Issue #1
The issue begins with an accounting of the four original turtles after the death of Master Splinter. This is when they all go their separate ways. Leonardo still wants to keep the brothers together and continue to fight, but the other three turtles have decided to throw in the towel. Leonardo stays behind in the sewer den, Raphael goes off to live with April, Casey, and Shadow, and Michelangelo and Donatello go off together and get their own place…
Jumping forward a considerable number of years, it is now 2069. In the time that they have been separated many things have happened for the turtles. Leonardo has remained true to the turtles’ heroic ways, but these years have hardened him into a strict perfectionist and have shortened his temper. Raphael has been away for several years, training in various parts of the world, his scars as evidence of his hardships. Michelangelo, over this lengthy time, has lost some of his comedic charm, wanting more and more every day to have a family again. Recognizing Michelangelo’s troubles, Donatello has spent the years working to recreate the ooze that mutated them. It is this that brings them back together.
When they all reunite one evening Donatello presents the fruits of his labors by giving to each of his brothers (and himself) a mutated male, baby turtle. Michelangelo is overcome with joy and embraces Donatello tightly. Michelangelo immediately names his new son Beau, and Donatello announces that his son is to be named Albert in honor of Albert Einstein. Raphael seems very happy, but he takes the baby quietly and calmly, bowing to Donatello; Raphael names his son Casey, honoring his late friend. Leonardo, though not seemingly frustrated by the idea of having a son, does not show the slightest bit of emotion as he takes the baby turtle into his arms. Leonardo turns and leaves immediately, not even sharing the name he’s chosen for the baby. This is how they part ways yet again…
Jumping forward 15 years, the focus turns away from the turtles. The next scene is that of a detective investigating a string of recent assassinations in his neighborhood. All of the killings have followed a similar pattern: the left foot has been cut off of the victim. This detective, after also connecting the killings to mob targets, decides to snoop around a warehouse in which one of the city’s crime families has been rumored to use as headquarters. What the detective falls upon is a large group of young men that appear to be training in martial arts. The detective is confused, but he doesn’t get a chance to get anymore answers. The detective is discovered and attacked. When he is seen being thrown into the river nearby, his left foot has clearly been removed.
The focus will then turn to showcasing each of the four new turtles as they now are teenagers: Casey undergoes stealth training with Raphael in the abandoned prison on Ryker’s Island; Yoshi (the before unmentioned name of the son of Leonardo) is put through fierce training in the old sewer den; Beau and Al (Albert) spar in their floating apartment as Michelangelo looks on as their trainer. As all of this is going on, Donatello works in his lab (in the same floating apartment) as he is pestered by the recently added fifth turtle, a girl named Jasmine. Jasmine is very young and hasn’t yet begun to train in Ninjitsu (as she may never).
To get some action going in this issue, Yoshi and Casey will meet out on the street, both going out to patrol for crime. Yoshi’s ego will get the best of him and this will lead to a fight between the two turtles. Casey has no interest in fighting his cousin and he mainly stays on the defensive, causing Yoshi to hurt himself by blocking and dodging. Yoshi’s rage will continue to increase until he eventually pulls out his katana. Casey realizes the danger and, wielding his escrima sticks, quickly takes Yoshi down before someone gets killed. Casey says his goodbyes and tells Yoshi that he’ll “see him at the reunion.” A silhouette is seen on a building across from the turtles, this person having watched the whole confrontation. This issue ends by showing a close-up of this shadow’s red, glowing eyes.
The point of this first issue is to establish the origins of the four new turtles (five technically, but Jasmine isn’t apart of the fighting team) and to show where the original four have ended up over the years. The next issue will begin to build on the actual story with the turtles’ oncoming conflict.
Issue #2
This issue opens with a meeting between a yakuza gang. The leaders of the gang are sitting around a table discussing the recent success of their assassinations of other gang leaders. The room suddenly turns black with darkness. When the lights are turned back on, the only yakuza left alive is the leader at the head of the table. A ninja stands over him with a katana to his throat. Half a dozen other ninjas also fill the room and they part to make room for a man as he enters. The man is clad in a similar outfit as the ninjas, but he is not wearing a mask. The man announces “The Foot is now in control” and the ninja over the yakuza leader takes a swipe with his katana. The yakuza leader is killed.
