Oroku Saki duels the Dragon Warrior in TMNT: Shredder in Hell No. 3
By Alex Widen
Image by IDW Publishing
What Is It about Gaining Energy Claws Post-Resurrection!?
Seeing that the Shredder has survived facing aspects of his worst fears — his father, his old mentor, and even the Ninja Turtles themselves — one at a time, the underworld pits them all against him collectively. Yet rather than exhaust himself again facing them, Saki cows them with his biggest revelation — that his conquest as the Shredder has all been outside of his control. Realizing that he’s been manipulated for centuries has sapped a lot of Oroku Saki’s vigor to fight.
Image by IDW Publishing
Hence, when all of Shredder’s enemies merge into one hellish tentacled (and multi-eyed) demon, Saki doesn’t begin to resist. It’s only after Yoshi leaps to defend him with a tiny rat-bite does Saki begin to revive. It seems one of his few regrets was making an enemy of a man who was once his best (and seemingly only) real friend. In trying to save Yoshi, Oroko Saki once again unleashes his “dragon soul” powers, growing glowing chi (or ki) energy claws like Wolverine to tear his enemy apart!
Image by IDW Publishing
Yet not even this victory comes without dark portends for the future. The massive creature hints that Kitsune’s spells upon them have done more than change their bodies, but have altered their very souls. While the flesh may eventually succumb to death, their souls will never be free, and even capable of eternal life, or suffering. This both lays out some of the facts in regards to Kitsune’s powers, and also establishes the potential for the Shredder being resurrected.