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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2011) #5.5
Подростки мутанты ниндзя черепашки: Тайная история клана Фут
Демоны, ниндзя и борьба за власть в феодальной Японии — чем не тема для нового комикса о Черепашках-Ниндзя? Матеус Сантолоко и Эрик Бёрнэм впервые раскрывают тайны древнего клана Фут и его таинственного основателя. Этот урок истории Черепашкам-Ниндзя запомнится надолго!
Книга расскажет вам тайну возникновения самого клана Фут, и его основателя, одного из злейших врагов Черепашек-ниндзя — Шреддера.
Книга расскажет вам тайну возникновения самого клана Фут, и его основателя, одного из злейших врагов Черепашек-ниндзя — Шреддера.
112 pages, Paperback
First published June 12, 2013
16 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
September 22, 2024
(A-) 83% | Very Good
Notes: Action-packed, it deals in fact and flashback explanations, off-the-chart resplendent art, and grandiose illuminations.
Notes: Action-packed, it deals in fact and flashback explanations, off-the-chart resplendent art, and grandiose illuminations.
January 21, 2021
Flashes back between now and feudal Japan times as we see the history of the Foot Clan unfold. In the now segments, a professor has uncovered some lost history of the Foot Clan and Shredder wants him to work for the clan to find the kitsune. Leads directly into City Fall. Mateus Santolouco's art is fantastic. Hopefully going forward the art on the main TMNT book will be just as good.
July 13, 2021
One of the best TMNT books out there, a simple yet engaging origin story of Shredder and the Foot Clan, a quick read that goes back and forth between feudal Japan and the streets of New York, with a lot of beautifully illustrated action by Mateus Santolouco.
April 20, 2020
A university professor claims to have discovered hidden secrets about The Foot Clan, and that makes him a target for the Shredder! The Turtles and their allies race against The Foot to save the Prof, but it's the true story behind the formation of their enemy's army that will send chills down your spine and reverberate through the main Turtles series.
With two stories told in tandem, Secret History is a dense little book. In four issues, we get further expansion on The Foot, as well as some family history for the Oroku and the Hoshi clans. There's some nice continuity between the micro series one-shots as well. If there's one thing I cannot fault the TMNT series and its side-stories for, it's working well together to make sure nothing's contradictory, and nothing's a throwaway either. Even this series, which ends just before City Fall begins, is picked up immediately over in that book. Plus the present day storyline has a few good twists and turns in it, including a genuinely surprising moment near the end where a character swaps sides.
I've bemoaned the art a lot on IDW's Turtles books. But now? Now I can say a Turtles book looks fucking gorgeous. Matteus Santolouco's artwork is phenomenal, super-detailed and brilliantly coloured as well. I especially love the little touches, like the different bandana shapes for each Turtle. This is the best the Turtles have ever looked, and I'm glad he's going over to the main series for a while too.
SHOTFC is a) a mouthful to type each time, hence the acronym, and b) pretty damn good. The story's tight and meaningful, and the artwork's amazing. More Turtles like this, please!
With two stories told in tandem, Secret History is a dense little book. In four issues, we get further expansion on The Foot, as well as some family history for the Oroku and the Hoshi clans. There's some nice continuity between the micro series one-shots as well. If there's one thing I cannot fault the TMNT series and its side-stories for, it's working well together to make sure nothing's contradictory, and nothing's a throwaway either. Even this series, which ends just before City Fall begins, is picked up immediately over in that book. Plus the present day storyline has a few good twists and turns in it, including a genuinely surprising moment near the end where a character swaps sides.
I've bemoaned the art a lot on IDW's Turtles books. But now? Now I can say a Turtles book looks fucking gorgeous. Matteus Santolouco's artwork is phenomenal, super-detailed and brilliantly coloured as well. I especially love the little touches, like the different bandana shapes for each Turtle. This is the best the Turtles have ever looked, and I'm glad he's going over to the main series for a while too.
SHOTFC is a) a mouthful to type each time, hence the acronym, and b) pretty damn good. The story's tight and meaningful, and the artwork's amazing. More Turtles like this, please!
June 16, 2016
In a life steeped in and obsessed with pop culture fantasy, sci-fi, and superheroes, there has been one franchise, perhaps more than any other, that has given me just constant pure joy and entertainment. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were perhaps my first big obsession—predating even Batman. Between the original cartoon and movie, which I watched so often I was able to perform the entire movie from memory and act out every scene as it played, I couldn’t get enough. I loved it all. Everything. Including their concert.
So when IDW announced a new series I was excited. A company with a solid track record picking up one of my favorite properties with original creator Kevin Eastman as part of the package? Yes please. The turtles franchise had been in limbo for a while. While I enjoyed the 2003 4Kids Entertainment series a great deal for most of its run, until it sent the turtles into the future and slashed the animation budget significantly, the turtles had fallen far out of the popular consciousness. The cartoon had ended and Mirage Studios, who owned the turtles, had essentially stopped publishing anything. Not that the comic they had been releasing was even particularly good for the last decade or so. Volume 4 of the Mirage turtles comic was a pale shadow of what the franchise had been and the stories that were capable of being told with these characters. With stiff, uninteresting art and floundering storytelling, the Turtles were all-but-dead.
Peter Laird, co-creator and soul rights-owner of the series sold Mirage and all licensing rights to Nickelodeon. This was a beautiful thing when it was announced. With Laird’s growing disinterest in creating new stories (or at least a lack of ideas) and no prospects, a new creative and marketing force behind this franchise was exactly what was needed.
