Booknote: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Villains Micro-Series, Vol. 1

Various authors, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Villains Micro-Series, Vol. 1. San Diego, CA: IDW, 2013.

This is an anthology of short stories featuring the origins of four villains, enemies of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The turtles may make small appearances, but these volumes focus on the villains. This is a compilation of the first four issues of the villains micro-series. This volume features the following villains:

• Krang, the alien warlord. 
• Baxter the scientist, who is now forced to work for Krang. 
• Old Hob, a mutated feline who is now a street gang banger and human hater.
• Alopex, Shredder's top student and lieutenant, who is a mutated artic vixen.

The stories are short enough to make good tales and give some detail. I particularly liked Baxter's story as it shows interactions with his father, the man who really teaches Baxter how to think. His father uses the game of chess as a way to teach his son to think and plan ahead, skills that will serve Baxter well as he tries to get ahead of Krang and carry out his own plans. Alopex's story was my next favorite. We get some hints of her past before she came to, reluctantly, serve the Shredder. Now she faces one more ritual to prove her loyalty to the Foot Clan and her master. Old Hob's story does end in a cliffhanger, which was a small detail I found a bit irritating. The artwork is by various artists, but it does maintain a fairly consistent feel. Overall, this is a very easy to read volume that fans of the turtles will likely enjoy.

If you ask me, 4.5 out of  5 stars on this one. This is one that public libraries will likely want to add, especially if they already collect other TMNT comics. It could be a nice title for academic libraries if they already buy graphic novels and comics, but I would view it as optional.

Disclosure note: In order to keep The Man happy this is where I tell you that I read this book as an e-book galley from the publisher via NetGalley. It was provided in exchange for an honest review. Book due for publication around November 19, 2013.