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Some TMNT stuff was always meant for grownups. |
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, volume 1
- Mirage Chronology
- Previous: Dream Stone/Transcript
- Next: Fifteen Years Later/Transcript
Page 1[]
[My name is Leonardo. We made a wrong turn somewhere. Now we're caught, our backs to the wall in this trash strewn alley. Barring the way out are fifteen members of the Purple Dragons, the toughest street gang on the East Side. The only way they'll let us out of here is if we're dead!] [I hold my katana in a relaxed ready position. To my left, Donatello and Michaelangelo follow suit with staff and nunchaku. Raphael guards my right side... I sense his body quivering with tense energy, waiting to be triggered into savage, slashing release!!] Purple Dragon "You're dead, freaks!! Nobody trespasses on Purple Dragon turf and gets away with it... Especially when they're wearing stupid turtle costumes!" |
Page 2 & 3[]
[He's wrong...] [We're not wearing costumes.] |
Page 4[]
Purple Dragon "Hey!" Other Purple Dragon "Here they come! Scatter!" [These guys are young, but no rookies. They've been around, toughened by the streets. They've fought and beat everything on two legs in this area......except us.] [We hit them airborne. I cut town on the way down. Donatello takes out a third with his staff.] [The punks don't waste much time on hand-to-hand. They break into small groups, and open up with their artillery!] |
Page 5[]
[Raphael loves this stuff. There's a flash as his sais come out...] [...The three toughs don't even see that.] [Too bad.] |
Page 6[]
Purple Dragon "Who are these guys..?" Other Purple Dragon "Don't know... Some kinda freaks!" Same Purple Dragon "But even freaks can bleed! Cut 'em!" [Yes, we can bleed...] |
Page 7[]
[...And so can you!] [Our first major skirmish is over and we are still standing. Our training has served us well... Splinter will be pleased.] [A police siren wails close by, coming fast. When they arrive, they will find only what is left of the Purple Dragon gang.] POLICE |
Page 8[]
[We do not like to run from those who would be our allies, but we must. They would not understand us.] [The storm drain beckons. We are never far from a means of escape...] [...For we are trained in the ways of ninjitsu.] [We strike hard and fade away...] |
Page 9[]
[...Into the night.] |
Page 10[]
[The storm drains are our home. We know every inch of these subterranean passages.] KLAK! CREEEEEEKKK! [For all our years we have dwelt in these dark depths...] [...Learning, growing and building.] Hamato Splinter "Ah, my sons... You have returned at last! You have fought..?" Michelangelo "And won, Master Splinter. Against fifteen foes!" Splinter "Ah, you have done well. Your skills are at their peak." Splinter "I have forseen this night for many years. Now it is time..." JANSON'S ART HISTORY CARE AND KEEPING OF YOUR TURTLE Splinter "...Time for you to be told of the mission for which I have trained you these past thirteen years." Splinter "You will learn of my life, and how you came to be." |
Page 11[]
Splinter "My tale begins some twenty years ago." Splinter "I was a young rat, a pet bought and cared for by my beloved master, Hamato Yoshi. My cage was kept in his dojo, and I watched his daily practice. It amused him to see me mimic his movements... But it was more than mere mimicry. Slowly I learned his art, the mysterious martial art of ninjitsu. I could not have had a better teacher, for it was said that Hamato Yoshi was the greatest shadow warrior of his clan." |
Page 12[]
Splinter "He was one of the famous "Foot" Clan, the most feared warriors and assassins in all Japan. Another member of the "Foot" Clan was Oroku Nagi. He and my Master Yoshi competed fiercely in all things, especially for the love of a young woman, Tang Shen." Splinter "Both tried to win her, but from the start she loved only one: My master, Yoshi." |
Page 13[]
'Splinter "Nagi was insanely jealous. One fateful night, he went to Tang Shen's home and demanded that he love him. Shen refused, saying that she wanted only Yoshi. In a jealous rage, Nagi began to beat her. At that moment Yoshi, coming to visit his lover, entered the room and saw Nagi poised to strike!!!" Hamato Yoshi (flashback) "Shen! Oh gods... No....!" Oroku Nagi (fb) "Hah, Yoshi dog! If I can't have this wench...then no one will!" (Splinter) "Yoshi's world vanished in a red haze..." (Splinter) "...And when it cleared, Nagi was no more." Splinter "Yoshi's shame was great. By killing another member of his clan, he had dishonored himself. His choices were simple, but not easy: To take his own life and hope for honor in the next life; Or flee with Shen to another country and try to start life again." Splinter "He chose the latter, taking with him a few belongings, including me, and came with Shen to New York. Here my master formed a small martial arts school." |