IDW’s Ninja Turtles series has been a consistent heavy hitter on the comic stands every month since it premiered in 2011. It has been a joy to get new stories of such a high calibre with some of my very favorite characters. I think it’s safe to say the Turtles have never been better. Yes, the original comic was inventive and creative and so bizarre and unprecedented. But after the first dozen issues, the series became an uneven anthology series with only two significant stories that were particularly compelling. The stories Return to New York and City at War showcased Eastman and Laird and their collaborators at the best of their storytelling and artistic abilities. They had an epic scope, dramatic action, and a sense of heart, drama, and character. But these are just two stories many years apart within the span of a decade or so.
TMNT is a blockbuster every month. Even better, it streamlines, refocuses, and synthesizes the disparate elements of the turtles franchise into a genre-transcending book that is wildly unpredictable and pure unadulterated fun. The turtles and all the other characters are so well defined in a way that I think no other version of this franchise has managed. The Shredder is intimidating, calculating, and dangerous.
The series weaves its way through not only the main title, but also the TMNT staple “Microseries” of character one-shots and miniseries. No book or storyline in the series so far captures the essence of IDW Turtles so succinctly and clearly as Mateus Santolouco and Erik Burnham’s Secret History of the Foot Clan.
Criss-crossing between feudal Japan and present day NYC, Secret History has an epic scope and ambition that the series had not, up to this point, attempted. All of the best elements of the IDW turtles are present. Great characters, fantastic art, and action that won’t quit. One of the things that has really helped this iteration of the turtles is that it has felt much more rooted in Japanese culture. Whether it is historically or culturally accurate is a different question, but at least it feels more authentic. Eastman and Laird early on were not trying to be historians or cultural ambassadors. They were just riffing on what was hot in comics at the time.
But with a new generation of creators steeped in anime and manga and yes—even the Ninja Turtles—comes a series that is more interested in exploring the “Ninja” aspect in a more authentic way. And so half this miniseries takes place in the era of samurai and ninja. It is replete with intrigue and backstabbing, jealousy and hatred. Power and corruption. Secret History of the Foot Clan plays out like a feature length film.
Santolouco’s art bursts off the page in widescreen action scenes and visual storytelling so tight that you forget you’re reading a comic. You feel like you’ve stepped into this crazy universe. Not all comic artists are capable of staging an action scene where you are able to complete the image or follow what is going on naturally. But with Santolouco’s crisp lines and excellent use of the page you never get lost. What he and letterer Shawn Lee do with the sound effects fit in so naturally with the art as to go almost unnoticed. Which is a good thing. Like a great score in a film, these elements are ones that you aren’t supposed to notice, but rather feel. And Joao Vieira’s colors are beautiful. The contrasts of lights and darks set the mood beautifully, and the shift in palette between past and present ensures the reader is never confused. The colors are vibrant and clear.
One thing I love about Santolouco’s art is the distinctiveness of every character, especially how different each of the turtles look. We have for years been so used to a particular design sensibility for these characters. We have either the Eastman, Dooney and Lawson blocky, angular and muscular turtles, or the more Peter Laird, cartoon versions that are rounder and softer. Santolouco in particular, differentiates the turtles and reimagines them in ways that are completely unlike previous takes on the characters. This is more than just a design quirk, it allows this version of the franchise to stand on its own as something unique. Santolouco imbues each of the turtles with body-types that suit their personalities and sets them apart from one another in ways other than just bandana color. He also manages to thread the needle between making the characters look a little more turtle-ish while still respecting the iconic look we are more accustomed to—and without making them look off putting. Most importantly, they really look like teenagers. Something many artists fail to incorporate into their designs. They aren’t hulking super heroes. They’re lithe, young, martial artists.
This miniseries, with story by Santolouco and script work from he and Burnham, ups the stakes for the entire turtles franchise. There are a lot of fun elements and easter eggs that mine past versions of these characters but never at the expense of the story. Eastman and Laird had no idea the iconic characters they created in that original first issue 30 years ago. When they killed off Shredder at the end of their very first story, they couldn’t have known he would go on to become one of the all-time great pop culture villain. At the end of Secret History, the connections between the turtles and their arch nemesis feel more dramatic and important than they have in any other version of the franchise. The personal histories between all of these characters unfold in unexpected ways in the IDW series, and that dramatic tension is only enhanced during this story.
The mix of sci-fi and fantasy has always been an odd quirk in the turtles universe, but IDW’s version entangles it all in a charming, dramatic fashion that works in a way it never quite has before. And this miniseries makes it even more believable and rooted in the characters. If you are interested in the Turtles but are intimidated by jumping into a new series, check out Secret History of the Foot Clan. It’s a great introduction to these versions of the characters and their universe. All of the major characters have a role to play and you get a feel for how this world works and what sets it apart from other versions. And if you like it, you’ll be chomping at the bit for more. It is perhaps the strongest story that IDW has put out in a very strong franchise. If you’re like me and hate jumping into a series in the middle, then I highly recommend checking out the series from the very beginning. It’s all good.
So when IDW announced a new series I was excited. A company with a solid track record picking up one of my favorite properties with original creator Kevin Eastman as part of the package? Yes please. The turtles franchise had been in limbo for a while. While I enjoyed the 2003 4Kids Entertainment series a great deal for most of its run, until it sent the turtles into the future and slashed the animation budget significantly, the turtles had fallen far out of the popular consciousness. The cartoon had ended and Mirage Studios, who owned the turtles, had essentially stopped publishing anything. Not that the comic they had been releasing was even particularly good for the last decade or so. Volume 4 of the Mirage turtles comic was a pale shadow of what the franchise had been and the stories that were capable of being told with these characters. With stiff, uninteresting art and floundering storytelling, the Turtles were all-but-dead.
