Jennika’s brought her band together, and it’s time to battle it out, heavy metal style, to see Bebop and Rocksteady leave Mutant Town for good in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #117. However, that’s not the only thing on the Splinter Clan’s plate, as they’ve still got a time-traveling turtle they need to return to the future. With adult Lita’s task fulfilled, it’s time for her to go home – and provide a few last glimpses into what the turtles’ future holds. Art and Story by Sophie Campbell, with colors by Ronda Pattison, letters by Shawn Lee, and story consulting by Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz.
As I mentioned last issue, the creative team for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles took on a pretty major challenge by hinging its story arc on a Battle of the Bands in a still and silent medium. Last issue spent a lot of time building this issue up, and the battle itself felt like a bit of a letdown after all the hype. However, this arc was about more than just a battle – it seems to be seeding a number of major plot points that we may not see come to fruition for a very long time. IDW’s TMNT has been a revelation in long-term storytelling, and this arc feels like it may become increasingly significant as time goes on. It looks like things are about to change in a major way, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #117 feels less like the closing of an arc than it does a prologue for what’s to come. In short: did I enjoy the issue? Yes. Did it leave me unsatisfied? Also yes.
The Not-Quite-Battle of the Bands
Let’s get this out of the way, quickly (because the comic certainly did): the battle itself was far too short. The payoff was not enough for the amount of set-up this received, especially after most of the last issue being dedicated to bringing the band together. Once that dissatisfaction settles down, though, it’s clear that there was a lot more that needed to happen in this wrap-up issue, and not a lot of space to tell it in. I can’t imagine all of it being pushed to another issue, nor would I want anything from the previous issues to have been sacrificed, as there were a number of truly great character moments that happened within them. The pacing felt off this issue – that’s something I’m okay with in the long run, and TMNT’s on a very long run indeed.
The pages that we did get were gorgeous – really, my only complaint is that there weren’t more of them. Looking out at a sea of an adorably eager audience, Jennika introduces her band – they are Created in Darkness. I absolutely love that name – it’s such a powerful way for a metal band to introduce themselves that I am shocked – shocked! – that I can’t find another band who’s already taken up the name. The band erupts into a glorious whirlwind of yellow light – Jennika’s signature color. Jennika takes the lead here, on guitar, shredding out craggy, rust-colored monsters howling off the page, overwhelming everything. Lead singer Koya in particular is a spectacular sight, with her outstretched blue spectral wings, clutching the mic in her talons, forearms wrapped in bandages and spiked leather. It makes great use of the art-as-music tricks introduced last issue to give the readers one hell of a show.
Though a disgruntled Rocksteady tries not to be impressed, Bebop is blown away. This arc is filled with what feels like pivotal moments – there is a pain and stunned admiration in Bebop’s eyes that feels like the start of something profound for the largely comedic muscle pig. It could also just be a moment in itself, but either way, Natsu realizes that there’s no way their band could possibly measure up to Jennika’s, and Created in Darkness wins by default. Koya feels cheated out of a proper battle, and honestly, Koya? Me too.
Back to the Future – and Portentous Goodbyes
As fun as it’s been to have Adult Lita in the present, cheerfully dropping hints about the future with every sentence, her mission was a simple one: get Jennika back into music so her darker impulses don’t tear the Splinter Clan apart. Having done that, it’s time for Lita to go back – but not before another round of future teases as she says goodbye to the people that have/will become her family. Karai says her goodbyes as well, reforging a truce between her people and the turtles, as well as sending the giant, destructive mutant babies Tokka and Rahzar into the future for everyone’s safety. Lita’s last tease – that Oroku Saki, the Shredder, will be returning to the Turtles’ lives – is immediately followed by a literal glimpse into the future as she opens a portal up. It looks like a wonderful, chaotic, happy ending for the Splinter Clan – but if the ruins of civilization behind them are any indication, things might not be going so great for humanity.
This arc’s purpose seems to have been to jumpstart the next phase of TMNT. We’re given something to look forward to, a doubling of stakes in the knowledge of the dark timeline being avoided, and a renewed sense of purpose for some of the Turtles. Leonardo has been told of two strangers to look out for, Jennika is making personal connections again instead of letting her bottled darkness corrupt her, and Raphael is finally taking the fight to Old Hob with the help of the Mutant Town community. We even get a cameo from Shredder himself, who’s been keeping an eye on the Splinter Clan, ready to step in when they really need him. It’s implied that that might not be too far off.
This was an unevenly-paced arc, but the series’ focus on character moments is keeping me deeply invested. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #117 thrives in moments like those, more than anything else. That being said, I am excited for the stakes of the series to ramp up, as it looks like the all-powerful and manipulative Pantheon is going to be making an appearance again. My only hope is that those character moments aren’t sacrificed for the larger story that’s to come.
