IDW TMNT # 22 City Fall part 1

By Mark Rodriguez

The IDW TMNT comics brought the Turtles back in the world of comics with a long-running monthly comic series which mixes in elements from the 80's show and 2K3 show, with several new elements. The story of Shredder waging war on the city is what made me decide to review these issues.

Here is some basic knowledge to keep you up to speed. In this version, Hamato Yoshi (Splinter) and Oroku Saki (Shredder) were alive in ancient Japan and were at war. Shredder captured Yoshi and his 4 children and had them all killed. Somehow, Yoshi and his kids were reincarnated into a rat and turtles in modern day and due to sheer happenstance, happened to get in contact with Mutagen to turn them to their humanoid forms. Shredder's body was preserved over the ages thanks to a fox spirit named Kistune, and Karai awakened him in modern day. So basically the Yoshi/Saki rivalry continues in modern day New York. Kitsune also exists in modern day.

Currently in the story, Leonardo is dealing with grief over a recent fight they had against a mutant cat named Hob in which he thinks he killed Slash in battle.

City Fall Part One begins with Shredder telling Kitsune about the Savate Ninja Clan's new leader Victor, and how they continue to mess with the Foot. Shredder wants this to stop and tells Kitsune it's time to embrace their destiny.

Elsewhere, Raph and Casey are watching over Casey's dad drink his life away at a bar. Raph doesn't see why he cares about his father, since he always smacks him around when he's drunk, but Casey made a promise to his mother to watch over him. As they get ready to leave, they are suddenly attacked by the Foot. Casey is quickly smacked from behind and taken down.

Raph is enraged but quickly pinned down by the ninjas and restrained. Both of them are thrown into a van, which also has Karai in it. Karai tells him they will soon die, and tells her driver to take them to the docks. Raph manages to break free and throws himself against the back doors, falling out of the van and into the river. However, his escape was part of Karai's plan.

 The Turtles are relaxing in the lair, Leo is training with Splinter, April and Don are working on checking the security systems after their encounter with Slash, and Mikey is reading a comic book. Raph bursts into the scene screaming about Casey being taken and they have to get him back. Leo and Splinter try to calm him down and Raph explains about Karai and the Foot. 

Raph wants to rush out to save Casey, but Leo says this is an obvious trap and they're already expecting a rescue attempt. Raph and Leo argue and almost come to blows, but Splinter stops them. He says that Casey is their family and they will rescue him but they have to be quick and cautious.

At the docks, Karai and Alopex secure Casey and set a perimeter so noone will interfere with their plans. Apolex wonders how Karai is so sure they will come for him, and Karai says they are a ninja clan, and foolishly loyal to the death.

 Our heroes park nearby and leave April in the car. Since they're in a bad part of town, they advise her to keep the doors locked, and the engine running and ready to go in case they need a quick escape. As the ninja head out to rescue their friend, Angel happens to leave her house and sees the van.

Leo, Raph and Splinter see Karai, Alopex and Casey from the rooftops. Splinter already sent Mike and Don swimming under the river to catch the villains by surprise. Raph is eager to rescue Casey since all they see is Karai and Apolex, but Splinter tells him they're purposely making it look easy to lure them into their trap. Just then the Shredder arrives.

Back at the van, Angel taps on the window and asks April if she's the same college girl that's always hanging with Casey. April tells her about how the Foot kidnapped Casey and took him by the docks. Angel says she'd be dead or in jail if it weren't for him, so she heads off to help rescue him by herself. She tells April to stay in the van.

Karai tells Shredder that she knows the heroes are nearby. Apolex asks if she can chase them out. Shredder says there is no need, and picks Casey up. He calls out for Hamato Yoshi, and then stabs Casey in the gut. He drops him and says their comrade is now severely wounded.

Holy crap! This never happened to the Casey in the 80's show, not even the edgier 2k3 series!!

 Raph freaks out and jumps into action. Karai calls for the Foot. As everyone fights, Karai reminds Alopex to stay with her and keep focused on their target. Raph is blinded by rage, eager to kill the Shredder. Mike and Don arrive and see that they're needed. Splinter tells Leo to help them out while he stays with Raph. Karai and Alopex move in and target Leo. Apolex tackled him down from behind.

 Angel also arrives and tends to Casey telling them other that she needs their help. Leo tells Mike and Don to help Angel and they dash off to her aid. Don tells Splinter that they have Casey. Splinter grabs Raph and tries to calm him down, as he is still lost in his rage. However, as Leo runs to join them, he is suddenly hit in the back of the head by a dart fired by Karai. The Foot grab Leo and soon vanish.

The Turtles and Splinter tend to Casey's wounds, but Splinter say they are too deep and he needs to be taken to a hospital immediately. April arrives just in time with the van. However, Don notices that Leonardo isn't with them. Angel says there isn't much time and April agrees saying that Casey is dying.

 Wow, what a great way to start the story. This adventure already hits the ground running and it's a great starting point for new readers to start out on.The main plot here is a kidnapping story. Grab Casey, let Raph escape to tell the others, and capture Leo in all the confusion. All carried out flawlessly by Karai and the Foot. I do wonder how the city is going to start going at war with each other, but for now the main focus will be to save Casey's life and rescue Leonardo.

Of course the major shocker of this issue is seeing Shredder run Casey through with his blades. It's epic because rarely do we see him actually use his blades for anything other than looking scary or trying to slice the Turtles. Even when the 2K3 Shredder would slice and dice some characters off screen, it was usually minor or flashback characters. We never seen someone as major and beloved as Casey taste the blades.That one scene shows that he's not one to mess around when it comes to getting what he wants.

Another thing to mention is this when we finally see IDW Raph get totally enraged similar to his Mirage counterpart. I have missed a lot of the IDW comics, mostly the Krang War and the Secret History of the Foot, but for the most part Raph did seem a lot calmer here than he did in other versions. Here, he totally loses his cool and goes into full-on berserker barrage mode. Even after they rescued Casey, he was so out of control that Splinter had to drag him away reminding him that the guy he's trying to avenge needs his help now. Also, Raph and Leo getting into each other's faces is starting to look a lot like the Mirage comics as well. 

 I guess the only nitpick is the art. Especially the turtles themselves, particularly since they're drawn as if their noses and mouths are one big piece bulging out of their faces. I don't know. It's hard to describe, but it will take time to get used to. That and the strange looking masks. Every story arc has its own set of artists which changes the Turtles general look in one way or the other... and yeah.. it will take some time to get used to their new look for this story arc.

I do wonder how Raph VS Shredder would have gone down, but it doesn't look good for our turtle since he'd be blinded with anger. Anyways stay tuned as I continue with this story. It's going to get even more intense.