Old Comics Shredder

Gadget · 09-24-2008, 11:06 AM

I’ve just been rereading the original tmnt comic with the whole Shredder arc, and I kind of found myself feeling sorry for him. This section in particular struck me-

Meanwhile, in Japan...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.

I find it interesting that the foot are mentioned like that. To me that sounds like Saki was essentially manipulated by the foot, who saw potential in his own talent as a ninja and guided him down a wrong path.
Let me point out, I’m not trying to defend Saki in his later years- as he grew older he should have learned to differentiate between what was right and wrong; and seeking out people to murder in cold vengeance was definitely wrong! But when I think that all this started with him as an impressionable seven year old boy, I can’t help but put some of the blame on the foot itself. They more or less helped him become the evil miscreant which was the Shredder.
Also I think he’s justifiable in his initial hate for Yoshi. I doubt he knew/really understood any of the complications between Nagi, Tang Shen and Yoshi as a seven year old. From his perspective, his elder brother (who he clearly looked up to) has just been murdered by another member of his own clan. That’s distressing for anyone, let alone a kid.
I know that ultimately he chose evil, but I feel like there’s something kind of tragic about his character. Does anyone else feel like this? Am I giving ole Shredhead too much of the sympathy vote here?

Maybe I read to much into it! lol

PS: first post. please be gentle!
PPS: my crappy fanmade vid for old-school TMNT villains here- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlkgnL14IUw

09-24-2008, 11:06 AM	#1
Gadget Thug Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: UK Posts: 77	Old Comics Shredder I’ve just been rereading the original tmnt comic with the whole Shredder arc, and I kind of found myself feeling sorry for him. This section in particular struck me- Meanwhile, in Japan...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. I find it interesting that the foot are mentioned like that. To me that sounds like Saki was essentially manipulated by the foot, who saw potential in his own talent as a ninja and guided him down a wrong path. Let me point out, I’m not trying to defend Saki in his later years- as he grew older he should have learned to differentiate between what was right and wrong; and seeking out people to murder in cold vengeance was definitely wrong! But when I think that all this started with him as an impressionable seven year old boy, I can’t help but put some of the blame on the foot itself. They more or less helped him become the evil miscreant which was the Shredder. Also I think he’s justifiable in his initial hate for Yoshi. I doubt he knew/really understood any of the complications between Nagi, Tang Shen and Yoshi as a seven year old. From his perspective, his elder brother (who he clearly looked up to) has just been murdered by another member of his own clan. That’s distressing for anyone, let alone a kid. I know that ultimately he chose evil, but I feel like there’s something kind of tragic about his character. Does anyone else feel like this? Am I giving ole Shredhead too much of the sympathy vote here? Maybe I read to much into it! lol PS: first post. please be gentle! PPS: my crappy fanmade vid for old-school TMNT villains here- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlkgnL14IUw