As a crime wave rises in New York City, reporter April O'Neil covers the mysterious ninja Foot Clan. The Shredder (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), the Foot leader, orders April silenced. She is attacked by the Foot in a subway and knocked unconscious. Raphael (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, emerges from the shadows, defeats the Foot, and carries her to the turtles' hideout, unaware that one of the Foot is following him. Splinter (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), their rat master, explains to April that he and the turtles were once ordinary animals, but were mutated into intelligent creatures by toxic waste. After the turtles escort April home, they find their hideout ransacked and Splinter kidnapped. They return to April's apartment and spend the night there.