Peter Laird, co-creator and soul rights-owner of the series sold Mirage and all licensing rights to Nickelodeon. This was a beautiful thing when it was announced. With Laird’s growing disinterest in creating new stories (or at least a lack of ideas) and no prospects, a new creative and marketing force behind this franchise was exactly what was needed.
IDW’s Ninja Turtles series has been a consistent heavy hitter on the comic stands every month since it premiered in 2011. It has been a joy to get new stories of such a high calibre with some of my very favorite characters. I think it’s safe to say the Turtles have never been better. Yes, the original comic was inventive and creative and so bizarre and unprecedented. But after the first dozen issues, the series became an uneven anthology series with only two significant stories that were particularly compelling. The stories Return to New York and City at War showcased Eastman and Laird and their collaborators at the best of their storytelling and artistic abilities. They had an epic scope, dramatic action, and a sense of heart, drama, and character. But these are just two stories many years apart within the span of a decade or so.
TMNT is a blockbuster every month. Even better, it streamlines, refocuses, and synthesizes the disparate elements of the turtles franchise into a genre-transcending book that is wildly unpredictable and pure unadulterated fun. The turtles and all the other characters are so well defined in a way that I think no other version of this franchise has managed. The Shredder is intimidating, calculating, and dangerous.
The series weaves its way through not only the main title, but also the TMNT staple “Microseries” of character one-shots and miniseries. No book or storyline in the series so far captures the essence of IDW Turtles so succinctly and clearly as Mateus Santolouco and Erik Burnham’s Secret History of the Foot Clan.
Criss-crossing between feudal Japan and present day NYC, Secret History has an epic scope and ambition that the series had not, up to this point, attempted. All of the best elements of the IDW turtles are present. Great characters, fantastic art, and action that won’t quit. One of the things that has really helped this iteration of the turtles is that it has felt much more rooted in Japanese culture. Whether it is historically or culturally accurate is a different question, but at least it feels more authentic. Eastman and Laird early on were not trying to be historians or cultural ambassadors. They were just riffing on what was hot in comics at the time.
But with a new generation of creators steeped in anime and manga and yes—even the Ninja Turtles—comes a series that is more interested in exploring the “Ninja” aspect in a more authentic way. And so half this miniseries takes place in the era of samurai and ninja. It is replete with intrigue and backstabbing, jealousy and hatred. Power and corruption. Secret History of the Foot Clan plays out like a feature length film.
Santolouco’s art bursts off the page in widescreen action scenes and visual storytelling so tight that you forget you’re reading a comic. You feel like you’ve stepped into this crazy universe. Not all comic artists are capable of staging an action scene where you are able to complete the image or follow what is going on naturally. But with Santolouco’s crisp lines and excellent use of the page you never get lost. What he and letterer Shawn Lee do with the sound effects fit in so naturally with the art as to go almost unnoticed. Which is a good thing. Like a great score in a film, these elements are ones that you aren’t supposed to notice, but rather feel. And Joao Vieira’s colors are beautiful. The contrasts of lights and darks set the mood beautifully, and the shift in palette between past and present ensures the reader is never confused. The colors are vibrant and clear.
One thing I love about Santolouco’s art is the distinctiveness of every character, especially how different each of the turtles look. We have for years been so used to a particular design sensibility for these characters. We have either the Eastman, Dooney and Lawson blocky, angular and muscular turtles, or the more Peter Laird, cartoon versions that are rounder and softer. Santolouco in particular, differentiates the turtles and reimagines them in ways that are completely unlike previous takes on the characters. This is more than just a design quirk, it allows this version of the franchise to stand on its own as something unique. Santolouco imbues each of the turtles with body-types that suit their personalities and sets them apart from one another in ways other than just bandana color. He also manages to thread the needle between making the characters look a little more turtle-ish while still respecting the iconic look we are more accustomed to—and without making them look off putting. Most importantly, they really look like teenagers. Something many artists fail to incorporate into their designs. They aren’t hulking super heroes. They’re lithe, young, martial artists.
This miniseries, with story by Santolouco and script work from he and Burnham, ups the stakes for the entire turtles franchise. There are a lot of fun elements and easter eggs that mine past versions of these characters but never at the expense of the story. Eastman and Laird had no idea the iconic characters they created in that original first issue 30 years ago. When they killed off Shredder at the end of their very first story, they couldn’t have known he would go on to become one of the all-time great pop culture villain. At the end of Secret History, the connections between the turtles and their arch nemesis feel more dramatic and important than they have in any other version of the franchise. The personal histories between all of these characters unfold in unexpected ways in the IDW series, and that dramatic tension is only enhanced during this story.
The mix of sci-fi and fantasy has always been an odd quirk in the turtles universe, but IDW’s version entangles it all in a charming, dramatic fashion that works in a way it never quite has before. And this miniseries makes it even more believable and rooted in the characters. If you are interested in the Turtles but are intimidated by jumping into a new series, check out Secret History of the Foot Clan. It’s a great introduction to these versions of the characters and their universe. All of the major characters have a role to play and you get a feel for how this world works and what sets it apart from other versions. And if you like it, you’ll be chomping at the bit for more. It is perhaps the strongest story that IDW has put out in a very strong franchise. If you’re like me and hate jumping into a series in the middle, then I highly recommend checking out the series from the very beginning. It’s all good.
August 16, 2020
In a life steeped in and obsessed with pop culture fantasy, sci-fi, and superheroes, there has been one franchise, perhaps more than any other, that has given me just constant pure joy and entertainment. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were perhaps my first big obsession—predating even Batman. Between the original cartoon and movie, which I watched so often I was able to perform the entire movie from memory and act out every scene as it played, I couldn’t get enough. I loved it all. Everything. Including their concert.
