The following contains spoilers for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #139, on sale now from IDW Publishing.
With the Rat King's Armageddon Game almost at its end, the eponymous heroes of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #139 (by Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz, Sophie Campbell, Fero Pe, Ronda Pattison, and Shawn Lee) have one final lesson to learn before they face off against their immortal enemy. Much like the mystical teachings imparted upon them previously, this secret tenth cut of the kuji-kiri is set to expand their abilities beyond anything they have ever wielded. And, it has also given each of the Turtles a glimpse into their not so far futures.
Leonardo's Future Proves He's a Natural Leader
In spite of the harsh reality that he and his brothers will no longer be fighting alongside one another once the dust has settled, Leonardo still sees himself living out a life not all that different from the one he knows now. In his vision of the future, he is training right next to Carmen, Bob, and even a young Lita, yet it is the one who seems to be leading them that stands out the most. From the looks of things, Leo isn't leading this training session, he is following along as Venus de Milo imparts her teachings upon him and his fellow students. Though he isn't the one in charge in this instance, his willingness to learn and grow proves just how valuable he is in a leadership role, and seeing him step aside for any amount of time only ensures that he will come back to the Splinter Clan more capable than ever.
Raphael's Future Makes Him a Loner - Again
Raphael also sees himself without his brothers, or anyone else for that matter. In fact, his future seems to be devoid of anyone or anything but his motorcycle and the shadows of his past that haunt him. Considering everything that Raphael has been through and everyone he has lost in recent years, it would be hard to blame him for leaving Mutant Town behind in favor of hitting the highway to see what the rest of the world has to offer. This isn't to say that Raphael is the only one who has experienced profound loss, yet he is the only one who consistently deals with his issues by alienating himself from others, especially when compared to his soon-to-be superstar brother Michelangelo.
Michelangelo Will Bring Mutants and Humans Together
While Michelangelo has faced just as much tragedy and heartbreak as his brothers, he has never been one to brood when he could instead be looking toward the future. As such, it is no surprise that Michelangelo's vision of things to come is the brightest of them all. Not only is he genuinely happy in his glimpse into the future, but he is also the center of everyone's attention thanks to having achieved a sort of stardom no one saw coming. Though this may have been a concerning development at one point, the fact that Mutant Town has been freed from its captivity makes seeing Michelangelo being loved by the public a sign of better days just around the corner not just for himself, but for all of his fellow mutants.
Jennika's Future is Very Uncertain
Of all the Turtles, Jennika's future is the least clear, even though it does impart an ominous sense of dread that could very well be the best or worst thing she could hope for. As the only member of the Turtles to have originally been human, Jennika has spent years struggling with her place in the world. And, as the only member to have her roots firmly planted in blood-soaked soil, she has spent a long time struggling to overcome her past as an assassin. That being the case, it is hard to tell whether Jennika bearing her blades from the shadows is a sign of her heading back into the darkness or wielding it for good. Then again, in the world Jennika is from those two are hardly mutually exclusive, something which recent events have reinforced.
Donatello's Future is the Worst of All
Finally, there is Donatello, whose vision of the future is both inspiring and concerning. Having already seen a version of himself thanks to his past use of the kuji-kiri, Donatello knows that at least one future waiting for him is nothing but heartbreaking. Now, he is given a chance to see what happened between now and the elderly, spiteful man he becomes who strips himself of his own memories. Apparently, somewhere along the way, Donatello will take it upon himself to raise new Turtles, most of whom grow into astonishing figures. There is no mistaking the fact that he continued to dive into the mystic arts and it will see him emerge as something much closer to the version of himself who gave up everything after breaking the universe.