The Idea That Draxum Designed Mutagen To Increase Subject Aggression is Making Me Reevaluate How I

The idea that Draxum designed mutagen to increase subject aggression is making me reevaluate how I think about the newer mutants. To what extent are they responsible for their own actions? If some creep jumps out of the bushes and jams a needle full of PCP into your arm, it’s not your fault if you flip out and start chucking rocks at people because your brain’s gone sideways.

PCP wears off eventually, though. Mutagen does not. The way some mutants act makes a lot more sense in that context. Like, I seriously doubt all six of these regular-ass human guys were okay with murdering children.

But after the mutagen worked its way into them? Draxum sang a song about why they should help him murder a bunch of annoying thirteen-year-olds and they were all like “hell yeah dude we’ll absolutely help you murder a bunch of annoying thirteen-year-olds!”

The turtles are mostly doing okay because they’ve been mutated for 13+ years, nearly their entire lives. But they’re still noticeably Unhinged™ in a way that can’t just be handwaved by them being chaotic Gen Z teenagers.

Splinter’s childhood in the Hamato Clan and adulthood in the Battle Nexus meant he was sick and fucking tired of fighting by the time he got mutated, so that helped counteract the mutagen’s effects. That he specifically vowed to care for the turtles and prevent them from turning into “violent monsters” also helped, though he’s still not immune to being Unhinged™ himself.

Teach your sons a lesson by making them fear for their lives! And let your newly-sapient daughter help! What a good example to set for her! Did you drop this, King? 👑

As time goes on, the new mutants will adjust to their new bodies and minds and chill out a bit. We already see moments of unexpected compassion from them in later episodes.

Repo called the “senseless carnage” of the drone fights a “shame” instead of just being happy he got new scrap. (Breaking Purple)

Hypno entertained Leo with a magic trick instead of attacking him with it. (The Clothes Don’t Make The Turtle)

And Rupert spoke reassuringly to Mikey as he helped him finish the cooking challenge. He didn’t even insult or threaten Mikey once, even though they were in a very stressful situation and that was practically his job on Kondescending Kitchen! (Battle Nexus: New York)

IDK if the turtles will ever be able to consider these guys allies outside of an emergency, but as time goes on they’ll gradually transition from being Genuine Threats to Team Rocket-esque “threats”.

TL;DR none of the new mutant antagonists are actually evil, they’re just fucked up because Draxum injected Magic Science Murder Juice into them without their knowledge or consent. Once the passage of time or retromutagen lets them regain enough of their moral code they’re probably going to be horrified with themselves.

Seriously, Rupert is 7+ feet tall and built like a brick shithouse and his ability absorption has him rearranging his body structure on a semi-regular basis, all that adds up to a terrifyingly high calorie requirement. I’d probably resort to cannibalism too tbh.