Book #90: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Secret if the Ooze by B.B. Hiller

 


Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: 
The Secret of the Ooze

B.B. Hiller

 Released: March 1st, 1991

My 33nd book for 2025 was B.B. Hiller's “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze”.  

After finishing the first Turtles book, I found the sequel novelizations, and figured why not do a TMNT read before moving on to the Psycho series?

After celebrating the 35th anniversary of the original live-action Turtles movie in the theater, and reading the original novelization, I was thrilled to see that they are going to rerelease the second movie for its 35th anniversary in March 2026.

Similar to the first book, the novelization follows the story almost exactly as it does in the film.  The only subtle differences are that it features some of the deleted scenes from the movie written in for further fleshing out the story.

The story finds the Turtles and Splinter staying with April temporarily after their defeat of Shredder and the Foot Clan.  Little do they know that Shredder did not perish in their previous encounter and has risen again looking to seek revenge on the Turtles.  Another element too sees T.G.R.I., the company responsible for the ooze leak, return to clear out places they stored radioactive material that is now causing harm to the environment.  We're introduced to Keno, a local pizza delivery boy who studies martial arts.

There's not a lot of new stuff other than extended scenes, and new characters like Tokka and Razar being seen in literary form for the first time.  It's not the first movie, but it's serviceable.  Fans have grown to love this interpretation as it is campier and kid-friendly compared to the dark original story seen in the first film.  Less darkness, more laughter.  Cowabunga.

Here is what I learned:

—————

  • For the author’s sons Emmons & Andrew
  • Keno works for a local pizzaria.
  • April has a reputation as a lousy tipper.
  • April has an electronics store next to her new apartment.
  • Keno attempts citizen’s arrests.
  • Keno studies martial arts.
  • Sheer Energy makes your face feel less tired at the end of the day.
  • A true ninja is a master of their environment.
  • The Turtles opt to fight without weapons.
  • The Turtles are lousy tippers.
  • Sharing a place with the Ninja Turtles guarantees 3 things, company, pizza, and a mess.
  • Raphael reads comic books.
  • It’s hard to find good subterranean housing.
  • When Shredder fell into the garbage truck, he did a swan dive with a half gainer.
  • Splinter disciplines the Turtles by making them do ten backflips.
  • The junkyard is the fallback spot of the Foot Clan.
  • T.G.R.I. stands for Techno-Global Research Industries.
  • Professor Jordan Perry is their lead researcher and spokesperson.
  • Professor Perry is prone to rambling.
  • T.G.R.I. buried their chemical waste in New Jersey.
  • Freddy is Channel 3’s new Production Assistant.
  • April is paid to be suspicious.
  • The ooze can grow dandelions the size of volleyballs.
  • Splinter kept the canister of ooze that mutated him and the Turtles for 15 years.
  • All the canisters have serial numbers.
  • Tatsu has a wrist crossbow.
  • A guy in apartment 313 ordered pizza, and since he didn’t answer, Keno offed it to April for her frequent orders.
  • According to Mikey, “all the good ones end in ‘-o’” when introducing themselves to Keno.
  • April loves Michelangelo’s impersonations.
  • “All right, hold it.  This is stupid.  We’ve got the Foot up there, with the ooze, and we’re down here playing Century21.”
  • The Turtles find a new home in an abandoned subway station.
  • Shredder has a wolf name Tokka and a snapping turtle name Rahzar mutated to combat the Turtles.
  • The mutants consider Shredder to be their mother.
  • Splinter has a ninja crossbow.
  • Laboratories were crude in 1976.
  • The ooze was created when discarded chemicals came into contact with radiation waves.
  • “Do not confuse the specter of your origin with your present worth.”
  • Freddy is a member of the Foot Clan.
  • Shredder and the Foot frequent a skyscraper construction site on the East River.
  • The Turtles use donuts to battle Shredder’s mutants.
  • Vanilla Ice performs at the Dockside Club.
  • Shredder mutates into SuperShredder.
—————

Overall, the book is a decent read.  Still aimed more at kids, it provides a faithful adaptation of the 2nd Turtles film.  Fans will eat it up.  If you're not a fan, it might not hit as hard as the first story.  Recommended for fans of the film and 1987 cartoon.

Recommended for fans of the film, and the 1987 cartoon.

On to Book #91: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: by B.B. Hiller.

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