(Courtesy of IDW Publishing)

Far ambitious, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder in Hell #1 (IDW Publishing) delivers an effective blend of nightmarish thrills and character exploration. Supernatural forces are trying to keep the Turtles’ worst enemy but is Hell strong enough to keep him contained?

Oroku Saki’s death is just the beginning, and his journey through the depths of the underworld proves to be anything but a divine comedy. How much of Shredder’s soul will remain after he’s faced the horrors of hell?

Here are 5 reasons why you should get Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder in Hell #1:

5) The History!

Splinter did the unthinkable, swung, and chopped off the head of his most hated enemy. The father avenged his sons and put down their murderer, but the price always came with a hefty cost. On Christmas Eve, Splinter had a vision of himself, wearing the Shredder’s armor; with his sons standing over his dead body.

4) The Writing!

Writer Mateus Santolouco has lots of material to explore, focusing in on the stubbornness and tragedy of his lead. Santolouco never lets his readers forget that Shredder is the antagonist, but offers a glimpse of humanity. I loved the idea that Splinter and Shredder behold each other as brothers. Letterer Shawn Lee captures the unbridled rage lurking with Shredder in the captions.

3) The Art!

Also on art duties, Santolouco illustrates a living and breathing nightmare that Shredder cannot wake up from. Creating ints own world, Hell is a twisted version of levels, as Dante’s Inferno foretold. In his closeups, Shredder refuses to let go of his anger, which is what led him to damnation.

2) The Colors!

Santolouco and colorist Marcelo Costa have such a vivid and surreal scheme for each level. My favorite are the purple pages, when Splinter and Shredder meet in Hell. There’s a sadness and emotional vibe coming from Splinter’s aura.

1) A Surreal Read!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder in Hell #1 does a fantastic job of creating a very unsettling atmosphere full of demons. I’m looking forward to the next issue!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder in Hell #1 arrives in stores on January 16th, 2019.

By Jorge Solis

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