#podcast – shellheads

[kudosmyhero]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (vol. 1) #14: The Unmentionables

Read Date: June 10, 2023 Cover Date: May 1988 ● Writer: Kevin Eastman ● Pencils: Kevin Eastman ● Inks: Kevin Eastman ◦ Eric Talbot ● Letterer: Steve Lavigne ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● li’l Mirage Studios cameo ● was it only in the cartoon that April was a journalist? she’s a waitress here

● quite a number of spelling errors in this issue ● lotsa spelling errors. not sure if that's on the writer (Eastman) or the letterer (Lavigne) ● 👏👏

Synopsis: Casey Jones is patrolling the sleepy streets of Northampton, Massachusetts looking for some crimes to prevent. Northampton is nothing like New York City, however, so the mighty Casey is occupying his spare time as a vigilante by narrating events as if he were Mike Hammer. Jones is a little homesick for the Big Apple, but he's also reminiscing about the good times he had in this town as a kid with his cousin Sid. As Casey walks familiar ground, he passes by Louie's Variety store and is stunned by what he sees… the brass cow that once served as a rooftop landmark for the business has been stolen! Jones is enraged and gets to work on the case right away.

As Casey interviews Louie for details, a local cop walks in and assures the shopkeeper that the theft was probably just a college prank and that the cow will show up soon. Casey gets angry about the police officer's base attitude, which only angers the cop, who tells Jones to "Butt out—pronto!" Casey storms off, vowing to find the cow.

The following morning, we find April frantically getting ready for work and asking where Casey is. Just then Casey walks through the door, icicles hanging from his hat and chin. Jones moans that he's been out all night looking for "the great cow" and collapses. Fortunately it's nothing serious, and Casey tries to explain about the theft, but April is running late and hurries off to work.

Cut to the Blue Bonnet Diner, where April is waiting tables. As Ms. O'Neil is going through her stubs, she overhears two men plotting something about a cow. One of the men slaps the other and tells him that if he has any info he should leave it at the front desk of Hotel Northampton, room 213. April is suspicious and tries to remember where she heard about a cow earlier in the day when she sees the newspaper headlines—the top story is about the missing cow!

Back at the farm house, Casey is trying to get the disinterested Turtles to help him when April calls. O'Neil tells Jones about the conversation she overheard, but unfortunately the man who slapped his partner overhears April's phone conversation and becomes alarmed. Casey takes down the hotel information and slams the phone down in his excitement over having a lead. April is unhappy because she wanted to go along.

Casey gets to the hotel and tries to get the woman at the front desk to tell him who's in room 213, but all he manages to do is get thrown out of the joint. As Jones sits on the stoop outside wondering what to do next, April arrives. April thinks she can have better luck getting the information, and she goes inside. As Fate would have it, just as O'Neil gets into the lobby, the slapping man (whose name is Howard) walks through with another fellow. April overhears the two making plans. Apparently Howard works for the older Texan man and they are making elaborate plans for a graduation party.

Later that night, April, Casey and the turtles arrive at the parking lot of the Hotel Northampton. Casey has asked the turtles to search room 213, and while the guys aren't happy about doing it, they agree. Jones and O'Neil crash the posh graduation party inside.

The Turtles find a bunch of paperwork and photographs of the Texan, Howard and the Brass Cow—however, they also discover they're in room 215—the wrong place!

As April is prowling the party looking for clues, she's spotted by Howard. O'Neil darts out into the lobby, where she's accosted by three men, Mikal Smengie and his brothers Luka and Luka. Unfortunately April has stumbled into a rendezvous between the Smengie Brothers and the Texan… a ten million dollar meeting that they all want to keep secret. Howard gags April and tells the Brothers to take her with them. Howard also give Mikal a briefcase full of money and an address. The Texan complains about loose ends and Howard says that he'll take care of things.

Back in the hotel room, the turtles decide that this case is too complicated and the police need to be notified. As they head out, they see April being kidnapped. The guys scramble down to the parking lot, but they're too late to stop the van holding their friend from escaping. The Turtles pile into their truck and head off to chase the van.

Casey goes into a rest room inside the hotel to gather his thoughts. He sits on top of a toilet in an empty stall as two guys come in. Jones overhears the two talking about a "prize cow" at Norman Whitty's place on Route 116. After the men leave, Casey dashes out to the parking lot to get his truck so he can investigate… except the truck is gone! Undaunted, Casey hails a cab.

Meanwhile the Turtles have followed the van to an old garage in the woods. Inside are the three brothers carrying weapons, a bound April and a well wrapped cow. As April berates her captors and warns them that she has friends, the Turtles burst in and kick the shell outta the Smengies. Once the Brothers are tied to a post, the Turtles interrogate them. The men talk to one another in Slovakian, which angers Raph and he threatens them. Under duress, Mikal explains that the brass cow was stolen from his family by their other brother Louie before the revolution. They've returned to steal the brass cow back and to sell it to Mr. Cudworth, who collects antique cows. April finds the story dubious, as ten million dollars is involved. Raph gets even angrier and decides to bash the cow to bits. Mikal then panics and exclaims that the cow is solid gold, and that they had stolen it before the revolution so that the new dictator wouldn't be able to use its wealth. They now want to sell it and share the wealth with their people.

Leo is suspicious, but he wants to see how things will play out before calling the police. In particular, Leonardo is interested in the Texan's role in these events. Leo hatches a plan that will allow them to get the real story.

Back at the hotel, the Texan receives a phone call from Leonardo, who tells the rich man that the deal goes down tonight and that they want an additional 5 million dollars. This does not please the Texan but he gathers up his forces and heads out.

