The Turtles and Casey go on a road trip to track down a rare comic book for Mikey. Little do they realize the story they're after isn't merely fictional...
This episode provides examples of
- Adaptational Attractiveness: Okay, maybe attractiveness is a bit of an overstatement, but let's just say Dr. Dome looks nowhere near as ugly as he was in the original comic.
- Adaptation Deviation: The episode is an adaptation of "Dome Doom!", but unlike that story, it's revealed that the villain behind the attack on the Justice Force isn't Dr. Dome, but Ananda seeking revenge on the Force for her mother's death, switching their roles from the original comic.
- Adaptational Nice Guy: Unlike the original comic, where Dr. Dome was a selfish Jerkass with a vendetta, he's portrayed as more sympathetic here.
- Adaptational Villainy: Ananda in the original comic was a nice girl, here not so much. Subverted at the end as she becomes an ally of the Turtles later on in the series.
- Ambiguously Human: Dr. Dome certainly looks human...with the exception of the dome on his head.
- Ascended Fanboy: Mikey is ecstatic that the Justice Force is real and that he gets to team up with them.
- Batman Gambit: Ananda's plan was to frame Dr. Dome for the attacks and have her foes kill each other in the inevitable battle. The presence of the Turtles and Casey ends up derailing this, forcing her to take direct action.
- Book Ends: The episode began and ended with Mikey reading a comic. The episode started because he was looking for the next issue of the Justice Force comics. He is finally able to get the comic book he wanted with it even featuring him on the cover as part of the Justice Force.
- Chekhov's Gun: Don asks Casey to buy him a remote controlled flying Silver Sentry toy in the comic store. He later uses it to attract the attention of the doemoids in order to mug them for disguises.
- Darker and Edgier: Compared to the comic this episode is based on. Both are revenge stories, but the comic was Dr. Dome being motivated by Battling Bernice choosing Steve over him. In this version, Ananda blames the team for her mother's death.
- Dented Iron: The Justice Force still have their powers, but show their age. Stainless Steel Steve gets back problems in his first fight, Zippy Lad is in a wheel chair, and Joey Lastic gets a kink in his neck when he tries to stretch it out.Steve: You're looking well.
Zippy Lad: No, I'm not! I'm a mess, just like you! - Dies Differently In The Adaptation: In the comics, Battling Bernice died three years prior to the events of "Dome Doom!", the comic this episode is based on. Here, she died years ago during a mission.
- Does This Remind You of Anything?:Zippy Lad: What's the matter, Pops? Not as Joey Lastic as you used to be?Joey Lastic: I'll retract eventually. Just takes a little longer than it used to.
- Expy: The Justice Force for the Justice League; and particularly Zippy Lad (The Flash).
- Fat Flex: Steve has gained a bit of weight since his last fight. After meeting the Turtles & his former allies, he puts on his costume and seemingly regained his Heroic Build - at which point his gut regains its normal girth.Steve: "I feel decades younger now!" (his beer belly then plops out over his waistband while he gives a disappointing look)
- For Halloween, I Am Going as Myself: The Turtles are able to enter the comic book shop in public because it's Costume Day.
- Formerly Fit: Stainless Steel Steve has gained a lot of weight since retiring.
- Genre Savvy: Mikey is in top form, referencing multiple events the Justice Force went through from reading their comic books. He ends up thinking of the strategy that saves the day, telling everyone to split Ananda's focus as much as possible instead of focusing on her, and states it is how the Justice Force defeated the Grim Repo in issue 57, when he took possession of Dr. Dome's brain.
- Handicapped Badass: Even when he’s old and wheelchair-bound, Zippy Lad can still use his Super-Speed.
- Heroic Sacrifice: According to Steve, Battling Bernice died saving him and Dr. Dome.
- Late to the Realization: Thinking Ananda is Battling Bernice, Dr. Dome is overjoyed and says she looks just like he remembers her before realizing that means she should be much older.
- Let's You and Him Fight: Ananda manipulates the Justice Force into fighting between themselves. She sends the Dome-Bots to kidnap members of Justice Force, making it look like Dr. Dome is behind the attacks. Meanwhile, as Dr. Dome points out, Stainless Steel Steve was present for all the kidnappings, yet he himself was never kidnapped, making it look like he is trying to frame Dr. Dome.
- Logical Weakness: Ananda has control over all of Dr. Dome's Domeoids due to having the same powers as him. But when Mikey tells everyone to split her focus in as many directions as possible, so much is happening at once that she can't keep up.Ananda: Too much happening at once. I can't control it all.
- Luke, You Are My Father: Ananda to Dr. Dome.
- Mini-Mecha: The main transport Dome-Bot used by both Dr. Dome and Ananda
- Motive Rant:Dr. Dome: You're lying! I would've known if Bernice had a daughter.
Ananda: She didn't want anyone to know. That's why she quit the team when she did, but you pulled her back in! All of you! And now, I will have my revenge on those who took my mother away from me! - Mugged for Disguise/ Paper-Thin Disguise: The Turtles attract and destroy some Domeoids so they can wear their domes as a disguise. Justified in that the robots are reacting to the signal given off by the domes, not their physical appearance.Raph: We look ridiculous.
Don: We'll look even worse if we get our heads bashed in by a hundred Domeoids. - Not So Above It All: An annoyed Splinter is all for the Turtles and Casey going on a road trip so he can have some peace and quiet in the lair.
- Old Superhero: The different Justice Force members, of course.Mikey: Are these guys awesome or what? It's like we're a part of history.
Raph: Yeah, ancient history. - Related in the Adaptation: In the original comic, Dr. Dome and Ananda were not related, as the latter never had a father. Here, Ananda is Dr. Dome's daughter.
- Revenge: Ananda states this as her motivation for kidnapping the Justice Force, as she holds them responsible for her mother's death.
- Self-Parody: When the Turtles walk into the comic book store, a nerd in a costume asks Raph:Nerd: So what are you supposed to be? Wait, don't tell me: you're one of the Fantastic Terrapin Warrior Teens!
- Uncanny Family Resemblance: Ananda to Battling Bernice (daughter/mother), as in the comic books.
- Tragic Villain: Ananda is motivated by the death of her mother and believing it was the Justice Force's fault.
- Wham Line: Ananda revealing herself as Battling Bernice's daughter qualifies, but this exchange even more so:Dr. Dome: But how are you able to control all my robots?
Ananda: I thought you would have figured that one out by now, [removes her helmet] Daddy! - Wham Shot: Ananda removing her helmet.
- You Are Not Alone: Dr. Dome to Ananda."No one forced your mother back into the Justice Force. She chose this life, and she chose to give her life to save others. But you still have one parent who's very much alive and wants to be a part of your life."
- You Killed My Father: Ananda blames the Justice Force for the death of her mother Battling Bernice. She claims that Bernice quit to raise her daughter yet the members forced her back into the team, resulting in her death.