So when IDW announced a new series I was excited. A company with a solid track record picking up one of my favorite properties with original creator Kevin Eastman as part of the package? Yes please. The turtles franchise had been in limbo for a while. While I enjoyed the 2003 4Kids Entertainment series a great deal for most of its run, until it sent the turtles into the future and slashed the animation budget significantly, the turtles had fallen far out of the popular consciousness. The cartoon had ended and Mirage Studios, who owned the turtles, had essentially stopped publishing anything. Not that the comic they had been releasing was even particularly good for the last decade or so. Volume 4 of the Mirage turtles comic was a pale shadow of what the franchise had been and the stories that were capable of being told with these characters. With stiff, uninteresting art and floundering storytelling, the Turtles were all-but-dead.
Peter Laird, co-creator and soul rights-owner of the series sold Mirage and all licensing rights to Nickelodeon. This was a beautiful thing when it was announced. With Laird’s growing disinterest in creating new stories (or at least a lack of ideas) and no prospects, a new creative and marketing force behind this franchise was exactly what was needed.
IDW’s Ninja Turtles series has been a consistent heavy hitter on the comic stands every month since it premiered in 2011. It has been a joy to get new stories of such a high calibre with some of my very favorite characters. I think it’s safe to say the Turtles have never been better. Yes, the original comic was inventive and creative and so bizarre and unprecedented. But after the first dozen issues, the series became an uneven anthology series with only two significant stories that were particularly compelling. The stories Return to New York and City at War showcased Eastman and Laird and their collaborators at the best of their storytelling and artistic abilities. They had an epic scope, dramatic action, and a sense of heart, drama, and character. But these are just two stories many years apart within the span of a decade or so.
TMNT is a blockbuster every month. Even better, it streamlines, refocuses, and synthesizes the disparate elements of the turtles franchise into a genre-transcending book that is wildly unpredictable and pure unadulterated fun. The turtles and all the other characters are so well defined in a way that I think no other version of this franchise has managed. The Shredder is intimidating, calculating, and dangerous.
The series weaves its way through not only the main title, but also the TMNT staple “Microseries” of character one-shots and miniseries. No book or storyline in the series so far captures the essence of IDW Turtles so succinctly and clearly as Mateus Santolouco and Erik Burnham’s Secret History of the Foot Clan.
Criss-crossing between feudal Japan and present day NYC, Secret History has an epic scope and ambition that the series had not, up to this point, attempted. All of the best elements of the IDW turtles are present. Great characters, fantastic art, and action that won’t quit. One of the things that has really helped this iteration of the turtles is that it has felt much more rooted in Japanese culture. Whether it is historically or culturally accurate is a different question, but at least it feels more authentic. Eastman and Laird early on were not trying to be historians or cultural ambassadors. They were just riffing on what was hot in comics at the time.
But with a new generation of creators steeped in anime and manga and yes—even the Ninja Turtles—comes a series that is more interested in exploring the “Ninja” aspect in a more authentic way. And so half this miniseries takes place in the era of samurai and ninja. It is replete with intrigue and backstabbing, jealousy and hatred. Power and corruption. Secret History of the Foot Clan plays out like a feature length film.
Santolouco’s art bursts off the page in widescreen action scenes and visual storytelling so tight that you forget you’re reading a comic. You feel like you’ve stepped into this crazy universe. Not all comic artists are capable of staging an action scene where you are able to complete the image or follow what is going on naturally. But with Santolouco’s crisp lines and excellent use of the page you never get lost. What he and letterer Shawn Lee do with the sound effects fit in so naturally with the art as to go almost unnoticed. Which is a good thing. Like a great score in a film, these elements are ones that you aren’t supposed to notice, but rather feel. And Joao Vieira’s colors are beautiful. The contrasts of lights and darks set the mood beautifully, and the shift in palette between past and present ensures the reader is never confused. The colors are vibrant and clear.
One thing I love about Santolouco’s art is the distinctiveness of every character, especially how different each of the turtles look. We have for years been so used to a particular design sensibility for these characters. We have either the Eastman, Dooney and Lawson blocky, angular and muscular turtles, or the more Peter Laird, cartoon versions that are rounder and softer. Santolouco in particular, differentiates the turtles and reimagines them in ways that are completely unlike previous takes on the characters. This is more than just a design quirk, it allows this version of the franchise to stand on its own as something unique. Santolouco imbues each of the turtles with body-types that suit their personalities and sets them apart from one another in ways other than just bandana color. He also manages to thread the needle between making the characters look a little more turtle-ish while still respecting the iconic look we are more accustomed to—and without making them look off putting. Most importantly, they really look like teenagers. Something many artists fail to incorporate into their designs. They aren’t hulking super heroes. They’re lithe, young, martial artists.
This miniseries, with story by Santolouco and script work from he and Burnham, ups the stakes for the entire turtles franchise. There are a lot of fun elements and easter eggs that mine past versions of these characters but never at the expense of the story. Eastman and Laird had no idea the iconic characters they created in that original first issue 30 years ago. When they killed off Shredder at the end of their very first story, they couldn’t have known he would go on to become one of the all-time great pop culture villain. At the end of Secret History, the connections between the turtles and their arch nemesis feel more dramatic and important than they have in any other version of the franchise. The personal histories between all of these characters unfold in unexpected ways in the IDW series, and that dramatic tension is only enhanced during this story.
