Masters of The Universe/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles of Greyskull #1 Review

Masters of The Universe/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles of Greyskull #1 Review

As a longtime fan who has witnessed the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and He-Man traverse through various dimensions of pop culture, I must say that this crossover was an absolute rollercoaster ride for me! The idea of the turtle brothers joining forces with Prince Adam to battle Skeletor and his minions was a dream come true.


Over the past few years, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been meeting and collaborating with various characters from the comic book universe. This includes figures like Batman, the Power Rangers, kids from Stranger Things, Savage Dragon, Ghostbusters, and others. On a different front, Prince Adam and his fellow Masters of the Universe have clashed with the villainous DC Heroes of Injustice and the Thundercats. Now, these teams are set to encounter each other in a comic book crossover published by Dark Horse.

Initially, let’s summarize the storyline of this four-part series. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are entangled in Eternia’s conflicts. As you open the first issue, you’ll discover that these jovial mutants have assumed Prince Adam’s role and are enjoying their time battling Skeletor and his troops. Shredder and Krang have made a deal with the bone-faced sorcerer, leading to a looming war for control over Castle Greyskull. A mind-controlled He-Man joins the battle, making matters even more complicated. Then, time-travel antics are introduced, paving the way for an unconventional crossover event that differs significantly from previous reader experiences.

Masters of The Universe/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles of Greyskull #1 Review

Teenage Masters of the Universe Ninja Turtles

Tim Seeley, who has previously carved out a comic book journey for Prince Adam and the Masters of the Universe, is the writer in this case. He brings his knack for humor to the table, resulting in some genuinely funny moments featuring Raphael, Leonardo, Donatello, and Michelangelo (the turtle brothers). Seeley skillfully employs the framework of this crossover to not only deliver compelling character development for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles but also gather a vast coalition of heroes and villains to hint at what’s to follow.

Regrettably, the narrative approach Seeley uses in this story falls short of expectations, which is quite disappointing. While it’s intriguing to speculate about how the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles end up in Eternia, the execution unfortunately dilutes much of the enjoyment through excessive explanation. In contrast to the previous Batman/TMNT crossover, readers had a chance to experience step-by-step how the Heroes in a Half-Shell encountered the Dark Knight. The process of Gotham and New York City’s “elite” crossing paths was shown panel by panel, which is somewhat lacking here to some extent.

Once more, it’s hard to accept due to the captivating characterization and the joyous atmosphere created by the intersection of these two worlds. Regrettably, Turtles of Greyskull falls short in delivering its narrative, despite the vision of the creative team being apparent. The storytelling, unfortunately, trips over its own feet in execution.

He-Man and The Turtles of The Universe

In terms of artistic quality, the Turtles of Greyskull series doesn’t fall short. Freddie Williams II appears to be an ideal fit for both universes, given his past work on combining the Dark Knight with the teenage turtle heroes. Whether it’s portraying character emotions or large-scale battles, Williams manages to excel in all areas of this crossover event. It’s also important to acknowledge the colorist, Andrew Dalhouse, for successfully blending the vibrant feel of a Saturday morning cartoon with the medium of comic books.

The blend of Masters of the Universe and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles titled “Turtles of Greyskull” offers a thrilling adventure that skillfully leverages both series, but falls short in delivery and leaves readers yearning for more impactful moments from the crossover. Despite Renet Tilley’s role adding intrigue for future developments and suggesting major surprises on the horizon, it seems this crossover could have reached greatness but fell short. However, if you’re an avid fan of either franchise, this is definitely worth keeping tabs on.

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2024-09-25 17:10