Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles No. 92 review: A Foot Clan negotiation
By Alex Widen
The Foot Clan faces a transition of power. For the first time, can it be done without bloodshed in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles No. 92?
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles No. 92
Writers: Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman, and Bobby Curnow
Artist: Micheal Dialynas
Colorist: Ronda Pattison
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The common misconception of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as a franchise is that it is at worst a goofy and silly franchise for small children, and at best an at times violent action-packed science fiction saga. The truth is that it can be both of those things as well as exist peacefully in between, depending on the incarnation and adaptation. This IDW incarnation, as scripted by Tom Waltz with co-story credits by co-creator Kevin Eastman and editor Bobby Curnow, has found that middle ground. While not as graphically violent as early Mirage Studios material, it is nowhere near as goofy as the “kiddie” fare and in fact dedicates substantial page space for subtle drama, foreshadowing, and build up. It is akin to a smart Netflix show, at twenty pages a month!
Image by IDW Publishing
As such, the main plot of this arc is about a negotiation. Karai wants to lead the Foot Clan, as the latest member of the Oroku clan, while Splinter wants to hand it off. Yet amid all of this, other actions and reactions from various figures around the Turtles play out. The mutant ninja fox Alopex, alongside the human Angel Bridge (in her armored “Nobody” guise) continue to act as vigilantes within Manhattan, watching out for street level crimes wherever they can see it.
Image by IDW Publishing
Can a Foot Clan Leader Be Chosen without a Stabbing?
In this case, they spot one of the most routine sorts of robberies one can come across outside of a bank — a liquor store robbery. Three goons think they’re about to get away with a modest score, yet don’t count on Alopex’s eagerness to play out a move she saw on TV. Unfortunately, Alopex winds up crashing the car against a street lamp, which causes more property damage than whatever cash the thugs just stole! On the other hand, that sort of thing never bothered Batman!
Image by IDW Publishing
One of the goons tries to escape, but he’s stopped by Nobody in an alley. She cautions him that as rough as this is, the Foot Clan may have been worse. And speaking of the clan, negotiations between Splinter and Karai seem to be continuing peaceably. As the Ninja Turtles and Karai’s minions (Koya, Bludgeon, and the demon Ocho) watch, the current and future leaders of the Foot Clan seem to be slowly but steadily working towards an amicable split from power.
Image by IDW Publishing
Each comes in with their own biases, but each have done their homework. Splinter is aware of Karai’s actions in Japan to reorganize the Yakuza there, and how pivotal a role she has had in the Foot Clan already. A direct descendant of not only the Shredder, but the very founders of the Foot Clan, it was she who sparked their modern shift from white collar crime to their ancient roots. It was she who goaded the final showdown between the Turtles and Shredder, which led to his death.
Image by IDW Publishing
Did Raphael Jinx It?
And while Splinter has at times been a violent and zealous leader, his tenure as master of the Foot Clan has taken a toll on him. It has pitted him against his beloved sons on more than one occasion, with sweet little Michelangelo being the first to turn on him. Coupled in with a visit from ghosts on Christmas Eve (seriously) as well as assurances from Leonardo that his sons have grown and don’t need his rigid protection anymore, and Splinter is more than willing to hand off his title to a worthy successor.
Image by IDW Publishing
As the negotiations seem to wind down, Splinter seeks a seamless exit strategy. He wants to step down from the Foot Clan and resume leadership of “Clan Hamato” — which was led by Leonardo partly out of opposition to Splinter’s Foot rule. Karai agrees that she and their clan can enjoy a truce, and even collaborate against mutual enemies. They also discuss the alliance of convenience with Splinter’s old enemy Hob and his “Mutanimals” group, as well as Casey Jones’ continued leadership of the Purple Dragons gang, who often acted as the front line grunts of the Foot.
Image by IDW Publishing
Alas, the area which causes the most friction is the area which recently brought Michelangelo to blows with Splinter. The fate of the dozens of children orphaned by Rat King‘s attack on the city who are under the care of the Foot Clan at last arises. Splinter promised both his sons and the kids that they’d be tended to, with full membership of the Foot Clan being optional. Karai, on the other hand, sticks to the rigid rules of the Foot Clan as Splinter briefly did, and demands it be mandatory!
Image by IDW Publishing
“Won’t Someone Please Think of the Children?”
Splinter’s vow to the children, and his sons, is non-negotiable. And neither is Karai, who promises to either make ninjas out of the kids, or kill them! This immediately escalates tensions to the point that a battle is on the verge of breaking out. Much as Splinter did against the Shredder (at Karai’s insistence), Karai challenges the rat master to “the gauntlet,” a trial-by-combat between a new master and their top students against the old one. It is a challenge Splinter outright refuses!
Image by IDW Publishing
As the memes say, things escalate quickly. An eager Ocho is thrilled at leading an attack on the Foot Clan, and considering most of the Foot Clan are expendable minions, the four of them could pose a serious challenge. It is only when Jennika — Shredder’s former assassin — leads a security force consisting of elite Foot Clan ninja alongside Casey Jones (armed with a spiked baseball bat), that Karai realizes that the numbers are against her. Yet is this all Karai, or the will of her cursed sword?
Image by IDW Publishing
Meanwhile, the world around the Ninja Turtles refuses to sit still. Even worse, it involves enemies or fair weather allies which were alluded to or mentioned. Agent Bishop performs a negotiation of his own, learning the terms of the alliance that Metalhead 2.0 wants to strike with him. In return for “delivering” the Ninja Turtles and their mutant allies to the Earth Protection Force, Metalhead wants access to the Utrom technology from Area 51 to evolve his mechanical form to the next level!