The mix of sci-fi and fantasy has always been an odd quirk in the turtles universe, but IDW’s version entangles it all in a charming, dramatic fashion that works in a way it never quite has before. And this miniseries makes it even more believable and rooted in the characters. If you are interested in the Turtles but are intimidated by jumping into a new series, check out Secret History of the Foot Clan. It’s a great introduction to these versions of the characters and their universe. All of the major characters have a role to play and you get a feel for how this world works and what sets it apart from other versions. And if you like it, you’ll be chomping at the bit for more. It is perhaps the strongest story that IDW has put out in a very strong franchise. If you’re like me and hate jumping into a series in the middle, then I highly recommend checking out the series from the very beginning. It’s all good.
So when IDW announced a new series I was excited. A company with a solid track record picking up one of my favorite properties with original creator Kevin Eastman as part of the package? Yes please. The turtles franchise had been in limbo for a while. While I enjoyed the 2003 4Kids Entertainment series a great deal for most of its run, until it sent the turtles into the future and slashed the animation budget significantly, the turtles had fallen far out of the popular consciousness. The cartoon had ended and Mirage Studios, who owned the turtles, had essentially stopped publishing anything. Not that the comic they had been releasing was even particularly good for the last decade or so. Volume 4 of the Mirage turtles comic was a pale shadow of what the franchise had been and the stories that were capable of being told with these characters. With stiff, uninteresting art and floundering storytelling, the Turtles were all-but-dead.
Peter Laird, co-creator and soul rights-owner of the series sold Mirage and all licensing rights to Nickelodeon. This was a beautiful thing when it was announced. With Laird’s growing disinterest in creating new stories (or at least a lack of ideas) and no prospects, a new creative and marketing force behind this franchise was exactly what was needed.
IDW’s Ninja Turtles series has been a consistent heavy hitter on the comic stands every month since it premiered in 2011. It has been a joy to get new stories of such a high calibre with some of my very favorite characters. I think it’s safe to say the Turtles have never been better. Yes, the original comic was inventive and creative and so bizarre and unprecedented. But after the first dozen issues, the series became an uneven anthology series with only two significant stories that were particularly compelling. The stories Return to New York and City at War showcased Eastman and Laird and their collaborators at the best of their storytelling and artistic abilities. They had an epic scope, dramatic action, and a sense of heart, drama, and character. But these are just two stories many years apart within the span of a decade or so.
TMNT is a blockbuster every month. Even better, it streamlines, refocuses, and synthesizes the disparate elements of the turtles franchise into a genre-transcending book that is wildly unpredictable and pure unadulterated fun. The turtles and all the other characters are so well defined in a way that I think no other version of this franchise has managed. The Shredder is intimidating, calculating, and dangerous.
The series weaves its way through not only the main title, but also the TMNT staple “Microseries” of character one-shots and miniseries. No book or storyline in the series so far captures the essence of IDW Turtles so succinctly and clearly as Mateus Santolouco and Erik Burnham’s Secret History of the Foot Clan.
Criss-crossing between feudal Japan and present day NYC, Secret History has an epic scope and ambition that the series had not, up to this point, attempted. All of the best elements of the IDW turtles are present. Great characters, fantastic art, and action that won’t quit. One of the things that has really helped this iteration of the turtles is that it has felt much more rooted in Japanese culture. Whether it is historically or culturally accurate is a different question, but at least it feels more authentic. Eastman and Laird early on were not trying to be historians or cultural ambassadors. They were just riffing on what was hot in comics at the time.
But with a new generation of creators steeped in anime and manga and yes—even the Ninja Turtles—comes a series that is more interested in exploring the “Ninja” aspect in a more authentic way. And so half this miniseries takes place in the era of samurai and ninja. It is replete with intrigue and backstabbing, jealousy and hatred. Power and corruption. Secret History of the Foot Clan plays out like a feature length film.
Santolouco’s art bursts off the page in widescreen action scenes and visual storytelling so tight that you forget you’re reading a comic. You feel like you’ve stepped into this crazy universe. Not all comic artists are capable of staging an action scene where you are able to complete the image or follow what is going on naturally. But with Santolouco’s crisp lines and excellent use of the page you never get lost. What he and letterer Shawn Lee do with the sound effects fit in so naturally with the art as to go almost unnoticed. Which is a good thing. Like a great score in a film, these elements are ones that you aren’t supposed to notice, but rather feel. And Joao Vieira’s colors are beautiful. The contrasts of lights and darks set the mood beautifully, and the shift in palette between past and present ensures the reader is never confused. The colors are vibrant and clear.
One thing I love about Santolouco’s art is the distinctiveness of every character, especially how different each of the turtles look. We have for years been so used to a particular design sensibility for these characters. We have either the Eastman, Dooney and Lawson blocky, angular and muscular turtles, or the more Peter Laird, cartoon versions that are rounder and softer. Santolouco in particular, differentiates the turtles and reimagines them in ways that are completely unlike previous takes on the characters. This is more than just a design quirk, it allows this version of the franchise to stand on its own as something unique. Santolouco imbues each of the turtles with body-types that suit their personalities and sets them apart from one another in ways other than just bandana color. He also manages to thread the needle between making the characters look a little more turtle-ish while still respecting the iconic look we are more accustomed to—and without making them look off putting. Most importantly, they really look like teenagers. Something many artists fail to incorporate into their designs. They aren’t hulking super heroes. They’re lithe, young, martial artists.
