Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe #12 review: Karai at a crossroads

Karai rebuilt, and then reorganized, the Foot Clan. But what has she really been up to in Japan?

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe #12

Writers: Erik Burnham & Sophie Campbell

Artist: Sophie Campbell

Colorist: Brittany Peer

“Prey” strip: Sophie Campbell

Karai Has Gone through the Ringer!

In the IDW incarnation of TMNT, Oroku Karai is the direct descendant of the Shredder. He was an infamous warlord of feudal Japan who led the Foot Clan at that time. In modern days, her father Yori reorganized the Foot Clan into being white collar criminals. Disgusted with this lack of honor and wishing to revive the group, she sought out the ancient Shredder. Preserved in mutagen, she and Shredder dissolved the modern day Foot Clan and returned the ninja gang to their roots.

Image by IDW Publishing

Yet things weren’t as simple as Karai had hoped. Oroku Saki acted very much like an 18th century man. While he seemed to accept her as his second, Saki had outdated views of women. When Saki sought to brainwash Leonardo as his heir instead, Karai was insulted. While this was a test of her loyalty, Shredder’s continued dishonor and dismissals of her tactics led her to help unseat him. She arranged the final trial by combat between him, Splinter and the Turtles, which ended his reign.

Image by IDW Publishing

That was roughly two years ago. Ever since, Karai and her two Foot mutants Koya and Bludgeon have relocated. The three have been in Japan, recovering both physically and spiritually. Having left the Foot Clan in Splinter’s paws, Karai seems like she is directionless in life. The one thing she wanted and strove for turned into a nightmare. Things in her life get hot once again when she’s caught in the middle of a Yakuza drive by. Being mocked by the assassin was easily the last straw.

Image by IDW Publishing

Another Call to Action!

Ignoring a gunshot wound, Karai chases after the assassin, Hayashi Natsu. After a brief chase, the two women compare wits and skills. While Natsu may not be as skilled at martial arts as Karai, she knows how to fight dirtier. The fight ends with Karai’s pride and body injured once again. Back at her penthouse apartment dojo, her mutant allies have a trial of their own. That final Foot Clan battle left the falcon Koya wingless and the shark Bludgeon without eyesight.

Image by IDW Publishing

Sensei Toshiro refuses to let the mutants wallow in anger or self pity any longer. Insisting they can still be ninja warriors despite their handicaps, both are goaded into battle. While Koya’s anger causes her to lash out, Bludgeon aids in the battle to defend her. The pair wind up proving Toshiro’s point, that they can be more than “pets.” As a result of the skirmish in town, Karai returns home only to collapse shortly thereafter.

Image by IDW Publishing

While Toshiro remains surprised at her lack of direction, Karai notes how change is constant. What she does know is that her honor’s been insulted, and she’s been idle too long. Tracking Natsu down, she comes across the home of Yakuza don Hayashi Toru. He’s involved in a turf war with other gangsters, and is Natsu’s grandfather. Unlike the young assassin, he knows the history of Karai and the Foot Clan very well. The turn of events gets the old mobster to come up with a plan.

Image by IDW Publishing

Koya Isn’t Having an Easy Time of It Either!

Natsu and Karai have a rematch. But without the element of surprise, it doesn’t last long. Rather than be insulted, Toru sees it as an opportunity. His syndicate has their own expansion plans, and he sees Karai as a powerful ally to this end. Does Karai want to make a new underworld alliance? Does she want to rejoin Splinter’s new Foot Clan? Or does she have her own path to forge? This opening issue asks all of these questions, which sets up a great arc to come!

Image by IDW Publishing

As if co-writing and drawing the main story wasn’t enough, Sophie Campbell goes for the hat-trick. The series’ obligatory four-page backup strip is called “Prey,” and is entirely crafted by Campbell. Like most of the backup strips, the story is simple and instead focuses on the artwork. It focuses on Koya, who continues to be in anguish over the loss of her wings. When a bolt of lightening strikes her, she wishes it was fatal. Yet her mysterious amulet comes to life!

Image by IDW Publishing

The amulet seems to belong to a metaphysical bird of some sort. It promises to restore Koya’s wings if only she makes it her prey. Is this a fever dream from the lightening strike? Or is Koya in the midst of some mystical presence? It could be one of the immortal Pantheon after all. Kitsune displayed interest in the fox Alopex, and the bird is usually the form Aka takes. Aka is usually benevolent, having helped April in the past. Or could this be an entirely new figure?

Image by IDW Publishing

Karai Has a Key Role in the Franchise!

Sophie Campbell always puts her all into anything she works for, and this is no exception. Her talent for mixing unique designs with great atmosphere and action make her a natural for this series. The skirmishes between Karai and Natsu, and then the mutants with Toshiro, are all visual highlights. More importantly, this issue shines some overdue spotlight on characters who have been left in flux due to one of TMNT‘s biggest storylines and sets them in an interesting place.

Image by IDW Publishing

Some incarnations of Karai are Shredder’s daughter (either biological or adopted). The original Mirage Comics had her as his second, yet unrelated. Even the 1987 cartoon did their own version, renaming her to “Lotus Blossom.” Virtually all versions have her forging her own path, and seeing how IDW handles one of the franchise’s eldest anti-heroines continues to be very interesting. Campbell and Burnham are further enforcing this spinoff series as crucial by picking up on this plot thread.

