The Foot Elite Guard also known as Shredder’s Elite Guard, is a group of the most accomplished ninjas in the Foot Clan who serve The Shredder as bodyguards and field leaders. The weapons they use are the Sai Prong, Kama, Sword, Battle Ready Axe, Swift Sinister Swords, Chaos Club, trident, manriki-gusari, spear, ax, and twin bladed sword.
Mirage
The best of the best in the New York Foot Clan; warriors trained personally by Oroku Saki and who swear allegiance to no one but him. Leonardoencountered two Shredder Elite the winter he found himself faced by the resurrected Shredder and managed to slay one of them before falling into a trap (Leonardo special). Over a year later, when the Turtles invaded the Shredder’s Hudson Block headquarters, Leonardo slew four more before going on to defeat Oroku Saki for the second and final time. The four Elite had, however, nearly killed Raphael before Leonardo intervened (TMNT Vol. 1, #21). Following the death of Oroku Saki, the New York Foot Clan dispersed into warring factions. The Shredder Elite allied themselves with none of them, being honor bound to avenge their master and slay the Turtles. Soon the Shredder Elite joined the fighting, openly slaying Foot Soldiers. When Karai, leader of the Japan Foot, came to New York to quell the troubles and reintegrate the Shredder Elite, they reacted with extreme prejudice, forcing her to call upon the assistance of the Foot Clan’s former enemies, the Turtles. The Elite then slew Karai’s daughter. Upon the promise of peace were they to help, the Turtles managed to take out the Elite with Karai’s help, though two committed seppuku. In the final battle against the last of the Shredder Elite, Karai disguised herself as Shredder to confuse them. Leonardo killed the last Elite, finally sealing the truce between the Foot Clan and his brothers (TMNT Vol. 1, #50 – 61). They also appear in Tales of the TMNT vol 2 #36 “To Serve and Protect” and Tales of the TMNT #69 “Dark Shadows”.
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Years later, to infiltrate the headquarters of the new Shredder, Raphael, the other Turtles took out two Shredder Elite and disguised themselves in their clothing. The Elite in question had evidently pledged allegiance to Raphael when he became the Shredder, though Raphael was unaware of them (TMNT Vol. 3, #16). It then seemed the Elite had pledged allegiance to a different claimant to leader of the New York Foot, possibly Pimiko, the daughter of Oroku Saki (TMNT Vol. 3, #18). With the impartial support of two members of the Japan Foot Clan’s ruling Council of Five, she appeared before Raphael with her now-clearly loyal Shredder Elite, proclaiming her birthright as the heir to the mantle of the Shredder, issuing a challenge (TMNT Vol. 3, #20 & 21). The last of the Shredder Elite were killed off by Pimiko (TMNT Vol. 3, #23).
Next Mutation
While an action figure was released the Elite don’t actually appear on the show.
2003 Series
The Foot Elite from the 2003 TV series appeared to have the ability to teleport and surprise anyone at anytime. They were also really good with their weapons. Each one carries their own special weapon, a trident, a twin bladed sword, a spear, and a battle axe. The Shredder sends them out on special missions that need to be accomplished quickly and effectively.
They make their first appearance inThe Shredder Strikes Back, Part 1. Once The Shredder appears on the scene, they bow respectfully and engage in battle with Leonardo. While Leo puts up a good fight, he is overwhelmed by their skill and power. They throw Leo through April’s apartment window and then hand Leo’s swords over to their master, who proceeds to break them in half.
In The Shredder Strikes Back, Part 2, they are seen waiting for the Turtles downstairs in April’s shop as a trap. After receiving compliments on their attire, they battleRaphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello. They prove to be tough opponents for the Turtles, as they eventually overwhelm them. Once The Utrom Shredder himself shows up in the shop, they stand by his side ready to attack again. The Elite are ordered to finish off the Turtles as Shredder fights Splinter, but they’re interrupted by the arrival of Casey Jones. All four of them were knocked out by Casey. They would appear in many more episodes and fight the Turtles many more times. They would also appear fighting alongside the Utrom Shredder in Return to New York and Secret Origins, Part 3.
When the Utrom Shredder was seemingly dead, the Elite led the Foot in a secret civil war against the Purple Dragons and the Mafia. Near its end, they presumed that their master returned, bringing all factions to the old Foot tower. But it was actually Karai in disguise, seeking to restore order. One of the Elite refused to submit to her until she slashed his hat. {C The Elite would also reappear in Rogue in the House, Part 1 and the Turtles would fight them again in Rogue in the House, Part 2, and Exodus, Part 1 where they are taken out by Bishop when they are trying to protect Ch’rell while he is escaping. They would reappear in Bad Day which would turn out to be an illusion created by the Foot Mystics. When Karai became the new Shredder, the Elite wore new garments. They would fight beside Karai in her attack on the Turtles lair inScion of the Shredder The Utrom Shredder had four Foot Elite Ninjas even in the 1960s as shown in A Tale of Master Yoshi where in the introduction sequence they would be defeated quickly by Hamato Yoshi, although they would make some cameo appearances during the attack on the Utrom Hideout during the actual episode. The Elite would fight the Turtles one last time in Good Genes, Part 2 Peter Laird said on his blog that the Elite’s teleportation is meant to be “an exaggerated way to show their incredible level of skill in ninja techniques of disappearing and reappearing via a combination of sheer speed and distractions such as smoke bombs”.
The Lost Episodes
In The Lost Episodes the Elite can still be seen working for the Foot under Karai. In New World Order, Part 1 they try to attack the Tengu Shredder but are defeated by him when he turns their weapons against them.
Back to the Sewer
Master Khan could also be one of the foot elite due to the fact that he could moves just as fast the Foot Elites. The foot elite theme music also comes on when Khan appears.
Video Games
The Elite appear as boss characters in the console/PC version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the console/PC version of’ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus. In the GBA version of the 2003 GBA game, the Foot Elite appears as mini-bosses inside Foot Headquarters, all welding twin bladed swords. In GBA version of Battle Nexus you fight enemies who look like the Mega Motorin’ Elite Guard toy riding Street Cycles in the second New York City stage. They also appear as regular enemies in the game Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Battle for the City, inside Shredder’s skyscraper, all welding twin bladed swords.
Action Figures
- Despite being prominent members of the Foot Clan through many years of Miragezt
- An Elite Foot Guard figure was released in 2003, with the design of the character from the 2003 TV series.2008 saw the release of a Mini-Mutant Foot Elite figure that came with Extreme Sports Michelangelo. This Foot Elite more or less was a shrunken-down version of the 2003 release, but wih a blue and gray outfit as opposed to black and red, and with other minor differences, such as a lack of a cape, as well as wearing geta. Another Mini-Mutant Elite Guard was released in 2009, also with a Michelangelo figure, as part of the “Aerial Assault” line, which came with parachutes. This Elite Guard was identical to the original 2003 figure, albeit smaller.
- NECA has had plans to release a Mirage-based Foot Elite figure, but it is unknown if and when it will ever release. This figure was once famously mislabeled as “Samurai Shredder” in an issue of ToyFare magazine.
