Cover: Kevin Eastman
Writers: Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird
Artists: Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird
Letterer: Kevin Eastman
Published by: Mirage Studios
First Printing: August, 1992
Pages: 64
A Deluxe reprinting of Mirage Volume One #1 in full color (a process that gave the B&W artwork a sepia tone) that includes an introduction by Harlan Ellison and some early sketches, ads and press releases for the comic.
“City at War” Part 13
Continued from TMNT #61.
Casey, Shadow and April are at the farmhouse in Northampton, Massachusetts. Jones came back to pick up some items that he wants, and the pair set about cleaning up a little. April heats a bottle for Shadow and finds one of Casey’s favorite mugs. Later that evening, after dinner the two reflect on their past.
“Y’know, it seems funny eating dinner at this table,” Casey observes, “Just like old times… it’s like we never left!”
“Well, there is one difference.” April notes as she gets up and walks over to Casey.
“What’s that?” Jones asks. April then plants a kiss on his surprised lips.
“I’ll do the dishes!” Casey beams.
“Great! Then when Shadow falls asleep,” April replies coyly, “You can tell me a bedtime story!”
Jones starts washing up and finds one of Leo’s Aikuchi knives. He shows the blade to April.
“I wonder where they are now…” Casey ponders.
The next morning, April is swimming in the lake. As she treads water, something pulls her under. Casey springs into action, but before he dives in, April is pushed out of the water by 3 sets of green hands. Leo, Mike and Raph emerge from the lake with April in tow, Mikey lending an arm to her as the group makes its way to land.
“You guys!” April gasps, “Scare me half to death!”
Casey gives everyone a hug, except Raph, who he throws a punch at (much to Raph’s delight).
The group relaxes on the grass and catch up with everything that’s transpired over the previous months. April announces that she’s definitely buying Casey’s mom’s apartment building and she’ll be sharing it with Casey and Shadow. Mikey hits it off with Shadow. April asks where Donatello is and Leo explains that he’s with Master Splinter. The friends hike out to the woods and find Master Splinter and Don in a cave. Stories are exchanged.
“So April and Casey have to be back in New York tomorrow and we were going to hitch a ride with them,” Leo explains to Don and Splinter, “You feel up to it?”
“No,” Don announces, “I’ve thought about it, and I’m going to stay here with Splinter.”
“Huh?” Casey blurts out.
“You’re sure about this, Don?” Leo inquires.
“Yeah… I need some time to… reflect on everything’s that happened… my mind and body need recuperative time… and Splinter has agreed to help me.” explains Donatello.
“Well, I…” Leo begins.
“Donatello’s decision… he has made it.” Splinter states.
“Yes, Master Splinter… as you wish.” Leonardo bows.
April tells Don and Splinter to stay at Casey’s farmhouse, something the mutants are hesitant to do, for fear of being discovered. As the group prepares to leave the cave, April pauses to say goodbye to Splinter, but he’s gone.
“Please don’t think ill of him,” Donatello says, “He… while we were gone, something happened to him… something that he’s been unwilling to talk about.”
April and Casey are visibly disappointed with this explanation, but they ask Donatello to tell Splinter goodbye for them. Then April, Casey and Shadow depart with Mike, Leo and Raph. As they reach the edge of the farm and leave the forest behind, April pauses once again.
“Casey… can I have a few minutes alone?” she asks.
“Sure, babe.” Casey assures her and walks off, leaving her at the edge of the woods.
“I don’t know if you’re there, Splinter… if you hear me. If you can… I want you to know… my father died recently. My Dad — he raised me, taught me a lot about life, how to be a good person. I loved him. I still do. He’s gone now, but… the last few years, I’ve felt that I’ve had two fathers and… and… I’ve loved them both. Goodbye, Splinter.” April reveals through tears.
From the depths of the forest, Splinter emerges and walks over to the crying woman.
“April,” he begins, and as he stands before her, he holds out his arms, “Daughter.”
The two embrace as the rest of the family watches.
Mr. Buscheyev is being taken by a cab to his new home. A man is accompanying him and carries his suitcase up the steps of the apartment building to his unit. The younger fellow opens the door and escorts Mr. Buscheyev inside, pointing out the various features and rooms.
“Got any questions?” the young man asks.
