The mystery of the Rat King

thesaintofkillers · 03-27-2006, 12:09 PM

I've yet to see his first appearance in the new show (missed the episode, but i'll change that very soon), but i've read tales Of the tmnt vol. 1 issue 4 and the city at war storyline and I was wondering about him.

When I was younger, his character in the old show and the video games always fascinated me, even if I didn't know much about him.

I read several years ago City at war, and I had no idea what to think of him anymore. I mean, he was a spectre, or something. He seemed cool as hell, though, cooler than ever. Heck, he was instructing Splinter, the mother of all instructor. He was mysterious, and rejected his humanity. But at the end, we learn he was dead the whole time, or at least, that's what it seemed like.

Yesterday, I finally got my hand on tales vol. 1 issue 4. (and I was glad to see art from the old Jim Lawson of those early days I used to love).

Anyway, I was disappointed, of course. Rat King is a loser in that comic. I mean, he's just a guy dressing like a bum, with control over nothing. And at the end he falls to his dead, and gets eaten by rats (which it would seem he never controled).

That would have explained his skeleton in city at war. And why he was dead (but not how he became a cool spectre, and knew everything he knew, and became so wise).

But then, the last page has him alive, and with his rat. Which means he might not have died. Or maybe he broke his leg, and would die alone there afterward ? Not sure (then again, that would explain once again how he became a spectre).

OR he never died. He learned from his battle with the turtles that he was a loser, and that his existence was rather sad. He went on to spy on the turtle (since he knew about splinter in city at war), and put the skeleton of someone else in the pit Splinter fell.

Or I missed somewhere another comics which featured him. Are these two comics (forget about the archie comics, since they're not the same version of course) the only times he appeared in the turtles timeline ?

(btw, the very first time we see him in the comics, this pic below, he looks oh so awesome, a monster disguised in human form. That's the Rat King I like)

Aztec General · 03-27-2006, 02:19 PM

I've always felt that Eastman and Laird wanted his status to be kind of ambigous.

My original theory was that Rat King allows Splinter to eat HIM as a source of nutrients during "City At War". Thus he is symbolic eating "rats", by eating the Rat King. Thus only his skeleton remains.

But the conventional theory is that the ghost of the Rat King visits Splinter in "City At War" and guides him to survival.

You should also note that Rat King appears in Vol. 4 #10 just as Splinter dies. Perhaps he is Splinter's "Guardian Angel"? Or perhaps he cursed him? It's not known, and I believe that is the way Laird wants him to be. Completly enigmatic. It works IMHO because I think he's one of the creepiest characters in comics (hence my user ID).

*DrSpengler* · 03-27-2006, 08:07 PM

Those pencils are by Lawson? DAMN. Why can't he draw like THAT anymore!?

thesaintofkillers · 03-27-2006, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrSpengler

Those pencils are by Lawson? DAMN. Why can't he draw like THAT anymore!?

Well, he hasn't change all that much. He's just as good, imo. The only thing I find that REALLY changed is his human designs. They are, um, very downgrade ?

Hey, I just realised, Lawson INVENTED the Rat King. He truly is one of the most important creator behind the turtles.

Aztec General · 03-28-2006, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thesaintofkillers

Well, he hasn't change all that much. He's just as good, imo. The only thing I find that REALLY changed is his human designs. They are, um, very downgrade ?

Hey, I just realised, Lawson INVENTED the Rat King. He truly is one of the most important creator behind the turtles.

He's also the only one to ever draw him in the Mirage comics. He was the penciler in Tales Vol. 1 #4, TMNT Vol. 1 #55-59, and TMNT Vol. 4 #10. Rat King is all Lawson in the Mirage universe.

thesaintofkillers · 03-28-2006, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rat King

He's also the only one to ever draw him in the Mirage comics. He was the penciler in Tales Vol. 1 #4, TMNT Vol. 1 #55-59, and TMNT Vol. 4 #10. Rat King is all Lawson in the Mirage universe.

Wah, never realised that before. Hail to the king, then.

03-27-2006, 02:19 PM	#2
Aztec General Mad Scientist Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,437	I've always felt that Eastman and Laird wanted his status to be kind of ambigous. My original theory was that Rat King allows Splinter to eat HIM as a source of nutrients during "City At War". Thus he is symbolic eating "rats", by eating the Rat King. Thus only his skeleton remains. But the conventional theory is that the ghost of the Rat King visits Splinter in "City At War" and guides him to survival. You should also note that Rat King appears in Vol. 4 #10 just as Splinter dies. Perhaps he is Splinter's "Guardian Angel"? Or perhaps he cursed him? It's not known, and I believe that is the way Laird wants him to be. Completly enigmatic. It works IMHO because I think he's one of the creepiest characters in comics (hence my user ID). __________________

03-27-2006, 12:09 PM	#1
thesaintofkillers Mouser Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 6	The mystery of the Rat King I've yet to see his first appearance in the new show (missed the episode, but i'll change that very soon), but i've read tales Of the tmnt vol. 1 issue 4 and the city at war storyline and I was wondering about him. When I was younger, his character in the old show and the video games always fascinated me, even if I didn't know much about him. I read several years ago City at war, and I had no idea what to think of him anymore. I mean, he was a spectre, or something. He seemed cool as hell, though, cooler than ever. Heck, he was instructing Splinter, the mother of all instructor. He was mysterious, and rejected his humanity. But at the end, we learn he was dead the whole time, or at least, that's what it seemed like. Yesterday, I finally got my hand on tales vol. 1 issue 4. (and I was glad to see art from the old Jim Lawson of those early days I used to love). Anyway, I was disappointed, of course. Rat King is a loser in that comic. I mean, he's just a guy dressing like a bum, with control over nothing. And at the end he falls to his dead, and gets eaten by rats (which it would seem he never controled). That would have explained his skeleton in city at war. And why he was dead (but not how he became a cool spectre, and knew everything he knew, and became so wise). But then, the last page has him alive, and with his rat. Which means he might not have died. Or maybe he broke his leg, and would die alone there afterward ? Not sure (then again, that would explain once again how he became a spectre). OR he never died. He learned from his battle with the turtles that he was a loser, and that his existence was rather sad. He went on to spy on the turtle (since he knew about splinter in city at war), and put the skeleton of someone else in the pit Splinter fell. Or I missed somewhere another comics which featured him. Are these two comics (forget about the archie comics, since they're not the same version of course) the only times he appeared in the turtles timeline ? (btw, the very first time we see him in the comics, this pic below, he looks oh so awesome, a monster disguised in human form. That's the Rat King I like)

03-27-2006, 08:07 PM	#3
DrSpengler Foot Elite Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 4,842	Those pencils are by Lawson? DAMN. Why can't he draw like THAT anymore!?