This issue begins an extended rough patch during the first TMNT series. Issue 11 was the last collaboration of Eastman and Laird. Starting with issue 12, the two creators will trade off solo duty, Laird tells us. So this issue is just Peter Laird doing both the story and art.
Laird writes some pretty awful dialogue, and draws some hideous humans, but his layouts are solid. Laird knows how to lay out an action scene, and he also draws some beautiful nature scenes.