Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2024-) #4

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2024) (Single Issues)

by Jason Aaron, Chris Burnham (artist)

Chris Burnham returns to art duties this issue as we finally learn the fate of Donatello! Trapped in a mutant zoo and forced to fight rich men looking for a thrill, his mind is still broken since last we saw him. As mysterious forces gather against him, can Donnie gather himself to defeat these enemies and set himself free? Superstar writer Jason Aaron continues his exploration of the individual Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, setting the stage for their reunion.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Action, Graphic Novels Comics

Kindle Edition

Published November 27, 2024

About the author

Jason Aaron grew up in a small town in Alabama. His cousin, Gustav Hasford, who wrote the semi-autobiographical novel The Short-Timers, on which the feature film Full Metal Jacket was based, was a large influence on Aaron. Aaron decided he wanted to write comics as a child, and though his father was skeptical when Aaron informed him of this aspiration, his mother took Aaron to drug stores, where he would purchase books from spinner racks, some of which he still owns today.

Aaron's career in comics began in 2001 when he won a Marvel Comics talent search contest with an eight-page Wolverine back-up story script. The story, which was published in Wolverine #175 (June 2002), gave him the opportunity to pitch subsequent ideas to editors.

In 2006, Aaron made a blind submission to DC/Vertigo, who published his first major work, the Vietnam War story The Other Side which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Miniseries, and which Aaron regards as the "second time" he broke into the industry.

Following this, Vertigo asked him to pitch other ideas, which led to the series Scalped, a creator-owned series set on the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation and published by DC/Vertigo.

In 2007, Aaron wrote Ripclaw: Pilot Season for Top Cow Productions. Later that year, Marvel editor Axel Alonso, who was impressed by The Other Side and Scalped, hired Aaron to write issues of Wolverine, Black Panther and eventually, an extended run on Ghost Rider that began in April 2008. His continued work on Black Panther also included a tie-in to the company-wide crossover storyline along with a "Secret Invasion" with David Lapham in 2009.

In January 2008, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, though it would not affect his work on Scalped. Later that July, he wrote the Penguin issue of The Joker's Asylum.

After a 4-issue stint on Wolverine in 2007, Aaron returned to the character with the ongoing series Wolverine: Weapon X, launched to coincide with the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Aaron commented, "With Wolverine: Weapon X we'll be trying to mix things up like that from arc to arc, so the first arc is a typical sort of black ops story but the second arc will jump right into the middle of a completely different genre," In 2010, the series was relaunched once again as simply Wolverine. He followed this with his current run on Thor: God of Thunder.

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Donatello bekommt nach der Trennung der Turtles auch sein eigenes Heft zum Restart der Reihe. Alt, schwach, getrieben ist er auf dem Weg zurück nach NY, wird aber gefangen genommen und muss um sein Leben kämpfen. Natürlich kommen ihm die Foot und seine Brüder auf die Spuren.
Auch in NYC scheint sich das Bild zu verändern.
Anderes, klassischeres Artwork.

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where do I start? Not a fan of the art style. Donnie needs a lot of healing and help. Im not so how I feel about the ending. It feels kinda weak but we'll see I guess.

[ComicBookCult Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

The artwork is beautiful, consistent and reminiscent of Eastman and Laird’s original work, Jason Aaron is writing this run to be a masterpiece thus far. Great to see all the turtles back together and for what I anticipate some high stakes for upcoming story arcs. This title continues to rank highly on my pull list. Just how TMNT should be.

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es un número conflictivo para mí. Principalmente porque bebe directamente de los comics previos a la llegada de Jason Aaron. Descubriendo el rumbo más devastador de los hermanos quelonios. Donatello se encuentra vagabundeando con su otrora precisa psique atormentada. Su cuerpo también refleja también un maltrato doloroso que solo aumentará en cuanto acaba formando parte de una arena de combates ilegales con indefensos mutantes. Aún siéndole más difícil que de costumbre, el ingenio de Donatello podrá ser vital para poder salir de este cautiverio. Aunque la amenaza del Clan del Pie sigue tras los caparazones de los Hamato. Pero mientras "Donnie" encuentre un bastón... Nada se podrá interponer en su camino.

Hay una gran consciencia en que esta entrega se ilustre con Chris Burnham. Si ya el argumento de Jason Aaron es algo altamente grotesco de entrada, este dibujante solo hace amplificarlo. Siendo un tremendo shock para un lector que ya para empezar desconociese del estatus de Donatello por los comics previos. También Burnham empalma con esa amenaza política que parece estar tras el asedio de los ninjas del Clan del Pie (o por lo menos valerse de ellos). Aprovechando lo vil y deforme de de este personaje para terminar de perfilarlo como el gran antagonista que ha vuelto a reunir a las Tortugas Ninja.

[Rick Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2024-) #4, Return to New York Part Four: "Grit & a Stick"

Donatello is the focus of this fourth issue into Aaron's run on the series, and it's the bleakest (and best) one yet. Donnie has been captured by anti-mutant hicks who force mutants to fight against wealthy benefactors who also hate mutants. Emaciated and a little unhinged, Donnie uses a combination of his ninja training and intellect to survive this hellhole. The Turtles reunite by the end of the issue as expected, but Donnie's mental state is definitely the biggest question mark on how this team is going to function.

