IDW TMNT # 132

 By Mark Rodriguez

The Rat King is finally on the move for his Armageddon Game with the help of Krang, Baxter and Madame Null. The Turtles must prepare but they must learn new spiritual techniques from their former enemy, the Shredder!

The issue opens with a vision of Leonardo facing his former dark self, who taunts him over trusting the Shredder. Leo says this is what their father would have wanted. Dark Leo defeats him and says he is always leading his family on the wrong path.

Later on Shredder leads the Turtles to a Thin Place, and entrance to the spirit world that will aid in their mastery of the Kuji-Kiri. The crew see odd flying things and Mikey asks what they are. Shredder says they're spirits. He shows them a carving of a bellflower and tells them it represents the five elements which ties into mystic arts and nature. The talisman called Gofu can be constructed by natural elements that can be found in this mystic forest. 

The Turtles gather things like branches, mud and such, mixing them with glowing green plants found in the forest. The talismans they create must be tied to their inner selves. Saki tells them the first cut is Rin based on courage and confrontation. The second cut, Pyo is the soldier and to channel their will against tests of endurance. The Turtles manage to create the talismans.

Shredder says they have done well and in this case they can move onto the fifth cut, Kai. Mikey asks if this is because there are five of them. Saki says there are five of them and five elements. He says it's also a matter of learning this as a group and as individuals. Kai means all and 'with everyone' and will allow them to sense if the others are in danger. 

Shredder says they must train apart before they come back together and starts with Leo since he is the chunin. Shredder will teach Leo the fourth cut, Sha which is 'against a foe' and 'healing'. Leo understands this is to shield his spirit from his dark self while he inhabits him or maybe the darkness will be inhabiting him.

With Mikey, Shredder points out that he seems to learn best through a connection with others, so he will be taught the third cut, To, which is "Harmony" and "Battle". He will learn to create harmony where there is none both in battle and in peace.

Jennika understands music and harmony, so Saki teaches her the seventh cut, Zai, which is "To Appear" and "To Create". She can create falsehoods and expose truths. 

Leo faces his Dark Self who continues to taunt him about trusting the Shredder. Saki tells Leo to remember this isn't about overcoming his foe, but learning to control him. His katana can be used not just as a sharp edge but to control the opponent. As Dark Leo rushes him, Leo is able to grab his arm and toss him to the ground.

With Donatello, Saki sees he learns best with memorization. Don says he knows this cut is Retsu, "Control Time and Space" and "To Move in a Row". Saki is impressed and says that is the seventh cut. Don says that ever since his encounter with Venus and his astral plane experience, mysticism feels so much more clearer to him.

Raphael is taught the eight cut, Jin, "Information to Prepare" and "Reading os Thoughts". With this Raph will learn to connect with the enemy and walk with them. He asks him what he senses and Raph senses that Shredder genuinely wants to help them. 

When would you ever think you'd ever see Shredder of all people give such a warm and trusting smile?

As Leo and Dark Leo continue to fight, the darkness tells him this is the wrong way. Leo knocks him off a cliff saying this is the right way. With Dark Leo stuck in a deep hole, Leo tells him he will stay there until he needs him. 

The Turtles meditate sitting around a large carving of the bellflower with their talisman sitting on each petal. Saki tells them he appreciates them trusting him and working with him. He knows the future looks grim but their father would be proud of them and what they've become. As they meditate Splinter appears as a spirit saying he is indeed proud of them. They have learned the truth about the force that binds them together, the same force that brought Splinter before them today. He says together they are powerful and to draw upon each other even when they're apart. Splinter vanishes and the turtles are overcome with emotion over their fallen father.

The next morning the Turtles head towards the old barn house that was destroyed by the Foot a long time ago. Jennika laments this because at the time she was one of the many Foot Ninja that was part of the attack. It was her first mission. Leo says they've worked on fixing it up the previous summer and have done little by little since then. Jennika says she will help them next time. 

The Turtles return to the Shredder who asks if they are ready. Leo says they are. Shredder creates a portal and tells them the time has come to gather the others. 

My Thoughts- 

Pretty solid read. I always liked seeing heroes go through these spiritual journeys or new training techniques. A lot of it makes sense, especially with the Rat King being capable of resorting to things like channeling Leo's dark self, Jennika's angst about formerly being human as well as her past misdeeds as a Foot Ninja as well as the overall mistrust of the Shredder against them. It will be cool to see this play out in battle both physically and in the astral plane. I like seeing each turtle getting their own cut and how it ties into their personalities and personal beliefs.

The art sorta grew on me and it times it's kinda funny to see Shredder looking like this wise old samurai master guy straight out of old kung fu flicks. 

The Turtles do look pretty odd though and maybe it's the clothing they're wearing but it looks like their shells have shrunk and only cover their backs. Usually the shell covers most of everything but now it looks like they actually do need to wear pants, if you know what I mean. I guess the main thing the art has going against it is just how amazing the art looks like in both Opening Moves and the upcoming Armageddon Game # 1. I know the IDW TMNT has gone through all sorts of different artistic renderings over the years but it seems the tie-in issues look much more 'standard' as opposed to the art in the main book.

The story will continue in Armageddon Game # 1 and I can't wait! It looks like we're going to see those evil turtle clones in action.