Prime Slime Tales #1

I paid $2 for this book based only on the publisher. As Mirage Studios was the birthplace of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I hoped that maybe this was set in the same universe. Other than the wraparound cover being penciled by TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman, there isn't anything else that connects the Ninja Turtles with the cast of characters in this book. 

The star of the book is an alley cat named Zigbone. He lives at the city dump along with an assortment of other critters like a foul-mouthed bullfrog named Warty. One day as Zigbone is scouting the refuse for his next meal, the kitty stumbles across a strange looking character. Fearing that either an alien is invading or a monster is attacking, Zigbone rallies his junk yard pals in hopes of destroying the... adorable little guy that only says 'Blort!'

Prime Slime Tales was written and illustrated from Rowen and Tony Basilicato who co-created the Geriatric Gangrene Jujitsu Gerbils. A parody of the Turtles, I am surprised that Mirage Studios signed the Basilicatos to do this book and I am even more surprised that the Gerbils make a guest appearance in this book. Obviously Eastman and Laird had a good sense of humor about things, figuring if you can't beat 'em, team up with 'em!

I hated the ending. For one, it ends with a cliffhanger. Second, it looks like it's curtains for that adorable Blort creature. I really hope he didn't die! He's so freakin' cute. I really, really want to know what happens next, unless it's a funeral for 'Blort'.

Prime Slime Tales only lasted for a second issue at Mirage before jumping ship to Now Comics. Considering that I can't even find out what happens in issue #2, I have even less hope of understanding why the Basilicatos defected. There's very, very little about Now Comics on the net, probably because of how such a small player the publisher was in the vast nearly 90 year history of comics. 

If you were like me and you were expecting the Ninja Turtles to appear in this book, don't be completely disappointed that they aren't in this story. Eastman and Laird do craft a pin-up in the back cover that has the Turtles helping the stars of this book from a horde of scary looking monsters. Unfortunately, it's in black and white. But it's still impressive looking. 

A good read that left me in the lurch. I really need to know what happens next.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Color Classic Micro Series: Michaelangelo

Reprinting the extremely difficult to find (as well as quite expensive when you do) Michaelangelo one-shot from 1985. This colorized version recalls Mickey's holiday trek through Manhattan on Christmas Eve. Here, the turtle goes sledding, enjoys the sites and smells, adopts a kitten and takes on a group of baddies who have stolen a truck full of toys due for the orphans. 

This was a Eastman and Laird masterpiece. While I am very grateful to have recently found this book for only a buck at my favorite thrift store, I am not done with trying to find more copies of this story. I've given up on trying to find the 1985 original. It's too expensive. However, there is the matter of the 1990 Michaelangelo Christmas Special from Mirage. That volume not only reprints the story found in this comic but it includes an original A Christmas Carol-style story. 

The 1990 Christmas special has been reprinted several times with both tales. Why IDW didn't include the 90s story with this edition is beyond me. Since there's a TMNT Christmas story out there that I have yet to read, I'll keep looking for the Michaelangelo Christmas Special even though I'll have already read half of it.

Full of thrills and action. It's not the all-ages Turtles you may be used to on TV. But, I think readers at least of the age of 10 will enjoy.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.