by Joe Schickman, Reporter
Official Description:
When a prestigious martial arts tournament invites fighters to travel to Atlantic City and test their skills, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles jump at the chance to compete. But a big stage means big competition, and the world famous STREET FIGHTERS have shown up in force to prove the mettle of their PSYCHO POWERED fighting forms.
As if that’s not enough of a challenge, there are rumors of competitors disappearing and the identity of the contest’s benefactors is shrouded in mystery.
Don’t miss the matchups of your favorite fighters as the half-shell heroes face the likes of Ryu, Guile, Chun-Li, and more.
TMNT Vs. Street Fighter kicks off a five-issue fight card of fury starting this June from IDW Publishing!
Creative Team:
Written by: Paul Allor
Art by: Ariel Medel
Colors by: Sarah Myer
Lettered by: Ed Dukeshire
Editorial Assistant: Nicolas Niño
Editor: Charles Beacham
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vs. Street Fighter delivers exactly what you’d expect and wastes no time launching you directly into the action. The opening “Oof” is uttered as a three fingered green fist collides into Major Guile’s face with a force not felt since Ray Stantz’ call to “Aim for the flat top!” The scene pans out to reveal Raphael and Major Guile exchanging brutal blows in an arena to the cheers of the crowds and their respective teams. As they fight to a protracted stalemate, the elusive powers behind this tournament turn out to be familiar foes to our two teams, Master Bison and Baxter Stockman, doubling down on the danger as they work towards their mysterious, malevolent machinations. Soon after, the Turtle Team and Street Fighter crew separately investigate the event’s missing fighters and are beginning to discover that this tournament may be more than it seems…
Paul Allor expertly balances the Turtles’ humorous playful banter, thoughtful heroic stoicism, and intense teenage angst, set against a backdrop of “gambling and debauchery” that would make Master Splinter blush. The artwork of Ariel Medel is animated and lively, and generates a terrific canvas to project this tale, with a background that is full of details. Sarah Myers’ colors enhance the work done by Medel to generate a depth of field belying the limits of the two-dimensional panel, yielding an aesthetic as dramatic as it is fun. The exhilaration produced by these efforts culminates in a loose cliffhanger as Raphael and Major Guile square off for an alleyway rematch under the hidden surveillance of Master Bison, foreshadowing far more to come in the next issue.
Balancing one ensemble cast can be difficult enough. Combining two distinctly unique sets of characters and merging them into a complimentary chorus while jump starting a riveting story that could easily feel stale is truly a challenge. That challenge was accepted and achieved by the creative team behind the first issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vs. Street Fighter. For a concept that should feel contrived and even forced, I enjoyed every panel of this comic (not to mention each variant cover), and can’t wait for the next one!
Rating: 
ComicsOnline gives Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vs. Street Fighter 4 out of 5 ninja stars.
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