Tartarughe in Gondoletta, (Turtles in Gondoletta), is a story in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic published by Rizzoli. It appeared as a supplement to issue 29, 1991, of the Italian children's magazine "Corriere dei Piccoli".
Appearing in Tartarughe in Gondoletta[]
Major characters[]
Minor characters[]
- Bebop
- Gondolier
- Krang
- Rocksteady
Species[]
- Disembodied brain
- Human
- Mutant rhinoceros
- Mutant turtle
- Mutant warthog
Objects and vehicles[]
- Bō
- Cheapskates
- Gondola
- Hypersonic submarine
- Katana
- Nunchaku
- Sai
- Sword of Moyotomi
- Walking stick
Locations[]
- Italy
- Oriental Museum of Venice
- Venice
- New York City
Summary[]
Every summer, thousands of visitors’ flock to Venice, but these are certainly not normal tourists. Armed with their weapons, the Turtles leap from a bridge as a power boat holding Shredder, Bebop and Rocksteady passes underneath. How is it that the Ninja Turtles and their enemies have happened to be at the lagoon at the same time? To find out, let’s go back a couple of days, to the Tecnodromo.
An excited Shredder points out an article in a magazine. Rocksteady asks him what it is and Bebop says he thought that in an archeology magazine there was only old news. Shredder tells them to read, and Rocksteady does so, finding that the article tells of Moyotomi’s weapons having been donated to the Oriental Museum of Venice. Rocksteady doesn’t find that interesting, stating that he’s never visited a museum. Shredder says that they don’t understand, he’s been hunting this sword for years. He orders them to pack their bags because they are leaving for Italy.
At the same time, in the lair, Splinter has received a letter from Japan. Leonardo asks if it’s good news, but Splinter answers that it is not. An old friend from Tōkyō has warned him that Moyotomi’s weapons have been found. Leonardo asks if that’s the legendary great ninja. Splinter says yes and a collector gave them to an Italian museum. Donatello points out that the weapons are historical artworks. Splinter explains that the sword is not just an heirloom. Moyotomi hid in it the explanation of the legend of the Rising Sun.
The Turtles are curious what it is and Splinter says it is a meditation technique that allows ninjas to develop a gigantic amount of destructive energy. The evil Clan del Piede has been trying to get their hands on it for a long time, but fortunately without any luck. If Shredder gets the secret now, he could use the energy to supply the Tecnodromo. As the other Turtles react to this, Raffaello suddenly appears with a packed suitcase and asks if they are ready. When Donatello asks what he means, Raffaello replies that the best way to foil Shredder’s plans is to get to Italy before he does.
Soon, the Turtles and Splinter are on a plane jetting their way to Italy. Michelangelo says it’s too bad they’re going to Venice, because he would have preferred Naples. Splinter asks him why, because Venice is a unique city. His son tells him the Naples is the homeland of pizza. A flight attendant comes by to ask if they need anything and Michelangelo says they were talking about pizzas. Leonardo interrupts to tell the guys to look carefully out of the windows and Michelangelo points out that they’re still over the ocean. Leonardo says he doesn’t care about the view, he’s looking for an Il Clan del Piede aircraft. If Shredder is heading to Italy, he’ll take the same route as them and they might be able to spot him.
Leonardo is correct, but he can’t see underwater! Below the surface of the ocean, Shredder congratulates Krang on his hypersonic submarine, saying that it is a true wonder. Krang replies that it is nice to feel appreciated every now and then. Shredder points out that at this speed, they’ll be on the grand canal in a few hours. Krang tells him that driving under water offers them another advantage as well, because on arrival, they don’t have to go through customs. That, he says, would have been embarrassing.
A while later, the Turtles are walking the streets of Venice. Michelangelo smells pizza and asks if the others would like to try some, but Leonardo tells him that there is no time as they have to get to the museum now. Michelangelo wonders how to find it in this labyrinth, so Raffaello suggests they ask some nearby kids for directions. As Donatello heads for them, Leonardo urges him to be careful not scare the kids. Donatello tells him that with the clothes he’s wearing, they’ll take him for a tourist. The kids answer his question as to the location of the museum by pointing the way and telling him to go to the end of the street and turn left. As Donatello walks away, the kids comment excitedly to each other about the Turtles. Donatello is amused that rather than scare kids, they are popular even here.