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(Splinter) "Meanwhile, in Japan..." Oroku Saki (fb) "Nagi" (Splinter) "...Nagi's family, especially his younger brother Saki, were mourning his death. The seven year old Saki vowed vengeance on Yoshi. The Foot took hold of Saki's anger and used it to bend him to their own purposes. Saki began intensive training in the ninja's art, and soon surpassed his teachers. As he grew older his hatred of Yoshi grew deep and bitter." Foot Jōnin (fb) "Oroku Saki, you have proven yourself. Though you are only eighteen, you are our most cunning assassin..." Jōnin (fb) "...And an able leader. Therefore, we have chosen you to go to the U.S. and head the New York branch of the "Foot!"" Saki (fb) (At last! A chance to avenge my brother's death!) (Splinter) "Saki moved quickly. Within a year he had built the New York "Foot" into a force to be reckoned with." |
Page 15[]
Splinter "Under Saki's leadership, the Foot was soon involved in many criminal activities: Drug smuggling, arms running... And their specialty, assassination. Saki, now called "the Shredder", was successful, but not satisfied. In his heart burned hatred for Hamato Yoshi and his wife, Tang Shen." (Splinter) "On a night nearly fifteen years ago, Saki finally made his move..." Shredder (fb) (The time is right... I have tracked them down...) Shredder (fb) "...For the murderer of my brother, there will be no escape!!" (Splinter) "My Master Yoshi came home that evening, never expecting that his most dangerous enemy was lying in wait! Entering the apartment his gaze fell on the still, silent form of his beloved Shen." (Splinter) "Then he saw her killer." Yoshi (fb) "Good Lord!! {Choke} Who are you?!" Shredder (fb) "I am Oroku Saki!" Yoshi "Oh no✺" |
Page 16[]
(Splinter) "In the struggle my cage was smashed. I was free... But my master was dead. In my grief, I wandered the streets, living off scraps of garbage." (Splinter) "Then one day while I was searching a trash can for my next meal, I witnessed an accident. An old blind man crossing the street was almost run down by a large truck." SKREEEE..!! (Splinter) "At the last moment a young man leaped at the blind man and knocked him out of the truck's way. As the truck screeched to a jarring stop, a metal canister bounced out of the back of the truck and struck the young man near his eyes." (Splinter) "Unnoticed by the crowd, the strange canister bounced several more times, striking and smashing a glass jar which held four small turtles... You four, as infants!! You fell into the manhole, followed by the canister. Fortunately a pile of dead leaves and papers broke your fall. But the canister smashed open, releasing a glowing ooze which covered your bodies as you crawled around in it." |
Page 17[]
(Splinter) "I followed you down into the storm drain, and not knowing exactly why, gathered you up in a coffee can. I took you to my burrow and washed off as much of the goo as I could." (Splinter) "The next morning I awoke to find the can tipped over and the four of you doubled in size!! Somehow, that strange ooze had affected your growth. As I learned later it had changed me also...making me more intelligent, and larger." (Splinter) "But I didn't grow as far as you did. Within a year, you had reached your current size. You followed me everywhere I went, except above ground. I could not risk your being discovered." (Splinter) "I was amazed at how intelligent you seemed, but even so I was not ready for what happened one day..." Turtle "Splin-ter?" (Splinter) "...One of you actually said a word...my name!!" (Splinter) "More words followed, and soon you all were speaking." (Splinter) "Around this time, you started to stand upright, and copy my movements..." |
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Splinter "I began training you then, teaching you all that I had learned from watching Master Yoshi. I taught you the use of weapons, the art of stealth, and all that I knew of this world. In time you surpassed my lessons, and became true ninja. Using a battered copy of a book on Rennaissance art that I had fished out of the storm drain, I chose names for each of you:" [Leonardo,] [Donatello,] [And Raphael.] Splinter "Now, I am old. And there is a task that I would have you perform before I leave this life. Now, I must ask you to do that which no being should ask of another. I ask you to avenge the cruel death of my master, Hamato Yoshi, and his wife Tang Shen. I ask you to challenge and kill the murderer Oroku Saki... The Shredder!" |
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[Ah, the night air... I love it.] [I despise the damp, dank underground. My brothers don't seem to mind it...] [...But this is where I belong. Such a feeling of freedom, so much room to move about!] [I am Raphael, ninja turtle... And my Master Splinter chose me for this task...] [...To deliver a message of challenge to the Shredder!] |
Page 20[]
