Everything you need to know about 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' newest turtle Jennika, warrior of the Foot Clan
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have a new member on the team. Starting with issue #101, 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' won't just be about Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Donatello and Raphael. Their team will also include Jennika, a former member of the Foot Clan, now mutated into a bipedal turtle.
Created by Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman, Bobby Curnow and Ken Garing, Jennika was first introduced in 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' #51 in 2015. It was a tumultuous time in the Turtles' history, following the climactic events of #50 where Splinter beheaded the Shredder and took control over the Foot Clan. The Turtles, once sworn enemies of the Foot Clan, were now working alongside them for the safety of New York City.
Jennika was one of the ninjas most dissatisfied with the regime change, believing Master Splinter and the Turtles to be too soft with their unwillingness to kill. She even joined with the Street Phantoms in an attempt to take Splinter out of the picture. After defeating her in single combat, however, Splinter was able to convince her that she was wrong about him and his convictions. Jennika was allowed to return to the Food Clan, albeit with a demotion until she regained Splinter's trust.
Jennika did earn that trust back over the course of the series, growing to be an important part of the TMNT cast. She was assigned to guard Shredder's tomb and was even promoted to chunin, the second-in-command to the Master of the Foot Clan, after Leonardo stepped down from the position on leaving the Clan. She was also assigned to protect Casey Jones, whose company she grew to enjoy. The two would later enter into a romantic relationship.
During the 'City at War' storyline, Jennika was grievously injured by Karai, the granddaughter of Shredder who sought to regain control of the Foot Clan. In order to save her life, the Turtles attempted to save her life by introducing a vial of Ooze, the substance responsible for the Turtles' mutation, into her system. The Ooze had previously been used to heal April O'Neil's father, and the Turtles hoped to use its healing properties to save Jennika's life as well. Unfortunately, the vial was smashed, and the only recourse the Turtles had was for Leonardo to give Jennika a blood transfusion in the hopes that the Ooze in his blood would be enough. The transfusion worked, healing Jennika, but it had the side effect of mutating her into a turtle herself.
Jennika received her mask in 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' #97. It's a yellow mask, based on Jennika's blonde hair when she was a human. Interestingly enough, Jennika's costume, which was designed by Sophie Campbell, looks remarkably similar to a fan character Campbell had also designed. Artemisia was a female Turtle drawn by Campbell in a TMNT fan comic, who wielded a bow and wore a yellow mask. Tom Waltz was apparently unaware of the connection when he asked for Jennika's mask to be yellow.
Jennika is the sixth Turtle to appear in TMNT continuity, after the four original turtles, and Slash. Each turtle has their own signature weapon, and Jennika is no exception, with concept art showing her wielding the claws she wore in her first appearance. She is also the first female turtle in the history of the IDW comic series, although she's not the first female turtle in history. That honour goes to the infamous Venus de Milo (portrayed by Nicole Parker and voiced by Lalainia Lindbjerg), from the live-action series 'Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation.'
Venus was strongly disliked by the fans, and TMNT co-creator Peter Laird himself. The Archie comics TMNT series also saw April O'Neil getting transformed into a Turtle, although it was a temporary situation.
Jennika will be a featured part of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle team starting with issue #101, releasing on January 8. She will also receive her own three-issue mico-series, which is written and drawn by Brahm Revel.
