Karai's Truce

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Just how well does the Foot Clan abide by its truce with the Turtles? It seems to me that those pesky ninjas tend to abide by the truce only when the TMNT have other enemies to worry about. (That, of course, being due to the writers.)

I haven’t read a whole lot of Tales yet, but it seems to me that the Foot Clan is still waging war against the TMNT in some of those issues. Do the issues fall into the time period between Shredder’s deaths and the City War?

The issues I'm specifically thinking of are Tales #2 “Seeds of Destruction”, #11 “The Quick and the Dead”, #22 “Change of Power”, #25 “Kung-Fu Theatre”, and #33 “The Bait.”

If anyone could help clear this up for me, I’d be grateful.

[The Shelf]

Well, I'm no expert on City At War-related stuff, but aren't there still Foot running around that aren't with Karai? I mean, obviously this probably isn't the case by the time Volume 4 starts since most of the Foot are getting offed by the strange Aztec warriors, but the Foot in issues like Tales #5 lead me to believe that there are still rogue Foot running around and maybe even entire rogue factions. I'm sure Karai and those Foot who are loyal to her have stayed true to their truce with the turtles, but there are even issues in Volume 4 that make you realize just how shaky that truce has always been.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

That does make sense. But wasn't the whole point of City at War that Karai was reuniting the Foot Clan factions?

So, what various factions do we have still running around? During Tales, I mean?

[TristanHuwJones]

This is my own theory on it, and the idea I put forward in Tales 36: even though Karai tried to reform the Foot, various factions still loyal to Oroku Saki went into hiding until the time was right to strike back and reclaim the 'true' Shredder's honour. So while Karai may have been successful in reforming the majority of the Foot Clan in NYC, there would undoubetdly be those that refused to fall in line.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Hey Tristan,

Was hoping you'd give us your opinion, seeing how you wrote Tales #36. And that does definitely explain it.

So, as for factions, there are:

- The lady at Goseico from #22 "Change of Power"
- Croaker and his pals from #34 "Splinter Cell"
- The three sorcerors from #11 "The Quick and the Dead"
- Lin and company from #36 "To Serve and Protect"

Are there any others?

[TristanHuwJones]

Not that I'm aware of at the moment, but that's not saying that there aren't (I just don't know what the others are planning!). And just for the record, Lin's just a soldier in her particular group, a high ranking one, but still just a soldier

[DrSpengler]

In regards to the "only loyal to Oroku Saki" subfaction of the Foot, a small group of them showed up recently in Tales, siding with Shark Shredder (this story took place post City at War, which would mean during the truce). They kidnapped Shadow as a means to get even with the TMNT, a definate breach of the truce.

They never went into how these Foot came to join up with Shark Shredder, though.

[ZariusTwo]

Originally Posted by TristanHuwJones

This is my own theory on it, and the idea I put forward in Tales 36: even though Karai tried to reform the Foot, various factions still loyal to Oroku Saki went into hiding until the time was right to strike back and reclaim the 'true' Shredder's honour. So while Karai may have been successful in reforming the majority of the Foot Clan in NYC, there would undoubetdly be those that refused to fall in line.

Perhaps that would go to great lengths to explain her interest in the "book" during Pete's volume four run. If she can't force the Foot to stop, she'll control them through magic.

[TristanHuwJones]

I'd never considered that -- interesting theory! Though it read to me as though Karai wasn't herself, as if someone may be pulling her strings... but I could be very wrong (just another reason I wish vol.4 would continue )

[Andrew NDB]

Sure Karai's truce with the TMNT was supposed to have lasted from Vol. 1 to Vol. 4... but how interesting would that be without a few exceptions along the way?

It was like Batman signing a restraining order against his rogue's gallery.

[Venom]

What I find interesting is how the Foot is still around in the mid-21st century Japan (can't wait for that issue of Tales to come out)!

I think the Turtles and Karai's truce stands...Karai is very much about honor and the "old ways" when a person's word really meant something. I've always thought the Turtles realize the Foot splintered after Saki's death; they may not know each faction by looking at them, but they know Karai's group because they do not bother them.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Michelangelo83

What I find interesting is how the Foot is still around in the mid-21st century Japan

Why? The Foot had been around hundreds of years prior to the 1980s-90s.

I think the Turtles and Karai's truce stands...Karai is very much about honor and the "old ways" when a person's word really meant something.

I agree. For better or worse, I have little doubt she'd keep up her end of the bargain to the best of her knowledge/ability. There's really no good reason to suddenly change her mind and send her minions after four mutant turtles in the grand scheme of Foot operations.

I've always thought the Turtles realize the Foot splintered after Saki's death; they may not know each faction by looking at them, but they know Karai's group because they do not bother them.

Well, "Karai's Group" would pretty much represent the entirety of the "main" Foot Clan after CAW. Would there maybe be a couple of tiny splinter factions here and there? Maybe, but they'd be just that.