Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Nightwatcher has been one of the most unique Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics I’ve ever read. Part of that is its setup, which focuses on the fifth official Ninja Turtle Jennika (who, in my opinion, is an underrated character) donning the Nightwatcher armor (itself a reference to the underrated TMNT movie.) Part of it is the creative team: Juni Ba, Fero Pe and Luis Antonio Delgado are just one of those teams that click together, delivering a comic book experience unlike any other.
Sadly, that experience is about to end, as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Nightwatcher #7 marks the end of the series. But it ends on the most perfect note, as Jennika confronts the Nightwatcher – and both of them are forced to come to terms with their underlying issues. Ba doesn’t pull any punches in his script, which fittingly starts off with punches as Jennika and the Nightwatcher are in the middle of their fight. When Jennika tells the Nightwatcher she made a promise, it croaks out “I…didn’t.” It’s a reminder that this towering mass of metal and muscle is, at heart, a child. And like many children, it resents being molded in its parent’s image.
Pe’s artwork continues to be a highlight of Nightwatcher, especially the fight scenes. Every punch and kick shows off the Nightwatcher’s staggering strength, but Jennika’s ninja skills as she dodges and deflects those attacks. Throughout the issue, the Nightwatcher also grows in size as its rage is unfurled, leading to a striking image of it hunched over as tendrils spiral out from its body. Within those tendrils, Pe paints a picture of the Nightwatcher’s history, drenched in bright red by Delgado; it’s a story of a being who’s never had a choice in its life.
Red isn’t the only color that’s prominent in Nightwatcher #7. Delgado switches colors based on tones: The first half of the book shows Jennika and the Nightwatcher fighting against a smoky green rainy sky, its glowing red and silver armor providing a contrast to her yellow bandana and gray gi. Nathan Widick’s lettering is given a similar treatment, as the Nightwatcher’s letters are the same color as its armor. The second half is bright and sunny, hinting at a literally brighter day for Jennika.
While this book is the end, it does leave a few doors open, not to mention a few hints at what’s to come in the future of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. But the best part is the final page: it’s a moment I didn’t expect in the book, yet it’s still heartwarming and full of promise. If Nightwatcher is going to end, I’m happy that it’s at least ending on such a touching note.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Nightwatcher #7 delivers an action-packed, emotional finale to one of the most unique TMNT comics ever published. This might be the end of one story, but I hope it isn’t the end of Jennika’s time in the TMNT universe, especially with that ending.
