WARNING! Spoilers for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Nation #4 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5
Casey Jones is one of the greatest characters inTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtleslore, and a recent upheaval to his status quo has reaffirmed that status by bringing him back to his vigilante roots. In recent stories, he’s joined the Foot Clan in an effort to reform them, but he’s finally been let go and forced to go his own way. This change, while shocking, is ultimately the right call for Casey moving forward.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Nation#4 concludesCasey Jones' journey as Foot Clan memberin the fourth and final part of “Casey Jones: Agent of the Foot Clan”. Written by Erik Burnham with art by Mateus Santolouco, Marco Lesko, and Rus Wooton, this story picks up where the last issue left off as Casey Jones and Karai fight it out.
At the conclusion of their fight,Karai informs Casey that he is no longer part of the Foot Clan. Casey Jones isn’t affiliated with theTMNT’s enemies anymore, and his sudden return to New York is ultimately for the best.
Casey Jones Is Leaving the Foot Clan At Long Last, And It’s About Time
Karai Uproots TMNT Lore by Kicking Casey Out of the Foot Clan
To Karai’s credit, her reasoning for kicking Casey Jones out of the Foot Clan isn’t as cold-hearted as it may seem. When he tries to argue, she simply says,“Your heart is not dark enough for the path we must walk, Casey Jones.“In reality, she’s sparing him from being near her as she’s possessed by the Traveler, a demonic spirit that’s bringing out the worst in her. Still, from Casey’s perspective, he’s getting needlessly tossed aside despite the work he’s done with Karai to reform the Foot Clan as a better organization than it was underShredder’s rule.
Sorry to Ruin Your Childhood, But the OG Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Were Darker Than You Realize
Those who grew up with the TMNT will be shocked to learn that the turtles were hardened assassins with an affinity for violence in the classic comics.
Casey’s mission with the Foot Clan has been explored further inTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Untold Destiny of the Foot Clanby Burnham and Santolouco. Here, he operates as anadvisor to Karaiin hopes of improving the Foot Clan. Unfortunately, the Traveler’s control over Karai has derailed that plan, and now Casey has been banished from the clan entirely with nothing to show for it. This story concludes with Casey scrubbing the Foot Clan’s symbol from his iconic hockey mask, reclaiming his iconic role inTMNTlore as a solo vigilante.
Casey Jones' Foot Clan Arc Is Cool and All, But He’s Best As A Vigilante
This Badass TMNT Hero Thrives When He Rebels Against the System
Casey Jones is undoubtedly the coolestTMNTcharacter, surpassing even the ninja turtles themselves thanks to his awesome design and fiery personality. Since his introduction in 1985, he’s never hesitated to beat up any and every baddie that gets in his way, and he clearly enjoys every second of it. He’s still participated in a fair share of fights as a member of the Foot Clan, butCasey is truly in his element when he’s standing alone and tearing down systems in lieu of upholding them. His rebellious nature is an integral part of his character, and that aspect has at last been restored.
Casey Jones made his comic debut inRaphael: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle#1, a one-shot by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird.
Once Casey puts on his old gear after leaving the Foot Clan behind, he says,“Guess that means I should just go back to kickin' their butts.“In true Casey Jones fashion, that’s exactly what he does when he appears inTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles#5 by Jason Aaron and Darick Robertson. With his classic hockey stick in hand, he faces off against the Foot Clan to dismantle their fascisttakeover of New York City. Seeing Casey mow down hordes of corrupt cops brings back memories of his past depictions in both the comics and various TV adaptations, marking a proper return to form for thisTMNTally.
TMNT’s Casey Jones Comeback Is On Pause For the Time Being
Don’t Worry, Casey Jones Won’t Be Out of the Picture Forever
Unfortunately, as exciting as Casey Jones' vigilante comeback is, his moment in the spotlight doesn’t last long. At the end ofTMNT#5, he gets shot by Hieronymus Hale, a villainous District Attorney who’s in allegiance with the Foot.Casey hasn’t been killed offthat easily, but he’s currently out of commission for the time being. He is confirmed to be hospitalized in the series' next issue, with no clear sign of recovery yet. Nonetheless, once Casey Jones is back in action, he’ll surely join theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesin their fight against the Foot Clan like the badass he is - and always has been.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Nation#4is available now from IDW Publishing.