“No… thank you.” Mr. Buscheyev says.
“The director, Mrs. Broderick, will come by today to introduce herself and to acquaint you with the facilities. I’ll be by next week to check up on you. Good luck, Mr. Buscheyev.” the young man explains as he exits the tidy apartment.
Mr. Buscheyev turns on the TV on heads over to a window and looks out dejectedly, as the camera pans away from him.
The End.
First Printing: August, 1993
Number of Story Pages: 22
Cover: A. C. Farley
Story: Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird
Script: Peter Laird and Jim Lawson
Pencils: Jim Lawson
Inks: Keith Aiken
Tones: Eric Talbot
Letters: Mary Kelleher
“City at War” Part 12
Continued from TMNT #60.
As the Elite Guard prepares to deliver the killing blow to Karai, Donatello manages to overcome his injuries and grab one of the Foot Soldier’s machine guns. Before the Elite can act, the Turtle pulls the trigger and kills him. Karai arises and goes over to Don, helping him stand with his broken leg.
April arrives at Mrs. Jones’ apartment building. It seems that April has decided to invest the money she got from her father’s estate into rental property, and coincidentally, Mrs. Jones is looking to sell her apartment building and retire in Florida. Mrs. Jones takes April on a tour of the place, first stop: the basement, where the “handy man” is working. Mrs. Jones asks April if she’ll keep the handyman on, and O’Neil is tentative. Soon enough, Arnold Casey Jones is “introduced” to April.
Casey and April both exclaim “I can’t believe it!” and give each other a big hug.
“Uh… does this mean you’ll take it?” Casey’s mom asks.
Leonardo is facing off with the final Elite in a sword battle. Both are cut seriously when Leonardo drops his katanas and lunges into his adversary. The leap takes both of them over the edge of the collapsed floor and they fall to the first floor – neither the worse for wear, the hand to hand fight begins. After initially getting the upper hand, the Elite is overpowered by the Turtle and dispatched.
The old man in the hospital, Mr. Buscheyev, is checking out, although he still looks depressed.
Leonardo makes a splint for Don’s broken leg while Mikey gets to work constructing a travois. Karai thanks the Turtles for their help.
“I… I owe you a great deal.” she begins.
“You owe us nothing but your word, Karai.” Leonardo tells her.
“We made a deal,” Don notes, “Just honor your part of it.”
“I will keep my word, Turtles. No longer will the Foot Clan bother you. We have our world… and you will have yours.”
“I’m just glad it’s over… maybe now we can live a normal life…” Mike hopes.
“HAH!” snorts Raph.
“But… what of the price of this… peace,” muses Don, “The blood shed, the lives lost…”
“I’ll not say I’m pleased with the way it happened, Don… but can’t you see? Finally… for the first time in our lives… we are not in the shadow of the Shredder.” Leonardo explains.
“What about you, Karai?” Mike queries, “What will you do?”
“Once the reorganization of the Foot in New York is completed, I will return to Japan. There… I will spread the ashes of my daughter on Asana Bay and perhaps… begin the healing of my ravaged heart.” Karai states.
“I’m sorry.” Mike replies.
“But even my grief cannot intrude on my duties. The company’s — the Clan’s — interests supersede all else. It does me no good to wish it otherwise.” Karai says.
“Can’t you change things?” asks Mike.
“Perhaps… someday,” Karai answers, “But for now, it is my path… as your path, until today, has been one of vengeance and reprisal, this path has ended, as life has offered you a new beginning… use this opportunity well.”
“We will Karai,” Leo states, “We will.”
Concluded in TMNT #62.
First Printing: July, 1993
Number of Story Pages: 20
Cover: A. C. Farley
Story: Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird
Script: Peter Laird and Jim Lawson
Pencils: Jim Lawson
Inks: Jason Temujin Minor
Tones: Eric Talbot
Letters: Mary Kelleher
“City at War” Part 11
Continued from TMNT #59.
Five Elite Guard face off against the TMNT, Karai and her Foot Soldiers. Seizing the opportunity to confuse and deceive, the disguised Karai screams at the Elite.
“Traitors! I trained you to be steel tigers… not mad dogs! You dishonor me… and you dishonor the Foot Clan. All of you — commit seppuku! NOW!!!”
