Fans of AIPT have probably noticed that we’ve been taking a unique approach to covering Jason Aaron’s opening arc of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Namely, since Aaron’s opening arc consists of standalone stories featuring each Turtle, a different writer has covered each Turtle. And now, the gauntlet – or rather, the bo staff – has been thrown in my direction as I’m reviewing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #4, which centers on Donatello.
Following his trip through time in the previous volume of TMNT, Donnie’s been wandering the outskirts of New York. But the effects of using magic are starting to take a toll on his body and mind. What’s worse, he’s been abducted and thrown into an underground fighting pit with other mutants. Donnie fights off opponents of all shapes and sizes, but it’s only a matter of time before his luck runs out…
What’s stood out to me so far about Aaron’s run is how he’s managed to drill down to the essence of each turtle. Raphael found an outlet for his rage in prison. Michelangelo’s buried his pain over his brothers’ split with his trademark humor. Leonardo, who happens to be my favorite Turtle, did some soul-searching.
For Donatello, Aaron showcases what happens when he loses the greatest weapon he has: his mind. There’s moments where he can’t remember his own name, let alone his brothers or adoptive father Splinter, which adds a tragic flair to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #4. Furthering the tragedy is the fact that the Turtles are still divided despite reuniting; it looks like future issues will explore this divide, while letting Aaron continue to put his own unique flair on the TMNT mythos.
IDW Publishing
Burnham previously joined forces with Aaron to draw a prelude to this issue in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Alpha #1, but he really steps up his game here. The fights in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #4 are bloody, gritty and very much in line with Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s original vision for the Heroes in a Half-Shell. My favorite image is a full-page spread that features Donnie diving into the middle of a group of Foot Clan ninjas, deflecting shruiken, breaking bones, and sending opponents flying with his bo staff. It’s a eye-popping, incredible piece of artwork that feels like it distills the essence of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles down to one image.
Prior to that image, Burnham depicts Donnie at the end of his rope. Using magic has left his body bony, his skin leathery, and sporting a metal shell in lieu of a regular one. It also isn’t lost on me that Donnie is the only Turtle who doesn’t have his signature mask; colorist Brian Reber and Shawn Lee make up for this with deep purple captions to highlight Donnie’s struggle to hold onto his identity. It’s a far cry from the rest of the issue, as Reber drenches nearly everything in shadows – another visual way of showcasing the literal darkness that Donnie is slipping into.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #4 might be the most unique and definitely the darkest installment of Jason Aaron’s run, as he and Chris Burnham put Donatello through the wringer. But the Turtles are fully reunited, and hopefully, as Aaron writes in a defining paragraph, Donnie will get on with “grit and a stick.”
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