Things have gone from bad to worse for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The entire world seems to be completely against Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo as they were taken to court. The court case drove home how the Foot Clan have completely taken over New York City and manipulated things to their advantage. Though there appears to be some much needed help on the way in the form of April O’Neil. Will she be enough? Let’s find out with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #11.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Juan Ferreyra
Letterer: Shawn Lee
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #11 SOLICITATION
“With the Ninja Turtles on trial for a murder they didn’t commit, Casey Jones fighting for his life in a devastating coma, and the city overrun by Foot Patrol thugs, New York has but one hope to turn the tide: April O’Neil?” – IDW Publishing
HIGHLIGHTS OF TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #11
DISTRICT ATTORNEY HALE IS THE PRICK YOU LOVE TO HATE
Writing a villain that the reader loves to hate is a true art. That is exactly what Jason Aaron and Juan Ferreyra capture with District Attorney Hieronymus Hale. From the way he talks to his character design you just want to see someone punch DA Hale in the face. That makes how we see Hale go from overconfident prick that thinks the Ninja Turtles are done to a frighten little man so satisfying. This is one of the things that has been built for the last eleven issues. It ultimately makes the monster Karai turns him into be a reflection of who the character has been since he was first introduced in the first issue of this volume.
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES GOOD KARMA
Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo have no doubt been put through the wringer in these last eleven issues. Through it all we have seen just when one or more of them wants to give up the thing they never lose is their heroic spirits. They have constantly been shown helping the people of New York City again and again. That created good karma that comes back to help them as the people of NYC arrive to vouch for them during their trial. Like with Hale being turned into the monster he truly is, seeing NYC rally around the Ninja Turtles as their heroes was handled well as the payoff to this entire story arc.
APRIL O’NEIL TIME TO SHINE
In a comic book filled with great developments and moments it is April O’Neil that shines the most in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #11. While the Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo goodwill they’ve built help them during their trial it was ultimately April who proved their true innocence. Seeing her take action into her own hands by donning Casey’s hockey mask and using his hockey stick was great. You fully buy that April spent the timeskip period honing her fighting skills just in case the worst happen. Seeing her fighting alongside the Ninja Turtles just looked right.
SPLINTER’S SPIRIT LIVES ON
An ongoing sub-plot through Jason Aaron’s run is Splinter having been reincarnated or something else. Based on the developments of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #11 it does appear that Splinter is spirit is still on this plane of existence. That is at least what seems to be implied with how a rat ended up helping April breaking into Hale’s secret safe. Then there are the other good things that happen for the Ninja Turtles. This would not be a surprising development given how we saw Shredder return multiple times. And then there is the use of magic in this issue.
KARAI TAKES THE SHREDDER AURA TO NEW LEVEL
Speaking of Shredder and magic, Aaron certainly upgrades Karai to be a whole new level of threat. We see that she has spent the time since we last saw her gaining great understanding of magic and other mystical things. The form she takes on here shows that she will be an even bigger threat than Shredder was. Her new magic abilities along with how she’s evolved the Foot Clan make her one of the most interesting characters in this series again.
WHAT DIDN’T WORK IN TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #11
NOTHING!
FINAL THOUGHTS
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #11 is a phenomenal penultimate chapter to Jason Aaron and Juan Ferreyra’s run on this series. There is so many great payoff moments throughout this issue that increase the investment in this new direction for the franchise. April O’Neil and Karai’s presence in this issue particularly elevate what has happened with each action they take. I can’t wait to see how Aaron and Ferreyra plan to wrap up this story and set-up the future for the franchise.
Story Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 10 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 9.5 Night Girls out of 10
For more opinions on anime, comic book, movies, and sports you can follow Kevin on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads, and Twitter/X.