Tales of the TMNT 44
 

Midtown is listing this as coming out on Wednesday (March 19th). Here's what the official site says about it:

Sounds like an interesting issue, with it being Foot-central and all.

It read very very quickly.

The twist of who was the real traitor was alright. I mean, these sorts of "twists" never come as absolute surprises, but at least Yoshikiko made an effective red herring. We get a good glimpse into at least one of the factors behind Karai's absolute dedication to honor. Aside from that, not the big Karai origin story I was hoping for.

Personally, I think they could have consolidated the magical ring from last issue with the magical amulet from this issue and made for some nice continuity. But oh well.

I liked "Lessons". It was cute. Very much in character for Raphael- although I can also see Mikey pulling off something like that.

For "The Amulet", I am amazed at one of the biggest cultural differences between Japan and the West. How something that indicates the loss of all hope in the West would instead be restoring your honor in Japan.

A lot of the Foot initiates seemed very power hungry. It is amazing that Karai was able to stay in control and remember what true Ninjitsu was all about.

Great issue, good fun, and a short and sweet little backup by Dan Berger. No, it's not the quintessential Karai origin (but then I don't think it really ever tries to be) many might hope for, but it's something.

One thing... "He forgot the honor that makes a ninja." I get that the Turtles are ninja, and they're honorable, and so is Karai (mostly)... but where, historically in Feudal Japan, were ninja ever regarded as being synonymous with honorable?

In KE's and PL's heads

I think it's more of a Japanese stereotype than anything else; them being obsessed with "honor".

The generalization isn't exactly "true" (like few generalizations are), but if you ever try doing business with a Japanese person you'll discover that they're very proud and sensitive. Try saying things like "are you sure?" or "let me double check your math". They take it *very* personally.

You're right, but the blurb in question isn't talking about Japanese people in general... it's specifically talking about ninja. Ninja -- assassins -- have always historically carried a kind of honorless, unfavorable stigma in Japan.

I correlated it more in that ninja are typically Japanese, thus the whole honor issue, but yeah.

It was an alright issue, but I too found it quite a quick read. The art was great as usual, although the male foot looked very samey, even with the different hairdos! I loved the dragon spirit, the linework on that was awesome! The backup was fun, and I was glad to see an Eric Talbot pinup...

1st story: Not exactly an origin for Karai. More like a look into her past and what happened that made her be an "honorable" ninja. Nice to read a "young" Karai story. I wonder tho if Hikaru's last name was Sulu?? :lol:

2nd story: HAHA! Raphie's so sneaky. :D

Yeah, it was a pretty decent issue. It was nice to see Karai get her moment to shine, as she is a very cool character in my opinion. The best thing about this issue? NO JIM LAWSON.

It's all based around the myth that ninja were soulless killing machines. They weren't. As the student of the last publicly acknowledged actively employed ninja in Japan (Takamatsu Toshitsugu), Soke Hatsumi Masaki would say, ninja did indeed have a code of honour. In fact, if you compare the fact that samurai at times performed very devious and despicable acts, one might say that their honour were more or less on equal standing with the ninja.

But as the great Jedi hero once said, "many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view".

Or as Luke Skywalker responded: "A certain point of view?!?" :lol:
Sorry, Tristan, J/K. This honorable ninja debate reminds me of the Leonardo/Usagi banter in that two parter crossover in season 3 of the new series.

Well I finally made it to the comic shop this week and got this issue!
Wee I thought it was great I loved the art even if I got confused some of the guys looked a little bit to much like each other.
I'm suprised no one mentioned the gore in this issue at all because everyones always crying about there never being any deaths or blood in this series.
When I saw those spirits just blowing through the Foot I was like wow!:o
And I loved Dan's art in the short story in the back it's a shame he cant draw more.
I give this issue an over all B+ I'd like it a bit more if it had a little more to it but it's still not horrible.

I wonder what your teacher would have to say about the ninjas who defiled then assassinated the last Empress of Korea.

Traditionally, ninja did not follow bushido. Of course they were human. But they were (relatively) less honorable by nature of their profession. They were spies and assassins. They work was most always "dirty" in some way. A samurai would stab his opponent in the front, whereas a ninja would stab his opponent in the back. (Because if your opponent is stabbed in the front, you gain the honor while he is dishonored. Vice versa. If you have to get shot by an arrow, better to be shot in the back than in the face, if you want to keep your honor -- Tale of the Heike.)

Though it is funny how samurai very often did not even follow Bushido -- some would even cut down random peasants for the hell of it.

The job of "ninja" wasn't necessarily permanent. A samurai could temporarily act as a ninja, depending on his task. Note "temporarily" because ninja was considered not very "honorable" back in the day. In the modern age, thanks largely to movie popularity, the image of the ninja is being remade to seem less offensive, as well as to carry on the sexy, exotic mystique of the Asian Superspy/killer-for-hire. :)

Its true, the whole concept of honor and assassin do not really mix. Its kind of a joke. Think about it. What is honorable about killing a man in his sleep or stabbing him in the back. Of course do not mix up the art of ninjitsu with the actions of man. Its how you use the art that makes you honorable or dishonorable.

Although the Turtles studied ninjitsu, they used it mearly as a form of protecting / defending themselves and others. Therefore they used ninjitsu honorably. So a ninja could be honorable.

But historically speaking, for the most part, being a ninja was a bad thing and extremely dishonorable. Reason why they wore masks. They were ashamed of what they were doing and didn't want anyone to see who they were.