Prison Brawls and Raphael’s Rage
After completing the 150th issue of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, Idea and Design Works (IDW) has started fresh with a new storyline in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Return To New York Part One. This relaunch sees the turtles split up into separate issues, starting with Raphael mysteriously locked up in a Bakersfield prison, far away from his brothers and the sewers he calls home. Massive spoilers ahead!
TMNT: Raphael
As part of TMNT’s 40th Anniversary Celebration, this new series is shaking things up. Until the turtles reunite, each will get their own storyline in the comic months, beginning with a gritty Raphael solo adventure. The art panels are written by Jason Aaron, art by Joelle Jones, gorgeous color by Ronda Pattinson, and lettering by Shawn Lee. Raphael has gotten himself locked up as the only mutant in an entirely human prison. Simply said, he has a huge target on his back.
His heightened senses as a mutant, and of course his trademark rage, lead to him punching out a few inmates tunneling through the prison sewers. The red turtle hauls their unconscious bodies back to prison, thinking about his brothers as he steps through the sewer.
When a group of new and troublesome prisoners arrives at the prison, Warden Starnes asks – or more commands – Raphael to keep an eye on them much like he did with the recent escapees. However, that night, Raphael’s heightened senses don’t alert him to any strange noises. That is, until he finds a bloodied dead prison guard outside his cell. He climbs the roof to find the new prisoners dressed in full black ninja garb.
The Foot Clan found him once again; an incredible fight takes place on the roof as he is slashed and cut by their swords and ninja stars. Raphael has taped books from his prison cell underneath his orange uniform as armor. Turns out they weren’t for reading; after stopping them he returns to the Warden’s office to find him dead, impaled by Raphael’s ninja sais. As the prison guards try to arrest him, he escapes into the sewers to return home and find his brothers, wherever they are.
Gritty Color and Art Style
The art style is gritty and hardcore, much like the sai-wielding turtle himself. Each panel packs a punch with the impact of Raphael’s punches but also illustrates the feeling of the prison itself, gray and dreary, as if the life has been sucked out. Joelle Jones’ illustrations give a feeling of realism. The lettering features a key red color, which is a nod to Raphael being the red ninja turtle, as this is part of the story overall.
In the coming months, fans will get to see Michaelangelo as a movie star and Leonardo as a nomad wandering and in search of purpose. But overall, with the turtles split up, fans will get to see each of their identities and fighting styles explored potentially more than ever.
IDW’s Relaunch of TMNT
The first four issues of this relaunch will focus on each turtle, most likely reuniting in issue #5. Until then, it will be fascinating to see what the script by Jason Aaron has in store for fans of TMNT.
The official IDW synopsis reads, “The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have all left New York to pursue their own interests, but there are forces gathering that will pull them back together—whether the bad guys like it or not. First up: Raphael! But why is everyone’s favorite brawler in prison?! When a surprise attack behind bars puts Raph’s position in jeopardy, he needs to figure out how to get out of jail and warn his brothers that trouble is coming.”
The next issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Return to New York Part Two features a Michaelangelo standalone story and will be released in early September 2024.
TMNT: The Last Ronin — Lost Years Official IDW Trailer
You Might Also Be Interested In:
Source: Dead Talk Live
Contact Information:
Email: news@deadtalknews.com
Phone: +1 (646) 397-2874
Dead Talk Live is simultaneously streamed to: YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitch, Twitter, Vimeo, and LinkedIn
Shop official Dead Talk Live Merchandise at our Online Store
Author
Omid Rad is a freelance writer, movie lover and overall geek.
Cailen Fienemann is a current student at Le Moyne College pursuing her BA in English and Communications with a film studies minor and a creative writing concentration. Though uncertain about her career end-goals, any job that allows her to write is a cherished one indeed.