Image by IDW Publishing
Agents, Mutants, and Elections…Oh My!
Having been a product of such technology — even if it is half a century old — Bishop knows well that it isn’t to be trifled with. Yet after his failure to destroy Burnow Island’s alien population as well as losing Slash as a giant turtle-shaped weapon, he can’t afford to turn Metalhead down. The irony is that Metalhead represents something Bishop would respect if he only knew; the technological attempt by a human (Dr. Lilja) to match or improve upon a mutant. It could be a match made in Hell!
Image by IDW Publishing
The aforementioned Old Hob is keeping himself busy. As he cleans his guns, he makes it abundantly clear to fellow feline mutant Sally Pride that his speech at Slash’s funeral was not hyperbole or emotional venting. He fully plans to wage a war against organized humanity, or any that seek to do mutants harm. It isn’t a position that Sally agrees with, and once again it may be Hob’s own actions which divides the very team he organized himself. On the other hand, will more of the Mutanimals side with Hob than she believes? Even Mondo Gecko has raged lately!
Image by IDW Publishing
Yet the biggest looming threat may not be that of Karai or the Pantheon, but Baxtor Stockman. Heavily involved in the creation of the Ninja Turtles as well as many other mutants, and having allied with (and outlasted) both Krang and Shredder, his ambitions continue. Now he’s running an independent campaign to become the mayor of New York City, riding high on his positive reputation for aiding during the Triceraton invasion as well as the recent invasion of rats!
Image by IDW Publishing
The Rise of a City at War!
April O’Neil, who was an intern at Stockman’s lab when he met the Turtles, remains as his assistant. Most of this is to keep an eye on him, as well as subtly manipulate him against their mutual enemies. Yet in aiding in his political goals, April may become a victim of her own success. While having the mayor’s ear will be very useful for her and her friends, there is little doubt that Baxtor is still an arrogant megalomaniac. Will a city run by him be better, or worse, for everyone?
Image by IDW Publishing
Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman and Bobby Curnow end this issue on quite a cliffhanger for longtime fans. Karai ends all negotiations over the Foot Clan and plans to take it by force. The next arc is titled, “City At War,” which is avidly memorable for readers of the original Mirage run. It was the last arc of the original TMNT volume written by the original creators, which involved the Turtles helping Karai assume leadership of the Foot Clan from those still loyal to the Shredder.
Image by IDW Publishing
In this incarnation, it is Karai who seems like the unreasonable party. The last “city” titled arc, “City Fall,” was during Mateus Santolouco’s run as solo artist in 2013 and involved the Shredder brutally organizing all crime in the city around him. It was during this run where Leonardo was kidnapped by the Shredder and brainwashed by he and Kitsune into becoming his pupil. Casey Jones was nearly killed, and the Turtles had to recover in Northampton for a short while afterward.
Image by IDW Publishing
It Isn’t “Filler,” It Is Suspense!
There is no telling at this point whether or not this new “City At War” will match or exceed that story, or how it will rank alongside the original from 1992-1993. But the fact that after eight years that the creative team, including the franchise’s co-creator, are boldly trying to push the envelope rather than coast speaks volumes. They know the expectations they’ve placed on themselves are high, and they aim to meet or exceed them. That is beyond admirable for a run which refuses to play things safely.
Image by IDW Publishing
It is possible to criticize this issue for perhaps stretching the negotiation a little longer than what could have been. Some of the sequences, such as those with Angel and Alopex, seem more to give readers a scene with characters who barely pop in much rather than being too critical. The cast of this book is huge — too huge even for a secondary series — and trying to squeeze in extra characters, in theory, takes space away from the stars or risks padding things out on occasion.
Image by IDW Publishing
However, fans of comics in which an entire universe can literally be created and run in one or two comics should be thrilled at such ambition. The fact that the writers take their franchise and readership seriously enough that they don’t feel obliged to provide “obligatory” fights or are willing to go for long term suspense and drama is to be commended. Reading their TMNT is like reading a well balanced and well thought out sci-fi drama that truly embraces all audiences, both youths and adults, while mingling history with innovation. It’s an older, smarter, wiser TMNT comic.
Incredible Art for a Historic Run!
Michael Dialynas puts in another terrific showing as main artist for these last four months. He’s worked on a variety of Ninja Turtles’ secondary projects like TMNT Universe or the Macro-Series, and it is great to see him grace the lead series. He’s had some more subtle scripts to work with, without as much action, but he proves up to the task. The extended cast includes everything from humans to animals to aliens and robots, and he captures the emotions and body language of all of them in skilled ways. He even excels at designs defined or created by Sophie Campbell, which is no easy feat!
Image by IDW Publishing
Perhaps for some fans, these last two issues may have seemed slow or crowded. But for others — hopefully a majority — they are an example of why this run has been so historic. It isn’t merely the dedication of IDW to a single volume, or the artistic efforts of some of the best pencilers in the business — although each of these things helps greatly and cannot be underestimated.
Next. The Foot Clan Talks Begin in No. 91!. dark
It is in the dedication of the writers and editor to tell a long form, progressive, serialized, and suspenseful mutant martial arts drama in which no alliance is safe and every action has an equal or greater reaction. There is enough material every issue for a dozen reviews, and that is what makes this series a favorite to immerse oneself in month after month, and year after year.