The Turtles, living in April O Neil’s apartment, begin their search for a new residence, their last one having been discovered by the Foot Clan. Though they eventually find it in an abandoned subway station beneath the sewers, Raphael becomes insistant in taking the fight to the Foot, and stalks off.

After the Turtles watch Professor Jordan Perry of TGRI (Techno Global Research Institute) discusses the dumping of chemical wastes on the news, Splinter reveals more details about their origin, for it was TGRI Mutagen that mutated them from ordinary pet shop turtles to their present state. The Turtles then break into the TGRI building, where their attempt to track the last container of ooze falls short when Tatsu, Shredder’s lieutenant, shows up with the Foot and gets away with it.

Keno, a pizza deliver boy befriended by the Turtles, is sent by Raphael to infiltrate the Foot Clan. As Raphael helps him gain entrance, he discovers that Oroku Saki, the Shredder, is alive and well.

Shredder captures Professor Perry and has him use the last remaining container of ooze to mutate a wolf and a snapping turtle into two mutants. Tokka and Rahzar, as Shredder names them, are set loose in downtown Manhattan. Shredder then threatens to loose them in Central Park unless the Turtles meet him in a duel.

The Turtles meet him and his two mutations as per the Shredder’s instructions. Tricking Tokka and Rahzar into swallowing retro-Mutagen ice cubes that would theoretically demutate them, they are then forced to confront the Foot in a battle that takes them inside a nearby club on the docks. Successfully demutating Tokka and Rahzar, Shredder’s attempt to take a hostage in the club is thwarted by Keno, who blasts him out of the club with the club’s speakers.

The Turtles head outside, where they search for the Shredder. They find him, but the Shredder has been horribly mutated into a 13-foot tall behemoth. Before they can even fight, however, this SuperShredder brings the pier he dragged the Turtles into on top of himself just as the Turtles escape.

ANDREW’S RATING: 7 OUT OF 10 (an unwelcome step away from the comic-true grittiness of the first movie, but cool nevertheless)

MIRAGE COMIC NOTES: There was little Mirage comic influence on TMNT II, save for the essential theme of the Turtles’ attempt to uncover the secrets of their origin. The most significant parallel can be found in TMNT Vol. 1, #4, where the Turtles find a TCRI building some time after taking down Baxter Stockman. Remembering that "TCRI" was inscribed on the container that turned them into mutants, they investigated, breaking into the building and finding Splinter held captive by the Utroms inside.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE OFFICIAL TMNT HOMEPAGE TMNT 2 SECTION

CAST:

April O’Neil: Paige Turco
Professor Jordon Perry: David Warner
Michaelangelo: Michelan Sisti (w/the voice of Robbie Rist)
Donatello: Leif Tilden (w/the voice of Adam Carl)
Raphael: Kenn Troum (w/the voice of Laurie Faso)
Leonardo: Mark Caso (w/the voice of Brian Tochi)
Splinter: Kevin Clash (w/the voice of Kevin Clash)
Keno: Ernie Reyes, Jr.
Oroku Saki/The Shredder: Francois Chau (w/the voice of David McCharen)
Tatsu: Toshishiro Obata (w/the voice of Michael McConnohie)
Chief Sterns: Raymond Serra
Rahzar: Mark Ginther (w/the voice of Frank Welker)
Tokka: Kurt Bryant (w/the voice of Frank Welker)
SuperShredder: Kevin Nash

Director: Michael Pressman
Executive Producer: Raymond Chow
Producers: Thomas K. Gary, Kim Dawson & David Chan
Co-Producer: Terry Morse
Story: Todd W. Langen
Special Creature Effects: Jim Henson’s Creature Shop
Director of Photography: Shelly Johnson
Music Composer: John Du Prez
Editors: John Wright, A.C.E. Steve Mirkovich, A.C.E.
Production Designer: Roy Forge Smith