Part one of Nickelodeon’s critically acclaimed and crazy successful incarnation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ fourth season comes home in the Beyond the Known Universe. In perhaps the darkest season in the Nick franchise, Leo, Raph, Donnie, Mikey, Casey, and April meet the Fugitoid, a humanoid robot who helps them travel though space in the past to correct the damage done by the Triceratons in an effort to save planet Earth.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an 2012 animated TV reboot of the 1987 series. It is produced by Mirage Studios, Nickelodeon Animated Studios, and is currently available on DVD.

Turtles in space.

As a long time fan of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (having seen all three animated incarnations), I have to say that so far the 2012 reboot has been my favorite version of the Heroes in a Half Shell. Featuring references to all forms of TMNT media, including the ’87 and ’03 animated series, as well as several versions of the comics, the Nick reboot of TMNT has quickly earned a place in the hearts of fans after a rocky introduction pre-debut. Having perhaps the deepest connection to it’s source material (and then some) than any version before it, it’s by far the greatest TMNT series to date. In season four  part one the Turtles, April, and Casey must right a wrong from the present by travelling through nto only time, but space as well with the help of Dr. Honeycutt, aka the humanoid robot Fugitoid.

New faces, both friend and foe.

THE GOOD: Season four of TMNT is one of the best, and darkest out of the 2012 reboot. Introducing Dr. Honeycutt/Fugitoid, and other characters as well as a more enlarged background on the Triceratons, season four leaves the Turtles, April, and Casey in space; in the past where they face the Triceration army, and new enemy threats such as Lord Dregg. While still present, this season has noticeably trimmed down on the comedy in favor of more action oriented episodes, and with any Turtles series more action is always good.

The Turtles and Co vs the Triceraton Army.

THE BAD: Some of the filler episodes are a little off beat for the rest of the season’s premise.

A space epic featuring our favorite heroes in a half shell.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: New characters, environments, and other elements make season four of the already fan favorite incartion of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles a must see. Thought darker noticeably darker than previous seasons, season four is heavy on the action and light on the comedy. The filler episodes such as “Journey Into the Center of Mikey’s Brain” were a little bit of a throw off from the main plot, but none the less, part one of season four is a fairly good showing.  Otaku Dome gives Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Beyond the Known Universe an 93 out of 100.