InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "mom won't let me get one"

deekblues (deekblues) wrote in scans_daily,
@ 2009-03-26 01:06:00

Entry tags:

char: april o'neil, char: ninjara, char: splinter, group: teenage mutant ninja turtles, publisher: archie, title: teenage mutant ninja turtles

More Ninja Turtles + other strangeness
Inspired by stretchdude's posts of various Archie TMNT tidbits, I figured I'd post my favorite story from the run. Here's TMNTA issues 28-30 in condensed form.

This is the first full story arc I had of the Archie book, and it really opened up the floodgates for weird in the TMNTA universe. It was March of 1992, and I was 11 at the time. I found the story fantastic, new, and strange after reading the earlier issues, which often read like a mutant-of-the-month club. Notably, this was the story arc which introduced Ninjara who would remain a major supporting character 'till nearly the end of the book's run.

A lengthy post, but worth the read, I think. After 17 years, it's still one of my favorite comics.

The story begins with Splinter explaining the Japanese creation myth in a nicely-illustrated piece.

Exposition follows: April's been fighting ninjas in a backup feature the past five issues. Her romantic interest, Chu Hsi, local fireman-and-giant-dragon, and mysterious antique dealer Fu Sheng have been kidnapped and whisked away to Hiroshima, Japan.

Meanwhile: Ninjas!

Elsewhere, the Turtles' plane lands:

They proceed to sneak about the sewers of Hiroshima, and stumble into a bit of a scuffle with some local toughs and Chien Khan's ninjas.

One ninja escapes and reports back to his master.

The next issue begins with Splinter relating a tale of his youth in Hiroshima and how his uncle/sensei was blinded by the atomic bomb. A little bit of educational material woven in here, something of a hallmark of the series.

Fighting and cheesy dialogue ensues. Meanwhile, Chien Khan has succeeded in summoning and enthralling the dragon spirit within Chu Hsi.

Back at the peace-shrine battle, Ninjara lets us know she's not a mutant:

The Turtles and Ninjara hitch a ride as the stupefied dragon trudges by on his way to, GASP, a nuclear power plant.

The climactic issue begins with Chien Khan chatting up a demon.

While at the power plant, Don lends a hand:

Boom!

His grim task done, the Warrior Dragon comes to his senses. However, he is somewhat infective against so powerful a being.

Ninjara decides that neither bringing about a new nuclear holocaust in Hiroshima or the destruction of the world are really great ideas after all and joins up with the Turtles.

Back in Chien Khan's hideout, Khan has decided to sacrifice the strong young life of Oyuki Mashimi to grant Noi Tai Dar full entry into this realm. Fu Sheng manages to free himself from his bonds and tackles the masked fiend.

Meanwhile, at the field of battle: Holy Deus-ex-Machina, Batman!

Scuffle ensues. Ninjas defeated.

The end + a few new supporting characters for the cast.

Chien Khan shows up again with backstory in tow in the first April O'Neil three-part mini shortly afterward. I can scan bits of that if anyone's interested. I also have the encyclopedia-style sourcebooks if anyone wants a bit more info on any of the characters. Actually. If it's turtle-related, I probably have it. Requests welcome. Otherwise, I think further Turtles+Ninjara adventures are in order.

(Post a new comment)

	psychop_rex 2009-03-26 02:39 am UTC (link)
	I love how Noi Tai Dar is playing pool with SKULLS when he's summoned up. He's a demon! The laws of physics obey HIM! Oh, and do we ever see the street urchin kid again? I like her. She's got moxie. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	deekblues 2009-03-26 02:48 am UTC (link)
	She's in the following issues and the April mini. She basically becomes April's cameraman/sidekick. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	psychop_rex 2009-03-26 02:53 am UTC (link)
	I'm not surprised, given that they're wearing exactly the same outfit. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lbd_nytetrayn 2009-03-27 01:04 am UTC (link)
	Sort of; the past panel was miscolored that way. Small change, but April's shirt was pink before... and I think she had differently-colored boots/shoes. --LBD "Nytetrayn" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	psychop_rex 2009-03-27 02:58 am UTC (link)
	OK, but they're still wearing PRACTICALLY the same outfit - the jacket/jeans/shoes combo is the same. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	jlroberson 2009-03-26 04:24 am UTC (link)
	Why does so much of this look like Phil Foglio? In particular, pages 18 and 19 of the first part. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	stretchdude 2009-03-26 09:15 am UTC (link)
	The artist's name is Chris Allan. He's the main artist on the series, and is quite awesome. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lbd_nytetrayn 2009-03-27 01:05 am UTC (link)
	He's also done a few issues on Mirage's "Tales of the TMNT" more recently, too. And as far as I know, he's doing The Forever War, too. --LBD "Nytetrayn" (Reply to this) (Parent)

