When Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Nation was announced, I was under the assumption that it would focus on the many side characters of the long-running, expansive IDW TMNT run. Characters like Old Hob and the Mutanimals, or Alopex and the Weasels. So far, the first two issues have focused on Raphael and Casey Jones, who are anything but side characters. In a lot of ways, Mutant Nation is filling in the gaps between the end of the historic Sophie Campbell run, and the beginning of Jason Aaron’s soft reboot. This makes it essential reading for anyone who wants to continue the excellent stories we’ve come to expect from the likes of Tom Waltz and Erik Burnham, while better understanding how the turtles got to where they are in the new ongoing series. Turtle fans are incredibly lucky to be getting multiple ongoing series featuring their favorite heroes in a half-shell.
From page one, we’re in the thick of it
Credit: IDW
The Story
Writer Tom Waltz wastes no time jumping right into the action in the main story. We find Raphael in the thick of it, sai-deep in the Earth Protection Force ranks, kicking butt and taking names. The first six pages are filled with energy and fighting, but Raph’s narration is anything but. He’s calm, cool and even somewhat nostalgic. Waltz continues to really nail Raph’s inner monologue and his dry, sardonic tone. After all the action, we get a bit of a reprieve with a few pages explaining Metalhead’s origins as well as how he came to find Raphael way out in the deserts of Nevada. While Raph is keeping the EPF busy, we get a sense of what Metalhead is after, but it isn’t entirely spelled out for us. The main story finishes on a bit of a cliffhanger, introducing a new villain that seems to be experimenting on some familiar mutants. All of a sudden, Raph’s simple smash and distract mission has become a lot more complicated.
In the backup story, Casey Jones and Natsu are sparring in a Foot Clan training room, discussing Karai. Casey is concerned that she’s stopped listening to him, but Natsu isn’t worried. She has faith in her leader, and also doesn’t exactly agree with most of Casey’s advice to begin with. Burnham does a good job of showcasing both sides of the argument while also developing Casey and Natsu’s relationship. While they don’t always get along, they respect each other as skilled fighters. A quick cameo from everyone’s favorite gruesome-twosome mutants Bebop and Rocksteady finishes off the story.
Metalhead’s backstory, for the uninitiated
Credit: IDW
The Art
In the main story, Vincenzo Federici absolutely crushes it on art duties. The double page spreads have big, bold panels full of action and movement that propels the story forward. Raphael’s facial expressions show his utter disdain for Metalhead and Pepperoni’s sad, pathetic eyes trapped in Metalhead’s body really accentuate her helplessness. Federici alternated between drawing backgrounds, and leaving them mostly blank to draw our attention to the action. There’s almost nothing extraneous drawn; if it’s in the panel, then it matters to the story. The new villain design is certainly interesting, and I’m excited to see the full extent of his capabilities.
Veteran TMNT colorist Ronda Pattison continues her excellent and consistent work here, adding several different colored tints to the flashback moments of the story to differentiate them from the current events. She uses a lot of yellow/orange tones to fill the sparse backgrounds and add a nice pop of color to the book.
In the backup story, Mateus Santolouco manages to turn what is essentially a conversation between coworkers into an engaging sparring match. They start off using their fists, but quickly switch to wooden practice swords, keeping the visuals varied and engaging. There are again, some great facial expressions as both fighters surprise one another and are kept on their toes by vicious attacks. The art focuses on Casey and Natsu, almost completely ignoring the background for several pages. There’s a great double page spread in the middle of the fight which switches to Karai running across the rooftops of Tokyo chasing a Dog Star Clan member. Bebop and Rocksteady were dressed to the nines for a night out in Las Vegas, and their new “human” character designs were well done, capturing their distinct animal characteristics and translating them to a new form. I’m hoping to see what their trip to Las Vegas entails next issue.
Final Thoughts
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Nation #2 succeeds in blending classic TMNT action with fresh, character-driven storytelling that fans of the series will love. By diving into the nuanced relationships among the core characters while introducing compelling new threats, it serves as a perfect bridge from the past into the series’ next era. With stunning visuals by Federici and consistent, immersive colors by Pattison, the main story shines, while the backup offers a thoughtful look into the dynamics within the Foot Clan. Whether you’re here for the action, the lore, or the mutant mayhem, Mutant Nation delivers with both style and substance. This series is shaping up to be a must-read for any dedicated TMNT fan.
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