The reason why the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have become such a long-lasting franchise isn’t just the idea of giant mutated reptiles practicing ninjitsu, though that’s clearly a major draw. At its core, this franchise is about family – both in the brotherly bond that the Turtles share, and in their relationship with their father/mentor, Splinter. Gene Luen Yang and Freddie E. Williams II have been putting this bond to the test during their TMNT run, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #18 is where it all comes to a head.
The Turtles not only have to battle the Foot Clan’s leader, Karai, and the shapeshifting witch Shinigami, but they also have to deal with a Gashadokuro, a massive spirit of the dead that’s taken on Splinter’s form and has imprisoned Donatello within its ribcage. If that wasn’t enough, Michelangelo is still stuck in Yomi-No-Kuni, better known as the Land of the Dead. Leonardo and Raphael must also deal with a teenage version of Hamato Yoshi, their father’s past incarnation, who’s been summoned to the earthly plane during all of this chaos.
While this sounds like a lot to juggle, Yang manages to ground the story in emotional stakes, especially regarding the Turtles’ relationship with their parents. The reunion with their mother, Tang Shen, won’t leave a dry eye in the house, and Mikey fights like hell to get back to his brothers. There’s even a few jokes about how Donnie, despite being the smartest of the Turtles, can’t figure his way out of a giant skeleton’s ribcage. But I think Yang’s script shines most when it focuses on the teenage Hamato Yoshi. Whether it’s his rude attitude, his ability to scope out his opponents’ skills, or the jokes he makes, it’s fairly clear that the Turtles inherited quite a few things from their father. It also shows another side of Splinter that fans won’t expect and offers more insight into his character.
The big moments hit hard thanks to Williams’ artwork, especially in the three-way battle between the Turtles, the Gashadokuro, and Karai and Shinigami. The Gashadokuro looks especially terrifying – it’s a gigantic rat skeleton causing untold destruction, but Williams also manages to bring some emotion into its skeletal facial expressions, especially since this is technically Splinter. Pero Fe is no slouch either, especially when illustrating Mikey battling against undead spirits. The color art by Andrew Dalhouse and Luis Antonio Delgado splits the line between the land of the living and the dead, with Dalhouse continuing to give Yomi no Kuni the washed-out hue you’d expect from a place called “The Land of the Dead” while Delgado infuses New York City’s landscape with plenty of bright lights.
It’s the final pages of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #18 that will have fans talking, as the creative team’s pulled off yet another big twist that shakes up everything you’d expect from TMNT lore. But it’s a welcome change, not to mention one that’s rooted in the story rather than being done for sheer shock value. When all’s said and done, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #18 is both a strong closing chapter in Gene Luen Yang and Freddie E. Williams II’s initial TMNT run and a reminder of why the Heroes in a Half Shell have endured for years.
