Raphael Takes the Fight to Null in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles No. 94
By Alex Widen
The first of several unholy alliances and surprise appearances!
In the original volume of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from Mirage Studios, “City At War” marked a finale. It not only marked the end of that opening volume which launched the franchise in 1984, but was the last major Ninja Turtle arc in comic book form that original creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird collaborated on at a monthly clip. In fact, after it ended in 1993, neither Eastman or Laird would work on another Turtle comic until 1996, when Eastman wrote Bodycount. Laird wouldn’t work on another comic until he and Jim Lawson kicked off a fourth volume in 2001.
Image by IDW Publishing
Could the fact that this story will lead readers of IDW Publishing’s run to a 100th issue, will this mark an end to this series’ creative team? Such a question is for the future, as this issue irons out that the chaos within New York City is about more than Clan Hamato, the Foot Clan, and Karai. The rest of the various enemies and allies of the Turtles are being drawn into the din and making moves at the same time. Among them are Agent Bishop and Metalhead, who have formed an unholy alliance against the mutants.
Image by IDW Publishing
While Metalhead had led Bishop and his squad of Earth Protection Force soldiers to the Turtles’ abandoned church base, they’re too late. The only life form within is Pepperoni, and the time-flung dinosaur is considered beneath them. Yet to Metalhead, this is only a short-term setback, as he knows where the Turtles usually venture to. Bishop may see Metalhead as a convenient tool against the mutants in general, Metalhead is still focused on Donatello, whose brain patterns he’s copied.
Image by IDW Publishing