Mutant City is a comparatively new addition to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles lore, however one which has develop into integral to the broader story, because it makes the established universe really feel a lot fuller whereas additionally creating almost limitless future story potential. Whereas Mutant City is unarguably factor inside TMNT canon, it was initially presupposed to be means darker, and the inventive thoughts behind Mutant City, Sophie Campbell, mentioned so herself forward of the conclusion to her run on TMNT.
Mutant City was created after the occasions of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #98 when the TMNT‘s mutant extremist group known as the Mighty Mutanimals led by the anthropomorphic cat-mutant and outstanding TMNT villain Outdated Hob set off a mutagen bomb in the course of a crowd in New York Metropolis, mutating each human in that common neighborhood. Whereas there have been some outlying mutants who popped up in later tales who weren’t within the instant space – provided that the mutagen was airborne – it was solely a comparatively small variety of mutants that had been created that day, although greater than sufficient to offer the Metropolis of New York trigger for alarm. In response, the newly-elected Mayor Baxter Stockman determined to wall-off a portion of town the place the mutants might dwell separate from humanity. This occurred in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #101, which was Sophie Campbell’s debut subject. And now, Campbell displays on the alternatives she made with the event of TMNT‘s Mutant City, together with the unique scale of the walled-off portion of New York Metropolis.
In an interview with CBR, Sophie Campbell mentioned the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #150, as that subject will mark the top of her run on IDW Publishing’s TMNT comedian e book sequence. Whereas speaking about what followers can anticipate, Campbell touched on how her storyline started, most notably Mutant City. She spoke about what features of Mutant City she was happy with, whereas additionally revealing what might have been.
Sophie Campbell additionally defined how Mutant City impacted the Ninja Turtles personally, not simply when it comes to the broader universe.
These quotes define two very completely different variations of Mutant City. Given the reference to Escape from New York, it appears the unique concept for it was one thing extra akin to a managed post-apocalyptic wasteland behind tall, unbreachable partitions. That offers one a picture of the Ninja Turtles filling the narrative position of Snake Plissken, fastidiously traversing the damaging space, taking down mutant crime lords and kicking butt alongside the best way. It’s a cool thought based mostly on an formidable concept, however undoubtedly a darkish flip for the Turtles that may have finally solely served to separate them farther from humanity, which is the alternative of what the canonical Mutant City really did. The Mutant City TMNT followers received was the fruits of the whole lot the Turtles had ever wished up till that time. Certain, they hated that so many individuals had been displaced and mutated, however ultimately, everybody got here collectively to kind a tight-knit group the place everybody belonged and nobody was judged based mostly on their bodily look.
Not did the Turtles have to cover within the shadows and dwell within the streets. In Mutant City, they had been revered group leaders, legislation enforcement officers, and even a dependable new supply. Sophie Campbell created a house for the Turtles with Mutant City, which – based mostly on this interview – is a far cry from the ‘Escape from New York’-esque jail they nearly received, as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Mutant City was reportedly presupposed to be means darker.
Supply: CBR