Meanwhile, Casey has arrived at Norman's place on Route 116 in the taxi. Casey is jubilant about finding the cow and heads into the barn with glee—only to discover that the cow inside is real! Just then, Norman shows up with a shotgun and yells at Casey to get away from his prize winning heifer. Jones fast talks his way out of things and piles back into the cab, ordering the very unhappy driver to take him back to the hotel.

Back at the Smengie garage, the Turtles are all decked out in trench coats and firearms, awaiting their meeting with the Texan. The men show up and the Turtles demand the money. Howard asks where the Smengie Brothers are and the Texan demands to see the cow. Mike unwraps the cow only to reveal that it's a fake! As tempers flare, the Smengies crash through the garage door in a flatbed truck, with the real "brass" cow chained to the bed. A short fire fight erupts between the Texan's men and the Turtles, but the millionaire and his henchmen take off to chase the Smengies. The turtles pile into their own truck and bolt out in hot pursuit.

As the Smengie's truck barrels down the road, they pass Casey's cab. Jones grabs the wheel of the car and spins it around. The driver is scared to death and Casey screams at him to "follow that cow!" The cab gains on the truck and Casey jumps out onto the hood of the taxi and leaps onto the cow. Jones causes Mikal to crash the vehicle into a ditch and shouts, "You pukes are under arrest!"

Just then the Texan shows up, and Howard yells, "Correction! You're all under arrest!" As the millionaire wonders what's going on, Howard explains that he's an undercover secret service agent. It turns out that the Texan (whose name isn't Cudworth, it's actually Emil Bruzeniak) is in the business of buying and selling stolen national treasures. Howard has been working for Bruzeniak for two years, waiting to build enough evidence to bust him. Howard calls in his backup and two helicopters appear. The turtles and April arrive on the scene. The turtles bail out of the truck as April drives up to see what's going on.

When April arrives, Howard wants to hear why she and Casey are involved in the case. Jones explains everything in long detail and Howard demands to talk to the four men who helped April escape. April tells the secret agent that her allies wish to remain anonymous and pleads that they all be let go, as everything turned out fine. The agent begrudgingly admits that Casey and April helped solve the case and agrees to forget about their friends' involvement, filing it under "unmentionables." Casey and April walk off arm in arm as the criminals are lead off in handcuffs.

The turtles have witnessed everything from the safety of the woods.

"That's us, huh guys," Leo quips, "the Unmentionables."

"Ain't it the truth." adds Mikey.

(https://turtlepedia.fandom.com/wiki/The_Unmentionables)

Fan Art: Early-Morning Food Fight by Fihuli

Accompanying Podcast: ● Shellheads - episode 23

[liugeaux]

110k - It Snuck Up On Me

Another achievement achievement! As the title suggests, this one snuck up on me. I've just been plugging away at the games I play and I found myself in the 109500 range. Imagine if I hadn't seen it and just blew right through. Man, I really dodged a bullet on there, lol. If any of this is confusing, here are my previous posts meticulously outlining exactly what's going on here.

Segment 5 | Segment 6 | Segment 7 | Segment 8 | Segment 9 | Segment 10

I'll spare any readers the breakdown of what the chart below is saying. If you're curious about the specifics, check out the links above. Let's get to the nitty gritty.

I only recall playing one SUPER easy 1000-point game, 2007's TMNT. I was playing it for Shellheads, my Ninja Turtles Podcast, and noticed I could knock out all 1000 pretty quickly, so of course I did.

Otherwise, the other 9000 were obtained rather normally, almost too normally. My achievement hunting days might be behind me. Where in the past I would put 5-10 extra hours into a game trying to wring as many points out of it, now I find it hard to stick with a title past the credits. For our purposes here, that TMNT game and my slacking up probably balanced each other out. Performance-wise, Seg. 11 was my third worst overall but was only 1.3 PPD off of my career average and in line with what has come to be a normal 10k point segment. I don't have too much else to say about this milestone, I'm just glad to be here.

I had previously predicted I would reach 110k on 2/1/24. I missed that by about 42 days, but that prediction was based on a bloated 18.70 PPD caused by an erratic Seg. 10. As my performance comes back down to earth, my current career PPD is 18.57, but I don't see myself hitting that number. So, despite my calculations predicting early Sept '25 for the next 10k, I'll add an asterisk and say it will more than likely be Oct or Nov.

I guess I'll continue taking these stupid pictures. At this point I've been doing it for 15 years, none of my kids are even that old.

[petesmediadiary]

June 16th 2020

Podcasts: Beautiful Stories from Anonymous People -- 219 Romantic Wrestler Doughboys Double -- Blimey! It’s A Quiz Innit? TV: Great British Baking Show -- 10x05 Star Wars: Clone Wars -- 4x13, 4x14, 4x15 Money Heist -- 4x03 Search Party -- 2x10 Music: Shellshag -- Trigger Shellshag -- Face to Face Shellshag -- 78666 Shellshag -- Resilient Bastard Shellshag -- Diamond in the Rough Shellshag -- Make Love Shellshag -- Way High Shellshag -- Same Fears Shellshag -- Carpet Technician  Shellshag -- Stars and Bars Shellshag -- Challenge Shellshag -- Carry On Shellshag -- Psycho Nightmare Shellshag -- Transcience Shellshag -- Bastards of Young Shellshag -- Unacceptable Shellshag -- This is What I Want Shellshag -- Darwin in a Cranial Rotation Shellshag -- An Accident Shellshag -- Whiskey Eyes Shellshag -- Patootie Shellshag -- Yeah Yeah Yeah Shellshag -- Wait Til Yesterday Shellshag -- Save Yourself Shellshag -- Forcefield Shellshag -- Shellhead - Pretty in Pink Shellshag -- 5 1 N Change (acoustic) Shellshag -- Music Box Shellshag -- Dog vs. Butterfly Shellshag -- 1984

