The Greatest Show in Space is a Fast Forward comic, published in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Comic issue 3 in August 2007.
Appearing in The Greatest Show in Space[]
Major characters[]
- Donatello
- Leonardo
- Michelangelo
- Raphael
- Ring Master (debut)
Minor characters[]
- John Bishop (debut)
- Circus Clown (debut)
- Zorak the Great (debut)
Objects and vehicles[]
- Circus Train
- Katana
Locations[]
- New York City
- Martian State Circus
Summary[]
The Turtles arrive at the Martian State Circus, where Michelangelo exclaims how much he loves it and Raphael says he doesn't because clowns creep him out. Donatello tells him that the fear of clowns is called 'coulrophobia'.
They are inside the main tent when they hear a woman shouting for help and that a thief has taken her purse. The turtles spot the four-armed thief running away, purse in hand. Mikey and Raph leap at the thief and both kick him at the same time. The thief goes down and Mikey returns the purse to the elderly victim. A tall, thin alien in a top hat approaches the Turtles and compliments them on their abilities. He then asks if they've ever thought about joining the circus. A very enthusiastic Mikey says yes over and over and the alien, who is the Ring Master, tells him that one of his performers has dropped out and he needs some acrobats to help with a magic trick.
He goes on to tell them that there is a "volunteer" planted in seat 7G. He says he needs some acrobats to perform some acrobatics around him and then steal his wallet, which will be given back later. Leonardo agrees to do it and Mikey struts around chortling about how he's going to be in the circus.
They arrive at the performer's tent and see that everyone there looks very unhappy. Raph questions this and also the assignment they've been given to steal something. Mikey reminds him that they are only pretending to steal and that the volunteer is in on it. Leo sits down next to a Circus Clown and asks if he's okay. The clown stammers and says in an enigmatic manner that 'he made us promise' and 'I can't talk'.
Inside the main tent, the circus begins. The first act is Zorak the Great who performs magic. A wealthy woman from the audience is chosen to volunteer to assist, and Zorak makes all of her jewelry disappear. Zorak thanks her for volunteering and tells her she can pick up the jewelry after the show at the Ring Master's tent. She leaves the center ring to thunderous applause, but Leo questions why a magician would disappear with the lady's jewelry. Mikey assures him that it's all part of the act.
Next, the Ring Master announces that four masters of the martial arts will showcase their incredible skills and to please welcome the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Leaping into the center ring, the Turtles begin showing off some of their moves and then ask for a volunteer from the audience. Mikey picks out the man he's been told is the 'plant' and guides him into the ring. The Turtles perform acrobatic feats around him and then Mikey steals his wallet. Afterwards they bow to the audience as the man goes back to his seat. Raph is not happy that they robbed a guy despite Mikey's assurances that he was an audience plant. Leo says that they will take the wallet to the Ring Master so that he can return it.
Inside the Ring Master's tent, they find him seated behind a desk with stacks of bills on top, along with jewelry and bags of money scattered all around. The Ring Master tells Leo to place the wallet on the desk and Mikey asks how he's going to return all of the stolen items because there are so many. With a grin, the Ring Master says he's not returning anything and tells the Turtles that they are gullible.
Angered, the Turtles prepare to attack, but before they can, they are hit with a noxious cloud of knockout gas. The Ring Master says that now they're part of the circus family and can never leave. Security guards take the unconscious Turtles to the circus train and a while later the guys wake up locked inside an animal train compartment. Donatello pries a wall panel open and the Turtles escape onto the roof of the moving train, determined to stop the Ring Master before the circus heads into space.
The Turtles burst through the windows of a train car and as Don races towards the conductor, the other Turtles begin fighting some of the other performers, including Zorak. The clown, who has his arms bound behind his back, tells Mikey that they made him steal. Mikey begins untying him and says that he's going to be safe now, but the Ring Master suddenly appears.
He proves to be a wily adversary, moving quickly and aided by Zorak's magic, until Raphael lands a solid punch which knocks him out cold. A short time later the Peacekeepers take the Ring Master and other thieves into custody while President Bishop explains to the Turtles that they've been tracking the circus for a long time. He also tells them the Ring Master's circus has been on a galaxy-wide crime spree. Leo says they were glad to help and Raph adds they are also glad to punch people in the face.
Then President Bishop turns to Mikey and says that because of his exceptional work in bringing his brothers to catch the Ring Master, he's not going to arrest him for that "incident" with the ambassador a few days ago. Donatello reacts with shocked surprise that Mikey was in on it the whole time and Raph reiterates how much he hates the circus.