This miniseries, with story by Santolouco and script work from he and Burnham, ups the stakes for the entire turtles franchise. There are a lot of fun elements and easter eggs that mine past versions of these characters but never at the expense of the story. Eastman and Laird had no idea the iconic characters they created in that original first issue 30 years ago. When they killed off Shredder at the end of their very first story, they couldn’t have known he would go on to become one of the all-time great pop culture villain. At the end of Secret History, the connections between the turtles and their arch nemesis feel more dramatic and important than they have in any other version of the franchise. The personal histories between all of these characters unfold in unexpected ways in the IDW series, and that dramatic tension is only enhanced during this story.
The mix of sci-fi and fantasy has always been an odd quirk in the turtles universe, but IDW’s version entangles it all in a charming, dramatic fashion that works in a way it never quite has before. And this miniseries makes it even more believable and rooted in the characters. If you are interested in the Turtles but are intimidated by jumping into a new series, check out Secret History of the Foot Clan. It’s a great introduction to these versions of the characters and their universe. All of the major characters have a role to play and you get a feel for how this world works and what sets it apart from other versions. And if you like it, you’ll be chomping at the bit for more. It is perhaps the strongest story that IDW has put out in a very strong franchise. If you’re like me and hate jumping into a series in the middle, then I highly recommend checking out the series from the very beginning. It’s all good.
March 5, 2021
This was cool. Loved the artwork, I loved the duo stories of past and present. The title says it all, this is about the Foot Clan's rise to power and the supernatural twist that the Turtles now know about Shredder. While this isn't necessarily required reading for this series, I would recommend it because of it's solid story telling and cool artwork. I'm still invested in this series for sure.
June 30, 2013
A scholar gives a talk on a legendary clan of ninjas. Little does he know that his knowledge will show him that the clan still exists.
In a series of flashbacks to history, the story of the Foot clan is fleshed out. Shown are the secrets of the immortality of it's leaders and how Shredder came to power over the years. In the present day, the professor is tempted with a job that will give him further knowledge into what he seeks, but it puts him in danger. It's up to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to save him.
It's a good story. A lot of it is told in flashback, so the usual characters aren't featured as much as some might like, but there is plenty of action, and plenty of the turtles and Casey Jones when it is all finished. The art is action packed with lots of action lines drawn in panels to show speed and direction, and things extending out beyond panels. Flashbacks are done with muted colors and rougher panel outlines that give them more of a hand drawn look. It's a nice touch. It's always good to catch up with Raph, Don, Leo and Mikey.
In a series of flashbacks to history, the story of the Foot clan is fleshed out. Shown are the secrets of the immortality of it's leaders and how Shredder came to power over the years. In the present day, the professor is tempted with a job that will give him further knowledge into what he seeks, but it puts him in danger. It's up to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to save him.
It's a good story. A lot of it is told in flashback, so the usual characters aren't featured as much as some might like, but there is plenty of action, and plenty of the turtles and Casey Jones when it is all finished. The art is action packed with lots of action lines drawn in panels to show speed and direction, and things extending out beyond panels. Flashbacks are done with muted colors and rougher panel outlines that give them more of a hand drawn look. It's a nice touch. It's always good to catch up with Raph, Don, Leo and Mikey.
October 8, 2025
Secret History of the Foot Clan is an early mini-series set during the early years of the IDW TMNT run. I'm going to have to say that in order to really understand the IDW lore, this book is a MUST READ.
I love the overall plot about the secret scroll being found by an academic (the modern day story). I also like the flashback story, although consistently was confused about which character was who in the original Foot Clan. Kitsune's character is a bit confusing to me also, but, overall, the mixing of past and present stories was enjoyable for me for sure.
I love the turtle's interactions with Splinter and Casey and April. The protagonists' strong characterizations outshine most of the antagonists' (Alopex, Shredder, Karai, and Kitsune) consistently in this series, but this story does help give Shredder some much needed motivation and depth/characterization. My general complaint about the IDW series is that the mini-series and one-shots are absolutely necessary to really understand where the villains are coming from or what they are motivated by (for example Krang, Shredder, Stockman, Alopex, and even Casey). Splinter and Mikey are consistently my favorite characters. Both are highlighted in this mini.
This story goes hand in hand with some of the themes of the ongoing series, such as Donnie facing the reality of needing to embrace spirituality and science. Sadly the series also limit's Karai's character, similarly to the series where she is Shredder's errand girl (at this point in time at least).
I enjoy the meta-bits that kind of poke fun at other versions of the turtles: Donnie's screen-name is from the original cartoon (does machines) and they make fun of the idea that a rat could learn karate from mimicking a master (the first film).
My only complaint is that there are two different stories going on overlaid with reincarnation, so sometimes I get the Feudal Japan, back-story characters mixed up.
Mateus Santolouco's art and designs are an absolute stand out.
I love the overall plot about the secret scroll being found by an academic (the modern day story). I also like the flashback story, although consistently was confused about which character was who in the original Foot Clan. Kitsune's character is a bit confusing to me also, but, overall, the mixing of past and present stories was enjoyable for me for sure.
I love the turtle's interactions with Splinter and Casey and April. The protagonists' strong characterizations outshine most of the antagonists' (Alopex, Shredder, Karai, and Kitsune) consistently in this series, but this story does help give Shredder some much needed motivation and depth/characterization. My general complaint about the IDW series is that the mini-series and one-shots are absolutely necessary to really understand where the villains are coming from or what they are motivated by (for example Krang, Shredder, Stockman, Alopex, and even Casey). Splinter and Mikey are consistently my favorite characters. Both are highlighted in this mini.
This story goes hand in hand with some of the themes of the ongoing series, such as Donnie facing the reality of needing to embrace spirituality and science. Sadly the series also limit's Karai's character, similarly to the series where she is Shredder's errand girl (at this point in time at least).