[shellheadtmarc]

8 people i’d like to know better !! ( repost, don’t reblog. )

ONE ( NAME / ALIAS ): amanda TWO ( BIRTHDAY ):  may 8th, but it was supposed to be april 25.  i just refused to be evicted from casa del mom until i was two weeks late. THREE ( ZODIAC SIGN ): taurus! FOUR ( HEIGHT ): 5′2 FIVE ( HOBBIES ): knitting, especially socks and shawls.  crochet - all kinds of things, but a lot of blankets and bags.  bookbinding.  spinning yarn with a drop spindle occasionally.  doing the whole diy selfcare thing - i make sugar and salt scrubs and occasionally soap.  dyeing yarn.  listening to a lot of podcasts, especially true crime - i'm catching up with the trail went cold at the moment.  practicing eclectic witch.  i paint sometimes still.  baking - i can't cook for shit but the only thing to ever defeat me baking is cheesecake.  actually doing the whole self care thing - etude house’s my lash serum is a miracle in a tube.  collecting bottled ink - my little collection has grown so much...i have a lot of hobbies. SIX ( FAVOURITE COLOUR(S) ): aqua blues and lime greens and cherry reds and silvers, but i've also become unreasonably attached to pastels at the moment.  everything is pastel. SEVEN ( FAVOURITE BOOKS ): the tolkien legendarium - i do a yearly reread, and i'm currently in the middle of the hobbit atm. EIGHT ( LAST SONG LISTENED TO: ): otis redding; cigarettes and coffee NINE ( LAST FILM WATCHED ): uuuuuuh, i honestly don't remember?  i thiiiink it was civil war.  i think. TEN ( INSPIRATION FOR MUSE ): i mean, the comics, obviously.  and the mcu.  but music is actually the biggest driving point for getting tony to cooperate. ELEVEN ( DREAM JOB ): with that whole pirate historian gig i'm kinda well on my way to it, hey? TWELVE ( MEANING BEHIND YOUR URL ): shellhead's an old, old nickname for iron man.  like spanning back to the beginnings of classic marvel old.  it still gets used today here and there but not nearly enough, honestly, it's one of my favorites for him.  anyway, i had another canon url but it didn't sit right, considering my issues with the new iron man run and me being such an old comics stan, so here we are.

TAGGED BY: @irnqueen TAGGING: boy i’m terrible at this uh - if you see this, do it.  bc i am indecisive and these kinds of things are fun to read.

[meanxandxgreen]

// Yo, dudes! Since I’m getting very close to the end of the 2k3 series, I’ll be streaming the movie Turtles Forever this weekend for the first time on this blog! And best of all, it’s going LIVE! That’s right; Two Turtle worlds and more come together in this hilarious, action-packed, shell-raising adventure, and all you shellheads and turtle lovers are invited to attend, whether you roleplay or not! IC/OOC is allowed, too! Before the movie starts, and so that everyone has a chance to come in and get comfy, I’ll be showing some 4Kids TV clips, podcasts, and more from the TMNT 2k3 series! It’ll begin at 8 PM on Saturday, Eastern Standard Time! Like this status if you’re interested, and I hope you guys can join us! COWABUNGA!

[gritsms]

Rebre is proud to introduce a brand new podcast to the family, Shellheads: A TMNT Podcast. Coming in January, Shellheads will be a deep dive into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in ways you've never heard before. via Geeks Recording In The South Super Feed

[kudosmyhero]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (vol. 1) #10: Silent Partner

Read Date: May 28, 2023 Cover Date: April 1987 ● Writer: Kevin Eastman ◦ Peter Laird ● Pencils: Kevin Eastman ◦ Peter Laird ● Inks: Kevin Eastman ◦ Peter Laird ◦ Michael Dooney ● Letters: Steve Lavigne ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● yassss Shredder’s on the cover! thank goodness the tv series got them to revise one of the best villains ever ● this issue hits the ground running

● have we met Casey Jones yet? I can’t remember if we’ve met him yet in this series (Yes we did, in Raphael's micro) ● the Turtles know his name, so I guess we have met him ● Car 54 reference ● panels like this make me really wanna see NYC in the snow someday…

● this lines up nicely as I’ve just reached the Northampton arc in the IDW series! ● 👏👏👏👏👏

Synopsis: As everyone is reacting to Leonardo's battered body being thrown through April's apartment window, a cadre of Foot Ninja crash through the remaining apertures in hot pursuit of the fallen turtle. A fierce battle takes place and April's home is trashed. The wonderful Holiday spirit that had pervaded the apartment mere moments before has been shattered as easily as the panes of glass.

The Turtles retreat to the first floor of April's building, fighting Foot all the way. Leonardo is badly hurt and can barely move, so April helps him walk. O'Neil is nearly killed as she opens a door, but she's saved by Leo's quick reactions. The exertion causes him to collapse again, but the protagonists make their way to April's ground floor antiques shop. Unfortunately they find the Shredder and numerous Foot Ninja waiting for them!

Before the battle can erupt, a hooded stranger emerges… it's Casey Jones (the crazy vigilante Raph befriended in Raphael #1)! Casey attacks and Raph joyously joins in… much to everyone else's surprise. The battle now favors the turtles thanks to Casey and they begin to kick some serious butt. Casey actually gets the better of the Shredder and sends him flying with a kick! Don, however, doesn't fare so well against Shredder later in the fight. Fortunately, as Shredder is about to make mincemeat out of Donnie, Mikey hurls a Foot Ninja into the villain, proclaiming "You forgot one thing… our teamwork!"

