Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Nightwatcher #7 marks the conclusion of the Jennika-led mini-series. This series has shown us what Jennika has been up to while her brothers have been busy with their own lives before recently reforming the team. To say Jennika’s life has been easy would be a massive overstatement. She has been dealing with the current status quo of what remains of Mutant Town and her personal life hitting several roadblocks. How will her journey conclude and where will it leave her? Let’s find out with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Nightwatcher #7.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Juni Ba
Artist: Fero Pe
Colorist: Luis Antonio
Letterer: Nathan Widick
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: NIGHTWATCHER #7 SOLICITATION
“Jennika finds herself at her lowest point yet. Meanwhile, the technologically enhanced mutant crime boss Lao Ban presses his dominance over the terrified citizens of Mutant Town. Can Nightwatcher find a way to pull herself together and discover a new strategy to take down a seemingly unstoppable threat?” – Skybound & Image Comics
REVIEW
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Nightwatcher #7 does its job of providing a strong close to this chapter of Jennika’s life. And like any good book, this chapter closes with you interested in reading what the next chapter will be. The spot that we are left in creates not only interesting things to follow-up on with Jennika but also IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe as a whole.
The opening with Jennika and the Nightwatcher armor fight is very reminiscent to the Leonardo and Raphael fight in the 2007 TMNT animated movie. The fighting had that type of intensity as each one had their own motivation in this fight. But rather than siblings fighting this was Jennika trying to help the Nightwatcher mystic armor finding its own agency.
As the fight went on you have a greater understanding that the Nightwatcher armor was simply trying to find its purpose. In that, the armor is like a newly born being that has been thrusted into a world that has matured. Juni Ba and Fero Pe do a great job as a creative team getting this part over. Ba’s dialogue shows how simple Nightwatcher was directing it rage. While Pe’s artwork showed that while powerful Nightwatcher did not have the training nor understanding of its own power.
The latter part was where we see Jennika using her own training and experience to show she understands what Nightwatcher is feeling. The flashbacks to her childhood were used well to show how Jennika brings her life experience to every fight. This fight with Nightwatcher bringing out feelings of her abusive childhood was a reminder of how she has put up with just about everything.
Jennika also fighting in a defensive manner further showcased her growth. She went into the fight not looking to defeat or dominate Nightwatcher. Throwing her Tekkō kagi pushed this narrative point more. This along with the words of assurance she gave the Nightwatcher armor was a great way to resolve the fight.
The last eight pages worked well to show that what Jennika said to the Nightwatcher armor wasn’t all talk. She is looking to make a difference not just by fighting villains. Her actions are as important. Whether it is helping others with their groceries or working within the system, every action Jennika takes is important.
This helped to add greater importance to how Jennika approached Lao Ban about giving her information to battle against government officials coming after them. She is knows that just fighting as a hero will make the difference. She needs to go through the system as that is the only way these officials know.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Nightwatcher #7 was a strong conclusion to this chapter of Jennika’s life. The battle with the mystic Nightwatcher armor was as emotional as it was physical. The fallout from the resolution gave the opportunity for even greater world building that shows how IDW’s TMNT Universe is continuing to evolve. Hopefully we won’t have to wait to long for Jennika to appear again as a lead character, maybe in the main TMNT series.
Story Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10
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