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Raphael and the Mutanimals get a lucky break when Metalhead makes a desperate alliance to escape Area 51! When all hell breaks loose, it’s a jailbreak free for all that leaves the EPF desperate to save face! Meanwhile, Casey Jones fights off the demon possessing Karai with sharp insults and quick wits! Maybe Casey isn’t really cut out for all of this crazy Foot Clan nonsense after all? TMNT Mutant Nation continues to flesh out the world of TMNT!
Ambush at Area 51
- Written by Tom Waltz
- Art by Vincenzo Federici
- Colors by Ronda Pattison
- Letters by Rus Wooton
- Designed by Brian Kolek
- Editor Nicolas Nino
Casey Jones: Agent of the Foot Clan
- Written by Erik Burnham
- Art by Mateus Santolouco
- Colors by Marco Lesko
- Letters by Rus Wooton
- Designed by Brian Kolek
- Editor Nicolas Nino
TMNT Mutant Nation Recap!
There’s a lot going on in this book and for those just jumping on, here’s a quick recap. Raphael decided to take a trip out west to clear his mind. Metalhead intercepts him and kidnaps his pet Pepperoni, leading him into Area 51. Now, he’s imprisoned by the EPF with the Mutanimals and things are looking dire. For Casey Jones, life in the Foot Clan is looking so great. Everyday is a beating in training. Karai is anything but empathetic, and the two of them are constantly at odds. With Karai consumed by a demon, he’s close to leaving the Foot Clan in a coffin!
My review for TMNT: Mutant Nation issue 3 can be found here!
TMNT Mutant Nation – Ambush at Area 51
Tom Waltz does an amazing job of pushing his characters into position to move the story. One example of this is Metalhead having to trust Madame Null, which in turn releases Raphael and the Mutanimals. There’s a constant chain of events that keep things moving at a great pace. There may be a large cast of characters here, but they all serve a purpose and it doesn’t muddy the action. By the end of this issue, Waltz has added a few new threads to the story with some consequences to come!
The Turtles are reunited in TMNT #6!
Vincenzo Federici and Rhonda Pattison bring this large cast of characters to life with tons of details, lots of big action moments, and a rich color palette. With so many characters, it’s important to make sure they stand out and it’s done perfectly here. If you didn’t know any of these characters, you could discern their personality on body language and looks alone.
TMNT Mutant Nation – Casey Jones: Agent of the Foot Clan
Erik Burnham’s story is a lot more contained and intimate. We only have 3 characters here, in a brawl from begging to end. It’s more than just a physical altercation though. It’s a battle for Karai’s self as well as a moment to shine for Casey Jones. The demon possessing Karai seeks to eliminate Casey Jones, seeing him as a weakness for the ultimate goals of Karai and the Foot.
Casey Jones’ daughter trains a new generation of Turtles!
As strong as the evil entity is, it’s the quick thinking and use of his environment that give Casey an advantage in the fight. It’s a really great highlight of what makes Casey special. In he end, Karai agrees that Casey is not cut out for the ruthless nature of the Foot Clan and he’s back to slugging bad guys in the streets!
Mateus Santolouco and Marco Lesko bring a different energy to this story. The color palette is toned down with orange, yellow, red, and gray being the dominating colors. It works so well though. The brutality of the fight is highlighted in this way. The gray and black uniforms pop with highlights of red. The action is cranked up to 11 and it’s fun to follow from panel to panel. I can’t help but mention a fantastic splash page where Karai regains control of her body by tearing her way out of body in classic horror fashion!
The Nightwatcher fights corruption to save the mutant community!
Overall Grade: 9/10
This may be my favorite issue of the series thus far. There’s a lot of action, some moments of reflection, and really great character growth. These stories were paced really well and Rus Wooton’s letter work is immersive as always! I’m interested to see where all of these characters go now in the overall TMNT universe!