As things begin to look hopeful for the turtles and crew, the Foot blast a hole in the ceiling of the shop and more enemies drop into the melee. April remembers that her father had done a poor job of sealing an opening in a defunct walk-in freezer (the shop had once been a grocery store), so everyone heads there to escape.

The blast in the ceiling has created a fire, and the smoke alerts the local police. As the sirens wail and the building burns, the Shredder and his Foot make their escape.

Casey, the Turtles, April and Splinter manage to get out of the burning building by way of the freezer. They decide that they can't take the van due to the police presence and head out on foot. From a rooftop several blocks away, the protagonists watch the Second Time Around building burn. April falls to the ground and cries.

In the next scene, we find the group driving out on the highway in Casey's '57 Chevy with a U-Haul trailer in tow. April rides in the car with Casey while Splinter, Don, Raph and Mike do what they can to attend to Leonardo's injuries inside the trailer. The group take the Northampton, Massachusetts exit…

(https://turtlepedia.fandom.com/wiki/Silent_Partner)

Fan Art: commission from Inu-Sama by 07kiwa

Accompanying Podcast: ● Shellheads - episode 16

[kudosmyhero]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (IDW) #30: Northampton - part 2

Read Date: May 30, 2023 Cover Date: January 2014 ● Story: Kevin Eastman ◦ Bobby Curnow ◦ Tom Waltz ● Script: Tom Waltz ● Art: Sophie Campbell ● Colors: Ronda Pattison ● Letters: Shawn Lee ● Editor: Bobby Curnow ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● in the Mirage story of Northampton, the narrative told is through April’s journal. Here, Michelangelo is writing to his friend Woody ● Alopex is such a great character

● ACK just when things were coming together! ● 👏👏👏👏👏

Synopsis: Michelangelo is writing a letter to his friend Woody back in New York City. Mikey lets Woody know that he and his brothers found Leonardo and then had to go into hiding to get away from the Shredder. Mikey explains that even though they went out of town to get away from trouble, trouble found them in the form of Alopex, who stowed away with them to get away from the Foot Clan too, which she has renounced. Mikey expresses worry for Leo.

Leo sits beside a stream, wishing their mother would appear to him again. Unbeknownst to Leo, Alopex watches him from the shadows. Raphael sneaks up on Alopex and leads her away to question her about what she's doing there. Alopex tells him she was trying to thank Leo for standing up for her when the others discovered her, but Raph doesn't believe it. Alopex says she doesn't care if Raph believes her, because she knows what Leo has gone through, she knows what its like to have Shredder in your head, twisting your thoughts and emotions.

Mikey continues his letter to Woody, telling him about Splinter's injuries at the hand of Shredder. Donnie has been tending to Splinter, and says the cut has healed nicely but he'll have to keep a close eye on the fracture. But Mikey knows the Shredder hurt Splinter more by turning Leo against him. Donatello is frustrated that he can't do anything about the Technodrome problem while they're living in April's parents' barn, and no one else understands his worries.

Leo is still walking through the woods by himself, dealing with the lingering effects of the brainwashing. He hallucinates a spectral version of the Shredder in the trees, causing him to cry out. At that moment, the Turtles' mother Tang Shen appears to him and calms him. Shen walks with Leo to a peaceful garden, one she has taken him to before. Shen asks Leo if he's found what he had lost. Leo tells her that he has his family back, but he is still unfamiliar with them. She tells him to proceed slowly, and not to let himself get overwhelmed. She tells him she is needed elsewhere and she vanishes, causing Leo to wake up. Donnie is standing over him trying to rouse him, but Leo stays calm, no longer so jumpy as a result of the brainwashing.

At April O'Neil's parents' house, April's mother Beth tells April and Casey Jones that her father, John, was part of a top-secret project when he worked at StockGen. John spent years working with a healing compound nicknamed ooze, when he began to have second thoughts about the ethical implications of StockGen's work. Unfortunately, John then had a stroke, which put any thought of the ooze out of John and Beth's minds. Beth tells April she wishes she had kept her away from StockGen, but John's injury compensation and April's internship put her worries out of her mind. Beth retrieve's John's old laptop with all of his notes from his work at StockGen and gives it to April, telling her maybe she can make sense of it.

Back in the woods, Donnie tells Leo he was talking in his sleep, saying something about their mother and ghosts. Leo says it felt like he was really speaking to their mother, not just dreaming, and Donnie must think he's crazy for saying that. Donnie tells him that six months ago, he would have, but after what they've seen, he's not sure. Donnie concedes that maybe what they're going through really is the result of some type of cosmic fate or destiny. Leo tells him he just feels like he's stuck in place, treading water. Donnie assures him that it's just the after-effects of the brainwashing, and it'll pass. Donnie asks Leo to come back to the barn with him so he can bounce ideas about the Technodrome off him. This time it's Leo's turn to reassure Donnie, telling him that if he tackles the problem one step at a time he'll succeed.

In the barn, Shen now appears before Splinter, although to her he will always be her husband Hamato Yoshi. Splinter is embarrassed, asking her not to look at him in his new rodent form. She tells him that the true essence of an individual lies within. Splinter tells her that he is worried he is a failure, having let Shredder take their eldest son and turn him against them. Shen points out that Leo has been returned to them, and although he suffered at the hand of the Foot, there is a force that outweighs all darkness: love.

Mikey finishes up his letter to Woody, telling him that although they're all hurting pretty bad, Mikey has an idea to help speed up the healing process. Mikey builds a campfire and begins roasting hot dogs, and Splinter and his brothers join him. Even Alopex is invited to sit with them.

However, high above in the night sky, Koya circles the campfire, reporting in to Oroku Karai that she has found Splinter and the Turtles.

