Review: Casey Jones #4
From IDW Publishing
Delving further into the TMNT universe, IDW Publishing has Casey Jones #4 out this week.
All Ludovic has ever wanted is to be a real human... instead he is cursed to a life of having what little humanity Nostrum has granted him constantly torn away. Meanwhile, Casey Jones doesn’t appreciate his humanity and spends the majority of his time around mutants when he could easily live happily among humans. Casey effortlessly has everything Ludovic wants, and he hates him for it. Not only will Ludovic not let Casey get in the way of the Lodge’s plans, but his disdain will fuel a brutal fight that even Casey Jones might not be able to walk away from...
Author: Alex Paknadel
Artist: Amancay Nahuelpan
This was an excellent issue, with both Casey and Ludovic taking centre stage as the story continues to build momentum. The book does a great job of balancing their arcs, giving each character meaningful development while steadily pushing the larger narrative forward.
Ludovic remains one of the most intriguing characters in the series. He truly feels like a product of his upbringing — not outright evil, but deeply misguided. His origin is genuinely tragic, and this issue does a fantastic job of exploring how and why he became who he is, what he actually wants, and the motivations driving him. That added context makes him feel like a very human antagonist, and it’s what makes the events of this issue hit him especially hard. He stands out as a unique kind of villain, one you can’t help but feel conflicted about.
What’s particularly interesting is that the story leaves several possible paths open for Ludovic going forward. There are a lot of directions his arc could take, and he feels like a character who deserves — or at least could earn — some form of redemption. Whether he gets it or not is another question entirely, but the groundwork is definitely there.
Casey, meanwhile, is dealing with problems of his own, even if he refuses to acknowledge them. The drug that healed him in the previous issue appears to be having unintended and potentially dangerous side effects. This is especially evident in his interactions with Raphael and April, where his behaviour feels more volatile and concerning. It raises the question of just how far this is going to push him, and whether Casey will realise the cost before it’s too late.
The issue does an excellent job of bringing all the moving pieces together, delivering some truly villainous moments alongside strong, well-paced action sequences. The artwork continues to impress, particularly in the quieter reaction shots that really sell the emotional turmoil each character is experiencing. Those visual beats add a lot of weight to the story.
Overall, this is a standout issue — gripping, emotional, and packed with great character work. An excellent read, and absolutely worth picking up for TMNT fans.
Get it from Forbidden Planet:
