Review - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Nation #1
New from IDW Publishing
A new spinoff series from IDW Publishing, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Nation #1, features some different adventures that link nicely into the main series.
New ongoing series! Part 1 of the Raphael flashback adventure arc ‘Attack on Area 51’! After the events of ‘The Armageddon Game,’ the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles found themselves at a crossroads, attempting to keep their family united while individually feeling the need to break away and explore life in a world that knows about mutants.
To clear his head, Raphael jumps on his motorcycle and heads west on a solo road trip with the wind at his back and no destination in minduntil a dormant enemy out for revenge on the Turtles engineers a dangerous detour to Area 51.
When Raphael is held hostage with some unexpected old friends, his soul-searching quest mutates into a crisis as he brawls in the desert to keep the E.P.F.’s cache of coveted technology out of the wrong hands. Will Raphael find his new purpose away from his brothersor just more trouble than he can handle alone?
Tom Waltz, the TMNT mastermind and co-writer of TMNT: The Last Ronin, returns to tell brand-new stories about everyone’s favorite anthropomorphic misfits with artist Vincenzo Federici. Plus, writer Erik Burnham presents a four-issue bonus backup: after the events of The Untold Destiny of the Foot Clan, can Casey Jones tolerate Karai’s descent into ruthlessness, or will he turn his back on the Foot? The answer ripples into the upcoming action in Jason Aaron’s TMNT!
Each arc of Mutant Nation will feature two stories exploring different corners of the TMNT universe, easily accessible to casual fans but with ties connecting the ongoing series and Nightwatcher. Expect old favorites and new surprises!
Author: Tom Waltz
Artist: Vincenzo Federici
It's an exciting addition to the main roster of stories. First, we catch up with Raphael - this story must be between the stories of the Rat King and the new rebooted stories. Raph is wandering across the country with an exciting side trip to catch up with his brothers (issue #150). He has been working as a bouncer, and initially, I thought we would get a Roadhouse-style story (which would have been fun). Still, no, Raph and his dinosaur companion are on the road until we get an unexpected visitor, and a new adventure begins.
I enjoyed this story and how Rpah has been shanghaied into helping out. He’s not happy about it, but he’s got to see it through. This story had some excellent action and commentary from Raph as he works through things in his way. I expect the next part to have even more action as we journey into Area 51!
The second story follows nicely from the Foot Clan mini-series, where Casey Jones checks up with April and discusses the changes in Karai and her leadership of the Foot Clan. It’s a good piece with some excellent fishmarket action (!) and a good conversation between the two. The twist at the end is very well played out and makes a good story point. That final panel rounds it up nicely and looks attractive for things to come.
