Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #2: Behind the Scenes

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #2 continues the “where are they at” journey of the turtles, focusing on Michaelangelo, as Raphael Albuquerque  takes over the art. Much like the first issue, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #2 is told from the turtle’s perspective, showcasing what Mikey has been up to over the last six months, building off of where these characters were left after Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #150. The final arc of the last TMNT series showcased a future where Mikey had become a movie star that became somewhat lost in his stardom, something that writer Jason Aaron picks up with here.

This issue reveals that Michaelangelo’s journey away from his brothers led him to life behind the silver screen in Japan, starring in action based projects that allow him to showcase his skills, while living the star-studded life. The often sought life of money and fame lead to the one time hero questioning his role in the world, missing the solitude he once had with his brothers. This take on Mikey truly builds upon the arc the character had gone through in the previous comic series, which saw him questioning the cycle of blood and violence that had consumed his family’s life. While this issue delves into it just a bit, it will be interesting to see what Mikey brings to the family now that he has had a taste of life not only just out in the public world, but also upon the prying eyes of his fans. The most touching part of all of this comes when Mikey attends a complimentary dinner that he pretends is amazing while he secretly fantasizes about eating pizza with his brothers. This all creates a very touching note on Mikey’s story, showcasing Aaron’s care for these characters.

The second half of this book is where the action picks up, as a group of ninjas swarm the hero after he is seemingly drugged, forcing him to utilize the ninja skills that he has been holding out on for almost 6 months. This also allows Albuquerque to draw the other turtles as visions that Mikey is seeing, showcasing some turtle on turtle action that is a blast to behold. This is a Mikey unlike he has ever been seen. He is no longer the goofy, happy go lucky turtle, with Albuquerque showing how brutal he can be in combat. This is just such a fun action sequence, and it is made all the better by the colors from Marcelo Maiolo. Maiolo’s colors begin to shine when Mikey decides to pick up a pair of diamond encrusted nunchucks, which prompts the pages to be filled with the sparkle of the diamonds, creating a sight that is a joy to read.

The big question after reading this issue is where this series is going after the turtles are all brought back together. Clearly, Aaron is bringing them back to basics in some fashion, with the Foot Clan appearing to be some sort of threat once again, putting the characters back to their roots of ninjutsu. Aaron is playing the slow game here and it seems to be working perfectly, with his status as a trusted writer on these very well known characters making each step worth the wait. If one thing is for sure, the individualized issues to reestablish these characters is a great starting point.