(https://turtlepedia.fandom.com/wiki/Northampton,_part_2)

Fan Art: TMNT n.13 - Variant Cover by Claudia-SG

Accompanying Podcast: ● Shellheads - episode 62

[kudosmyhero]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (vol. 1) #5: Teaming Up with Fugitoid

Read Date: February 23, 2023 Cover Date: October 1985 ● Writer: Kevin Eastman ◦ Peter Laird ● Pencils: Kevin Eastman ◦ Peter Laird ● Inks: Kevin Eastman ◦ Peter Laird ● Letterer: Kevin Eastman ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● doesn't appear to be shading in this issue. just pure black ink over white background. it works, though ● I didn't know Honeycutt/Fugitoid's story started way back with the first few Mirage issues

● the triceratop-headed soldiers are kinda cool looking ● a little announcement in the middle of the comic. it's cute seeing the creators so excited about announcing the toys and animated series. I don't blame them for being excited--Turtlemania hit fast and hard! ● 👏👏

Synopsis: The Turtles are teleported by the Utroms' Transmat device to the alien city of Peblak. As soon as they arrive, the Turtles are confronted by armed soldiers (who are here to capture the Fugitoid). Since the Turtles don't notice the robot standing behind them, they decide to defend themselves and attack the gunmen. As the battle erupts, the Fugitoid punches a hole through a wall and invites the turtles join him as they flee from the ever-growing number of soldiers. The group makes it to a rooftop with the military in hot pursuit—their only chance for escape is to jump from the top of the structure into a garbage truck far below. The Fugitoid is afraid of heights, but the turtles take him with them as they make the leap.

After a short ride where the turtles are shocked by the sights of the alien planet, the team makes it to cover and the Fugitoid explains to them where they are and who he is. The turtles agree to an alliance with the robot as they're "all in the same boat," being pursued by the authorities. The group decides to head for a spaceport near the sea. Leonardo laments that they've finally found a world where they can walk out in the open without fear of people being frightened by their appearance, but they can't do so because the military is hunting them.

Meanwhile, both General Blanque and the Triceratons plot to capture the Fugitoid.

Our protagonists head into a bar to try to find some information and assistance, but are spotted by the soldiers. A bar brawl breaks out and then the Triceratons show up in force and capture the Fugitoid. The Turtles steal an air car and go after the Triceratons who are taking the robot back to their base. Sadly the team is spotted by a squad of Triceratons and an air battle ensues. The Turtles' car is hit and they're forced to bail out from a great height. Fortunately, a thick canopy of trees breaks their fall and no one is seriously injured. When the lads fully recover, they find that General Blanque's men are in an all out war with the Triceraton troops. Through the chaos, Leo spots a Triceraton carrying the Fugitoid into a structure. The turtles scramble to help their newfound friend.

Unfortunately the structure turns out to be a ship, and it blasts off into outer space. The Triceratons try to sweet talk the Fugitoid into creating the Transmat for them as the ship approaches the gigantic Triceraton base. Meanwhile, the Turtles are trapped in a cargo bay of the craft and discover that it doesn't contain gravity… or oxygen!

(https://turtlepedia.fandom.com/wiki/Teaming_Up_with_Fugitoid)

Fan Art: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle by kevintolibao

Accompanying Podcast: ● Shellheads - episode 07

[kudosmyhero]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (vol. 1) #2: TMNT vs. the Mousers

Read Date: February 02, 2023 Cover Date: October 1984 ● Writer: Kevin Eastman ◦ Peter Laird ● Pencils: Kevin Eastman ◦ Peter Laird ● Inks: Kevin Eastman ◦ Peter Laird ● Letterer: Kevin Eastman ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● Baxter Stockman on tv talking about solving city's rodent problem ● ah, a MOUSER! I didn't realize they've been around since the beginning ● yikes… poor rat ● while Splinter and Leonardo are watching this on tv, Raph and Mikey are sparring

● I also didn't realize April worked in labs at the beginning. I thought she started out as a news reporter and was retconned as a lab worker. Perhaps it was the other way around ● that's a lot of mousers… ● why is Baxter admitting all of this to April? ● April's first meeting of the Turtles! ● up to page 30 so far. people got their money's worth with this comic! ● 38 pages ● last panel is illuminated nicely:

● 👏👏👏

Synopsis: The second issue introduced April O'Neil and Baxter Stockman. The book begins with the Turtles and Splinter watching the news. The reporter, Ms. Hynes, is doing a story about Dr. Baxter Stockman and his new invention: the rodent-killing robotic Mouser. Stockman, with the help of his lovely assistant April O'Neil, demonstrate the Mouser's ability to track and slay rats. Splinter cautions the Turtles that they must be very careful with this new threat in town.

Several weeks pass, and in that time many bank robberies have occurred. April is reading the paper to Dr. Stockman, which describes strange small tunnels dug into the bank's vaults. April hypothesizes that the Mousers would be capable of doing this, which the good Doctor promptly dismisses, pointing out that April had helped to program them, so she should know better. Stockman then proceeds to take Ms. O'Neil to an underground security level of the laboratory, where he shows her an army of Mousers that are being built. April demands to know how he got the funding to build hundreds of Mousers… when she concludes that her suspicions were correct: the Mousers were robbing the banks! Stockman then reveals his plan to blackmail the city. April is confused, as she notes that Stockman could have made millions legally with his invention. Dr. Stockman replies that he's not doing it for money but because it's "fun". April realizes that the Doc is quite mad and she bolts for the elevator. Stockman then programs the elevator to drop her into the sewers, and sends several mousers to kill her.

Just as she's about to be mauled, the Turtles show up and save her by destroying the robots. April faints at the sight of them! The turtles take Ms. O'Neil to their home, and when she awakes, tell her their origin. The Turtles then turn on the news to find Stockman making his demands of the City. It seems that he's had the Mousers dig tunnels underneath every corporate headquarters in New York City, and if a ransom is not paid for each building, he will have the Mousers destroy the skyscrapers' foundations, thus causing them to crash to the ground.