Chris Burnham joins on for the art duties of this issue with his signature scratchy and jagged linework. Though it does take a bit to adjust to his style in this issue, it works really well for the gritty nature of this issue. It even looks a little like classic Eastman artwork on some scenes.

[Rob Vitagliano · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars on this one. Another excellent issue in this run that has been better than I expected. Donatello seems to be in the worst shape of all four brothers. He's gaunt, sickly looking, and his clothes are in tatters. He's a drifter, and he stumbles across some mutants that are in dire need, and he steps in. He finds himself face to face with injustice and evil, and kicks some serious ass. It's actually almost like a Jack Reacher story, with crazy characters.

I'm not sure what happened to Shredder since I haven't read any TNMT comics before this run, but the part where Donny is showing his brothers the dead rat was actually one of the saddest things I've seen in a comic.

It's good to see the brothers back together, though I don't know where they go from here. I hope this run continues with energy like this issue, however, because I will certainly keep reading if it does.

[alejandro galvez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing.

This was by far the best issue so far. Very well written. I love the attention to small little details. Like how Donnie explains how he studied the guards routines. The grease on the key pad numbers. A fan like that appreciates that kind of attention. It's been brutal for Donnie. Felt kinda bad for him. But deep down, he is still the Ninja Turtle we have come to love. Very good. I highly recommend.

[Marcus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow Donnie has been through some $&@*! This was perhaps my favorite of the “return” issues due to the unsettling tone and Donnie’s plight. The art reflects it too by being grimy and unsettling where it needs to be. I love that despite what he’s going through mentally Donnie doesn’t hesitate to stand up for others and fight the good fight.

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art is a bit jarring, won't lie, took me a minute to get used to it.

But the story is great, one of the best I've read for Donnie who is my least favorite turtle. The ending is dark, but also uplifting. I hope we see the brothers work well together.

[Vijay Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I remember who I am. The boy of clan Hamato. The man my father raised. The turtle who fights no matter the odds...with nothing but grit and a stick.”

Donnie proves why he's my favorite turtle (well besides Mikey).

[Mykhailo Gasyuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Як на мене, поки що найсильніша глава “Повернення у Нью-Йорк”. Вона про Донателло і про його страждання. Які, звичайно ж, переходять у грандіозну бійку, але вона тут ой як потрібна і доречна. Малюнок влучно передає стан персонажу.

[John Pempek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing

God Bless Jason Aaron! Every issue is pure brilliance!! Every issue builds and builds upon itself and keeps me wanting more

[Mercury Marrero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kudos to Jason Aaron

Just realized
that this ninja turtle run has been one of the best reads I've had in a while ,all turtle, all glory.

[Kylesnooze · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was bleak sheesh

[Haris Kozo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series

[Thomas Scholtes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was a bit weirder than the last three, so I’m interested to see the direction things are headed. But the fam getting back together arc still has be hooked!

[RalleyRagnarok · Rating 5 out of 5]

Turtle fans the time is now to jump back into the story.

[Travis Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good read! This is just a continuation of TMNT Alpha. But now the band is back together again, and so if the foot clan!

[David Dalton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this approach to the TMNT story. My Hoopla app has the first five issues for me to read. Maybe they will get future issues a few at a time on a delayed basis.

[Francisco Cesar · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I remember who I am. The boy of clan Hamoto. The man my father raised."

[Devon · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this issue, gritty, sad, dark, but ends well with the boys back together. Have to admire Donnie and how he always cares about others!

[Andrew Hale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Return to New York, Part Four
Grit & A Stick

"They want to kill me. ... But I can't die anymore than I already have." - Donatello of Clan Hamato

Donnie's tale is brutal, almost disheartening if you didn't think he had a chance to continue on in the series as a regular. The angle coming in at the end, with the DA's target for the weakening of society, isn't a new concept, actually done heavily within Marvel's X-Men, and partnering it with the southern prejudices against such a group doesn't give me hope of something exciting, but Donnie's issue was entertaining with his inner battle against his own demons and his savage suicidal combat against the demons of the world. Cliff Burnham's art has a depraved look to it, comical in some scenes, but just like the last issue, it gets the job done. The recent TMNT/Naruto issue gives some compelling art that I'd love to see transfer over here but it is what it is.

Donatello wastes away in the Northampton where he talks to his mentor's grave, skirting sanity for omens. Finally breaking away, he finds mutants being trafficked only to fall victim himself, and thrown into a brutal deep South game similar to the Most Dangerous Game. Fighting for his fellow "gladiators", fighting for freedom, fighting for his sanity that may be on its last leg, Donnie's brothers are en route to save him while he saves his kind from enslavement, and saves the enslavers from the Foot clan. All the while, New York's newest District Attorney wants the soft city to be saved from itself, and to cure the city of the mutant sickness.

#1, Raphael in Teenage Mutant Ninja Inmate
#2, Michelangelo in Super Mutant Turtle Power Go!
#3, Leonardo in The Way of the Ganges Mud Turtle
#4, Donatello in Grit & A Stick
#5, Heironymous Hale in The Law of the Foot
#6, Brothers Hamato in Four Busted Knuckles