The attention soon turns to the “reunion” that Casey made mention of in the first issue. Shadow, though quite elderly, is still alive and is working with her children and grandchildren to get her house ready. The turtles all arrive a few moments later (Leonardo and Yoshi show up late) and the party begins. All of the new turtles refer to Shadow as there aunt, except Jasmine who calls her “Nana.” Shadow’s children are getting along in years themselves and her grandchildren are all in their 20s. Nevertheless, the “family” has a great party. There is some visible uneasiness between Casey and Yoshi. Raphael asks Leonardo to join him in the basement for a discussion.
Raphael makes it clear to Leonardo that he disagrees with the way that Yoshi is being raised. Leonardo doesn’t take to this well and throws some insults at his brother. Raphael requests that Yoshi not try to fight with Casey anymore, but Leonardo takes it one further and demands that Casey stay away from Yoshi all together. The divide between the two grows even larger at this point. Raphael and Leonardo both get their sons and leave, confusing all of the other partygoers as they look on.
When Leonardo gets back to the sewer den with Yoshi, he finds that someone has broken the lock on the entrance. Ordering Yoshi to guard the entrance, he goes in to investigate. When he finds that nothing has been stolen and that no one is inside, he returns to entrance. When he gets there, Yoshi is thrown through the entrance on top of him. A smoke pellet follows. A shadow enters through the cloud of smoke. When the smoke clears, Leonardo is gone and Yoshi is left unconscious and injured.
The focus then turns to Raphael and Casey as they have returned to their home on Ryker’s Island. Raphael masks his frustration, but Casey realizes that something is wrong and questions his father about it. Raphael responds with a smile and says, “You are a very good son.” Raphael hugs Casey, and then tells him that he is going out for some air.
Raphael is soon seen leaping across rooftops. It isn’t long into this outing that he hears a gunshot. Running in the direction of the sound to investigate, Raphael soon finds that the source of the gunfire is a gang war that is just beginning on the street below. The gang members are all well dressed and are obviously apart of the mob and yakuza respectively.
Just as Raphael is about to intervene, the street fills with bright light. He covers his eyes to avoid being blinded further. When his sight returns and he looks to the street below, he finds that all of the gangsters have been killed without a shot being fired. Looking up in just the nick of time, Raphael sees a ninja on the rooftop across the street. The ninja stares at him for a second then turns and runs away. Raphael moves to pursue, but when he gets to the roof across the street he is attacked from behind by a shadowed figure. Raphael falls unconscious and all goes black. This issue ends by showing the rooftop with no one there any longer.
This issue has begun the slow ascent into the conflict for the new turtles. Someone clearly has their sights set on the old turtles and The Foot Clan is reestablishing itself in New York. Whether the two are connected is yet to be seen, but things will start to get more intense in the following issues.
Issue #3
The issue opens with Casey arriving at Michelangelo and Donatello’s floating apartment. It is the next morning after Raphael had gone out and he has not returned home. Michelangelo and Donatello make it clear that they have not seen their brother, but they decide to go out to look for him come nightfall. Casey, Beau, and Al decide that they will accompany them in the search as well.
Attention then turns to a restaurant where a group of yakuza are meeting outside in the broad daylight. The group is discussing the recent interference of their affairs by The Foot. One of them, clearly the superior of the group, makes the order for no one to make any dealings in the night unless given his permission. Immediately after he says this, a shuriken flies in and slices his throat. A panic rises and the remaining men draw their guns. Before they can spot the killer, another shuriken hits the table with a picture of a foot tied to it.
Nightfall comes and Yoshi is out running amongst the rooftops looking for his father. It isn’t long before he comes across the five other turtles. Reluctantly, Yoshi informs them that Leonardo has been abducted by someone. The others realize that this same person must have done something to Raphael also. Upon this realization, the group is suddenly surrounded by a group of Foot ninja.
The turtles prepare for a fight, but the Foot ninja remain stoic. One out the ninjas makes his way to the center of the group. This is the same man from the second issue that is clearly the leader of The Foot. This man informs the turtles that The Foot has been keeping an eye on their activities for many weeks. Realizing their skills, he offers the turtles a chance to join The Foot against the yakuza. The turtles refuse, of course. The Foot leader accepts their answer, but reminds them that the next time they encounter his men will not hesitate to kill them.
