IDW Karai the best version of Karai?
 

Now, this may be a matter of personal opinion, but after looking over all of the different versions of the character(mirage, IDW, nick), I'm mostly convinced that the IDW version of the TMNT character Karai might be the best (or at least the most well rounded) version of the character as presented so far.

What makes me say this? Well, let's look at what she's done; Karai was born into an Oroku family that was basically Yakuza with an army of layers. The Foot clan basically didn't exist anymore, and probably hadn't since the dawn of the Edo. Karai rebuilt the entire Foot from scratch using her family's wealth and resources. So basically, this Karai created the modern foot clan, and was doing a good job of running it until venerable ancestor shredder came along and took over.

Even reduced to a second in command, Karai showed resourcefulness and cunning, while great grandpa Saki showed only incompetence. While Saki was turning every ally and servant against him (Burning down Alopex's old home, etc.) Karai not only retrieved a new supply of mutagen, but also made two unstoppable powerhouses for the clan (Bebop and Rocksteady), that turned the tide during cityfall. From the way the comic looks, Shredder is an anger-driven, power hungry nitwit being manipulated by Kitsune, while most of the clan's success and victories are coming from Karai. His only advantage is he has been seen to be able to defeat her in hand-to-hand combat.

And if the upcoming comics are any indication, I don't think she's going to suddenly 'turn good' when this is all over, I think there will only be a truce with the turtles, at best. This Karai believes in honor, but doesn't spend every five minutes ranting about it.

Unlike in Mirage, where Karai was already in charge, we got to see this Karai rise to her position, and see how she grew into the ninja she is now. Unlike 4kids, she's not shredder's loyal little daughter who follows him blindly, despite supposedly having a conscience. And unlike nick, she's not Yoshi's daughter, raised bad, and turned good. Again, this is just my opinion on the matter, but I think this may be the most fleshed out version of the character we've seen yet!

Well she doesn't turn into a snake just so the writers can extend a plotline they have no idea how to conclude, nor does she say or do nothing throughout the entire story, so she at least she wins the contest of who's the best recent Karai.

As for best Karai of all time, maybe she's the best written Karai of all time but I'd say that's up for debate.

Its way too early to say this. Ask a few years from now if Shredder is defeated and Karai takes over the Foot Clan entirely.

I like her IDW design best, but I agree that it's too soon to make the overall call.

To me, she's very heavily based on the 2003 version. I can't see much of a difference, really.

And she acomplished all that by learning Ninjitsu from books...

I think the Mirage version has been the best, if only because all subsequent versions have been essentially the same interpretation of the character (from the outset). Nick had an interesting twist with the Yoshi's daughter angle, but I think they are more interested in the mutant snake plotline right now.

The IDW Karai at least has potential to distinguish herself as unique but it hasn't happened yet.

If she remains cold & calculated, a character burning with rage who stands aside as it festers, then I will deem her the best. I'm tired of the whole evil to good thing with her. Keep her a vengeful hardass who overthrows her own bloodline in a quest for dominance.

Have her be the one to finally kill Shredder in this "oh look she really is a good guy" moment, then have her become twice the villain he was.

That would be the illest move ever.

Yeah I've been waiting for IDW Karai to murder the hell out of Shredder since like her first appearance, I'll be a bit let down if she doesn't get to do it.

While we're on the subject, how surprising was it that Konami decided to go with Karai as the Big Boss in both of their 16-bit TMNT Tournament Fighters games? She had only been introduced in the Mirage comics about a year or so prior and yet Konami just assumed all the kids who bought the games wouldn't have needed any prior explanation!

Konami feels like they were a bunch of America nerds back then. Your signature is a good example, as that Splinter in the NES game is Mirage as hell. I imagine they got some comics sent over when they got the license deal, maybe they kept up with them?

I'm fairly convinced they had either someone in the USA that would send them stuff or some kind of specialty video store near the office because...well just look at stuff like Metal Gear. And that Silent Hill / Kindergarten Cop business. At the very least, someone was hooking them up with Arnold tapes.

i agree with this. i like the IDW design the best by far and character wise, it's looking interesting with plenty of growth yet to come.

My reason for saying she's the best presentation of Karai is we actually get to see her develop into the leader of the foot, and the creator of the foot clan.
And she didn't learn it all from books- it's implied in the Karai micro that Tatsu/Toshiro taught her- he seems to be an old and loyal retainer of the Oroku family,and probably taught her what the books couldn't.

Hideo Kojima is a big fan of the 80's American Movies.

I don't think Nick Karai is the best Karai, but pre-snake, she was definitely the best part of that show. That said, when IDW is either all said and done, or way down the line, that version will probably be the best. As of now, I think I like the 2K3 version best.

Agreed with people upstream on Karai remaining ruthless and calculating. If we can't ever have a revamping of Pimiko, at least let Karai be as ruthless and driven to lead the Foot as she was.

No Foot/Turtle alliance until Raph takes the mantle. :tshifty:

Okay, Volume 3 wishlist rant over. I'll show myself to the door... :tlol:

Best? I don't know. I really like the role she plays in Mirage, even if she's never greatly fleshed out as a character. She puts in a lot of work thematically and in terms of our understanding of the series' world. And for as little time as we spend with her, we do get a sense of who she is.

I certainly like IDW's Karai, though. She's a great villain. I suppose my opinion hinges mostly on what her future holds. Though she's also really vile and I wouldn't shed any tears were she to be killed. I don't really feel like she has an arc that demands it be completed.

I guess IDW Karai has yet to get any "...what?" moments like Mirage Karai does though. She has yet to (maybe) bang Casey or kidnap a baby because she was bored and nostalgic or whatever.

I dig the Karai in the 2007 CGI movie a lot!

Talk soon...

Tom W.

Me too. Her accent is amazing.

Her voice actress totally killed the role, that's for sure, but as is now tradition with a theatrical Karai's, she was criminally underused.

SWEET; always found 2007 Karai to be the best version on screen! Best Costume, best voice actor (these days, whenever I read the comic, it's this voice that I find suits it the best)!

I gotta agree that IDW Karai is the best. For me it used to be Nick Karai, but then they just went and crapped all over her. She turns good, which was a great point, then bam! Mutant and then back under Shredder's control.

Least IDW Karai is consistent. Sure she may not change from evil, but at least she doesn't flip flop pointlessly all over the place in role and species.

Plus I love every aspect of her, she's great. :3

Ziyi Zhang or Zhang Ziyi did very good playing Karai.