Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles No. 91 review: The return of Karai
By Alex Widen
Karai and her mutants return to reclaim her birthright! Will Splinter surrender it in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles No. 91?
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles No. 91
Writers: Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman & Bobby Curnow
Artist: Michael Dialynas
Colorist: Ronda Pattison
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For nearly three years (in real time), the former leader of the Foot Clan, the Shredder, has been dead. Slain in ritual combat by Splinter and the Ninja Turtles, he finds himself literally in Hell. When his distance descendant Karai left for Japan, that left the biggest criminal organization in NYC without a leader. Fearing that a power vacuum would endanger his sons, Splinter assumed command of the ninja clan. Yet over time this role has corrupted him, and ultimately turned his sons against him. Now after her own soul searching, Oroku Karai has returned to New York! Yet will she be ready to assume the responsibility she once shirked?
Image by IDW Publishing
During her journey, Karai has assembled some powerful allies. She has rehabilitated two of Shredder’s mutants, Koya and Bludgeon, aiding both in overcoming wounds suffered during their fight with the Turtles. She even took on a former rival, Natsu, the granddaughter of a Yakuza boss. Finally, in claiming a mystically empowered sword, she unleashed Ocho, an ancient mole-demon. While Karai has already negotiated with Leonardo, the immortal six tailed fox Kitsune watches.
Image by IDW Publishing
Will Karai Choose the Rat, or the Dragon?
Kitsune has been involved with the Foot Clan for centuries. It was she who aided in Shredder’s rise to power, both in his reincarnation and in his enhancement via the mutagen ooze. She tried to claim his body for her own arcane ritual, but failed to claim his head. Now, Kitsune seeks to turn her attention on Karai, his direct descendant. She professes disgust that Karai would even negotiate with Splinter, and continually refers to her as a “dragon” — the name of Kitsune’s dad.
Image by IDW Publishing
However, one of the defining conflicts of Karai as a character, regardless of adaptation, is her struggle between honor and power. It was Shredder’s own lack of honor — in particular, his alliance with Baxtor Stockman to kill his enemies with robots — which ultimately turned Karai against him. Whether it is in the original Mirage comics or the 2003 cartoon, this inner struggle for her has been consistent. As such, it’s no surprise that Karai is able to resist Kitsune, for now.
Image by IDW Publishing
Karai struck a deal with Leonardo to at least try to negotiate a peaceful transition of power between her and Splinter in control of the Foot Clan, and she intends to honor her word. As such, she and Splinter greet each other with a bow. Despite their past, Splinter treats her as an honored guest, allowing her to visit the Shredder’s tomb. Karai is also impressed that Splinter maintained the look and location of the Foot, in order to stress that existed long before he did, and will endure afterward.
Image by IDW Publishing
An Appeal between Father and Son!
This doesn’t mean that the rest of Karai’s squad are eager to be there. Koya, Bludgeon, and Ocho are an ill fit to visit a location which includes dozens of orphaned children. Even Natsu decided to hang back in their penthouse hotel room to suck back on some soft drinks. Meanwhile, Leonardo has brought his brothers of “Clan Hamato” to visit the Foot Clan as well. He’d hoped to beat “clan Oroku” there to get some private time with Splinter, but the timing works out overall.
Image by IDW Publishing
Both Kitsune and Splinter provide their own perspective of the same event, which took place in TMNT No. 60. Kitsune sought to steal the Shredder’s corpse in order to resurrect him as her tool to resurrect her father, the Dragon. And while Kitsune failed to assume command of the Foot Clan or divide the Turtles and Alopex against each other, she did succeed in stealing most of Shredder’s body. Splinter, ever the trickster, kept Saki’s skull, which is presumably the only part of him buried.
Image by IDW Publishing
As Karai has some private time with her “grandfather,” Leonardo finally gets that private time with Splinter that he wanted. And while it is a brief scene, it is full of subtle conflict. Ever the honest and dutiful son, Leonardo admits that he’d met with Karai beforehand and initiated the negotiation that is about to occur. While Splinter is initially insulted that Leo went around his back, Leo makes it clear that neither he or his brothers need protection anymore — they want their father back.
Image by IDW Publishing
Does Peace Have a Chance?
Unfortunately, the rest of the mutants in the house aren’t able to sit still very easily. Michelangelo, as always, wants to be everyone’s friend. He even makes a reference to Daredevil in a chat with Bludgeon, which pays homage to the franchise’s creation — as a satire of Frank Miller’s run. Donatello even apologizes for his role in blinding Bludgeon, much like Leo did in regard to Koya’s injuries. Fortunately, Bludgeon is far more understanding, and finds he’s better off than he was.
Image by IDW Publishing
Yet the odd creatures out are Raphael and Ocho. The former has just been in the middle of a horrendous experience at the hands of Agent Bishop, and is struggling to maintain his sanity. Ocho, on the other hand, is a demon that feeds off on encouraging others to give into their worst desires. Both Koya and Karai are using artifacts from Ocho’s lair, but each of them have made strides to overcome their rage. Raphael has rarely done so, and is on the edge more than ever!