	tahngarth 2009-03-26 04:31 am UTC (link)
	Because nobody else has said it... KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN! (Reply to this)

	thandrak 2009-03-26 07:10 am UTC (link)
	Word, my ninja. (Reply to this)

	stretchdude 2009-03-26 09:16 am UTC (link)
	You have Part 2 of the first April mini and the Sourcebooks? You, sir, are my hero. If I had firstborn children, I would present them to you in exchange for scans. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	deekblues 2009-03-26 05:00 pm UTC (link)
	Can do, boss. And you can keep any and all children. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	mullon 2009-03-26 11:21 am UTC (link)
	I find it hard to believe that Hiroshima would have a nuclear power plant. I find it hard to believe Hiroshima would have a nuclear ANYTHING. April's just not the same without the banana suit. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	stretchdude 2009-03-26 07:06 pm UTC (link)
	I quite agree that the original cartoon April is the hottest of all Aprils, but this version runs a damned close second. (I know a guy who says the new-cartoon April is hotter. Madness.) (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lbd_nytetrayn 2009-03-27 01:06 am UTC (link)
	The new one can be pretty hot. Just don't care for her original outfit. When I was younger, I much preferred this April. Now, well, it's more of a toss-up; I love the Kill Bill/Bruce Lee attire, but at the same time, I dig the long hair and overall more action-y attire here. --LBD "Nytetrayn" (Reply to this) (Parent)

	gwalla.livejournal.com 2009-03-26 12:36 pm UTC (link)
	Why's there a Chinese warlord in Japan? (Reply to this) (Thread)

	deekblues 2009-03-26 04:36 pm UTC (link)
	They actually go into that in the April O'Neil miniseries. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	thehefner.livejournal.com 2009-03-26 02:36 pm UTC (link)
	Man, I loved this series, and wish it could be collected in TPB. Even if it's totally cheesier than I recalled. Remember Null? And... and that scruffy sorta-not-really-bad guy of his who killed Man-Ray's little fish friend? Good times! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	lbd_nytetrayn 2009-03-27 01:10 am UTC (link)
	Hey dude, guess what. Null, yeah. And I unfortunately forget the name of the guy you're referring to, but I totally remember him-- he was pretty cool in the end. Oh wait, here it is-- Kid Terra. Cool name, kinda. --LBD "Nytetrayn" (Reply to this) (Parent)

	lonewolf23k 2009-03-26 04:33 pm UTC (link)
	Ah, Ninjara... the face that launched a thousand furries... Myself included. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	lbd_nytetrayn 2009-03-27 01:13 am UTC (link)
	Can't rightfully call myself a furry, but if I was, she'd be near/at the top of my list. All the same, she's a favorite character of mine, enough to inspire one of my own characters. --LBD "Nytetrayn" (Reply to this) (Parent)

	silverzeo 2009-03-26 07:16 pm UTC (link)
	There should be more Master Splinter fights! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	lbd_nytetrayn 2009-03-27 01:14 am UTC (link)
	Around this period, I do believe they wanted to make Splinter more active, so... :) --LBD "Nytetrayn" (Reply to this) (Parent)

	lbd_nytetrayn 2009-03-27 01:15 am UTC (link)
	Thanks for posting this, as it was one of my favorite arcs. --LBD "Nytetrayn" (Reply to this)

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