The Turtles and April decide that it's up to them to stop the mad Doctor, and they sneak into his building. They confront Baxter, who sets off an explosion and traps them in the basement lab. The Turtles manage to blast a whole in a wall, but unfortunately it leads to the storage room full of Mousers! The horde of bloodthirsty robots attack! Leo, Raph and Mike struggle to hold them off, but there are too many! Just as it looks like it's curtains for our heroes, Don and April manage to program the computer to shut down all power in the cellar… including the Mousers!

(https://turtlepedia.fandom.com/wiki/TMNT_vs._the_Mousers)

Fan Art: April O'Neil by Elias-Chatzoudis

Accompanying Podcast: ● Shellheads - episode 07

[kudosmyhero]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (IDW) #22: City Fall - part 1

Read Date: January 22, 2023 Cover Date: May 2013 ● Writer: Kevin Eastman ◦ Bobby Curnow ◦ Tom Waltz ● Art: Mateus Santolouco ● Colorist: Ronda Pattison ● Letterer: Shawn Lee ● Editor: Bobby Curnow ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● Shredder is back in New York ● Victor, the new leader of the Savate Ninjas, opposes Shredder's authority; other underworld elements are becoming emboldened by this ● they've been raiding the Foot's material shipments (ballsy) ● 1) Kitsune has some long hair; 2) title page spash is beautiful ● cut to Raph and Casey being out and about (I love their bromance so much) ● they're looking through the window of the Skara Brae pub, watching his dad drink. that's so sad. I really relate to Casey here. I wish I couldn't say that I know what it's like to watch a parent drink themself to death, but… I know what it's like to watch a parent drink themself to death ● Raph and Casey head home. they pass an alley, and I see a ninja crouching there… uh oh… ● correction: there are a lot of ninjas ● Casey takes a hard blow and is knocked out

● crap, and they capture Raphael ● they put them each separately into the back of black vans

● Casey's hockey mask is left behind on the ground in the alley ● I don't think I've ever seen Raph so apoplectic. he's barely holding his shit together, and that's only because he's bound and gagged ● Karai is in the back of the van with Raph ● she tells the driver to take them to the docks ● oops, and Raph is loose! ● go Ninja, go Ninja, go! ● looks like he throws himself backwards out of the van's rear doors ● and off a bridge he goes ● Karai isn't happy ● back at the hideout, Donatello and April are talking in front of the computer, Michelangelo is reading, and Splinter and Leonardo are sparring ● a katsugi men can be counteracted by a debana waza. i have a feeling this will come up later ● Donnie is showing April that he's got sensors set up in the church where they're currently living ● Michelangelo: "And don't forget Hob and those stupid Mousers." || Donatello: "No, Mikey--nobody's forgotten them." -- I did. I forgot them. thanks for the reminder, writers! ● now that the security system is in place, Donnie wants to test the ooze that April swiped from StockGen ● something sets off the alarms ● Raph comes in screaming that the Foot have Casey ● (in most adaptations of TMNT, it always looks like Splinter is ancient, wizened, and smaller than the turtles. here, he is older but not very old, he is still hale and strong, and he is taller than the turtles. i like this interpretation!) ● cut to the docks. Karai and Alopex are with Casey. he still looks to be out cold ● Splinter and the turtles get dropped off by April, who they tell to wait in the van with the engine running ● Angel coming out of the Skara Brae catches glimpse of Raphael ● Splinter, Leo, and Raph take rooftop positions; Donnie and Mikey are coming in underwater ● Shredder arrives ● (Alopex is so pretty!) ● Angel finds April in the van, and April gives her the rundown of what's happened ● since Casey is the only reason Angel isn't in jail or dead, she heads to the docks to lend her services in the rescue ● Shredder calls Splinter out; Casey wakes up

● JESUS. Shredder skewers Casey in the gut or chest and drops him to the ground ● oh fuck, that certainly worked in drawing Raphael out… ● the fight is on ● Alopex and Karai have a mission of their own that they're closing in on… ● Splinter is trying to get Raph to control his anger during the fight, but I don't think it's working ● Donatello and Michelangelo surface at the docks, but Shredder had predicted an amphibious assault ("We're reptiles, you doofus!") ● Splinter tells Leo to help Donnie and Mikey while he, Splinter, stays with Raph ● Alopex goes after Leo. Leo shouts for Don and Mike to help Angel with Casey ● they have Casey and start making their retreat ● oh crap--Karai got Leonardo with a dart of some kind ● aaah and Leo's katana is left behind like Casey's mask was ● they need to get Casey to a hospital ● Donatello finally notices that Leo is gone ● but Casey is dying, so they don't have time to look for him ● (omg this issue was amazing! I am totally invested in this storyline) ● 👏👏👏👏👏

Synopsis: The issue begins with the Shredder detailing the Foot Clan's recent battles with the Savate to Kitsune. Shredder states he has a plan to defeat the Savate and their other rivals.

Raphael and Casey Jones are on one of their patrols and are taking a break outside the Skara Brae to check on Casey's dad. Suddenly they are ambushed by Foot Ninja. Their numbers are too great and they are both captured and thrown into the back of a van. Inside the van, Oroku Karai tells Raph that they are on the way to the docks. Raph breaks free and escapes, leaping from the van off a bridge into the East River. Karai is pleased, as that was part of the plan all along.