I enjoy the meta-bits that kind of poke fun at other versions of the turtles: Donnie's screen-name is from the original cartoon (does machines) and they make fun of the idea that a rat could learn karate from mimicking a master (the first film).
My only complaint is that there are two different stories going on overlaid with reincarnation, so sometimes I get the Feudal Japan, back-story characters mixed up.
Mateus Santolouco's art and designs are an absolute stand out.
July 10, 2017
4.5*’s this is fun and actiony and they are doing an excellent job of setting up the shredder as a mix of magic and aliens. Could almost be too serious but Mikey is a star for breaking up the tension. Love the artwork and how expensive the turtles are. On the ¾ spread of shredded claiming destiny, Donatello's stance is wicked. Fun chase scene and unique showcase of Raphael's shurikenjutsu. Love the attitude from splinter ( that is because I have never tried/this is what my sons would call “Gotcha”) lots of good action from all the turtles. I enjoy how most artists translate Michelangelo's humor into his fighting aswell. not a huge fan of the expert on the side of knowledge (meaning the bad guys) trope that comes in. can’t wait for more; not perfect but firing on all cylinders.
September 25, 2024
The volume doesn't quite fulfill its goal of adding new dimensions to the Foot Clan or its leader, but it does add some valuable history. Since this mini-series has been so darn great, its sad to see it go out with a whimper, instead of a bang. Besides, Santolouco's art is worth the price of admission alone. I recommend The Secret History of The Foot Clan to anybody who will listen.
July 30, 2018
Наверное одна из лучших вещей по черепахам. Интересно почитать даже вне основной сюжетной линии. Круто нарисовано, интересная цветовая гамма для Японии, приятные пастельные тона с вкраплениями яркого.
Комикс по сути очень удачный ориджин Шреддера, который проясняет его мотивацию.
Комикс по сути очень удачный ориджин Шреддера, который проясняет его мотивацию.
September 14, 2018
Sobre mis expectativas, las TMNT han mantenido un buen nivel con historias entretenidas y disfrutables.
April 10, 2019
So good. Ancient samurai setting. Themes of reincarnation. Tying of the future with the past through some clever storytelling.
What a series.
What a series.
February 3, 2020
Not a fan of this incarnation of the series
November 30, 2020
TMNT: Secret History Of The Foot Clan
This is a great book. Quick read but worth the time. We learn how the Shredder is immortal and where it comes from.
This is a great book. Quick read but worth the time. We learn how the Shredder is immortal and where it comes from.
September 5, 2021
A must read back story on how Shredder came to be. Art and story couldn't be better.
November 25, 2021
kylo ren who
March 31, 2022
Good back story and flashbacks to feudal Japan.
April 3, 2022
It wasn’t bad, but it definitely took more to get through than the others. Just a little bit of a slog, but I did like getting some answers to how Shredder was the same Shredder from the past.
July 8, 2023
WHAT THE JESUSCHRIST WAS THAT?
July 14, 2023
One of the many great things about IDW's TMNT run has been the depth they've given to Oruku Saki as a character. This miniseries is a testimonial to it.
Want to read
June 9, 2024Libro de historietas con ISBN propio. Edición especial de la miniserie que no se llegó a publicar en Argentina.
January 5, 2025
Spectacular art and story make this one of the best volumes so far!
4.75 stars!
4.75 stars!
February 4, 2025
Excellent lots of lore and action
February 26, 2015
"Definitely among the best of the IDW content thus far."
Read the whole review at TheBookCloset
So 2013 is shaping up to be a pretty big year for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Free of the needed origins and explanations, IDW can now focus on the story proper, and it does so very well. They published Krang War, which dealt directly with questions looming regarding the alien brain warlord, at the same time they published the miniseries Secret History of the Foot Clan by Mateus Santolouco (story and art). The Turtles have always been a franchise with one foot in the past and one in the future, and that makes it work, and publishing both of these simultaneously was an artful stroke.
This is likely the most cinematic Ninja Turtles story I've ever read. It has multiple plots that both features lots of action and intrigue, and Santolouco knows just when to cut from one to the next to keep things fresh -- as soon as one plot starts to collapse we cut to the next, so instead of one bogging the other down they hold each other up and make each other better. Santolouco does an excellent job on both story and art, and this issue works well as separate issues AND as one trade -- not an easy thing to do.
The "past" story takes place during the Muromachi period of Feudal era Japan and features the story of how Oroku Saki came to be The Shredder in this time line, and the writing of an ancient mystical text: the history of the Foot Clan. This text possibly contains mysteries that could make The Shredder more powerful today, which brings us to the "current" storyline, a historian named Dr. Miller has discovered the book and is translating it, announcing his discoveries, starting a race to get to him from both sides.
That's the plot of the series in a nutshell. There are lots of twists and turns along the way, but rather than a full summary I'm just going to give the bare bones of this one, because it really is too good to pass up. It needs to be read. More than that, it needs to be made into a movie. This could be adapted as-in into an direct-to-DVD animated feature or a live-action movies and be just fine. It's full of amazing little tidbits and great dialog and unbelievably astute storytelling. It really helps when the writer and the artist are the same person, because there are so many little things like a character's motions as they do something that just get lost in translation between the two often. Like in issue 3, when Leonardo takes off his bandana and uses it to stop his bleeding arm. It's done subtly but effectively, and sometimes things like that get lost when two people are involved.
In the end we do move forward: this isn't just a one-off story like the micro-series' were for the most part. In the end we do learn how the Shredder got to our time, and that it is different from how the Turtles got here: he wasn't reincarnated like they were, he drank ooze and then committed ritual suicide, then hibernated until the 21st century. It's an intense scene and is not to be missed. It also comes with the revelation that the Shredder is unkillable, adding an extra layer of intensity to a villain that has not fared well under the IDW banner thus far, and sidestepping that whole debate of if the Turtles should kill him or not: we can now have the Turtles be as lethal as their ninja titles should have them being, without having to worry about death and murder in a family-friendly franchise.
