Kudos, My Hero

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers (👏=didn't like it, 👏👏=it was ok, 👏👏👏=I liked it, 👏👏👏👏=I really liked it!, 👏👏👏👏👏=I loved it!)

Reactions As I Read: ● I like Casey’s new lady friend… which means I’m worried something is going to happen to her in order to free up Casey to return to NYC ● Shredder 2.0?

● oof, I think Raph lost a chunk of face… ● one of Shredder’s elite come to avenge his master’s death ● yo, the Rat King! ● 👏👏👏👏

Synopsis: Karai's plane has arrived in the United States, and she boards a helicopter that takes her to Foot headquarters, an imposing skyscraper in New York City.

Casey and Gabby are watching a romantic sunset. Gabrielle announces that she's getting hungry and wants to head for home, but before Casey starts their Jeep, he produces a ring and proposes. Gabby accepts Casey's proposal and the two are engaged.

April is having dinner with a slick weasel with a ponytail. The man brags about his programming prowess and then grabs April by the knee. O'Neil throws her coffee on the fellow and storms out. As she walks home, April reflects on how much she dislikes California.

Master Splinter is awoken by a voice, insisting that the old rat must eat if he's to survive. The Sensei tells the voice that he has nothing to subsist on.

"Help me…" Splinter implores.

"The help you seek," the Voice replies, "Is your own."

"There is little nourishment in riddles, shadow," states Splinter.

"The riddle is yours… that which can sustain you is within your reach… but not yet within your grasp." the Voice notes.

"I'm hungry… cold… in pain… and yet you torment me. You are death." concludes the Sensei.

"I am not," the Voice states, "But I know death."

Leonardo encourages his brothers to go on a training run. Raphael is not interested, but after some cajoling, he agrees to go along.

The old man is sitting up at the hospital, gazing longingly at the shuttered window.

As the Turtles jump from rooftop to rooftop, Raphael steps in some dog dung. This enrages Raph and he angrily stalks off towards home. As Raph makes his way back, he's ambushed by one of Shredder's Elite Guard. Raph is badly cut on the face, but he manages to severely wound the Elite by stabbing him in the side with a sai, thus taking the Elite out of action. Leo, Mike and Don arrive just as the fighting ends. The Elite gazes up at Leonardo.

"Y-you… you are the kappa… that killed my Master… Oroku Saki!" he stammers.

"Yes." replies Leonardo.

"I am… duty bound… to slay you… to… avenge my Master…" the man croaks.

"I think your avengin' days are over, pal." notes Raph.

"Perhaps… in the next life…" notes the Elite.

"Perhaps." answers Leo.

With this, the Elite Guard commits seppuku.

Epilogue Master Splinter continues arguing with the Voice.

"Who are you!!?" Splinter demands.

"I have had several names," comes the answer, "But considering the circumstances, perhaps none is more appropriate than this… you may call me… the Rat King."

(https://turtlepedia.fandom.com/wiki/City_at_War,_part_6_of_13)

Fan Art: Rat's nest by ashitarimai

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● heheh, DD just walked through his own front door in costume. not the best way to keep your secret, Matt ol’ buddy ● damn, guys, Debbie just got home after being kidnapped for months. she’s gonna have some issues for a while. leave her alone! ● Chekov’s billyclub

● the first specific mention of Hell’s Kitchen in DD? doesn’t say that Matt lives there, though ● 👏👏👏

Synopsis: DD is desperately trying to chase down the Purple Man to clear Heather's father, but runs up against Death-Stalker instead.

(https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Daredevil_Vol_1_148)

Fan Art: Daredevil TV Show by deralbi

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers (👏=didn't like it, 👏👏=it was ok, 👏👏👏=I liked it, 👏👏👏👏=I really liked it!, 👏👏👏👏👏=I loved it!)

Reactions As I Read: ● battery is not the answer for every situation, Casey (but I do like the character growth we’ve been seeing with him) ● eep, Splinter!

● gotta work on your gift-giving skills, Casey… ● I like how they worked “END” in on the last page! ● 👏👏👏👏

Synopsis: Casey has taken a job as a grocery bagger, but he messes up by putting the bread on the bottom of the bag, which enrages his boss. The angry older man gets in Jones' face and reads him the riot act and insults Jones. Casey gets angry and puts a bag over the man's head and punches him in the face, sending him flying. Jones then storms out, but as soon as he's outside he realizes that he needs the job and goes back inside. Casey apologizes for the incident and asks for his job back. The man makes Jones get on his knees and beg for the work, but then screams "NO!" in Casey's face. So Space Case lets another punch fly and heads out.