Image by IDW Publishing
Before long, both sets of mutants are on the verge of fighting — if only to keep Raph and Ocho from killing each other! Both Leonardo and Karai display irritation at their respective allies, as neither wants to shatter what had been a peaceful meeting. While Leonardo clearly trusts Karai more than his brothers do, she has done little to shatter that trust yet. Perhaps because of this, or because of his visit by the Pantheon on Christmas Eve, Splinter is ready to negotiate his exit!
Image by IDW Publishing
Will Casey Get a Partner When He Teaches “Pain 101?”
As always with issues of TMNT, there is plenty going on with the (ever expanding) supporting cast! After being missing for many issues in 2017-2018, Casey Jones has gotten a few pages for the last couple of issues. They’re centered around his budding romance with Jennika, as the pair push his stalled out motorcycle along the highway. Casey was attached to April O’Neil for much of the series’ run, as he is in most adaptations, but efforts by the Rat King led to their breakup years ago.
Image by IDW Publishing
While Casey briefly had some romantic tension with Angel during the start of this run in 2011-2012, things seem to be slowly building between he and Jennika here. The pair both travel in the same circles, have many of the same friends, and are both known for their combat skills. While Jennika went from petty thief to assassin to somewhere between, Casey’s arguably gotten more aggressive over the years. Could she have more in common with Casey than April ever did?
Image by IDW Publishing
Although the Turtles focus may be directed towards Karai and the Foot Clan at the moment, their newfound arch nemesis is gaining a new resource. Whether by manipulating the Triceraton invasion of NYC (which briefly pitted the Turtles against Splinter directly), or leading the invasion of Burnow Island that killed Slash, to nearly destroying Raphael, Bishop has emerged as their deadliest nemesis at the moment. He’s currently forming an alliance with their other foe, Metalhead!
Image by IDW Publishing
Far More Than Meets the Eye!
The mechanical duplicate of Donatello originally designed by Harold Lilja, it briefly housed his consciousness after Don was nearly slain by Bebop and Rocksteady. An older “copy” of Don’s mind has remained, and has upgraded itself into a larger body. Having determined once and for all that the “true” Donatello will always be its enemy, Metalhead is seeking a challenge and the deaths of the Ninja Turtles. Long utilizing robotics, Bishop eagerly maneuvers the machine into an alliance!
Image by IDW Publishing
It may read like a “copy and paste” job every time, but that it because this series is always consistently good. Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman and Bobby Curnow have channeled a collective genius within this series, expertly crafting a taut and slow building story which rewards readers in both the short and long term. They are catering more to character dynamics than action, at times to a fault, and thrive in defying expectations. The trio, Waltz especially, are also committed to striving a balance between the blood-baths of the original comics and comedy of later shows, and making the TMNT into a license that marries old and new, as well as both action and suspense.
Image by IDW Publishing
A premise in which Karai and her gang of mutants barge into Splinter’s Foot Clan and demand regime change is one which is rife with conflict. And both Kitsune and the Turtles present the expected viewpoint — that a fight is inevitable. While it very well may be in the long run, within this issue Waltz and company instead embellish more subtle character conflict. The dynamic between a father and son, or a woman’s oath to duty versus her personal honor. Rather than instantly create drama with violence, this issue thrives on the subtle tensions of a negotiation.
Image by IDW Publishing
As Always, the Most Consistently Great Franchise Comic out There!
Ultimately, this arc is leading to the end of Splinter’s run as head of the Foot Clan. In a commendable bit of storytelling, it is a status quo which has endured for almost 3 years. Yet it, like any serialized story plot, may have run its course. Readers have seen the role corrupt Splinter, despite his best intentions. It has brought out the worst in Yoshi, and drove a wedge between him and his sons. Even “the baby,” Michelangelo, was the first to see it. It may be time to move on.
Image by IDW Publishing
Michael Dialynas continues on his incredible tour of art here. He’d done artwork for TMNT Universe or TMNT: Dimension X before, but hadn’t done a solo run on the main Turtle book before now. These pages showcase the fact that he was more than ready to take on that task. The cast of TMNT are as wide and varied as the animal kingdom, from mutants to humans to robots and everything in between. While he shines during the action sequences, Dialynas also captures the softer tension of interaction, or even the hauntingly mystical sequences with Kitsune.
Image by IDW Publishing
Next. Read a Eulogy for a Turtle in No. 90!. dark
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles continues to prove that the fundamentals to good franchise comic books are timeless. A marriage of excellent storytelling which combines nostalgia with progress, in concert with standout work from some of the best artists in the field, produces a comic whose quality cannot be denied. It is great that some other websites are finally acknowledging this run, but it arguably is overdue. It is a run, a Ninja Turtle saga, which has only improved as it has went along. The stakes for this year couldn’t be higher, yet these shell-backs always deliver.