One of the Elite falls for the trick and commits ritual suicide, but the others are not so easily deceived and demand to see “Shredder’s” face. Karai removes the helmet and throws it at the Guard.
“I will show you my face! Look well, fools… gaze upon the face of vengeance… and see your doom!!!”
The Elite are taken aback and the Turtles use their pause to launch an attack.
Casey arrives at his mother’s apartment building with his baby.
“Oh Arnold,” Casey’s Mom admonishes, “What did you do… go and get some girl pregnant?”
“Not exactly…” Casey states, “Can I come in, Ma?”
“Sure! Moving back in, are you?” Mrs’ Jones asks.
“Well… maybe for a little bit,” admits Casey, “Until I get us our own place…”
“Don’t be silly, Arnold. I got an empty three-room in the basement.”
“Thanks, Ma…” Casey smiles.
“So…who do we have here? Oh what a cutie-pie!” Mrs. Jones beams.
“That’s Shadow… my… um… daughter.” announces Casey.
“Shadow? Jeez… let me guess… you named her, right?”
“Sure did!” exclaims Casey.
“Is she yours?” Casey’s mom asks.
“Well… legally, yeah… but biologically, no.”
“So,” Mrs. Jones wonders, “Where’s the mother?”
“Ma,” Casey begins, “Don’t call me Arnold.”
The Turtles and the Elite are battling furiously. Foot Soldiers are armed with submachine guns and firing at will, but most of them are being killed by the Guard.
April is seated at a restaurant. She’s circled an item on the Real Estate page.
The old man is peering out of the window of the hospital. He walks away from it, needing no assistance, and sits on the bed.
Leonardo takes out one of the Elite, but another has cornered Karai. Raph has his hands full with one of the Guard who’s utilizing a chain, but the Turtle defeats his opponent. Karai leaps onto a lighting fixture to escape her foe, but it pulls out of the ceiling and sends her careening to floor – the Elite dives after her but is slain when Karai uses a lamp post to impale him. Outside on the roof, Donatello is searching for his quarry. The Elite sneaks up on the Turtle and kicks him to the floor, breaks his leg and then kicks the injured terrapin off of the roof!
Karai has her hands full as another Elite attacks her.
“You profane the image of our Master, the Shredder,” the Elite Guard growls as he punches Karai in the face, knocking her to the ground where he’s able to get the advantage on her, “And for that.. you must DIE!”
Continued in TMNT #61.
First Printing: June, 1993
Number of Story Pages: 24
Cover: A. C. Farley
Story: Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird
Script: Peter Laird and Jim Lawson
Pencils: Jim Lawson
Inks: Keith Aiken
Tones: Eric Talbot
Letters: Mary Kelleher
“City at War” Part 10
Continued from TMNT #58.
The TMNT are working on some sort of mechanical project as Karai leads a troop of her Foot Soldiers on patrol. An Elite spies Karai and her band and is shocked, because he thinks he’s seen his Master, the Shredder (in reality it is only Karai wearing Shredder’s armor).
The old man is standing in the hospital watching the TV news, and once again it features stories of political strife. The man leaves the room with the assistance of his walker.
Casey is at the diner where he had worked with Gabby, depressively nursing a cup of coffee. Suddenly a car screeches into the parking lot – it’s Jones’ Chevy! The cook asks Casey if he should call the cops, but Jones tells him he’ll take care of it. Casey goes out to the parking lot and beats up the two thieves and retrieves his car.
Master Splinter is finally healed and exploring the bottom of the huge silo that he’s trapped in. As he searches for a way out, he comes upon the skeletal remains of the Rat King.
“Ah… once more the universe allows a glimpse… of its myriad wonders… its imponderable mysteries!” the Sensei declares, “Yet, it is ever so… from Life, Death… and from Death… Life!”
Invigorated, Master Splinter uses his ninja skills to climb the sheer brick wall of the silo, ultimately achieving his freedom.
Casey Jones is driving east in his Chevy, his baby daughter named Shadow nestled in her baby carrier beside him.
Robyn and April are visiting the burned out remains of their father’s antique shop in New York City. Robyn is distraught to see this place filled with so many wonderful childhood memories reduced to a shambles.
“I hate seeing it like this!” Robyn exclaims, “Growing up – there was so much life here!”