[Splinter told me to infiltrate the Shredder's headquarters and leave a calling card.] [My pleasure.] [Two guards on the right...] [One on the far left.] [They've got to go.] [They'll be my calling card!] |
Page 21[]
Guard A "Intruder!" Guard B "Stop him!!" [They're armed, of course...] [That's OK.] [I am, too.] Raph "Haiii!!" [The third guard sees the action, but doesn't sound the alarm...] [...He thinks he can take me out by himself.] Guard C "Who are you?" Guard C "Ninja?" Raph "Turtle!" |
Page 22[]
[We connect in mid air...] [...When we land, I'm standing...] [...He isn't.] [Now to my task.] [The message is wrapped around one of my sais...] [I can see Oroku Saki inside talking to some flunkies.] [It's an easy shot.] Saki "As you can see, Mr. McAdam, it is to your advantage..." Saki "...To have my protection." |
Page 23[]
Saki "Yaa!" Businessman B "Hey!" McAdam "Good Lord! What is that!?" OROKU SAKI ALSO KNOWN AS THE SHREDDER YOU HAVE SHAMED AND DISHONORED THE NAME OF YOUR FAMILY BY MURDERING HAMATO YOSHI. I GIVE YOU THE CHANCE TO REGAIN YOUR HONOR. MEET MY FOUR DISCIPLES FOR A DUEL TO THE DEATH TOMORROW NIGHT AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: 15TH STREET, [...] McAdam "Mr. Oroku, is this the protection you would have us purchase? If you can not keep your own complex secure..." Businessman C "Outrageous!" McAdam "...Then we cannot believe that your protection is worth anything!" McAdam "Goodbye, sir!" Saki "Who can this challenge come from? What fool would pit his minions against the might of the Shredder?" Saki "It doesn't matter...his effrontery will come to grief soon enough." Saki "There will be a duel, and there will be death..." Saki "Theirs!" |
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[The following night...] ARBEED[...] CONSTRUCTI[...] Leonardo "This is it my brothers..." Leo "...Use your climbing claws..." Leo "...And go silently!" Leo "Shredder we are here!" |
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Leo "Shredder... Face us!!" Shredder "Who are these fools?" |
Page 26[]
Shredder (I still do not quite understand why after so long this comes back to haunt me...) Shredder (I killed Yoshi fifteen years ago!) Shredder (No matter, my men are in place...) Shredder (...And the time is near.) Shredder (I shall finish this business once and for all!) Leo "Shredder do you fear us?" |
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Shredder "I am here..." Shredder "...Come face your doom!!" Shredder "Foot... Join me!!" |
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Page 30[]
Donatello "These guys are good!" Raphael "Arrg! Too good!" Raph "But we..." Don "...Are..." Leo "...Better!" |
Page 31[]
Leo "Haii!" Leo "Your ninja have fallen, Shredder!" Shredder "So I see..." Shredder "They were good men... My best!" Shredder "I see, too, that they have left their mark!" |
Page 32[]
Shredder "But that was just students fighting students; now you must face a teacher. A master!!" Splinter "Come....one at a time or all at once, I don't care. For only I will leave here alive!" Raph "Me first!" Raph "Yarg!" SHAK! Shredder "Hah! You left yourself wide open!" Shredder "You are much too slow!" |
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Shredder "Arrg!" Shredder "Amateurs!!" Shredder "Come, gaijin... Your brothers have fallen! You are next!" Leo "Yaaa!!" Shredder "Ungh!" Shredder "Bah.. Four fools!" |
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Leo "He is too skilled for us to fight one on one, brothers! Use group tactics...and hit from a distance!!" THUNK! Shredder "Unn!" THUP! Shredder "Agh!" |
Page 35[]
Raph "Dodge these, "Master"!" Shredder "Oof!" Shredder "Curse you!!" Shredder "Ungh!" Raph "Hah!" |
Page 36[]
Shredder "Agh!" KRAK! Don "This is the end for you, Shred--unh!" UMP Shredder "You are overly confident, fool." Leo "Perhaps he is, Shredder..." Shredder "Haiii!" Leo "...But perhaps not!!" Shredder "✺" |
Page 37[]
Leo "Now...you are beaten." Shredder "So...finish...it fools! I am... Helpless...slay me now!!" Leo "We turtles are not dogs without honor..." Leo "...Unlike you, Oroku Saki." Leo "I will give you one more chance to redeem your honor." Leo "Take this katana...and commit seppuku." Shredder "Never!" Shredder "If...I must...kill myself....I will... Take...all of you.. Turtles... With me!" Shredder "This...thermite... grenade.. Will wipe..this roof-top clean of all life...including you!" |
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Don "No!" |
Page 39[]
Leo "Our mission is accomplished...our master's master is avenged!" Mike "I'm tired Leonardo..." Leo "Yes... So are we all, Michaelangelo. Let's go home." Leo "Uh..! I ache all over!" Mike or Raph "A hot bath would be nice." Mike or Raph "Leonardo, look! That piece of armor...!" Leo "Hmm... It seems that the Shredder..." Leo "...Has been shredded!" |
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[We are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...] [...We strike hard and fade away...] [...Into the night!] THE END |