Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (vol. 1) #55: City at War, part 6
Read Date: December 01, 2023 Cover Date: January 1993 ● Writer: Kevin Eastman ◦ Peter Laird ◦ Jim Lawson ● Pencils: Jim Lawson ● Inks: Keith Aiken ● Letterer: Mary Kelleher ●
**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers (👏=didn't like it, 👏👏=it was ok, 👏👏👏=I liked it, 👏👏👏👏=I really liked it!, 👏👏👏👏👏=I loved it!)
Reactions As I Read: ● I like Casey’s new lady friend… which means I’m worried something is going to happen to her in order to free up Casey to return to NYC ● Shredder 2.0?
● oof, I think Raph lost a chunk of face… ● one of Shredder’s elite come to avenge his master’s death ● yo, the Rat King! ● 👏👏👏👏
Synopsis: Karai's plane has arrived in the United States, and she boards a helicopter that takes her to Foot headquarters, an imposing skyscraper in New York City.
Casey and Gabby are watching a romantic sunset. Gabrielle announces that she's getting hungry and wants to head for home, but before Casey starts their Jeep, he produces a ring and proposes. Gabby accepts Casey's proposal and the two are engaged.
April is having dinner with a slick weasel with a ponytail. The man brags about his programming prowess and then grabs April by the knee. O'Neil throws her coffee on the fellow and storms out. As she walks home, April reflects on how much she dislikes California.
Master Splinter is awoken by a voice, insisting that the old rat must eat if he's to survive. The Sensei tells the voice that he has nothing to subsist on.
"Help me…" Splinter implores.
"The help you seek," the Voice replies, "Is your own."
"There is little nourishment in riddles, shadow," states Splinter.
"The riddle is yours… that which can sustain you is within your reach… but not yet within your grasp." the Voice notes.
"I'm hungry… cold… in pain… and yet you torment me. You are death." concludes the Sensei.
"I am not," the Voice states, "But I know death."
Leonardo encourages his brothers to go on a training run. Raphael is not interested, but after some cajoling, he agrees to go along.
The old man is sitting up at the hospital, gazing longingly at the shuttered window.
As the Turtles jump from rooftop to rooftop, Raphael steps in some dog dung. This enrages Raph and he angrily stalks off towards home. As Raph makes his way back, he's ambushed by one of Shredder's Elite Guard. Raph is badly cut on the face, but he manages to severely wound the Elite by stabbing him in the side with a sai, thus taking the Elite out of action. Leo, Mike and Don arrive just as the fighting ends. The Elite gazes up at Leonardo.
"Y-you… you are the kappa… that killed my Master… Oroku Saki!" he stammers.
"Yes." replies Leonardo.
"I am… duty bound… to slay you… to… avenge my Master…" the man croaks.
"I think your avengin' days are over, pal." notes Raph.
"Perhaps… in the next life…" notes the Elite.
"Perhaps." answers Leo.
With this, the Elite Guard commits seppuku.
Epilogue Master Splinter continues arguing with the Voice.
"Who are you!!?" Splinter demands.
"I have had several names," comes the answer, "But considering the circumstances, perhaps none is more appropriate than this… you may call me… the Rat King."
(https://turtlepedia.fandom.com/wiki/City_at_War,_part_6_of_13)
Fan Art: Rat's nest by ashitarimai
Accompanying Podcast: ● Shellheads - episode 34