Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles # 3 2011 And A Turtle's Life Shal Hang In The Balance pg 12 by Dan Duncan & Kevin Eastman

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles # 3 April 19th, 2011
"... And A Turtle's Life Shal Hang In The Balance." pg 12
Plot, Script. Layout: Kevin Eastman
Art: Dan Duncan (Signed lower right)
Writer: Tom Waltz (Signed bottom center)

The rebirth of the Ninja Turtles continues! New twists in the Turtles' origin are revealed as Raphael continues his life apart from his brothers and uncovers danger with his new pal Casey Jones. The only result can be some serious street brawlin'! Meanwhile villainous Old Hob has his eyes and ears to the ground and he only has one thought on his mind-bloody revenge! Will the Turtles be reunited in time to stop his plan, or will they be picked off one by one? The only way to find out is to read this issue!

Raphael and Casey have just finished roughing up a purse snatcher. When they try to return the old woman's purse however, the sight of a masked bat-wielding man and a large mutant animal causes her to flee. As they walk to the nearest police station to drop off the purse, Casey tells Raphael more about himself. He explains the promise he made to his mom before she died of cancer to take care of his dad. He also tells him about his hockey scholarship, and how his low grades have kept him from playing lately. Two men spy Raphael with Casey and go to report to Old Hob.

In the sewers, Splinter oversees the other Turtles training. Splinter explains to them that celebrating victory prematurely is to invite defeat. Donatello asks Splinter why Hob has such a problem with them. Splinter tells them the specifics aren't important, they must simply accept that he has his reasons.

Fifteen months earlier, Splinter is facing down the alley cat as it tries to get away with Raphael. Splinter attacks the cat, blinding it in one eye and scaring it off. The ninja descend from the rooftops to retrieve the bag containing the turtles but Splinter drags them to safety and they tumble into the sewers. Time passes. Splinter awakes and is stunned by the transformation he has undergone. He can now speak and walks on two legs. The turtles have undergone the same change.

Present day: Leonardo, Donatello, and Michelangelo embark on another search party for Raphael. Michelangelo whines about going out yet again to look for their missing brother; Donatello expresses doubt that he is even alive anymore. The discussion devolves into a full-fledged argument as tempers rise. Eventually Michelangelo breaks it up and they all agree to continue their search, but to simultaneously find some of Hob's thugs to pick a fight with.

Raphael and Casey are getting hot dogs when two men run past, seemingly running from a crime they've just committed. They attack the two men but realize they've been lead into a trap: Old Hob and his gang surround them from behind.