After Raphael and Pepperoni’s story wrapped up last month in issue #4 of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Nation, we get a bit of a prelude to their cross-country trip that takes place in Colorado. It’s definitely a more slice-of-life tale than the preceding action packed issues, but it’s sometimes nice to take a beat to just live a bit with the characters. The backup story features the Punk Frogs, everyone’s favorite group of mutant amphibians.
IDW
The Story
Long time TMNT writer and co-creator of Pepperoni, Paul Allor, crafts an almost wordless adventure that has the lovable dinosaur setting off on her own little adventure. Though he won’t admit it, Raphael is distracted by the way things ended with Alopex before he set off on his cross-country road trip. Things take a turn for the worse when his satchel is stolen in a roadside diner. With no money, sais, or most importantly, pictures of Alopex, Raphael reverts back to his old, grumpy self, lashing out at Pepper. She doesn’t take it personally though, instead going off and trying to help her friend Raphael, even though he was kind of a jerk. There’s a few close calls, but in the end Pepper and Raph are reunited and his gruff exterior softens for just a little while.
The backup story features the Punk Frogs who are making their first appearance in this series so far. Attila, Genghis and Napoleon are fighting some Purple Dragons, but what they’re really fighting against is the gentrification of Mutant Town. Writer Caleb Goellner isn’t afraid to make social commentary about landlords, exorbitant rents, and even a certain electric truck that’s become a symbol of the out of touch 1%. The Punk Frogs are the perfect vehicle to deliver this type of message in the Turtle Universe, and it’s refreshing to see a writer that isn’t afraid to tackle real issues that are impacting people all over the world.
IDW
The Art
Other than doing four pages in issue #3, this was the first TMNT artwork from artist Joe Jaro. Jaro is a welcome addition to the murderer’s row of artistic talent in the TMNT universe right now, and fits right in with others such as Vincenzo Federici and Fero Pe. His facial expressions with Raphael run the gamut from anger and remorse to joy and contemplation. Jaro’s choreography of Pepperoni is perhaps the highlight, making you believe that this little pink and yellow dinosaur actually exists and moves around in the world convincingly. Not quite cat, but not quite a dog either, Pepperoni is sometimes graceful but also deliberate and bullheaded with her movements. And again, her facial expressions are priceless – you always know exactly what’s going through her mind without any need for captions or an inner monologue. Colorist Adam Guzowski takes full advantage of Pepperoni’s pink and yellow color pallet and utilizes bright colors throughout the issue. There’s a particularly lovely red mountain range at dusk that contrasts nicely with Raphael’s green skin. A lot of the issue takes place at night, so there is also some nice moonlit skies.
Ilias Kyriazis and Auguste Kanakis are on artistic duty for the backup, neither of which I was familiar with before reading this issue. Kyriazis was the artist on all five issues of Cat Fight, another IDW series, while Kanakis was the inker on issue #2 of that series. Once again, Kyriazis and Kanakis integrate seamlessly into the TMNT universe’s art style. Their character designs and fight choreography could go toe-to-toe with the best. They make good use of colored background panels, letting the action be the focus, but also interspersing detailed city backdrops in some panels.
Final Thoughts
With Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Nation #5, the creative team delivers a well-balanced issue that slows things down for some heartfelt character moments while still packing a punch with its socially charged backup story. Paul Allor’s near-wordless main feature allows Raphael and Pepperoni’s bond to shine, while Caleb Goellner’s Frogs vs. Punks brings a biting, timely message wrapped in mutant mayhem. The art across both stories is dynamic and expressive, with Joe Jaro, Ilias Kyriazis, and Auguste Kanakis proving they belong among the top-tier talent in the TMNT universe. Whether you’re here for the quiet, introspective journey or the rebellious amphibian action, this issue has something to offer for every TMNT fan.
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