Back at the Turtles' home in the abandoned church, everyone else is doing their own thing when Raph storms in, explaining what happened to Casey and urging them all to go rescue him. Leonardo stresses the need to exercise caution before rushing into another trap. They arrive at the docks and see Casey on the ground, unconscious, guarded by Karai and Alopex. Donatello and Michelangelo swim towards the docks as Splinter, Leonardo and Raphael watch from a rooftop as the Shredder approaches Casey. Casey's friend Angel Bridge, getting off work, sees April O'Neil sitting in her van waiting on the others and asks her what's going on. April fills her in. The Shredder announces to Splinter and the Turtles that he knows they are watching, raises Casey, now conscious, into the air, and impales him through the stomach with his gauntlet blades, severely wounding him. Raphael immediately charges Shredder, causing a whole legion of Foot ninja to attack. Angel, Donatello and Michelangelo grab Casey while Raph, Leo and Splinter fight the Foot. Once they have Casey in the car, they make to leave but Leonardo is hit with a tranquilizer dart and taken by the Foot. The others, not knowing where Leo is, are forced to leave without him to rush Casey to the hospital.

(https://turtlepedia.fandom.com/wiki/City_Fall,_part_1)

Fan Art: TMNT Sunrise by lorna-ka

Accompanying Podcast: ● Shellheads - episode 46

[kudosmyhero]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (IDW) #10: Shadows of the Past - part 2

Read Date: September 19, 2022 Cover Date: May 2012 ● Writer: Kevin Eastman ◦ Tom Waltz ● Art: Dan Duncan ● Colorist: Ronda Pattison ● Letterer: Robbie Robbins ◦ Shawn Lee ● Editor: Bobby Curnow ●

Synopsis: Splinter is stunned; although he had sensed a threat to his family, he had not expected to fight the Foot Clan in this life. Karai tells Splinter of how the Foot Clan has survived for hundreds of years, keeping quiet and taking out their enemies from the shadows, but now they stand poised to make a bold move and take dominance over the New York City underworld. Karai explains that although the Foot is made up of the deadliest and most skilled warriors, the conflict has escalated and they have to participate in the arms race, which is their reason for bringing Splinter before them—to join them or die.

April, Casey, and the Turtles pull into a gas station. After breaking into StockGen to find Splinter has been taken again, their spirits are low and their tensions are high. Leonardo says they're up against the Foot, that it is their past life leading them to fight their old foe. Donatello tells him that's garbage, and the whole idea that they're four boys from Feudal Japan reincarnated is ludicrous. Donatello is convinced that all of their conflicts are centered in the here-and-now, modern-day affairs related to their escape from StockGen and subsequent mutation. The Turtles begin arguing emphatically until Michelangelo breaks them up, reminding them that they have no home now and need to find a place to go. April tells them she knows the perfect spot.

Splinter is fighting a hulking Foot ninja. Having learned all the tricks and techniques of the Foot Clan in his former life, he makes quick work of the ninja.

Back at StockGen, Baxter Stockman chews out Old Hob for letting Splinter be taken. Stockman asks how it happened, but Hob was out the whole time and tells him to ask Chet. In another room Chet is on the phone, reporting to someone that the Turtles came looking for Splinter right after he was taken by Karai.

April shows the Turtles her parents unused antique shop, The Second Time Around Shop. It is exactly what it sounds like, and each of the Turtles finds something to their liking inside. Leonardo thanks April for being able to use the place. Michelangelo goes to get the gang pizza for breakfast. Soon after, April leaves, realizing what time it is and that she has a test in a few hours. Casey leaves with her. As they leave, a woman watches.

Splinter has the oversized Foot ninja at his mercy. He knows if he delivers the killing stroke, then he will in truth have lost. Splinter says he will not execute this man, and explains that he knows much of the Foot Clan, and knows that it's honor was destroyed from within by Oroku Saki in the past. As Splinter quotes what he said when he openly spoke against Oroku Saki in the past, the Shredder speaks in shock, and calls Splinter by the name he had before: Hamato Yoshi. Recognizing the voice of the Shredder, Splinter reliazes that the man standing before him is no mere successor to the name, but the original Shredder and his ancient enemy, Oroku Saki, alive in the present day, and leading the Foot Clan as he did in Feudal Japan. As Shredder wonders how the man he executed hundreds of years before is present in the form of a mutant rat, he orders Karai and the Foot Ninja to destroy Splinter.

(https://turtlepedia.fandom.com/wiki/Shadows_of_the_Past,_part_2)

Fan Art: Foot Clan 2012 by Decepticoin

[kudosmyhero]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (IDW) #20: Krang War - part 4

Read Date: October 12, 2022 Cover Date: March 2012 ● Writer: Kevin Eastman ◦ Tom Waltz ● Art: Ben Bates ● Colorist: Ronda Pattison ● Letterer: Shawn Lee ● Editor: Bobby Curnow ●

Synopsis: Raphael and Zak continue leading the frontal assault, while Leonardo, Michelangelo and the Neutrinos have reached the room where the King and Queen are being held, guarded by General Krang. Leonardo manages to slice off one of Krang's robotic suit's arms. Krang recognizes the Turtles as the ones that were stolen from Stockgen.

Back in the lab, Donatello and Honeycutt have almost finished repairing the END missile. Donatello is telling Honeycutt how he's skeptical that he and his brothers are reincarnations of four boys from Feudal Japan. Honeycutt explains to him how teleportation works; how each individual atom is scanned, destroyed, and an exact copy built in the new location. Despite being intangible, the soul is always intact and present after the teleportation process, something even their advanced science cannot explain. Honeycutt supposes that if the soul can make the journey across dimensions, it's possible it could travel across space and time as well.

Back on Burnow Island, Karai's infiltration and theft of some of the Utrom ooze is discovered while she makes her escape back to Foot headquarters.