“I know,” April agrees, “Now it just looks like… death.”
“Maybe it’s better that it’ll be torn down… I mean, everything passes, huh April?” queries Robyn.
“Yeah…” April muses, “Seems like nothing’s… permanent.”
Robyn asks April what she plans to do, but April isn’t sure. With that the sisters part ways, as Robyn has a flight to catch to California.
Before she leaves, April hears a noise from within the decrepit structure, but sees nothing.
“Hmm… probably the wind or a rat… a rat…” she sighs, and hails a cab to take her away.
Inside the building, Mike is watching April drive off. The Turtles are meeting with Karai and her Soldiers. Raph demands to know why Karai has called them here, and the Clan leader tells him that she was curious to see the place, as it holds so much significance to the events that lead them all to their current destiny.
Mike and Raph don’t like being in the building, especially since it was the Foot who burned it down. Leo bends down and finds a photograph of April and Casey, in happier times. He folds the photograph in half and puts it in his belt for safe keeping.
“Enough reminiscing,” the Turtle’s leader announces, “We have a job to do.”
“And scores to settle. Let’s move on.” Karai states.
Just then a crack appears in the ceiling and a group of Elite drop through the roof.
Continued in TMNT #60.
First Printing: May, 1993
Number of Story Pages: 24
Cover: A. C. Farley
Story: Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird
Script: Peter Laird and Jim Lawson
Pencils: Jim Lawson
Inks: Keith Aiken
Tones: Eric Talbot
Letters: Mary Kelleher
“City at War” Part 9
Continued from TMNT #57.
Casey dreams that he’s walking with Gabby, when a monstrous version of himself shows up wearing the trademark hockey mask. Casey’s evil twin knocks him out with a swing of a golf club and carries Gabby off to his waiting Chevy and speeds away. Casey stands up and notices a woman crying on a bench, as he walks over to comfort who he thinks is Gabby, he discovers that it’s April.
Casey awakes from the dream in a doctor’s waiting room. The physician asks Jones to step into his office, and promptly tells Casey that Gabby has died due to complications during childbirth.
“It’s a small comfort, I know,” the doc explains as Casey stares in shock, “But I was with her in those final moments and she looked quite at peace. The baby… we want to keep her in the maternity ward for a few extra days… just to be on the safe side. It’s never easy losing loved ones, Mr. Jones. However… you have a little daughter now… and she needs you.”
With that, the surgeon exits the office and Casey is left to himself, utterly dejected.
The TMNT are debating whether or not they should help Karai and ally themselves with the Foot Clan. Raphael is still against the idea, but Leonardo wants to finish this business, move on from their current path and stop living the lives Master Splinter assigned to them.
“Leo… what would Splinter say?” asks Mike.
“I’m unsure… I would gladly die for him… but… I don’t know if I can give him my life.” Leo responds.
As the guys debate the issues, Donatello finally surmises that it’s a moot point to argue. Since the Elite have sworn to kill Leo for slaying the Shredder, the Turtles will have to stop the Elite before they succeed in assassinating Leonardo. All four finally agree to seek Karai’s assistance in dealing with the Elite.
Master Splinter is finally recovering from his wounds and lack of food, and is visited by a cheerful Rat King. The rodent liege tells the mutant rat that he’s been trapped for two months, much longer than Splinter had thought.
“It has been educational” the Sensei notes.
“You came. You sought enlightenment,” Rat King begins, “I was merely your guide…”
“And my tormentor.” Splinter interrupts.
“Your beliefs, deeply held, sometimes blind you,” states Rat king,”The walls erected in our minds block out the light of knowledge.”
“That lesson is clear to me now… I can see why I was lead to this place.” Splinter acknowledges.
“Yes… I’ve waited a long time for your arrival.” announces the Rat King.
“You knew… I would come…?” asks Splinter.
“Of course,” Rat King shrugs, “That’s why I’m here.”
“Hmmm… so… the Master becomes the student.” the Sensei muses.
“…and may it ever be so.” concludes Rat King.
Meanwhile, the old man is still recovering in the hospital from the injuries he received from the Elite’s bombing. The fellow is sitting up by himself and watching TV, unfortunately the news of international war remains grim and he becomes morose.