After these words are spoken, smoke fills the rooftop. A fight ensues with an unknown enemy. When the smoke clears, Michelangelo and Donatello are gone. The remaining turtles are confused and injured. The Foot ninja are badly injured as well and, at the command of their leader, they take off. The turtles are left alone, with no idea where their fathers have gone.
Issue #4
This issue begins where the last left off, with the four young cousins alone on a rooftop. Casey takes charge of the situation, suggesting the best thing to do is to stay together and try to find the older turtles. Yoshi shows little interest in this plan and without much said he takes off alone. Casey shows some disappointment at this, but the others go on anyway.
Shifting elsewhere, Leonardo and Raphael are found caged together in an unknown location. Leonardo is already awake as Raphael regains consciousness. Raphael raises the question of their location, but Leonardo ignores him, looking for weaknesses in their prison. While they are trapped alone, Raphael tries to resolve some of their issues, but Leonardo remains silent.
After some time, a voice that belongs to neither of the turtles echoes through the room. It is clearly a man speaking, though his voice is disguised. This man tells the turtles that they will soon be freed to prove themselves against him. This leaves the two puzzled and the man says no more.
Meanwhile, the Foot leader and the rest of the clan return to their warehouse hideout. The leader is clearly frustrated at the failure in the attack, scolding his men for not performing better. One ninja in particular speaks up, suggesting that Yoshi in particular be persuaded to join them. The leader seems interested at the idea.
Out on his own, Yoshi runs into some trouble as he searches for his father. Running across a group of Yakuza, Yoshi is, somehow, mistaken for a member of the Foot and is attacked. Though he manages to do well at first, the turtle eventually becomes overwhelmed and must flee, injured quite badly from the fight.
To end the issue, Michelangelo and Donatello, chained up, awake in what appears to be a fighting cage where Leonardo and Raphael are also chained. As the turtles’ chains unlock independently, a shadowed figure steps into the cage. When the light hits this figure, it is revealed to be The Shredder.
Issue #5
Before going out to look for their father’s, three of the young turtles have returned to the floating apartment to retrieve supplies. Shadow is there watching Jasmine and asks what the rush is for and if they have found Raphael. Casey informs her that their fathers have been abducted by someone and that they must find out where they’ve been taken. With all supplies they need, the three turtles leave once more.
In the old sewer den, Yoshi is recovering from his confrontation with the Yakuza gang. Heavily bandaged, the turtle seethes in his frustration of loss. Spotting one of his training dummies across the room, Yoshi angrily throws a shuriken into its head. Ripping one of his father’s black robes, Yoshi puts a scrap of the cloth around his eyes, tying it tightly in back, and goes back out in search of Leonardo.
Meanwhile, the four older turtles are rocked by the sight of Shredder, who has been dead for nearly 100 years. Shredder doesn’t speak any more than to say “I challenge.” Finding that their original weapons have been laid out for them, the turtles take them up and prepare for a fight. Without warning, Shredder lashes out and the battle begins.
Out in the world, the three united turtles stand like statues on the ledge of a rooftop. Looking out over the city, they have little clue as to where they should start looking for their fathers. While contemplating the seemingly hopelessness of the situation, the turtles are attacked by Foot ninja.
This attack seems unprovoked, as the leader of the Foot is not present as he was last time. The turtles manage to fight off their attackers long enough to give themselves a hole through which to flee. Unlike Yoshi, this is a strategic move for survival as opposed to thinking it a failure.
Back in Shredder’s cage, the four older turtles are locked in mortal combat with their abductor. The conflict goes beyond the physical, however. Leonardo’s ego separates him from his brother’s as they work as a team. The issue ends with him charging Shredder alone and being harshly knocked down.
Issue #6
This issue begins with Casey, Beau, and Al still being pursued by the group of Foot ninja. Finding their way into an abandoned building, Casey decides that they should stand and fight, otherwise they’ll wear themselves out running. Turning to face the ninja, the turtles take a fighting stance as their opponents close in.
