In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Rizzoli), Hamato Yoshi, also known as Splinter, was once a human who was transformed into a mutant rat by mutagen. This version of Yoshi is closely based on Hamato Yoshi from the 1987 TV series.
History[]
After reporter April O'Neil broadcasts a story about thefts of scientific materials and the possibility that a mysterious group of ninja may be responsible, she is chased into the sewers by a gang of thugs whose boss doesn't want her to continue her reports. After she knocks herself silly by running into a wall, they catch up to her. Before they can attack, the Ninja Turtles arrive and knock-out the thugs. Upon seeing that her rescuers are not human, but in fact giant turtles, she faints. She wakes inside the lair and thinks she's just had a nightmare, until Splinter and the Turtles crowd together in front of her. Raffaello asks if she would like some tea and she faints once more.
When April finally comes around again, she asks who they are. As Splinter explains their story, it began years earlier in Japan. There lived a man called Hamato Yoshi who was a martial arts master in a ninja clan, "Clan del Piede". Yoshi was a quiet man who loved art and his work. However, one of his students, Oroku Saki, caused Yoshi to be chased out of the clan in disgrace. Yoshi moved to America, where he was forced to live in the sewers, with the mice as his only friends. One day, a young boy carrying a bowl containing four turtles, tripped and the turtles fell into a storm drain. They landed on Yoshi, who kept them as pets. Not long after, Yoshi found his turtles crawling around in a mutagenic liquid. The liquid transformed anyone who touched it into the last animal they had been in contact with. The Turtles had last been in contact with Yoshi, and he had interacted with the mice. April quickly figures out that the large mutant rat is Hamato Yoshi. La Nascita di un' amicizia
Leonardo reads in the newspaper about an art exhibit of Renaissance art. Splinter urges his sons to attend, stating that those who are wise learn from beauty. Tartarughe in bella mostra