The Heroes in a Half-Shell meet the host of the Nine-Tailed Fox! Check out this crossover in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles X Naruto #1 by IDW Publishing!
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES X NARUTO #1
Writer: Caleb Goellner
Artist: Hendry Prasetya
Colorist: Raul Angulo
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
Editor: Thea Cheuk
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: November 20, 2024
Previously in TMNT X Naruto: Naruto tells the story of a ninja striving to become Hokage while carrying the burden of being the host of the Nine-Tailed Fox. Meanwhile, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles features a group of mutated turtle brothers fighting evil in New York City. Now, their worlds collide when April O’Neil meets Tsunade!
TMNT X Naruto #1 begins with Team 7, Kakashi, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, tasked with escorting April O’Neil. April hails from the “Big Apple Village“ and shares stories about Stockman, a scientist studying bio-mutations. Meanwhile, Splinter and the Turtles (in masks that hide their animal/reptile nature) catch up with Team 7 and demand April’s return. Before April can explain, a fight breaks out: Kakashi faces Splinter, Sasuke takes on Leonardo, Sakura battles Raphael, and Naruto fights both Donatello and Michelangelo. By the end of the skirmish, Kakashi recognizes Splinter as Hamato Yoshi and quickly demasks the turtles.
This comic has a lot of potential to explore something truly unique. The crossover concept is solid on paper, and the art style is impressive. The fight scenes are engaging, showcasing the strengths of each character. However, the decision to use “Big Apple Village“ as a way to merge both worlds felt unconvincing. I understand the desire to avoid a complex setup involving interdimensional travel, but simply assuming the two universes coexist while still depicting modern-day New York was frustrating. This choice detracted from the story’s potential, and the dialogue also felt too simplistic, leaving the narrative underdeveloped.
This could have been a great series, but TMNT X Naruto #1 fell short for me. While the art is excellent, and the premise is now established, the execution lacked the depth I hoped for. If future issues build on the concept, it might improve, but for now, this is a solid 3 out of 5, saved mainly by the strong visuals.
Dear Spoilerite,
At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching requires significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep MajorSpoilers.com strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles X Naruto #1
TMNT X Naruto #1 has potential but prioritizes flashy fight scenes over compelling writing, resulting in a corny premise that's hard to believe.
-
Writing3
-
Art8
-
Coloring8
Christopher Rondeau is a storyteller based in Tulsa, OK. Finding himself with little work, he ended up creating a job as a Game Master full time on the internet. Chris spends most of his days reading everything he can, writing bad fiction, and watching old Digimon cartoons with his daughter. Sometimes you can find him Dungeon Mastering a podcast or streaming on twitch. Recently, he has completed his Master's degree with a focus on collaborative storytelling. Find out more at https://rondeaucreator.com