Reviews: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #20 - 300th Issue & Star Trek: Red Shirts: Ghost Of The 21st Century #1
From IDW Publishing
Two special comics this week from IDW Publishing, with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #20 being the 300th issue and a return to spies in Starfleet in Star Trek: Red Shirts: Ghost Of The 21st Century #1.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #20 - 300th Issue
Forty-one years and 300 issues have led to this, one of the biggest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles stories yet. ‘The City That Never Dies’ begins here!
Mutating the comics industry since their first issue debut in 1984, we are proud to shellebrate 300 issues of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles mainline series.It all began with four brothers and their master, alone against the world. A lot has changed, but the bond of Clan Hamato is, if anything, stronger than ever. They will need that strength to fight what is coming. A threat unlike anything they have ever faced before threatens to destroy the worlds of the living and the dead alike.
Also in this issue: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles creator Kevin Eastman and superstar scribe Tom Waltz take timestress Renet through a tour of TMNT past with classic Turtles artists Ben Bates, Eric Talbot, Chris Allan, Frank Fosco, Jim Lawon, and Dan Duncan!
Authors: Gene Luen Yang, and 2 more
Artists: Various, and 3 more
Reaching 300 issues is a huge achievement for any comic series, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #20 celebrates that milestone by looking firmly towards the future rather than dwelling on the past. It feels like the opening chapter of a major new era, bringing together plot threads that have been carefully building over recent story arcs and finally allowing them to collide. There is a genuine sense that the decisions made by various characters are no longer isolated incidents but have become part of something much larger, with consequences that will affect everyone involved.
The central threat revolves around death itself—or more accurately, the absence of it. Characters returning from the dead immediately raise the stakes because the rules of the world begin to change. What initially seems like another supernatural twist quickly develops into something much more unsettling, suggesting that life, death and everything in between may no longer function as they once did. It creates an atmosphere of uncertainty, as neither the heroes nor the reader can be entirely sure what is possible anymore.
The mystical side of the TMNT universe has become increasingly important over the past several story arcs, and this issue continues to build upon that mythology in an engaging way. Rather than feeling out of place, the supernatural elements have become woven into the series’ identity, adding another layer to the familiar mix of martial arts, family dynamics and street-level action. The mythology behind these events is intriguing, and it feels like there is still plenty more to discover as the story progresses.
One of the strengths of this issue is how naturally it balances its large cast. Alongside Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo and Raphael, we also get meaningful appearances from Splinter, Shredder, Baxter Stockman and Casey Jones. Everyone has a role to play, and it never feels as though characters have simply been included for the sake of a landmark issue. Instead, each appearance reinforces the idea that the coming conflict will involve every corner of the TMNT universe.
There is plenty of action throughout, but it never overshadows the emotional core of the story. The family relationships remain at the heart of everything, while the magical elements and looming villains add tension and unpredictability. The issue strikes a satisfying balance between explosive confrontations and quieter moments that remind us why these characters have remained so popular over so many years.
Readers who picked up the recent Shredder one-shot will already have suspected that he would play a significant part in what comes next. His arrival raises plenty of questions about his loyalties and intentions. Will he become an uneasy ally, pursue his own agenda, or find himself in direct conflict with both Splinter and the evolving Foot Clan? His history with every major character means that wherever he stands, it is certain to have major consequences for the story moving forward.
Visually, the issue is equally impressive. The artwork captures both sides of the series exceptionally well, shifting effortlessly between gritty street-level settings and the increasingly mystical scenes. The action is dynamic, the quieter character moments carry real emotion, and the supernatural sequences have an appropriately eerie quality that enhances the unfolding mystery.
Overall, this is exactly what a landmark issue should be. Rather than simply celebrating the past, it uses the milestone as the launchpad for an ambitious new storyline packed with mystery, mythology, action and character development. Long-time readers will appreciate the payoff to recent storylines while also finding plenty of reasons to be excited about where the series is heading next. It feels like the beginning of something truly significant, and I cannot wait to see how these ideas develop over the coming issues.
Get Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #20 - 300th Issue at Forbidden Planet:
Star Trek: Red Shirts: Ghost Of The 21st Century #1
On the Federation’s farthest frontier, red shirts don’t just die — they’re used. When conscripted security grunt Harry Deubert finds contraband hidden inside a fallen comrade’s body, he uncovers Section Null — a secret Starfleet directorate turning disposable red shirts into assets in a sprawling criminal conspiracy. Teaming with Lyna Taval, an Andorian officer with her own covert agenda, Deubert digs too deep... and becomes a target.
Someone inside Starfleet Security is selling out the Federation. And once Deubert and Taval learn what red shirts are really for, there’s no going back.
Author: Gerry Duggan
Artists: Scott Buoncristiano, and Chris Shehan
A welcome return to the skulduggery at Starfleet! The first Red Shirts series was one of those books that took a familiar concept from the Star Trek universe and completely turned it on its head, finishing with a twist that changed everything. Ghosts of the 21st Century picks up from those events and immediately shows that there is plenty more to explore. Rather than simply revisiting the same ideas, this new story builds upon them, expanding the conspiracy while maintaining the dark sense of humour that made the original series so enjoyable.
The time jump works particularly well because it allows us to see just how much has changed since the previous story. Our former spy has evolved considerably, becoming far more established and dangerous than before. What was once a covert operation has now developed into a criminal enterprise that reaches much further than expected. It is fascinating to see how his influence has grown and how easily he manipulates those around him, all while the ordinary Red Shirts remain completely unaware that they are little more than expendable assets.
That idea of Red Shirts being treated as disposable has always been part of Star Trek folklore, but this series pushes the joke into much darker territory. Instead of simply being unlucky crew members who meet unfortunate ends during away missions, they are actively being used as cannon fodder for someone else’s gain. It is a clever spin on one of the franchise’s longest-running jokes, making the danger feel far more sinister while still embracing the tongue-in-cheek nature of the premise.
The opening issue wastes very little time in demonstrating exactly how ruthless this world has become. A deal quickly falls apart, leading to a violent confrontation that leaves bodies scattered everywhere. The deaths are graphic enough to remind you that nobody is safe, yet there is still an underlying sense of black comedy to many of them that fits perfectly with the tone of the series. It manages to balance brutality with humour in a way that never feels forced.
With Deubert emerging as the last Red Shirt left standing, the story takes another interesting turn. What follows is more than just a simple confrontation, as the situation rapidly spirals beyond anyone’s control. Every decision seems to make matters worse, increasing both the tension and the mystery surrounding the larger conspiracy. By the time the issue reaches its conclusion, another well-executed twist changes the direction of the story once again and leaves plenty of questions to be answered. It is exactly the sort of ending that makes you eager to pick up the next instalment.
The artwork deserves plenty of praise as well. The space sequences look fantastic, with the ships and technology capturing the classic Star Trek aesthetic while still giving the series its own visual identity. The planetside scenes are equally detailed, helping to establish the locations without ever slowing the pacing. Even the over-the-top deaths of the unfortunate Red Shirts are illustrated with an almost comedic flair, reinforcing the book’s unique balance between humour and violence.
Overall, this is a very strong opening to the new story arc. It successfully builds upon everything established in the previous series while introducing new mysteries, raising the stakes and reminding readers that absolutely no Red Shirt should feel safe. It captures the spirit of Star Trek without being tied down by traditional storytelling expectations, instead delivering a darker, more irreverent adventure full of conspiracies, action and unexpected twists. If the rest of the series maintains this standard, it looks set to be another outstanding addition to IDW’s Star Trek line.