Meanwhile, a group of Yakuza are meeting with their leader in a club. The Yakuza are those that confronted Yoshi and they have come to warn their leader about “the Foot’s new weapon;” the Yakuza mistook Yoshi for a member of the Foot. The leader present seems to have little worry about this, having the utmost confidence that the Yakuza will crush the Foot. With these words, Yoshi breaks through a skylight in the club’s roof and lands on a table in front of them.
Turning attention back to the four older turtles for a moment, Shredder is shown standing over Leonardo with his sword on his throat. Shredder expresses disappointment in the turtles’ fighting ability. Suddenly, Shredder’s attention seems to be placed elsewhere. Taking his sword away from Leonardo’s throat, Shredder proclaims the victory to be his and exits the cage, leaving the door open behind him.
Back at the club, Yoshi is ferociously attacking the Yakuza gang. Even with their guns, the gang members are unable to defend themselves against Yoshi’s speed and strength. Soon, only the Yakuza leader is left standing. Yoshi grabs him by the throat and demands to know where his father has been taken. The leader knows nothing of this, but Yoshi doesn’t believe him. The young turtle beats the leader mercilessly until an s.w.a.t. team storms into the club, at which point Yoshi must flee.
Back with the other three young turtles, the battle with the Foot has gone on full blast. Casey and Al are both deep within the conflict, with Beau (his weapon being long-range) taking shots with his bow from the shadows of the building’s upper levels. This seemingly equal matchup is what ends the issue.
Issue #7
Starting up where the last issue left off, Casey, Al, and Beau are in a heated battle with the Foot. Neither the turtles or the Foot seem to be winning, each side of the fight fending off the other. Al makes a comment to Casey that they could win with the help of one more turtle. Casey’s thoughts go to Yoshi and where he is in this moment.
Said turtle, Yoshi, finds himself clueless as he glares down from a rooftop at the streets below. After his confrontation with the Yakuza, he is nowhere closer to finding his father. Removing the black cloth from his eyes, Yoshi drops it and sighs heavily.
While standing there, Yoshi is confronted by the Foot leader. Impressed by what he’s seen from the young turtle, the leader once again offers a position in the Foot. Yoshi is suspicious of this offer, but he also sees a benefit. Asking that the Foot help him find his father, Yoshi agrees to join.
This may all be unnecessary, as the four older turtles have been freed from Shredder’s prison. Shadow is surprised to see the four of them as they enter the floating apartment. All issues are put aside as Leonardo’s injuries must be attended to. Taking Raphael aside, Shadow expresses worry for the four young turtles being out there in the city by themselves.
Cutting back to Casey, Al, and Beau, the fight with the Foot goes on as it did before. Suddenly there is a bombardment of pellets, which then explode and fill the building with smoke. When the smoke clears, Shredder is standing between the turtles and the Foot.
Issue #8
Beginning where we left off, Shredder has entered the battle between three of the young turtles and the Foot. The Foot ninja, well aware of their master from so many years ago, are awestruck and they bow to his return. Turning to the turtles, Shredder announces that their father’s had lost in their battle with him. Now, he wishes to prove himself against their offspring.
Meanwhile, Leonardo awakes from the unconscious state Shredder had put him in. Despite the arguments of his brothers, he decides to go out to look for his son and the others. After Leonardo leaves, Raphael promises to bring him back and tells Michelangelo and Donatello that they should go look for the kids. After Raphael has also gone, Michelangelo smiles and asks Donatello if “the suit” is finished yet.
As Leonardo dashes across rooftops, Raphael drops down into his path. Leonardo orders him to move, but Raphael reminds him that he no longer gives the orders. This angers Leonardo and he swings at his brother. Raphael doesn’t want to fight, but Leonardo insists upon it, continuing to lash out at him. So, the two begin to fight one another, despite other pressing issues.
Back in the abandoned building, Shredder and the three young turtles have become locked in combat themselves. Clearly being their superior, Shredder is thrashing the turtles fairly badly. One advantage this team has over their fathers is their ability to work as a team, though they are one short.
Speaking of the “one short,” Yoshi is back at the Foot hideout where he is being sworn into the clan. Given a special clan mask, Yoshi’s first assignment is to eliminate his cousins. “Yes master,” Yoshi says as he bows his head to the Foot leader.
