TMNT reveals the Nightwatcher’s new origin, redefining Raphael’s vigilante personality

NOTICE! Spoilers ahead for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Nightwatcher #2Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles he has finally revived Raphael’s long-forgotten Nightwatcher alter ego, but with an unexpected twist. Instead of Raphael wearing the mask, it’s Jennika, and her version of the mask is much more than meets the eye. As the Nightwatcher’s origin is revealed, so is the true extent of Jennika’s responsibility as the new Nightwatcher.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Night Watchman #2 – written by Juni Ba, with art by Fero Peniche – provides the story of how Jennika, the fifth Ninja Turtle, became the vigilante Nightwatcher.

A huge creature takes young people hostage in Mutant Town, so Jennika decides to join the fight and put an end to the chaos. She manages to hold on, but is knocked down, and the creature’s cloak falls off to reveal that he is a robot that bears a striking resemblance to the Night Watchman’s armor.

Who is TMNT’s Nightwatcher? The alter ego of the fifth turtle is revealed

The origin of the Nightwatcher undergoes a major rewrite

After Jennika sees Nightwatcher’s frightening form, an elderly mutant appears and berates the armor for his kidnappings, claiming to be his mother. She explains to Jennika that she created the Nightwatcher armor to be a protector of mutants. In her youth, she was exposed to prejudice and racial injustice, and knew the same would happen to those who took refuge in the Changing City. She built the Nightwatcher to focus exclusively on protecting mutants, with no ability for them to be deterred from that primary mission.

However, the Nightwatcher’s tunnel vision proved to be a design flaw. As a machine powered by magic rather than a proper living entity, Nightwatcher is unable to detect nuances in a setting and only acts with cold, mechanical logic. Thus, Nightwatcher begins kidnapping mutants to protect them from the dangers on the streets in his misguided attempt to save mutantkind. The woman tells Jennika, “He needs someone to show him how to be a person.” This redefined origin for Nightwatcher gives Jennika is a compelling reason to claim the mantle, in a bold departure from Raphael’s opinion.

Raphael laid the groundwork for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turles’ new Nightwatcher

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Night Watchman #2 – Written by Juni Ba; Art by Fero Peniche, Luis Antonio Delgado and Nathan Widick; Available now from IDW Publishing

Raphel first became a Nightwatcher in 2007 TMNT film, but he was not the one who originated the cloak in this version of continuity. Node TMNT movie prequel miniseries – written by Stephen Murphy with art by Fernando Pinto – the true creator of Nightwatcher is revealed. David Merryweather is an old man retired from his crime-fighting days as a vigilante when he encounters Raphael. The two become friends, but their friendship comes to a painful end with David’s death. In his final moments, David passes the mantle of Nightwatcher to Raphael, who then makes it his own.

The 2007 film shows Raphael fully embracing vigilantism. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles split up after Shredder’s defeat, so Raphael gets his fill of crime-fighting as Nightwatcher. Instead of the armor existing on its own, it’s just a suit that Raphael wears to keep his identity hidden. as he imparts justice through violent combats that are far more brutal than ninjas. At the end of the film, Raphael joins forces with his brothers again and retires his Nightwatcher persona. Seventeen years later, Nightwatcher is back and Jennika needs the mask in a way Raphael never did.

Nightwatcher gives Jennika a new purpose in ninja turtle lore

The Fifth Turtle finds her calling as the new Night Watchman

At the beginning of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Nightwatcher #2Jennika was caught a little scared, feeling aimless alone. She’s always had a clan to fall back on, whether it’s the Shredder’s Foot Clan or her family found with the Ninja Turtles, so she struggles to navigate the world as a solo act. Her status as protector of Mutant City is not enough to alleviate her internal turmoil. As she tells the woman, “I don’t know who I’m supposed to be.” Now, Nightwatcher finally gives Jennika the boost she needs.

Jennika crossing paths with Nightwatcher seems destined to be her character’s next step. Nightwatcher needs someone to guide him, and Jennika is the perfect candidate for the role of mutant defender. She is hesitant at first, but once she puts on the armor, she realizes that it allows her to hide behind a mask. Therefore, Jennika can fight without being aware of herself, giving this Nightwater cloak a deeper purpose than Raphael’s. Jennika became a Nightwatcher inside and outand this new origin story for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles‘ resident guard opens up exciting possibilities for the future.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Night Watchman #2 is now available from IDW Publishing.