Leonardo may be the leader of theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but fans shouldn’t forget to give Raphael his own credit. Before embarking on his darkest era yet, Leonardo had a reputation for being wise, strong-willed, and virtuous in nature, all qualities perfectly befitting a true leader. Raphael, meanwhile, has had a less-than-flattering reputation as the hot-head of the group, and oftentimes, cocky and prone to blind rage.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe#4 – written by Paul Allor, with art by Damian Couceiro – makes it clear that there is more to Raphael than meets the eye.After an exhaustive night of fighting, Raphael is the only Turtle awake, while his brothers pass out suddenly. He wraps them all in blankets before going right back to training solo.
It is such a simple sequence of events,one which reveals Raphael to be so much more than what fans have considered him to be for so many years.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe#4 – Written By Paul Allor; Art By Damian Couceiro; Color By Ronda Pattison; Lettering By Shawn Lee
It’s common for fans of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to lump each of the Turtles into a box, or rather, an archetype. Michelangelo is the funny one,Donatello is the smart one, Raphael is the angry one, and Leonardo is simply the leader. While these roles aren’t necessarily inaccurate, they oversimplify the complexity of these characters. In Raphael’s case, he is far more than just angry, and that idea becomesamplified when readers realize that, just before clothing his brothers in blankets and pillows, Raphael confesses his anxieties and insecurities to them.
In a small handful of pages, nuance is given to Raphael that allows him to display an uncharacteristic level of patience. He’s a hothead, but he’s also caring.
In allowing himself to be vulnerable, Raphael frames his signature anger as a sign of him being scared and not knowing how else to express it. These comics take a classic trait of one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesand expand it to add layers to the character. In a small handful of pages, nuance is given to Raphael that allows him to display an uncharacteristic level of patience. He’s a hothead, but he’s also caring. It shows how each of the Turtles is capable of being more than just their stereotypes.
Raphael Is Just As Capable Of Being A Leader As Any Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
He Possesses All The Essential Qualities Of A Leader
Not only does the moment showcase how Raphael is more than readers assume him to be, but hewantsto be morethan how others see him. Specifically, the fact he never stops training is a sign of how he wants to be better, faster, and stronger rather than rest like his brothers. He’scanonically the strongest Turtle, and still fights to be stronger. He’s the strong-willed, motivated, and caring for his teammates in ways only a leader can. Contrary to belief, Raphael is more than just the angry hothead of theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