The TMNT are climbing buildings to reach the rooftop of Karai’s skyscraper headquarters. As they reach her rooftop, they find murdered Foot guards. The Turtles scramble through an open door and find the Foot’s leader cradled over the body of a dead girl, surrounded by even more dead Foot Soldiers.
“Karai! Are you all right?!” Mike asks, “Your aide… is she…?”
“No… not my aide…” Karai cries, “…She was… my only daughter! A child…! Swear to me you will kill them… swear you will kill them all!!!”
Leo looks at her ruefully, and states, “I swear it.”
Robyn and April meet with the executor of their father’s estate in New York City and discover that they’ll each be getting two hundred thousand dollars! Robyn asks April if she wants to go back to California with her to start a business, but April states that her mind is made up – she’s going back to New York City. The sisters hug.
Casey is driving in the desert and crashes his Jeep into the side of a cliff. Uninjured, Jones emerges from the vehicle and starts climbing the rock face, carrying a container with him. As he reaches the top of the mountain, Casey removes the lid and scatters the ashes within.
“God speed, Gabe…”
Continued in TMNT #59.
First Printing: April, 1993
Number of Story Pages: 24
Cover: A. C. Farley
Story: Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird
Script: Peter Laird and Jim Lawson
Pencils: Jim Lawson
Inks: Jason Temujin Minor
Tones: Eric Talbot
Letters: Mary Kelleher
“City at War” Part 8
Continued from TMNT #56.
Mike, Don and Raph are on the rooftops overlooking some buildings. Don uses a payphone to contact Karai and is given a rendezvous point. Raph wonders if it’s a trap, but Mike thinks that they can trust Karai.
“What choice do we have?” he muses.
Leonardo is bound at the feet of Karai and a cadre of Foot Soldiers in an abandoned warehouse. Karai orders her henchmen away and she cuts Leo’s ropes, freeing him.
Just then the other three Turtles arrive. Karai explains that she is the leader of the Foot in Japan and that she’s come to New York to restore order. Ever since Leo killed the Shredder (TMNT #21), the Foot faction in NYC has been in chaos, with different groups warring with one another for ultimate control… save for Shredder’s Elite, who have been carrying out seemingly motiveless attacks on the other factions. Karai offers the TMNT a deal, if the Turtles kill the Elite and remove this unpredictable thorn from her side, she will offer them a truce with the Foot Clan.
Raph is angry and unwilling to partner with Karai, but she tells them to think about it and leaves.
By now, Gabby is quite pregnant. Casey is working in the diner with her and the two are thinking about moving out of their trailer and renting a house, since the baby will arrive soon and they’ll need more space.
April and Robyn attend their father’s funeral. April tells Robyn that she’s moving back to New York, as it’s time for her to stop running from her problems and deal with them.
Master Splinter is beset upon by a monstrous Rat king, now in the guise of a huge, bipedal rat. Rat King commands Splinter to bow to his rule, but the Sensei refuses… causing the giant rat-beast to attack, screaming “You shall DIE!!!”
Splinter wakes from the dream, screaming himself. He quickly grabs a nearby rat and eats it.
“Yesss… good…” the Rat King observes, “Be happy little man-rat… rejoice! For with this step… the shattering of this taboo… your path is clear – your destiny… manifest!”
Meanwhile, we see a Foot Soldier near the destroyed water tower the Turtles had been living in. He is ambushed and killed by two Elite.
The pair then kick down the door of the room that was being used to spy on the Turtles and kill the remaining Foot Soldier.
The old man is in the hospital, getting physical therapy on his leg.
The Elite examine some photos of the TMNT, and realize that they’ve arrived too late. The leader crumples the picture and the deadly duo depart.
Continued in TMNT #58.
First Printing: March, 1993
Number of Story Pages: 24
Cover: A. C. Farley
Story: Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird
Script: Peter Laird and Jim Lawson
Pencils: Jim Lawson
Inks: Keith Aiken
Letters: Mary Kelleher
“City at War” Part 7
Continued from TMNT #55.
April is finding her new job as a computer programmer to be tedious and pointless, and she’s not getting along with her boss.
Casey and Gabby get married at the local Justice of the Peace and return to their trailer. Since the couple has no money to go on a honeymoon, Casey has decorated the place to look like a tropical island.
