Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Nation #9 marks the end of a truly unique series. With all the characters that inhabit the TMNT universe, it’s a concept that could have gone on for issues and issues. But all good things come to an end, as the saying goes, and since Mutant Nation #9 is the final issue it dedicates the first half of its story to the Heroes in a Half-Shell.
“Haunts” by Declan Shalvey and Drew Moss takes place sometime after the events of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #8, as Leonardo decides to lead the other Turtles in a mission to take down Mayor Hale once and for all. Things get complicated once Hale is revealed to have strong-armed most of New York’s gangs into operating under his thumb, with one lone holdout: the Ghost Boys. That’s not the only thing the Turtles have to worry about…
In keeping with Jason Aaron’s style of writing, since Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #8 took place from Leo’s point of view, Shalvey continues to dig into his perspective. This ends up working in his favor, as it shows just how much the dynamic between the Turtles is off. Usually, Leo can get them to follow his orders, but Donatello is more focused on Splinter’s words from beyond the grave, Raphael is itching for a fight, and Michaelangelo doesn’t take it seriously. Eventually, the Turtles do get on the same page, and it’s a joy to behold.
So is Moss’s art, which keeps the same dynamic from his work with Shalvey on ThunderCats. The Turtles move with immense speed and power, taking out their foes with ease. But the standout of “Haunts” are the new foes known as the Dog Star Clan. Clad in royal blue armor courtesy of Ronda Pattison’s color art, the Dog Stars wear masks that resemble their name…and strike with the same ferocity, lopping off limbs and heads. Not since the original Mirage comics or The Last Ronin has a TMNT comic gotten so bloody.
The second story in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Nation #9, “Your Back Is Got”, was surprisingly emotional. Part of that is due to the approach that Andy Khouri and Dave Wielgosz, who also served as editors on Mutant Nation, take to the story; while it’s mostly focused on mutant Mona Lisa firing up the “Turtle Tracks” podcast she started with Mikey, it covers the width and breadth of Mutant Town, picking up on every character who’s shown up in Mutant Nation.
That in and of itself is impressive, especially with how Vitor Cafaggi illustrates every character. His vibrant, expressive style doesn’t just fit Bebop and Rocksteady, but it also fits Baxter Stockman, Mona, Sally Pride and even the Nightwatcher. You get to see happiness, anger, and even despair reflected across various mutant faces, thanks to Cafaggi’s work. Cafaggi also ends on the perfect image, showcasing how despite all the hardships Mutant Town endures, the heroics of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles continue to inspire its residents. While I wish Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Nation #9 wasn’t the end of this series, its final issue manages to pack everything great about TMNT into its pages.
