagi Yojimbo’s world and are about to visit Dimension X to make sure Krang goes to trial.
Image by IDW Publishing
Next: See how the Pantheon party got started in #71!
This has been a fantastic two-chapter arc between dealing with Agent Bishop and Dimension X. It puts the slow burning Pantheon subplot into clear focus for a moment without overdoing it. The Turtles may not have defeated the band, but they’ve at least proven able to penetrate their cabal and live to tell the tale. They know who their enemies are and have an idea of what they’re about. The future will determine how the Turtles proceed, and with this creative team it will be brilliant!