Me, Myself, and I

HEY, KID, YOU'RE   A LONG WAY   FROM NICKTOONS!

Some TMNT stuff was always meant for grownups.

A frustrated Raphael meets the vigilante Casey Jones

Mirage Studios Volume 1 > Raphael
Previous Issue	Next Issue

Raphael

Script: Kevin Eastman & Peter Laird
Pencils: Kevin Eastman & Peter Laird
Inks: Kevin Eastman & Peter Laird
Lettering: Kevin Eastman

• Major characters: Raphael, Casey Jones , Donatello , Leonardo , Michaelangelo, Frankie
• Cover date: April, 1985

Synopsis

Raph is sparring with Michaelangelo when he loses his cool and goes after his good-natured brother with a wrench. Leonardo breaks up the skirmish and sends Raph outside to "cool off." As he's patrolling the rooftops, Raphael wonders if he's nuts and ponders his inability to control his temper.

Meanwhile, we see Casey Jones lifting weights and watching television. The mighty Casey decides that the police need help cleaning up the city, so he dons his hockey mask, grabs his golf bag full of sports equipment and heads out to defend the city from "vile scum."

Casey quickly runs into some muggers and proceeds to stomp them. Raph sees the fight and feels that Casey is going overboard with his punishment and tries to stop the pounding before the crooks are murdered. Mr. Jones does not take kindly to Raph's interference, and a fight breaks out between the two. Raph knocks Casey to the ground and Casey surrenders - only to "sucker punch" Raph with a golf club and escape.

Raph is dazed and decides that this crazy vigilante has to be stopped, so he heads out in pursuit moments later.

Casey spots two thieves stealing a car radio and quickly dispatches them. As Casey prepares to beat the crooks into mincemeat, Raph catches up with him. The two renew their battle and Raph knocks Casey down again, telling him that not all crimes are deserving of "capital punishment." This has no affect on Jones and he lashes out at Raph and flees into the streets. Raphael has a moment of reservation - should he risk being seen by people or remain hidden and allow Casey to escape? Raphael decides to pursue Jones and is spotted by some alarmed and confused drivers.

Casey hides in a park and attacks Raphael when he appears. The battle is fierce and Raph once again gets the better of Jones, who finally surrenders for real. The two have a quick discussion. Raph tells Casey that killing people for stealing tape decks is crazy.

"Yeah, right - I'm crazy!" Jones says, "But somethin' tells me you ain't above takin' somebody out if they tick you off!"

"I have a temper, true," Raph replies, "But at least I try to control it - you don't!"

The boys continue the argument until they hear some cries for help, and then they head off to battle the criminals in a tentative alliance...

Notes

• This story is continued from TMNT (Vol. 1) #3. The story continues in TMNT (Vol. 1) #4.
• Raph and Casey will continue to have bromantic adventures in stories like “Complete Carnage an’ Radical”, “Fun With Guns” and the “Bodycount” miniseries, though Casey’s big “return” will be in TMNT (Vol. 1) #10.
• Casey’s history will be revealed in Tales of the TMNT (Vol. 2) #56.
• A poster for Frank Miller’s “Ronin” can be seen in Casey’s apartment.
• Perhaps unflatteringly, the muggers/rapists that attack the woman at the start of the issue are modeled after Eastman and Laird. These charicatured characters will appear again in TMNT (Vol. 4) #11.
• When spotting the carjackers, Casey passes a billboard advertising “Eastman and Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”.
• This story was adapted in the first film.
• This story was the basis for the 2003 TV series episode Meet Casey Jones.
• This story was adapted in the 2003 video game.
• This story was adapted in the 2012 TV series episode The Good, The Bad and Casey Jones.
• Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles Adventures #9 has a very simaliar cover with Rapheal on the cover as well.

Reprinted in

• 2nd printing, with added back-up story "Fun with Guns" (November 1987)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Collected Book 1
• This issue was eventually colorized (by Justin Norman) and reprinted in the “TMNT 25th: A Quarter Century Celebration” trade paperback.
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Collection Volume 1
• TMNT Color Classics: Raphael One-shot
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Color Classics: The Works Volume 1

External links

• Complete issue avaliable to read at the Mirage Group website