Warning: Spoilers for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #4TheTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' new era has done the unthinkable and separated the brothers after decades of teamwork. Each turtle has forged a path of his own in a different part of the globe for reasons that presently remain a mystery. Now, after months of anticipation, the fate of Donatello has been unveiled - and it’s much darker than what any of his fellow ninja turtles are going through.
Every issue of this openingTMNTarc has focused on one of the turtles, catching readers up on where they’ve been, and it’s finally about to be Donatello’s turn. The solicitation forTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles#4 by Jason Aaron and Chris Burnham provides insight into Donnie’s whereabouts as of late, though his location isn’t pleasant. According to the synopsis,Donatello is fighting for his life in a mutant zoo.
Rafael Albuquerque
Variant Cover Artists:
Chris Burnham; Kevin Eastman; J. Gonzo; Danny Earls; Darick Robertson; Lee Bermejo; Paolo Rivera
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.
This chilling new status quo for Donatello is a far cry from his old life in the New York City sewers with his brothers. He’s already been through his fair share of horrors, but his entrapment in a vicious zoo might be thedarkest moment he’s ever had to endure inTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtleshistory.
Donatello Faces His Darkest Moment in TMNT Lore
Donnie’s Horrific Fate Is the Latest Tragedy He’s Endured
In TMNT lore, Donatello is no stranger to tragedy. The most infamous example can be found inTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles#44 by Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz, Cory Smith, Ronda Pattison, and Shawn Lee. In this issue,Bebop and Rocksteady brutally beat Donatello, destroying his shell and killing him in a sickening display of violence. Donnie returns later on with a prosthetic carapace in lieu of his natural shell, yet his trauma doesn’t end there. Recent stories have featuredDonatello discovering a dark futurewhere he’s isolated and broken. Now, the mutant zoo brings Donatello’s despairing isolation to the present day.
Michelangelo Turns Against His Brothers in A Major Unexpected Change to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Lore
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #2 upends the franchise’s status quo, as Michelangelo battles one of his brothers, changing their dynamic forever.
While it’s still not known how Donatello ended up in a mutant zoo in the first place, the fact remains that it’s a bleak situation for any mutant to live through. Since their creation, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have struggled with their mutant identities, so it’s heartbreaking to see Donnie face torment from the rich and powerful as a result of his. The worst part is that he’s facing this zoo on his own without his brothers to count on in a major shift from the norm.Donatello alone must muster the will to fight his way to freedomfrom his dark imprisonment.
Donatello Must Break Free to Reunite with His Brothers
Will Donatello Reunite with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?
Because theninja turtles have split upin this relaunch, they’re left to brave their own crises if they want any hope of finding one another. Raphael has already escaped from his prison stint, and he’s even foundMichelangelo, who’s become a TV starin Tokyo. Leonardo’s status will soon be known, and then it’s time for Donatello to overcome his own demons in the mutant zoo. After everything Donnie has been through, this latest hardship is his ultimate obstacle. TheTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' reunion is drawing near, and Donatello will need to fight like never before if he wants to be with his brothers again.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles#4is available November 27th, 2024 from IDW Publishing.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) is a multi-media franchise that began with Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s comics in the 1980s. Throughout the years, their comic books expanded to movies, TV shows, video games, and toys. Most notably, the animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ran for nearly a decade and has become a nostalgic staple of the ‘80s and ‘90s. Several other movies have featured the four anthropomorphic turtle brothers (Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael), including the trilogy of live-action films in the ‘90s and the more recent movies Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and its sequel Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows.
