Krang threatens the multiverse in Batman/TMNT III No. 2
By Alex Widen
Just who is this mysterious turtle in Batman/TMNT III No. 2?
In each of the prior crossovers between these two franchises, characters have traveled from one universe to the other. Now, both the Batman and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles universes have become one! The five of them have all been raised and trained by Splinter into a squad of ninja vigilantes, defending Gotham City from the Laughing Man (and other villains). Yet the only problem is that none of it is real, and the only being who can possibly shake the heroes out of their funk is…Raphael!?
Image by DC Comics & IDW Publishing
It isn’t just any Raphael. After all, the current Ninja Turtle known for being “cool, but rude” is still in the Batcave wearing his Red Hood themed costume. It’s Raphael from the original Mirage Studios comics, as drawn by co-creator Kevin Eastman! Quite how he breached the Batcave is a mystery, but he brings ill tidings about the danger that Krang poses to all of them. The only problem is that Batman and his sidekicks in a half shell think they’re fighting an evil clone, and set out after him!
Image by DC Comics & IDW Publishing
Splinter (who in this new reality is both a ninja master and a butler) senses there is more to this second Raphael than meets the eye. And in no time flat, the black-and-white Turtle reveals his own origins in a lengthy bit of exposition. The creation of the Ninja Turtles as first crafted in 1984 is retold, along with a flashback sequence by Eastman himself. It includes a climax which sees Eastman re-create the iconic cover to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles No. 1 from a slightly different angle! It is an credibly classy homage!
Image by DC Comics & IDW Publishing