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Some TMNT stuff really isn't for little kids. |
The neon buffalo is a recurring location in the Mirage continuity. It is a large dilapidated neon sign standing outside an abandoned Indian Goods store in the rural western Massachusetts countryside outside Hadley near Northampton. It is built on the spot where the grandfather of Raven Shadowheart (Radical), a powerful Native American shaman, had chosen to live before he died. The neon buffalo is an important location for events in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles volume 1 issue 27: Dreams of Stone, and in Tales of the TMNT volume 2 issue 41: Swan Song.
History[]
Though Radical's people are indigenous to the American Southwest, the spot of the neon buffalo in Massachusetts is the one spot on Earth holiest to them. It is not the built-up structures that are holy, as these were built later—the land itself has great spiritual power and significance, and it is this reason why Radical's grandfather chose to live here. The sign is, however, a memorable landmark acting as a monument to identify the site.
In Dreams of Stone, the spot was chosen for a climactic battle with Complete Carnage, in which the four turtles helped Radical serve Carnage a massive defeat. But this did not destroy Carnage for good.
In Swan Song, Leonardo and Radical—now lovers—visit western Massachusetts in the year 2080, observing the decaying ruins of the Jones Farm and the now even more dilapidated neon buffalo. Soon after, when Leo and Radical are in New York City visiting the other turtles, Radical is ambushed and swiftly murdered by Carnage. Leo lays her to rest in the holy ground just behind what is left of the neon buffalo.