Issue #9
Everything is starting to come to a head in this issue. Leonardo and Raphael are still fighting one another high atop a rooftop. Much resentment and emotion comes through in this fight as they continually up the ante. Eventually, Raphael has Leonardo pinned to the ground with his sai at his throat. Drawing back, Raphael throws his weapons aside. “We can’t help our sons if we kill each other,” Raphael says as he offers Leonardo his hand. This scene is left wondering if Leonardo will take his hand.
Meanwhile, Shredder is still badly beating the three young turtles. However, things grow more pressing when an army of Yakuza attack the building, forcing the Foot to fight them off. As said, everything is building towards the close in this issue.
Eventually, more Foot ninja appear, led by Yoshi. Yoshi orders the ninja to finish the Yakuza as he approaches his cousins. Shredder is amused by the appearance of a fourth turtle, but he is not threatened. This arrogance angers Yoshi and, instead of attacking his cousins as he planned, he attacks Shredder.
Thus, a war is waged in the abandoned ruins of the building. Yoshi’s rage does not help him against Shredder and he is soon knocked aside. Casey tries to reason with Yoshi, but Yoshi warns that “You’ll be dealt with when I finish him.” Going back in with more rage, Yoshi tries again to attack Shredder. Again he fails.
“Shredder!” someone yells. Looking up into the shadows of the building, Shredder and all other’s present search for the source of the challenging yell. High above, Leonardo and Raphael stand, weapons drawn.
Issue #10
Everything will come to a close in this issue. Shredder looks up at the two older turtles and chuckles. Raphael and Leonardo jump down and stand between Shredder and their sons. Leonardo announces that they can handle Shredder and Raphael suggests the other turtles finish the Foot and Yakuza. The two elders then attack Shredder and the true climax begins.
As Casey, Beau, and Al go off to confront the two warring factions they are halted by Yoshi, who upholds his mission to eliminate them. Thus, three separate battles are going on in the old building as the night grows older.
Things escalate as some sort of Iron Man-like figure flies into the battle. Announcing himself to be “Turtle Titan,” it is Michelangelo in the armor that goes about fighting the Foot and Yakuza. Donatello is watching the whole scene through a camera in Michelangelo’s helmet and giving him instructions. Noticing a strange signal emitting from Shredder, Donatello decides to trace it.
All the while, Raphael and Leonardo seem to be evenly matched with Shredder. Yoshi and his cousins also seem to be evenly matched. The only one-sided battle is Michelangelo as he cleans house against the Foot and Yakuza. After having located Shredder’s signal origin, Donatello works to jam it.
Before this can be done, Shredder distracts Leonardo by throwing a shuriken at Yoshi. With Leonardo distracted, Shredder runs him through with his sword. Yoshi, though hit by the shuriken, sees this and cries out. Running over with sword drawn, Yoshi swipes at Shredder, cutting him open. All stand silent as wires protrude from Shredder’s open chest. Shredder falls lifeless as Donatello cuts the signal to him. Shredder was a drone.
A few minutes later, in another part of the city, a young man in an apartment is seen angrily pounding on a computer. Someone clears their throat behind him and the young man turns around to find Donatello standing there with Shredder’s head. Trying to flee, the young man is stopped by the other six turtles that have also made their way to his apartment. Yoshi draws his sword and demands an explanation.
The young man explains that he is a decedent of Oroku Saki. Having studied his ancestor’s life, the young man saw that Saki’s biggest failure was his loss to the turtles. Wanting to redeem Saki, the young man sought to prove himself against the turtles.
“Well, we’re here now,” Yoshi growls. The young man turns and runs away, jumping through a window to his death. Yoshi watches as he falls to the pavement far below. Removing the mask given to him by the Foot, Yoshi throws it out of the window.
The next day, a funeral is held for Leonardo. All of the turtles and Shadow’s family are present as his body is set out to sea. Firing a burning arrow, Beau sets his uncle’s body aflame. Yoshi quietly whispers, “I will honor you father.”
Three months later, the Yakuza factions are meeting in celebration of the Foot’s dismemberment. As they drink and party, the lights go out and attackers break in through the windows of the room in which the party takes place. “The Foot!” one man yells. “They’re wrong,” Yoshi thinks, “we’re not the Foot. We are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles…” The turtles go on to trounce the Yakuza and then silently flee the room as police arrive. “We strike hard…and fade away into the night.”