Master Splinter is exploring the abandoned factory, getting a sense of loneliness. The rat arrives at the precipice of an old silo and peers into its depths. Suddenly the bricks give way and the Sensei plummets into the maw of darkness.

April is working a new job as a computer programmer. Her boss hits on her, leaving April feeling even more doubtful about California.

Master Splinter awakes at the bottom of the chimney with a broken leg. The Sensei takes a piece of wood and makes a splint to ensure that the bone will heal properly. When Splinter tightens the cloth to hold it tight, the pain causes him to blackout.

Robyn and her baby pick April up from work. April is trying to be upbeat about the job. Robyn complains about her ex-husband and the three go off in search for a Christmas tree.

The TMNT are in their water tower base as a snow storm rages outside. Mikey gets back from patrol as the TV reports on the street violence caused by the Foot as well as other international horror stories. Leo is still brooding , not knowing what to do. Raph suggests that they should ask Splinter, and Leo replies that it's time for them to grow up and leave this life behind.

"Leave?" Mike gasps, "But… but what about duty? What about… honor?"

"Honor? Heh… I'm beginning to think there's no place for honor in this world," Leo replies, "Greed… hatred… violence… the lust for vengeance. These are the primary motivators."

"What motivates you, Leo?" asks Raph.

"Lately… I don't have a clue." Leonardo answers.

The Japanese business woman is on a personal jet on her way to New York. We finally learn her name: Karai. Her assistant brings another video tape, this one clearly capturing Donatello in the frame. Karai is pleased to see this.

Splinter wakes and tries to stand, but the pain is too severe. The Sensei begins to worry for his life, with winter arriving, no food to eat and a bum leg that will prevent him from leaving the silo.

Casey and Gabby are decorating a very modest tree. Gabby is feeling self conscious about her weight from the pregnancy. Casey gives his girlfriend an early present, some sexy lingerie. This makes Gabrielle cry, and Casey consoles her. Not a master tactician, our man Casey.

We see the old man in the hospital, taking his first steps with the help of a nurse.

A Foot headquarters is attacked by one of Shredder's Elite. The ninja kills everyone inside and then blows up the building.

Mike and his brothers are listening to the news and trying to keep warm in the water tower. The report is about the recent bombing.

"The police department suggests that this blaze is linked to the recent wave of destructive incidents in the City… leaving this reporter to wonder: when will this violence stop?"

(https://turtlepedia.fandom.com/wiki/City_at_War,_part_5_of_13)

Fan Art: Cowabunga by Quirkilicious

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers (👏=didn't like it, 👏👏=it was ok, 👏👏👏=I liked it, 👏👏👏👏=I really liked it!, 👏👏👏👏👏=I loved it!)

Reactions As I Read: ● gotta admit, Otto is doing a fine job as Spider-Man. Peter could take a page from him regarding the hero-life/personal-life balance ● jeez that guy almost makes Mr. Zsasz seem warm and fuzzy…

● holy hell… ● 👏👏👏👏

Synopsis: Spider-Man has decided to become more efficient and use thousand of spider bots to patrol the city thereby getting crimes that Peter never could. Meanwhile Massacre escapes Ravencroft and murders many people including Ashley Kafka. Otto decides to earn his doctorate again as Peter Parker, and re-enrolls at ESU. Once he learns of Massacre's return he decides to find and kill him.

Meanwhile Vulture's child goon's are discussing what to do about the loss of Vulture. At that point they are approached by the Green Goblin who informs them that he will crush Spider-Man; once and for all.

(https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Superior_Spider-Man_Vol_1_4)

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers (👏=didn't like it, 👏👏=it was ok, 👏👏👏=I liked it, 👏👏👏👏=I really liked it!, 👏👏👏👏👏=I loved it!)

Reactions As I Read: ● oh, is this story arc when they correct the mistake of killing off one of the coolest villains in the very first issues of the title? ● first close—up of Splinter’s footsies!

● go home, cop. you don’t get paid enough to deal with this ● 👏👏👏👏

Synopsis: Master Splinter is still attempting to meditate in the woods of Northampton, Massachusetts but his efforts once again prove futile.

April and Robyn get back from shopping, and April is not happy with her new "California" look and lifestyle. April again complains about the messy apartment, and Robyn tells her sister that she's not her mother and to stow it.

Casey wakes up in Gabby's bed to find her missing. Jones gets up to find her and discovers that she's been throwing up in the bathroom. Gabby then tells Casey that she's pregnant, with someone else's baby.

"Just don't stand there," Gabby implores, "Say something!"

"I… don't know what to say…" replies Casey.

