Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #10April O’Neil is such an iconic character inTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesthat she might as well be a member of the mutant ninja clan herself. And now, with an exciting new update to her character, April pretty much is. In fact, this makeover is so bold that it is certain to blow the minds of ’90s kids everywhere.
InTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles#10 by Jason Aaron and Juan Ferreyra, New York is being controlled by the Foot Clan (operating through the proxy of a corrupt district attorney). This is part of the Foot’s larger goal of world domination, and if they hope to succeed, they first need to take theirgreatest rivals, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, off the table. Unfortunately for the Foot, they didn’t count on April O’Neil.
April makes an explosive entry in this issue,wearing Casey Jones' iconic hockey mask and using one of his signature hockey sticks as a weapon, bashing the skulls of evil Foot Clan officers right there in the courthouse. It seems as though April has surmised that the justice system in New York is, at this point, incapable of offering the Turtles a fair trial, and has taken it upon herself to bust them out.
April O’Neil Has Become TMNT’s New Casey Jones
April Has Changed a Lot Since Her ’90s TMNT Days
Everything about April O’Neil’s most recent appearance inTMNTcanon is enough to blow the minds of ’90s kids everywhere. April is an ace reporter who understands the scientific complexities of the mutagen ooze, and uses her knowledge to help the Ninja Turtles, not typically known for getting her hands dirty with some hardcore combat.
Most notable of all is the fact that April is fighting in the same disguise as Casey Jones, effectively ‘becoming’ Casey Jones, which is a massive change from how fans remember her from the ’90s. However, ’90s fans need not change their view of April O’Neil completely.
No one can forget April’s yellow outfit fromthe ‘90sTMNTanimated series, and in this latest chapter ofTMNTcanon, April has decided to keep that iconic look by wearing her yellow jacket along with her Casey Jones aesthetic. So, while there’s much to get used to regarding this new version of April O’Neil, it’s clear that some things never change.
Why April O’Neil Needed to Become TMNT’s “New” Casey Jones
Casey Jones Is Currently Inactive in TMNT Canon
While the fact that April O’Neil stepped up to become theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’new Casey Jones (in a truly badass display) is unarguably awesome, there’s one question that comes to mind in light of this most recent development: why? Why did April O’Neil don the hockey mask and wield the hockey stick just as Casey Jones would have? Well, the answer is equal parts simple and tragic: Casey Jones is out of commission.
Like April is in this issue, Casey also stood up to the Foot Clan officers as the evil ninja clan first began their takeover of New York City. Unfortunately, Casey wasn’t prepared for the level of firepower he’d be up against. Not only was Casey quickly overwhelmed by the sheer number of Foot Clan soldiers, but he was ultimately shot by the corrupt district attorney himself.
While Casey Jones isn’t dead, he has been taken off the table with regard to TMNT allies currently active in New York City at this time. Casey is recovering in a hospital from his near-fatal injuries, creating a hole in NYC’s much-needed vigilantism that has been filled by April O’Neil in truly epic fashion. That means, for the time being, long-timeTMNTfans should let go of how they viewed April O’Neil from the ’90s, as she’s officially become a hard-hitting, street-level hero.
April O’Neil’s TMNT Change Redefines Another Legacy Character
Casey Marie Jones Carries On the Legacy of Both Her Parents
April O’Neil’s new status asTMNT’s current ‘Casey Jones’ doesn’t just affect her legacy, but also that of her daughter, Casey Marie Jones. InTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’Last Ronincontinuity, the daughter of Casey Jones and April O’Neil, Casey Marie Jones, carries on the legacy of her father as a hockey-mask-wearing vigilante in the streets of New York City. And now, that legacy has changed a bit.
No longer is Casey Marie Jones merely carrying the legacy of her father, but also that of her mother, since this issue ofTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesreveals that April O’Neil took on the vigilante role of Casey Jones years before Casey Marie was even born. That means Casey Marie is honoring the heroic efforts of both her parents within the pages ofTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin - Re-Evolution, not just her father.
Plus, inTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin - Re-Evolution, Casey Marie is taking on a corrupt government while fighting alongside the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. That’s important because it is the same fight that Casey Jones and April O’Neil are in within the continuity ofTMNT’s current comic book series.
At this point, it has become incredibly clear that the hockey-mask-wearing vigilante alter ego is truly one that has remained in this family, and April O’Neil taking it for herself in this latestTMNTcomic solidifies that fact. But, arguably more than anything else, April O’Neil’s bold new makeover will blow the minds of ’90s kids everywhere, especially those who are long-time fans of theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesfranchise.