Raphael and Zak are continuing to lead the frontal assault when they're set upon by a huge Utrom mecha. The NRF forces in the attack are under heavy fire and the situation looks grim. Honeycutt and Donatello have finished the END missile and launch it towards the battlefield, following it to ensure it isn't struck down. The Utrom mecha is about to swat it down when Raphael takes it out with a rocket launcher, allowing the END missile to detonate and disable all of Krang's troops' weapons. In the Neutrino royal castle there is a standoff between Krang, his forces, the Turtles and the NRF. Honeycutt arrives and says he has neutralized Krang's entire army, effectively winning the battle. However, Krang reveals that his weapons operate on a different frequency, meaning he still has lethal firepower. Honeycutt gives himself up to spare the others, and Krang teleports back to Burnow Island with him. The Neutrinos thank the Turtles for their help, and Michelangelo gets a kiss on the cheek from Princess Trib.

Back at the Turtle's home in New York City, April and Casey are worrying that the Turtles are gone for good, when suddenly they teleport back from Dimension X. Everyone is glad to be reunited.

(https://turtlepedia.fandom.com/wiki/Krang_War,_part_4)

Fan Art: TMNT! by CarlosMorenoD-Art

[kudosmyhero]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (IDW) #19: Krang War - part 3

Read Date: October 12, 2022 Cover Date: February 2012 ● Writer: Kevin Eastman ◦ Tom Waltz ● Art: Ben Bates ● Colorist: Ronda Pattison ● Letterer: Shawn Lee ● Editor: Bobby Curnow ●

Synopsis: General Krang has given the NRF twenty-four hours to give up the Fugitoid, or he will kill the Neutrino King and Queen before moving on to the rest of the Neutrino population. Initially Professor Honeycutt wants to give himself up to prevent any further bloodshed, but Princess Trib convinces him that's not what the King and Queen would want. She sends him off to the laboratory to repair the NRF's weapon, accompanied by Donnatello. Leonardo and Commander Dask devise a plan to rescue the King and Queen by initiating a distraction so that the Turtles may slip into the castle where they're being held unseen.

At the Turtles' home, April, Casey, and Splinter are researching Burnow Island, discovering that it's in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and ruled by the warlord General Krang. On Planet Neutrino, Krang is monologuing to King Zenter and Queen Gizzla, telling them about their race's impending doom.

On Burnow Island, Karai has infiltrated Krang's base to steal more of the Utrom ooze.

Honeycutt and Donatello arrive at the NRF lab to help repair the END missle, the weapon they hope to use to defeat Krang. It is an Electronics Nullifying Device, designed to disable the enemy's weapons through high-powered microwaves.

Leonardo and Michelangelo are preparing to infiltrate the Neutrino royal castle where the King and Queen are being held with Commander Dask and Kala when Princess Trib informs them she will be coming as well and there's no convincing her otherwise. Meanwhile, Raphael and Zak prepare to lead the frontal assault to serve as a distraction. Once the attack begins, Krang immediately orders his forces to lead a counter-attack. With the distraction underway, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and the Neutrinos infiltrate Krang's base.

(https://turtlepedia.fandom.com/wiki/Krang_War,_part_3)

Fan Art: Ninja Turtles by sharkie19

[kudosmyhero]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (IDW) #17: Krang War - part 1

Read Date: October 10, 2022 Cover Date: December 2012 ● Writer: Kevin Eastman ◦ Tom Waltz ● Art: Ben Bates ● Colorist: Ronda Pattison ● Letterer: Shawn Lee ● Editor: Bobby Curnow ●

Synopsis: The issue opens on the planet of Neutrino. The Neutrino Resistance Fighters have been under siege by General Krang's forces for ten days, and are outmanned and outgunned. The leader of the Neutrinos, King Zenter, sends Commander Dask and his team of commandos to find Professor Honeycutt, the Fugitoid, and bring him back to help the Neutrinos turn the tide of the war.

Donatello and April O'Neil are repairing the generator at the Ninja Turtles' new home, the bunker underneath the abandoned church. Casey Jones arrives with pizza and Michelangelo asks if he saw Woody Dirkins, but he didn't. Master Splinter calls a family meeting and starts off by acknowledging the setbacks they have recently faced. They have all been tested and shown their courage and skill, and must use this as momentum to go forward, and form a proactive plan. He says that although their enemies benefit from alliances, they benefit from being a true family. They must act, and April knows where they should start.

General Krang has just brought Baxter Stockman to Planet Neutrino to show him the scale of the conflict he is currently engaged in and emphasize the need for Stockman to complete the Technodrome quickly. Stockman says it is beyond his skill to complete it. Krang tells him that his forces are currently hunting down the Fugitoid to use his advanced knowledge to help finish the Technodrome.

At the Foot Clan compound, the Shredder is asking why Oroku Karai has not begun trying to capture Leonardo so that he may enlist him as his second-in-command. She says that she has, but first she must level the playing field by procuring more of the Utroms' ooze.

April is having coffee with her coworker Chet Allen at the park late at night while Casey and the other Turtles watch from a distance. She is attempting to get any information she can about what's really going on at Stockgen. Chet warns her that she could endanger herself by asking too many questions, when all of a sudden Commander Dask and his commandos materialize, saying they're there to rescue him, as Chet is in reality Professor Honeycutt, the Fugitoid, in disguise. Casey and the Turtles immediately spring into action to protect April. Casey manages to get April to safety but the Neutrinos attack to protect Professor Honeycutt. The Neutrinos are teleported back to Planet Neutrino but the Turtles are taken with them, brought back into the midst of a battle between the NRF and Krang's stone soldiers.

(https://turtlepedia.fandom.com/wiki/Krang_War,_part_1)

Fan Art: Krang by JoseRealArt