PIZZA BY THE SHRED

01PLOT

One day, the Turtles (Leonardo, Raphael and Donatello) are seen working on the Starcruiser that was left to them by the Neutrinos. However, when Michelangelo returns with a pair of Fuzzy Dice as an accessory piece for the Starcruiser, the other Turtles scold him for not doing his part in taking care of it. When Michelangelo explains that he was admiring a Belly Board for sewer surfing and thus would like to purchase it, he is unable to get any money from his brothers and quickly becomes fearful that he will need to get a job. Michelangelo's predicament worsens when the other Turtles remind him that can't get one due to him being a mutant, leaving Michelangelo depressed. While watching TV, Michelangelo sees a commercial for a pizza parlor known as "_Weird Pizza to Go_" and becomes inspired to apply for a job in order to get his Belly Board.

Unbeknownst to Michelangelo however, _Weird Pizza to Go_ is actually a phony pizza parlor being operated by Shredder, Bebop and Rocksteady, as a trap to catch the Turtles in. While disguised as a human, Michelangelo applies and receives the job after informing Shredder (whom he doesn’t recognize since Shredder is standing behind a door and using a hatch to see through) that he has a car. Michelangelo takes the Starcruiser as his vehicle and proceeds to delivering pizzas to many different customers, including Vernon Fenwick (who tips his rudely). While trying to overpass a Traffic Jam, Michelangelo tries to use the flying capabilities of the Starcruiser to deliver pizzas faster, but is shocked and horrified to learn that Donatello didn't finish fixing the vehicle's "Air Brakes". Fortunately, the Starcruiser's engine stalls while in mid-air before it can crash into the ground, and thus Michelangelo is saved.

While contemplating why Michelangelo would steal the Starcruiser, the other Turtles decide to order pizza after their homemade blender fails. They notice an ad in the newspaper for Shredder's _Weird Pizza to Go_ and decide to order from there. When Shredder recognizes it's the Turtles ordering when Donatello mentions his name, he plants his trap's bait on their pizza by using a homing device disguised as an anchovy in order to find their lair. When Michelangelo returns (with the Starcruiser somehow repaired), he’s given the order to deliver the Turtles's pizza to them. Fearing how his brothers would react to him getting a job against their wishes, Michelangelo asks April O'Neil if _she_ can deliver their pizza to them instead. Unknown to Michelangelo and April however, Bebop and Rocksteady have been ordered to follow Michelangelo in order to track where the Turtles live. To the Turtles misfortune, their phone booth is picked up and taken away, therefore they decide to show up at _Weird Pizza to Go_ in person, believing it'd be better to pick it up there. Just as the Turtles leave though, April shows up too late and doesn’t see the other Turtles or a phone booth and so believes Michelangelo mixed up the street address for an avenue address.

April shows up at a different address altogether with a different phone booth to deliver the pizza. To her shock, she’s greeted NOT by the Turtles, but by the Rat King. When the Rat King is enticed by the pizza's aroma, he steals the Turtles' pizza for himself. April is quick to warn Michelangelo, who in turn is quick to try and inform his boss. However, upon arriving back at the restaurant, Michelangelo eavesdrops to find out that his boss was Shredder (who’s explaining to some Foot Soldiers about his plan) and he runs to warn the other Turtles, only for them to find him first. When Michelangelo tells the truth about what he has been doing, as well as explains the situation to the rest of the Turtles, they all agree to follow after the Shredder to make sure he doesn't find his way into their lair.

Shredder, Bebop, Rocksteady and the Foot Soldiers follow the homing device to the Rat King's lair (all while the Turtles silently take out the Foot Soldiers without being noticed). Upon confronting the Rat King, (who’s equally confused and provoked by Shredder's appearance) Shredder demands where the Turtles are, only for the Turtles to reveal themselves to him. Shredder and his mutants make a hasty retreat, with the Turtles in tow. When everyone returns to the surface, Shredder and the mutants notice the Turtles' Starcruiser and so they steal it to make their escape. The Turtles lament at the loss of their Starcruiser and are begrudged by a snide comment by Michelangelo that the Fuzzy Dice is all that's left to remember it by.

02CAST & APPEARANCES

03OBJECTS, VEHICLES & PLACES

04SCREEN GRABS

9 frames. Screencaps via Turtlepedia (CC BY-SA).

05NOTES & GOOFS

• Running gag: The Turtles not recognizing Shredder's hands, eyes and voice.
• When Donatello, Raphael and Leonardo were cleaning the Starcruiser at the beginning, it was colored red, but the last time it was seen ("Shredder & Splintered"), it was colored blue.
• As Michelangelo explains the new pizza parlor, his hand appears to be drawn a bit larger than normal.
• When Michelangelo is at April's apartment, he appears to be about half of April's size.

06HOME MEDIA

07FAN REVIEW

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