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Schooled is issue 67 of Tales of the TMNT volume 2, released in February 2010.

Solicit[]

It’s Shadow’s first day at an expensive private kindergarten and the most important lesson she can learn is how to maintain secrecy about her extended family. Meanwhile, Raph, Leo, Don and Mike learn their own lessons when they attempt to be good Samaritans.

Appearing in "Schooled"[]

Major characters[]

Minor characters[]

Species[]

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Synopsis[]

April and Casey fret about the cost of sending Shadow to kindergarten at the prestigious Smith Wilson. She has passed the entrance exam, but the price of admission may be far too much for the couple. Still, they do want their daughter to attend the best schooling possible to set her on a course to a bright future.

Meanwhile, Raph and Leo walk around the alleys, talking about how there's nothing really going on for them to do. Raph is going stir crazy and finds it hard to relax. Just then, they come across a drunk lout, Ernest, threatening to hit his girl. Leo warns Raph not to intervene, but he doesn't listen. After taking Ernest down, he is thanked by the girl with a spin kick to the back. The girl worries about Ernest's condition following his assault by Raph, and they both chase off the Turtles.

The following morning, Casey and April visit Mr. Wentworth at Smith Wilson, who tells them that Shadow is approved for enrollment and that their financial aid office may be able to help them with tuition.

That evening, Mikey and Don head out with intention to see the latest Studio Ghibli film, but realize they have no money. At that moment, they notice that a man walking down on the street below them has dropped his wallet. Mike goes to pick it up and Don tells him they were raised to be assassins but not thieves. Mike begrudgingly goes to give the wallet back to the man - who happens to be talking to Ernest on the phone at that moment, and "recognizes" Mike as Ernie's assailant based on description. Thinking Mike lifted the wallet instead of returning it, he freaks out and runs, dropping his phone. Don picks up the phone and begins getting interested in it. Mikey reminds him of what Don himself just told him about the wallet and says he's going to use the man's license in his wallet to get his address and mail the wallet and phone back to him.

A few days later, the Turtles prep Shadow for her first day. Raph and Leo argue about how to handle bullies and troublemakers, with Leo advocating that she tell an authority figure, and Raph insisting that she fight instead. Mike and Don agree with Leo, which sends an angry Raph running out.

On the way to school, Casey makes Shadow promise not to mention her unique family in school. However, after her upper-crust classmates introduce themselves and they mock Shadow for her father being a "servant", she explodes and reveals that her dad, uncles, and grandfather are "superheroes" and about their species and adventures. One of her classmates calls her a liar and Casey a loser, and her teacher calls her out for making up stories, prompting Shadow to shout "Goongala!" and punch the boy.

Shadow is summarily expelled, and Casey chastises her, but Shadow thinks that means he hates her. Casey reassures his daughter that he doesn't, and she tells him about her standing up for her family's honor. As the two dish up some ice cream, Casey warns Shadow to perhaps not call Splinter "Grampy" as he's sensitive about his age.

Epilogue
Raph stands sulking at the docks, when Ernest's girlfriend approaches, apologizing for attacking him and thanking him for standing up for her. The girl tells Raph that if a stranger stood up for her, she's worth something, and that gave her the strength to break up with Ernest, who she's dated for ten years. Raph assures her that she's worth something, and just as she seems drawn to Raph as if to ask him out on a date, he insists she'll never see him again and to keep taking care of herself. As Raph ghosts her, the wind blows her hair, revealing that she was obscuring a black eye.

Twenty-five minutes later, the woman returns home and is catcalled by a random man. She tells him to get lost, and up on an adjacent rooftop, Raph approves of her starting to turn her life around.

See also[]

Trivia[]

  • When the loan shark mentions Ernest by his nickname, Ernie, Mikey says that the only "Ernie" he knows is Bert's ambiguous roommate, a reference to the long-running joke/rumor that Bert and Ernie of Sesame Street are a gay couple.
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