IDW TMNT New Animated Adventures #8

 Originally written by Paige with thoughts by Mark Rodriguez

In the cartoon show, Dr. Falco experimented on a scientist named Rockwell and mutated him into 'Monkey Brains'. At this point he was pretty much just a smart monkey. In follow up episodes, not only do we find out that Monkey Brains has telepathic powers, Dr. Falco also was mutated into this show's version of the the Rat King. This issue is the first time they met after their drastic changes, at least in the comic book version of events.

The turtles and April are out after having a serving of "pizza ramen" from Mr. Murakami. Raph jokes with April asking if she knows any more blind restaurant owners who are okay with mutant turtles. She jokes back saying she has to check online. Donnie realizes that she was joking and tried to make it as though he understood the joke, April "Spider-senses" start tingling. Something bad is going to happen. But she has no idea what it is.  It's the Rat King! 

Like every bad guy, the Rat King wants to get rid of the turtles and take over the city, and he'll do it with his army of rats! He sends his squeaky minions to attack. Our heroes are surrounded by a sea of rats, and the group decide to take the high road, running across the rooftops. They run towards the Shellraiser, but as they run, April falls through a rotten roof. Ironically landing in the same place where Rat King is. How convenient? But the vision he shares through the rats' eyes blur. 

It turns out that this is Monkey Brain's doing this. Dr. Rockwell has a headband and able to disrupt the powers of the Rat King. The primate monkey punches the evil villain and its a K.O! Monkey Brains takes the man, but the turtles attempt to ask where he's taking the Rat King. They realize they can't communicate with him so they ask April. She introduces herself and asks if he remembers her. He decides to let them follow and leads the group towards his secret lab. Raph compliments her special powers, but she tells him that she doesn't know how to control her powers. Mikey has to put his stupid remark in saying "maybe it'll turn out you can grant wishes." Donnie tells him she's not a genie. And Mikey continues to say she might be a leprechaun.

At the lab, the guys restrain the Rat King and Donnie notices the prototypes of the headband Monkey Brains is wearing. The monkey and April communicate psychically. Geez can Rockwell's eyes stretch out any further? I hated that in the cartoon, when he got mad, his eyes would pop out of his head...Eventually April figures out what the monkey has planned. The headband disrupts the Rat King's psychic signal. Leo asks why he wants the Rat King. And the monkey has a reason for that too. Rockwell is making a serum that can neutralize the Rat King's powers. But there there needs to be more observation first, and that's why the headband is needed, to keep the Rat King under control.

Rat King wakes up and laughs at the plan. He explains that he is not confined to his body, but he can see and move through the rats. Monkey Brains attempts to stop his nemesis, but loses his concentration when the Rat King insults him, taunting about how he turned him into a monkey. Rats break into the lab and begin to pour in. He is freed while the turtles are trapped in the corner by rats. The Rat King removes the headband from the monkey and places it on his head. The headband can interfere with his powers, but it can also amplify them.

He turns the sea of rats into whatever he wants. He sculpts the hundreds of rats into giant rat figures that the turtles must defeat. While they're fighting the big rats, Rat King escapes. The turtles escape jumping out into a sea of rats. I'm not kidding you. The rats reach the turtle's waist and they use pieces of wood to keep above the sea... April stays behind while the heroes go off to defeat the Rat King. Under the control of the Rat King, the sea of rats turn into a giant ratman with the villain on the top controlling the monstrosity. Leo tells Donnie about the prototypes in the lab, and maybe that can help defeat the monster of rats. Donnie realizes that April can use it and runs back to save her.

The two take one of the headbands and April will use her power to stop the Rat King. She doubts that this will work. Donnie tells her that she has to try. Rat King realizes whats happening and attacks the two. Donnie is trapped. April attempts to use the headband, but it fails and she gets captured. Donnie and Raph attack the monster, but they also get sucked into the rat monster. But here comes Leo and Mikey in the Shellraiser shooting trash missles at the monster. But the trash ammo is easily avoided. the car is easily flipped over by the sea of rats. The Rat King laughs at the fates of those who oppose him. But a light forms in the center of the rat monster. It's April. With her powers, she "blows up" the middle section of the rat freeing herself, Raph and Donnie.

Monkey Brains grabs the headband off of his nemesis and uses it once again against the Rat King. The Rat King laughs at Monkey Brain's power saying he isn't strong enough. April chimes in saying "Maybe not...but we are." And they both use their headbands to defeat the Rat King.

As Monkey Brains attempts to take Rat King away, the rats surround their master and he easily take him away. Leo thanks the monkey for saving them. And Mikey has to get the last word in calling him "Monkey Brains" to his face. The monkey is not amused.

April has a DBZ moment

Paige's Opinions-

Opinion:
Well this comic introduces the Rat King and Monkey Brains into the story line, the story line in regards to this comic series anyway. The TV series has brought back Rat King for another episode, 'Of Rats and Men'. But Monkey Brains only had a quick second appearance in the 'Metalhead Rewired' episode. I wonder if he will have another role in the TV series, maybe take this concept of the headband and serum and use it. But who knows. Rat King is an interesting and creepy character. Monkey Brains is "eh". I don't care for him. lol The story is okay. I was kind of bored reading this issue. I like the plot line where Monkey Brains is trying to study and cure the Rat King.

Metalhead is in the next issue, so I wonder what that will be like.

Mark's Opinions-

It was interesting tale, especially the part with April being able to communicate with Rockwell telepathically, and Rat King taunting him, reminding us that he did indeed turn him into a monkey when he was still Dr. Falco. The comic was bold with this meeting since there's always the chance that those two would meet in a later episode and obviously this comic wouldn't be referenced. It's the weird thing and limitation where the comic can directly reference events from the cartoon but not the other way around.

Though I do wonder if they took inspiration from this comic, seeing as in future episodes Monkey Brains returned with a helmet that helped him control his telepathic powers. They took it a step further and made him able to talk and retain his personality as Rockwell and even be part of the Mighty Mutanimals. 

The only thing left to say is, what's the deal with the whole Monkey Brains eye pop thing? Was never a fan of it and it was always gross, especially on the actual show.