TMNT: Mutant Nation #9. Preview and discussion
 

So this how Mutant Nation ends, huh ?

Mutant Nation as a whole did great to hold the IDW universe together, some issues were fun and some were heartwarming. The Foot Patrol ones were the most interesting in my taste, because police acting as fascist bullies is unfortunately relevant nowadays...
(Still no sign of Carmen though, what happened ? Her character didn't have a proper conclusion).

Now let's talk about issue 9, the first story is basically Turtles meet Dog Star Clan : Cool but I really hope all this Yoshi Chen teasing will lead us somewhere in a future arc !

The second story was very heartwarming, the feeling conveyed was really nice. I felt rewarded reading the Mutant Nation series, well done ! I felt each character respected in each panel and I think I recognised most of them.

I don't want to spoil anything but I think I recognised a character in the last panels, so he was staying in Mutant Town the whole time huh ?

Feels like the second story was a sendoff to Mutant town as a whole. I wouldn't mind if this is the last we see of most of them besides the main cast like the Mutanimals and other older characters. Since apparently demutating Mutant town obviously isn't ever going to be on the cards they might as well just silently write most these characters off. Feels like a coda to Sophie's run as a whole.

First story is more of the main plot from Aaron's run, which seems to be more interesting. Although we've had so many gang wars in IDW already.

The first story just confused me. Leo's actions were a bit reckless. His intervention almost indirectly killed an innocent people and made a new enemies.

Yes, that's the point !
Leo's actions are fitting with his mental state in Aaron's story in the main run...

Although he has been rude with Donnie, that was too much lmao

I am sorry to tell you this but I think you're in for a disappointement if you think Mutant Town will end there...

However I agree that this works well as a conclusion to Mutant Town, but I'm not sure that was the intent, I believe it's the opposite and the last panel should be taken literally

Jason Aaron's run already put mutant town to the background, and I'm sure the next writer will too. Outside the main mutants like Hob's Mutanimals and the Foot Clan mutants, there really isn't much reason to have mutant town in the main story anymore. It'll still exist of course, but the same way the main run treats it now just as background commentary or minor mentions. There also really isn't much else to do with these characters in general, they basically have their society formed and most seem happy.

I originally thought they would have a plotline where Don or someone creates some massive retromutagen vaccine to de-mutate the entire population of mutant town, but we're now 60+ issues later from when it happened so I doubt IDW ever wants to do it. Seems like it'll just stay for the remainder of the series.

Read it just now.

I think Mutant Town will be back, but it's definitely been shelfed. I think what they are doing is using Mutant Town as the part of another point in the story where the turtles don't always have to go to the O'Neil farm to relax and muse about their personal problems. Feels more like a possible ending for them.

Also, really liked they aren't forgetting the Splinter Dojo. God I hope they get it working again someday.

I think the Nightwatcher showed that Mutant Town can still hold stories but it can still be a Burnow Island or Dimension X situation : cast aside until brought back by the creative team.

The retromutagen is an interesting idea, but I think Dr.Barlow and Bob already tried that route (with consequences and a similar theme). The issue with retromutagen is that can end the TMNT and so end the story, so it can only happen in alternate timelines or tried by antagonists... Leatherhead was the best candidate, but it would be bad to betray his latest character development. I guess the EPF/Lindsey Baker plot could go that route (I have no idea what they want to do with these characters for the moment).

You know, there is still one thing that really,really, reaaaaaly bugs me.

Just read it, Thought it was pretty good, Mutant Town is not going away, Its here to stay, I also love that one of the stories was more Mona Lisa focused, So I'm happy with that.

I think Mutant Nation as a whole was supposed to go on much longer, ending at only 9 issues makes me think they wanted to axe it to do the other mini-series they have coming up like Shredder and the Casey Jones one. This was basically billed as an ongoing mini-series alongside the new #1, so I think they axed it.

Doesn't really matter too much as we'll get the same stories in other issues/mini's anyway, but I get the feeling people weren't buying this. It's especially notable the first 5 issues were just about Raphael in Area 51 and we only got 4 issues after focusing on other characters. No way was it planned to end this soon.

I love The Mutagen Man's comment in this issue

Justice for Yoshi Chen!

Pervert!