Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo: WhereWhen #1

Ever since Usagi moved to IDW, here's the crossover fans have been waiting for. Although the first issue of the new five-issue crossover mini-series doesn't offer much in the way of interactions between characters of the two brands, it does set up an interesting situation with multiple time-displaced characters. With Lord Noriyuki leading an army against Lord Hikiju, Miyamoto Usagi's heartstrings are pulled by villagers in need of aid. And so Usagi, Tomoe, Jotaro, and Yukichi go in search of an evil Kappa.

Meanwhile, the Turtles have tracked the evil Dr. WhereWhen back to his lair where he uses a time chamber to escape into the past with plans of rewriting history. Heading after him, Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael find themselves surrounded by Usagi's friends who mistake the ninja turtles for the Kappa they were hunting (while events also suggest Usagi may have swapped places with them arriving in New York City).

Written and beautifully drawn by Stan Sakai, there's much to enjoy here for fans of both franchises, although the swap does make it seem like we won't get the Turtles and Usagi together for at least another issue. The Turtles, will have to deal with Usagi's distrustful friends, setting up a classic hero vs. hero misunderstanding, while the rabbit ronin will need to find his way back to the past.

[IDW, $4.99]

• Title: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo: WhereWhen #1
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Stan Sakai
• Artist: Stan Sakai