Unfortunately, someone else has already made it to the museum. Bebop and Rocksteady locate the sword, which is protected in a glass case. Bebop wonders how to get it, because the case probably has an alarm. Rocksteady replies that they will use their good manners. He immediately smashes the glass with his fist, stating that it’s useful to have rhino skin. A guard comes running in response to the alarm and orders the mutants to stop, because they are under arrest. Grabbing the sword, Bebop turns to look at the guard, commenting on how boring he finds that to be. Rocksteady tells his partner to send the guard on vacation, so Bebop blasts him with a stun ray. Bebop then follows Rocksteady through a window and onto a scaffolding, saying that luckily the museum is already under construction.
Shredder is waiting as the pair climb down to the ground. He asks if they got it and Bebop holds out the sword, telling him that it’s all his. A pleased Shredder declares that he finally has the Rising Sun in his hands. He looks up to see what he believes to be a group of tourists blocking his way, but then recognizes Splinter. The Turtles and their father quickly remove their disguises. Shredder tells them that this will be the last time they cross his path. Splinter replies that he always says that and he is becoming monotonous.
Pulling the sword from its sheath, Shredder guesses that Splinter is there for the Sword of Moyotomi, too. He swings the sword and cuts Splinter’s walking stick in two. Leonardo tosses a sword to his father, and then turns to battle Rocksteady, saying he needs only one sword to put him in his place. The Turtles surround Bebop and Rocksteady, who wonder what they should do. Meanwhile, an epic duel is underway between Shredder and Splinter. Though Shredder thinks he has the upper hand, Splinter tells him that the venerable blade is not enough to make him a master. He then points out that the centuries have made the handle fragile as he slices into it. The handle is cut in half, revealing that inside is a parchment. Shredder exclaims that the secret is in his hands. Splinter reaches down to grab the sword that Shredder has dropped, saying that he can’t allow for it to be lost. Shredder awards him for his stewardship by kicking him off the bridge. Leonardo calls out that Splinter has fallen into the water and that he’s unconscious. Shredder laughs and says he hopes he drowns.
While their enemy is distracted, Shredder suggests they leave and his mutants agree. As Leonardo and Donatello pull Splinter from the water, he tells them not to worry about him, just get Shredder. Donatello says that Michelangelo and Raffaello are chasing him. A little farther ahead, Michelangelo calls to his brother that they’ve almost reached them. The pair are suddenly surprised when Shredder and the two mutants leap from a bridge. When the Turtles reach the spot where they jumped, they see that Krang was waiting for them in his sub. Shredder bids them farewell and says he’ll see them in America for their final defeat.
Michelangelo and Raffaello rejoin the others and explain what happened. A gondolier approaches the group and asks if they’d like a gondola, which gives Donatello an idea. He holds up a Cheapskate and reminds them of what they packed. Michelangelo asks what he going to do with them. Donatello cryptically says that they’ll see and that every gondolier will want one. Meanwhile, Shredder has studied the parchment from the sword, finding that it is the forgotten technique. Bebop announces that they’re in the midst of the lagoon and will soon reach open sea. Shredder is pleased because it means that they can finally dive. However, Krang calls out that he hopes they’ll get there because they have visitors.
Shredder turns to see the approaching Turtles and is shocked at what he calls an insanity of a boat. Donatello has attached the Cheapskates to the gondola, turning it into a speedboat. Bebop proceeds to give the sub its full speed, but Shredder yells for him to look where… It’s too late as the submarine slams into the side of a ferry boat. Krang laments his beautiful submarine, now smashed into an unusable hulk. Raffaello calls out to ask if Shredder is happy to see them again. Shredder responds by saying they will be sorry, because he had time to study the secret of Moyotomi and will use it on them.
He waves his hands around, but nothing happens, to Shredder’s dismay. Krang yells at him to stop playing and let’s go. He stole a speedboat, and Shredder leaps aboard. Leonardo asks Splinter if they are going to let them get away. Splinter says no, that Shredder doesn’t know that his attempt to use the power didn’t work because his parchment is incomplete – and he has the missing part. Aiming at the speedboat, Splinter calls out “Rising Sun shot!” and a blast of power from his hands destroys the vessel.
Back in New York City, in the lair, Michelangelo complains that their adventure was a real disaster. Splinter asks how he can say that, when they foiled Shredder’s plan. Michelangelo replies that they were in Italy and didn’t even taste a small pizza. Leonardo tells him to cheer up because he bets that tin-face is more demoralized than him. In fact, in Venice, Shredder, Bebop and Rocksteady are attempting to sell souvenirs to other tourists, without luck. Bebop asks his boss if they really have to sell the stuff and Shredder says they do. Since he wrecked the submarine, they need to raise money to go back home.