Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5

DC Comics/IDW Publishing

Written by: James Tynion IV

Art by: Freddie E. Williams II

Color by: Jeremy Colwell

I can’t believe its almost over. The penultimate issue of Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is here and all I can think is I don’t want it to end. James Tynion IV and Freddie E. Williams II have captivated the soul of my fandom through 4 issues, and number 5 maybe just be too much awesome for this comic book lover to handle.

The pieces are finally coming together for Batman and the Turtles but time is quickly running out. With the help of Ras Al Ghul, The Shredder has successfully taken over Arkham Aslyumn making it the new base of operations for The Foot. Unfortunately Leonardo and crew have to go back to their dimension in order to stay alive thus leaving the Dark Knight to fend for himself against The Foot and Shredder. Luckily for Batman, Damien has arrived just in time to help Batman fight this new unrelenting foe and allow the turtles to return home before they revert to their original form.

Batman/TMNT has been a fanboys dream from beginning to end. Tynion knows exactly what strings to pull and panels to highlight to make your inner child scream with uncontrollable delight. I personally shed a single tear of unbridled happiness as I reached the final page. As approach the end to this ultimate crossover, Tynion continues to show us why we need this comic in our monthly pull as almost every panel is designed to keep you smiling and full of fanboy delight.

Even after 5 issues and Tynion’s knack for knowing what I want to see its Freddie E. Williams II’s art that really keeps me coming back and wishing Batman/TMNT would never end. Williams seamlessly weaves these two worlds together in such a way that it feels as if they were never separate. Williams’ character designs and poses have always been the best part of this series for me and those amazing images continue in this penultimate issue. But its in its final page that Batman/TMNT #5 sets itself apart from all other comics as Tynion and Williams’ present a lasting image that in all my years of comic book reading maybe one of the single greatest things I have ever witnessed. I won’t spoil it here but that moment alone is worth the $3.99 price tag and let’s hope it spawns a new line of toys

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it a million more times Batman/TMNT is a must read comic for any nerd of the 90s. Hell, its a must read comic for anyone who loves these characters. Issue 5 while its mostly set up for the final battle, its an unbelievable one that gives us a cliffhanger I thought only possible in my dreams.