Master Splinter continues his dialog with the Rat King. Rat King insists that the Sensei must eat the rats in the silo, otherwise Splinter will die of starvation and in turn, be eaten by the rodents. Splinter refuses to “surrender to the darkness of brute necessity.”
“Then your quest ends here… ends now,” Rat King states, “Poor man-beast… you truly believe that your animal nature blocks you from your goal of pure, perfect thought… tell me… when you reach that exalted plane… what do you expect to find there?”
“I… I don’t know…” answers Splinter.
“What if it is… the rat?” Rat King asks, “The animal… the pragmatic scavenger… the survivor?”
April gets back to Robyn’s apartment after work and the sisters have another argument over the messy state of the dwelling.
“You come here all screwed up from some weird relationship you can’t even talk about… I open my house to you, give you a shoulder to cry on and all you do is criticize me and my life?!!” Robyn exclaims.
“Chill out, Robyn,” April begins, “I just said -”
“I heard what you said… and I’m sick of hearing it! Mom’s dead… and you’re not Dad!” with this Robyn storms out of the room.
Master Splinter captures a rat, and looks into its eyes. The rodent bites the Sensei on the hand.
“I… cannot…” Splinter decides as he lets the creature go.
“To deny the inner beast… means your death.” Rat King tells him.
“Better then… to die…” concludes the Master.
Meanwhile, the Turtles remain in their water tower headquarters, maintaining a lethargic watch. Karai arrives at an apartment that has been set up by her agents to spy on the TMNT. She checks out the scene through a telescope and orders an assault on the Turtles.
The Foot blow up the floor of the tower and the TMNT fall through to the rooftop below. A fight ensues, the Turtles facing off against Karai’s Foot Soldiers.
We see a shot of the old man, sleeping in his hospital bed.
Karai is unhappy with how quickly the fight has escalated into loud gunfire and orders her assistant, Yanura, to bring out the taser guns. Leonardo is caught by surprise and shocked into submission. Donatello concludes that the remaining three must escape, but Mike refuses to leave. However, facing impossible odds, the three remaining brothers make their escape. As they flee, Karai shoots an arrow near them that contains a message: “555-4290 Call me”
April gets a phone call, when Robyn comes into the room to see who it was, April announces that their father died that morning.
Continued in TMNT #57.
First Printing: February, 1993
Number of Story Pages: 24
Cover: A. C. Farley
Story: Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird
Script: Peter Laird and Jim Lawson
Pencils: Jim Lawson
Inks: Keith Aiken
Letters: Mary Kelleher
“City at War” Part 6
Continued from TMNT #54.
Karai’s plane has arrived in the United States, and she boards a helicopter that takes her to Foot headquarters, an imposing skyscraper in New york City.
Casey and Gabby are watching a romantic sunset. Gabrielle announces that she’s getting hungry and wants to head for home, but before Casey starts their Jeep, he produces a ring and proposes. Gabby accepts Casey’s proposal and the two are engaged.
April is having dinner with a slick weasel with a ponytail. The man brags about his programming prowess and then grabs April by the knee. O’Neil throws her coffee on the fellow and storms out. As she walks home, April reflects on how much she dislikes California.
Master Splinter is awoken by a voice, insisting that the old rat must eat if he’s to survive. The Sensei tells the voice that he has nothing to subsist on.
“Help me…” Splinter implores.
“The help you seek,” the Voice replies, “Is your own.”
“There is little nourishment in riddles, shadow.” states Splinter.
“The riddle is yours… that which can sustain you is within your reach… but not yet within your grasp.” the Voice notes.
“I’m hungry… cold… in pain… and yet you torment me. You are death.” concludes the Sensei.
“I am not,” the Voice states, “But I know death.”
Leonardo encourages his brothers to go on a training run. Raphael is not interested, but after some cajoling, he agrees to go along.
The old man is sitting up at the hospital, gazing longingly at the shuttered window.
As the Turtles jump from rooftop to rooftop, Raphael steps in some dog dung. This enrages Raph and he angrily stalks off towards home. As Raph makes hi sway back, he’s ambushed by one of Shredder’s Elite Guard. Raph is badly cut on the face, but he manages to severely wound the Elite by stabbing him in the side with a sai, thus taking the Elite out of action. Leo, Mike and Don arrive just as the fighting ends. The Elite gazes up at Leonardo.