It's too early to vote a "best of 2013," but I'd say this series get s hearty nomination. It goes on-sale June 12, 2013.
Read the whole review at TheBookCloset
So 2013 is shaping up to be a pretty big year for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Free of the needed origins and explanations, IDW can now focus on the story proper, and it does so very well. They published Krang War, which dealt directly with questions looming regarding the alien brain warlord, at the same time they published the miniseries Secret History of the Foot Clan by Mateus Santolouco (story and art). The Turtles have always been a franchise with one foot in the past and one in the future, and that makes it work, and publishing both of these simultaneously was an artful stroke.
This is likely the most cinematic Ninja Turtles story I've ever read. It has multiple plots that both features lots of action and intrigue, and Santolouco knows just when to cut from one to the next to keep things fresh -- as soon as one plot starts to collapse we cut to the next, so instead of one bogging the other down they hold each other up and make each other better. Santolouco does an excellent job on both story and art, and this issue works well as separate issues AND as one trade -- not an easy thing to do.
The "past" story takes place during the Muromachi period of Feudal era Japan and features the story of how Oroku Saki came to be The Shredder in this time line, and the writing of an ancient mystical text: the history of the Foot Clan. This text possibly contains mysteries that could make The Shredder more powerful today, which brings us to the "current" storyline, a historian named Dr. Miller has discovered the book and is translating it, announcing his discoveries, starting a race to get to him from both sides.
That's the plot of the series in a nutshell. There are lots of twists and turns along the way, but rather than a full summary I'm just going to give the bare bones of this one, because it really is too good to pass up. It needs to be read. More than that, it needs to be made into a movie. This could be adapted as-in into an direct-to-DVD animated feature or a live-action movies and be just fine. It's full of amazing little tidbits and great dialog and unbelievably astute storytelling. It really helps when the writer and the artist are the same person, because there are so many little things like a character's motions as they do something that just get lost in translation between the two often. Like in issue 3, when Leonardo takes off his bandana and uses it to stop his bleeding arm. It's done subtly but effectively, and sometimes things like that get lost when two people are involved.
In the end we do move forward: this isn't just a one-off story like the micro-series' were for the most part. In the end we do learn how the Shredder got to our time, and that it is different from how the Turtles got here: he wasn't reincarnated like they were, he drank ooze and then committed ritual suicide, then hibernated until the 21st century. It's an intense scene and is not to be missed. It also comes with the revelation that the Shredder is unkillable, adding an extra layer of intensity to a villain that has not fared well under the IDW banner thus far, and sidestepping that whole debate of if the Turtles should kill him or not: we can now have the Turtles be as lethal as their ninja titles should have them being, without having to worry about death and murder in a family-friendly franchise.
It's too early to vote a "best of 2013," but I'd say this series get s hearty nomination. It goes on-sale June 12, 2013.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2013
***I was provided an ecopy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors via NetGalley in exchange for a fair review***
If you have ever wanted to learn the history of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle's Shredder's infamous Foot Clan, you finally can! About half of this graphic novel is shown in flashback form. The rivalries and battles of Feudal Japan are captivating. This is definitely a graphic novel full of action. There were many pages I found myself skipping ahead without reading the speech bubbles because I was so caught up in the action.
If you are familiar with TMNT, they are many references you will get (Probably more than I did). The art style isn't too cartoony. I feel like it blends the original comic's grittiness with the most popular 80's cartoon. I did find the Turtles' masks strange. Not only were they different colors, but shapes as well.
Although I found it a fun read, I found it difficult to remember all the characters and their names in Feudal Japan. And, the action scenes took over the book. I give this graphic novel a 3/5. I suggest it to any TMNT superfan out there!
If you have ever wanted to learn the history of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle's Shredder's infamous Foot Clan, you finally can! About half of this graphic novel is shown in flashback form. The rivalries and battles of Feudal Japan are captivating. This is definitely a graphic novel full of action. There were many pages I found myself skipping ahead without reading the speech bubbles because I was so caught up in the action.
If you are familiar with TMNT, they are many references you will get (Probably more than I did). The art style isn't too cartoony. I feel like it blends the original comic's grittiness with the most popular 80's cartoon. I did find the Turtles' masks strange. Not only were they different colors, but shapes as well.
Although I found it a fun read, I found it difficult to remember all the characters and their names in Feudal Japan. And, the action scenes took over the book. I give this graphic novel a 3/5. I suggest it to any TMNT superfan out there!
March 24, 2016
Quite simply I loved this TPB. The art is stunning, there are wonderful contrasts in colour and shading from the modern day Turtles throwing down with the Foot to Feudal Japan where we learn more of the Shredder's origins and his relationship to Hamato Yoshi. It is a book of contrast and the two different styles in writing and art direction complement each other well. The parts of the story in Japan where a joy to read and look at and I could have spent much longer in there. Initially I hoped the book would be better just focussing on Japan but the sections where we flit to modern day New York work really well together. The pacing is entirely different in the modern sections and I think Sanotlouco has done a wonderful job presenting the two world close together. I liked how he managed to tell the reader much whilst also conveying the Turtles learning more about the past of their father's ancient foe. The explanation for how Shredder is in modern day times is brilliant and brings other series elements in to hang together. It sets up the City Fall arc really well also I think.
Best TPB of the IDW run so far.
Best TPB of the IDW run so far.
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