#micro-series

Star Wars Galactic Pals are here!! Check out the new YouTube micro-series! #StarWars #GalacticPals

Check out this adorable new micro-series on YouTube! A spinoff of the Star Wars Galaxy of Creatures animated micro-short series that launched on Star Wars Kids in 2021, Star Wars Galactic Pals joins M1-RE (“Miree”), a member of the Galactic Society of Creature Enthusiasts, as she looks after and studies ornery Ortolans, fussy Hutts, scavenging Jawas, and more aboard the Youngling Care Space…

TMNT MICRO-SERIES: VILLAINS #4 JULY 2013 BY BRIAN LYNCH, SOPHIE CAMPBELL, HEATHER NUNNELLY AND TYLER WALPOLE

We get into the backstory of Alopex, who used to be an arctic white fox until she was mutated by the foot clan.

SCORE: 9

This was a very strong issue. I mean... it’s brief, and the whole thing is full exposition, but so far, that has been the case for every issue. It does add something to the character though. We see that, like almost every other character in this micro-series... she hates Shredder. This will be interesting as her loyalties will be tested (and that would explain why she wasn’t a villain in the 2012 cartoon by the time she made it into that adaptation).

Sophie Campbell was a very good choice of artist for this issue. The artist that penciled her first appearance passed away, so this issue is dedicated to him. Back to Campbell, it just looks cute and menacing. She knows how to draw animals and it pays off. The issue also feels different with the contrasts of bright colors against the snow.

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #22-24 / TMNT MICRO-SERIES: VILLAINS #3 MAY - JULY 2013 BY KEVIN EASTMAN, TOM WALTZ, BOBBY CURNOW, JASON CIARAMELLA, MATEUS SANTOLOUCO, RONDA PATTISON, DAN DUNCAN, SOPHIE CAMPBELL, ANDY KUHN, BEN BATES, MIKE HENDERSON, DAVE WACHTER AND TYLER WALPOLE

The Shredder sets a trap for the Turtles by kidnapping Casey Jones, so he can finally recruit Leonardo.

SCORE: 9

Good action paired with a good action artist, what else could you ask for?

Well, consistency throughout would be nice. While the micro-series are supposed to be “extras”, it doesn’t feel like they are. Most of the time the story comes and goes to those issues. That results in a very mixed quality for the main story when you read it all together. The Old Hub issue is good, but the art is very different in tone. In their defense, you could technically read the main series without reading that particular number.

But I think this book is finally on its feet, and ready to do its own history. These issues have proven TMNT can have good art and good writing outside of Mirage (sorry Image comics), and while this story does seem to have certain similarities with the “second time around fire” issue, it has a lot of elements there to make it a completely different story.

Spoilers after the break...

TMNT MICRO-SERIES: VILLAINS #2 MAY 2013 BY ERIK BURNHAM, ANDY KUHN, JOHN RAUCH AND TYLER WALPOLE

As Baxter finds a way to get ahead of Krang’s plan, we learn how he came to be like this.

SCORE: 8

Krang’s issue wasn’t very good... but if it wasn’t because the next episode is about a mutated cat... I would think all these villains have daddy issues.

In any case, this was a much better episode. It really nailed Baxter motivations and ruthlessness. And also... makes as care about him at the same time. We see him being horrible, but he is smart enough to understand Krang shouldn’t win. Let’s say there is a crossover of motivations between the good guys and Baxter.

Making him work with “Flyborgs” is interesting. I am not sure if they are playing with the idea of mutating him, or it’s just a creation with nods to some of the iterations of the character. (I believe he wasn’t a fly yet in the 2012 cartoon when this was published).

Andy Kuhn doesn’t need to draw Turtles in this issue, so there is nothing really ugly on site. However, there were times I wasn’t sure what I was looking at.

Spoilers after the break...

TMNT MICRO-SERIES: VILLAINS #5 AUGUST 2013 BY ERIK BURNHAM, CORY SMITH, IAN HERRING AND TYLER WALPOLE

With Leonardo taking Karai’s place in the clan... what are her plans for the future? Let’s look at the past to find out.

SCORE: 8

So we finally get some context around Karai, her father and how she brought her grandfather back from the dead. I am not too convinced, to be honest. But I understand this issue had a goal, and that was to introduce the character and take a look at her state of mind. Unsurprisingly, she is more loyal to the foot clan than to the Shredder... this has been part of the character since she was introduced in City at War (but maybe the 2012 version wasn’t that loyal to the clan). I think Karai is a better character when she gets respect and power. Right here, we have her at what looks like the beginning of her arc. So I have hopes that her character will get much better in time. This is a good backstory, by the way, she does seem to be ambitious.

Cory Smith did a good job, it’s stylized enough to make this look like a ninja story and also feels in the same vibe as the main book.

Spoilers after the break...