“Y-you… you are the kappa… that killed my Master… Oroku Saki!” he stammers.
“Yes.” replies Leonardo.
“I am… duty bound… to slay you… to… avenge my Master…” the man croaks.
“I think your avengin’ days are over, pal.” notes Raph.
“Perhaps… in the next life…” notes the Elite.
“Perhaps.” answers Leo.
With this, the Elite Guard commits seppuku.
Master Splinter continues arguing with the Voice.
“Who are you!!?” Splinter demands.
“I have had several names,” comes the answer, “But considering the circumstances, perhaps none is more appropriate than this… you may call me… the Rat King.” Rat King first appeared in Tales of the TMNT #4.
Continued in TMNT #56.
First Printing: January, 1993
Number of Story Pages: 24
Cover: A. C. Farley
Story: Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird
Script: Peter Laird and Jim Lawson
Pencils: Jim Lawson
Inks: Keith Aiken
Letters: Mary Kelleher
“City at War” Part 5
Continued from TMNT #53.
Casey has taken a job as a grocery bagger, but he messes up by putting the bread on the bottom of the bag, which enrages his boss. The angry older man gets in Jones’ face and reads him the riot act and insults Jones. Casey gets angry and puts a bag over the man’s head and punches him in the face, sending him flying. Jones then storms out, but as soon as he’s outside he realizes that he needs the job and goes back inside. Casey apologizes for the incident and asks for his job back. The man makes Jones get on his knees and beg for the work, but then screams “NO!” in Casey’s face. So Space Case lets another punch fly and heads out.
Master Splinter is exploring the abandoned factory, getting a sense of loneliness. The rat arrives at the precipice of an old silo and peers into its depths. Suddenly the bricks give way and the Sensei plummets into the maw of darkness.
April is working a new job as a computer programmer. Her boss hits on her, leaving April feeling even more doubtful about California.
Master Splinter awakes at the bottom of the chimney with a broken leg. The Sensei takes a piece of wood and makes a splint to insure that the bone will heal properly. When Splinter tightens the cloth to hold it tight, the pain causes him to blackout.
Robyn and her baby pick April up from work. April is trying to be upbeat about the job. Robyn complains about her ex-husband and the three go off in search for a Christmas tree.
The TMNT are in their water tower base as a snow storm rages outside. Mikey gets back from patrol as the TV reports on the street violence caused by the Foot as well as other international horror stories. Leo is still brooding , not knowing what to do. Raph suggests that they should ask Splinter, and Leo replies that it’s time for them to grow up and leave this life behind.
“Leave?” Mike gasps, “But… but what about duty? What about… honor?”
“Honor? Heh… I’m beginning to think there’s no place for honor in this world,” Leo replies, “Greed… hatred… violence… the lust for vengeance. These are the primary motivators.”
“What motivates you, Leo?” asks Raph.
“Lately… I don’t have a clue.” Leonardo answers.
The Japanese business woman is on a personal jet on her way to New York. We finally learn her name: Karai. Her assistant brings another video tape, this one clearly capturing Donatello in the frame. Karai is pleased to see this.
Splinter wakes and tries to stand, but the pain is too severe. The Sensei begins to worry for his life, with winter arriving, no food to eat and a bum leg that will prevent him from leaving the silo.
Casey and Gabby are decorating a very modest tree. Gabby is feeling self conscious about her weight from the pregnancy. Casey gives his girlfriend an early present, some sexy lingerie. This makes Gabrielle cry, and Casey consuls her. Not a master tactician, our man Casey.
We see the old man in the hospital, taking his first steps with the help of a nurse.
A Foot headquarters is attacked by one of Shredder’s Elite. The ninja kills everyone inside and then blows up the building.
Mike and his brothers are listening to the news and trying to keep warm in the water tower. The report is about the recent bombing.
“The police department suggests that this blaze is linked to the recent wave of destructive incidents in the City… leaving this reporter to wonder: when will this violence stop?”
Continued in TMNT #55.
First Printing: December, 1992
Number of Story Pages: 26
Cover: A. C. Farley
Story: Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird
Script: Peter Laird and Jim Lawson
Pencils: Jim Lawson
Inks: Keith Aiken
Letters: Mary Kelleher
