As a long-time friend of Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesCasey Jones fought countless battles against the Foot Clan. However, his loyalties suddenly changed and he joined the ranks of Shredder's former army in a surprising turn of events. One of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' closest accomplices is switching sides, and Casey Jones' role in TMNT lore will never be the same.
In the story “Casey Jones: Agent of the Foot Clan” by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Nation #1 – written by Erik Burnham with art by Mateus Santolouco, Marco Lesko and Rus Wooton – Casey debuts an all-new outfit as he abandons his solo vigilante roots and fights on behalf of the Foot Clan. Javier Fernández's art for the second installment of the series shows this updated design in action.
Casey Jones' status quo faces a major upheaval in more ways than one now that he has joined forces with Karai – Shredder's “granddaughter” – and the rest of the Foot Clan ninjas.
One of the TMNT's closest allies joins the ranks of its enemies
The story of Casey Jones in Mutant Nation begins en media res, as he fights Foot Clan enemies while talking to April O'Neil on the phone. Immediately, his new membership in the Foot Clan is apparent. Casey's iconic ski mask features the Foot Clan symbol to mark him as one of their own, redefining this fan-favorite character in a whole new light. Additionally, his equipment now more closely resembles that of a ninja, complete with bandages on his forearms. Casey is going all-in on the Foot Clan's red and black color scheme in this appearance, and April isn't alone in questioning how this change came about.
The Ninja Turtles and Casey have teamed up with Karai in the past, such as in the battle against the Rat King, but serving the Foot Clan as an organization is an entirely different matter. In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Untold Fate of the Foot Clan by Burnham and Santolouco, Casey serves as Karai's advisor in hopes of leading the Foot Clan in a more positive direction.. Now, with the emergence of a rival clan, he admits to April that Karai has become “unpredictable.” As committed as he appears to the Foot Clan on a visual level, Casey seems to have doubts about Karai's leadership.
In TMNT's Power Rangers Crossover, Casey Wore His Wildest Costume Ever
While Casey Jones getting a new look as a member of the Foot Clan is certainly a shock, it's far from his most surprising design in the franchise's history. His original design, created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, has stood the test of time for a reason and defined his characterization as a violent fighter – but that doesn't mean he hasn't deviated from it before. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' Power Rangers crossover sees him don his boldest costume yet, deviating from his typical casual style and giving him a powerful upgrade like no other in TMNT tradition.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II is the continuation of the first TMNT crossover with the Power Rangers franchise. To see how these teams' unlikely alliance began, check out Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by Ryan Parrott and Simone Di Meo!
In Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #1 by Ryan Parrott and Dan Mora, Casey Jones is influenced by Rita Repulsa to join her villainous cause, and he gets an eye-catching costume to mark this change. Operating under the name Power X, Casey wears a corrupted version of a Power Rangers costume, complete with a sleek helmet that integrates the features of his ski mask. As unusual as his participation in the Foot Clan is, it doesn't compare to him becoming an evil Power Ranger. Of course, within the TMNT universe, Casey's friends will be much more surprised by the Foot Clan's revamp.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5 Cover by Javier Fernández and Patricio Delpeche
Now that Casey Jones is aligning himself with the Foot Clan, his usual allies will not be pleased. The TMNT are currently being targeted by the Foot Clan, as the sinister group has taken control of New York City on a mission to eradicate mutants. Now that the Ninja Turtles have reunited, they won't be pleased to discover that their hometown is invaded by members of the Foot Clan. Plus, they'll be even more shocked to learn of Casey's involvement. Casey Jones' loyalty to the Foot Clan will be put to the ultimate test as a potential confrontation with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles approaches.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Nation #1 is now available from IDW Publishing.