Image by IDW Publishing

It’s worth a mention that while Karai may have turned against the Shredder, she may not be the Turtles’ best friend. She grew to respect their sense of honor, and that of Splinter, but respect and fondness are two different beasts. Both Koya and Bludgeon might have axes to grind against the Turtles. Sure, they were forced to fight against them by Shredder, but they still suffered horrific injuries. The Foot Clan that Karai did everything to reorganize is still out of her hands for now.

Natsu Makes an Impression!

And this puts Karai in an interesting place. Her story is a cautionary tale about being careful what you wish for. It makes sense she would need time to reassemble herself and her objectives afterward. Any story of self discovery needs a catalyst to provoke the change — and Natsu proves to be a good enough catalyst. Her interaction with Toshiro is interesting, as he’s essentially the Splinter of her life. It’s also easy to see why she wanted to return the Foot Clan to their roots.

Image by IDW Publishing

While she may be a brand new character, Natsu quickly made an impression. Her bald head and distinct Yakuza tattoos alongside her burly body make her instantly memorable. The fact that Natsu can perform a “flash kick” not unlike Guile from Street Fighter II doesn’t hurt either! She plays well off Karai by being sassy and hot-tempered, with less experience than her bravado suggests. She’s only appeared in one issue, But I think Natsu would make a great action figure!

Image by IDW Publishing

While Bebop and Rocksteady may be the most memorable Foot mutants, Koya and Bludgeon also have their place. In fact, Koya may be a terrific example of how to create a new anthropomorphic lady into a longtime franchise. Thanks to Disney and Warner Brothers, animal characters are a dime a dozen in pop culture. Typically when a female character is added, she’s a near clone of a male one, only with stereotypical trappings of femininity attached, like breasts or long eyelashes.

Koya and Toru Also Highlight the Art!

Koya has none of that, nor should she. She began life as Shredder’s pet falcon, and birds do not have mammary glands. In fact, within the bird kingdom, the most flamboyant ones tend to be the males. There was and never has been an attempt to “sex up” Koya or present her as such. Instead Koya acts very much as the apex predator she was before her mutation. Campbell created her for the “Northampton” arc, and she turns up in Campbell’s own fan comic on Deviantart as well.

Image by IDW Publishing

A bird losing their ability to fly certainly loses a great deal of their independence and instinct, which Koya reflects. One can imagine if any of this troupe would like to avenge themselves on the Turtles, it would be her. Both here and in the backup strip, there’s a vulnerability behind the rage which makes Koya compelling. In comparison, Bludgeon the hammerhead shark, is actually the calm one! He’s clearly bonded to Koya, perhaps as mutual predators, and fights to defend her.

Image by IDW Publishing

Another example of characterization through art is Hayashi Toru. As much as Natsu’s tattoos tell her story, so too do Toru’s scars. He has a long one across his forehead, and both of his pinkies are missing. This quickly implies he’s been involved in organized crime for a long time, and suffered the wrath of bosses for failure. Campbell displays so much personality with her designs and body language for her figures that the script and dialogue can almost become secondary to it.

Image by IDW Publishing

Not Just Another Boring Mob Boss!

In addition, Toru is not hot-tempered. Mob bosses in most mediums can fall under some narrative cliches. They’re typically written as being overly aggressive and quick to punish any failure or transgression. Toru is more experienced, and a thinker. He is more curious about Natsu’s struggle than irritated. And while Natsu sees Karai as an intruder, Toru sees her as an opportunity for greatness. Stupid villains are boring, and it’s great to not see a bland Yakuza boss here.

Image by IDW Publishing

When Sophie Campbell was drawing Jem and the Holograms, one of the only downsides was it kept her from drawing TMNT. It’s clear she is almost as passionate for the Turtles as she is for Jem, as she’s added a few characters to the canon like Koya and Pepperoni. It’s terrific to see her return to her creations as well as grace TMNT Universe with her incredible art and ideas. The entire issue is a showcase for her talents, even more than #10 was. She’s in a tier all her own.

Image by IDW Publishing

Have Some Turtle Power without Any Turtles!

While IDW Publishing’s enjoyed a wealth of riches when it comes to artwork for TMNT, Sophie Campbell has to be near the top of the list. From cover to cover, from main strip to backup, her artwork speaks for itself. On a dime she can shift from pulse pounding action to emotive reflection. Her flair and instinct for designs and pace is among the best in the business. Almost everything she does seems to top her last exceptional work, with readers being the winners.

Image by IDW Publishing

Next: Scope out Jagwar's debut from #11!

From great art to a pulse pounding story to exploring longtime characters, TMNT Universe #12 is the total package. And what a great way to celebrate IDW’s grand experiment of compressing all of their side series into one ongoing spin-off to TMNT. It’s become the modern replacement for Mirages’s Tales of the TMNT, allowing canonical stories by a wide variety of talent to exist. Whether friend or foe, Karai and her allies will prove to make this the best arc of the series so far!

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