As previously announced, fan-favorite TMNT supporting Casey Jones is set to headline his very own six-issue comic book miniseries next month from the creative team of writer Alex Paknadel and artist Amancay Nahuelpan. As readers who’ve been keeping up with recent developments in the current IDW series are well aware, the character was was shot and hospitlized in the main ongoing TMNT series. Now recovered, this series will follow Casey as he returns to his roots and hits the streets doing everything he can to protect the people of New York City.
Ahead of the release of the first issue next month, The Beat had the pleasure of interviewing via email writer Alex Paknadel to discuss the new TMNT: Casey Jones miniseries. Paknadel revealed the influence the original 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles had on his and teased the introduction of a major new adversary as well as potentially rekindling his relationship with his old flame April O’Neil.
Taimur Dar: Though Casey Jones has been featured in countless media, for myself (and probably many others) the portrayal by actor Elias Koteas in the 1990 film is the quintessential version of the character. His introduction in Central Park beating up thugs is iconic. I’m willing to bet it’s an intentional homage in the first issue, so did the ’90 movie version Casey Jones inspire you while writing this series?
Alex Paknadel: I vividly remember dragging my grandpa to see the TMNT movie at the theater back in 1990 and getting in trouble for bellowing “Major-league butt-kicking is back in town!” afterwards. But yes, I think Casey and Vaughan in David Cronenberg’s Crash are probably Elias Koteas’ finest roles. That laid back energy he brought to it isn’t a choice most actors would have made, but it made him the coolest guy in the movie. You wanted to be best friends with the Hamato guys, but you wanted to be Casey Jones. That movie certainly defined the character for me, and the Central Park rumble in our first issue is absolutely an homage. It was going to be Washington Square Park initially, but Amancay Nahuelpan, our incredible artist, wanted to go old school with the fight – and I was very happy to oblige.
Taimur Dar: This Casey Jones miniseries introduces a new mutant adversary named Ludovic. What can you reveal about this character you’re introducing to the TMNT mythos?
Alex Paknadel: First of all, Ludovic is a deeply tragic character by design. He’s a mutant snow leopard who hunts mutants – for reasons that will become clear as the series progresses. The thing to understand at this stage is that he hunts mutants because he viscerally despises them – and by extension himself. To him, humanity is the pinnacle of creation. He fancies himself a Renaissance man, surrounding himself with fine wine, classical music and antiques. The only thing is, none of the humans whose approval he craves think of him as anything other than a well-trained animal. That’s a recipe for disaster.
Taimur Dar: Funny enough, Happy Gilmore 2 recently came out and it just now dawned on me how much Happy and Casey have in common such as their sports skills being on practically a mutant level. Will the series explore how Casey’s various sports skills make him an invaluable ally to the TMNT, despite no training in ninjutsu or mutant abilities himself?
Alex Paknadel: Well, as someone who dreaded the football coming to me at high school, all I can say is “I’ll do my best”. I’ve peppered a few sports metaphors here and there throughout the series, but I can’t say it’s going to be a major motif. Where it serves to reveal character then I’ll absolutely do my homework, I promise, haha.
Taimur Dar: Hard to believe that Casey and April O’Neil split up over a decade ago in the IDW continuity. Anything you can tease about their relationship in the series? Don’t suppose fans can hope to see them rekindle some old romantic sparks?
Alex Paknadel: We open on April crashing on Casey’s sofa, so she’s practically living with him. She almost lost him to DA Hale’s bullet so she’s reassessing and recalibrating her feelings in real time. That said, Casey gets in his own way constantly, so even though romantic sparks might be stirring, Casey’s exactly the kind of guy who’ll accidentally spill Dr. Pepper over them. To lean into a cliché, let’s just say “stay tuned” and leave it there.
TMNT: CASEY JONES #1 (of 6 issues) is on sale Wednesday, September 10