"Oh, Casey…" Gabby sobs.

"Gabe, don't cry… I'm not gonna leave you." Jones states as he hugs her.

"Don't stay just because you feel sorry for me…" Gabrielle sniffs.

"If I stay," states Casey, "It's because I want to."

We see the old man sitting up in bed on his own, having eaten a meal of fast food.

Splinter is walking in the forest, troubled over his inability to concentrate.

"Meditation…" the wise old rat thinks as he hikes, "Once… the clear mirror of the soul… once… the light shining on the path to enlightenment. Now… the way is obscure. I meditate but it brings no clarity. Now the path is chaotic… and I walk in darkness."

Eventually the Sensei arrives at an old abandoned factory.

The Turtles are fighting the Foot and their robots when Shredder's Elite joins the fray. Inexplicably, the Elite helps the Turtles. As the battle wages, Leonardo eventually faces of with the Elite, who evades the Turtle, slays two more Foot Soldiers, and then drops a smoke bomb and disappears. The police arrive as the violence escalates and innocent people are killed, but the smoke allows the Turtles to get away. The guys make it back to the sewers and reflect on what just happened. Leo worries that whatever's going on with the Foot might be too dangerous for them to be involved with.

"We shouldn't even have been there…" muses Leo.

"What? Leo, what are you saying?" Raph interjects.

"We were just… fuel for the fire." Leo explains, "We just helped escalate the conflict… to get people killed."

"Leo, you can't know that…" interrupts Don.

"Don, shut up," Leo growls, "I know what I saw… and let me tell you, brothers… whatever's going on… we are in… way over our heads."

Back in Tokyo, Japan, the business woman is watching a video of the recent Turtle/Foot skirmish.

"The situation is at crisis level. We should act… immediately." her assistant states.

"I agree," the woman replies, "Activate all units… it is time."

(https://turtlepedia.fandom.com/wiki/City_at_War,_part_4_of_13)

Fan Art: Leader of the Mean Greens by CoranKizerStone

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers (👏=didn't like it, 👏👏=it was ok, 👏👏👏=I liked it, 👏👏👏👏=I really liked it!, 👏c👏👏👏=I loved it!)

Reactions As I Read: ● maybe if Peter actually, I dunno, rested, he’d start to feel better ● ok, yeah, you put the pearls back, but there’s still the matter of criminal damage of the safe you wrecked…

● well, at least with Pete being visibly ill, he’ll get a pass for missing Gwen’s party ● HA! the flu. I knew it. he wouldn’t freaking rest ● 👏👏👏

Synopsis: Coming to the conclusion that his spider-powers are fading for good, the ailing Peter Parker realizes that today is Gwen Stacy's birthday and he hasn't been able to get her a gift. In a moment of desperation, he uses his fading spider-powers to steal a pearl necklace from the jewelry store but stops himself at the last moment.

As Gwen's birthday party begins, Gwen becomes aware of Peter's absence and begins to get upset. The party is then suddenly shocked when Peter enters the party, Spider-Man mask in hand and tells everyone that because his powers are fading, he can finally reveal that he's Spider-Man. When George Stacy points out that Peter is feverish and sick, Peter realizes that he's putting Gwen through enough distress to cause hysteria and flees.

After Peter's gone, Harry chalks it all up as a hoax put on by Peter, relating to the time when Peter "pretended" to be Spider-Man in order to save Betty Brant from Dr. Octopus. Gwen, however, isn't quite convinced.

Deciding he needs medical help right away, Peter changes into Spider-Man so that he's treated more seriously when he explains his situation. When Spidey is seen by a doctor, the doc tells the wall-crawler that he's just getting over a bout of the flu bug and nothing more. Realizing that his powers are returning to normal as his immune system fights off the flu, Peter realizes what a bonehead move he's made and decides to come up with a way to make certain that nobody believes that he's really Spider-Man.

Taking off his costume and disguising his face, Peter visits Hobie Brown and asks him to help fool everyone into once more believing that Peter Parker and Spider-Man are two different people. Peter then goes to visit Stacy's home and explains to Gwen, George, Mary Jane and Harry that he was in a fever state and didn't know what he's saying. When Gwen doesn't immediately believe Peter, Hobie (dressed in Spider-Man's costume) enters through the window and his performance in front of everyone convinces the others that Peter's story is true. His mission accomplished, Hobie leaves the scene and stashes Spider-Man's costume where he was told. Afterwards, Peter departs from the Stacy home, secure in the fact that his secret identity has been protected, but still has an uneasy feeling as though he's walking on eggshells.

(https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Amazing_Spider-Man_Vol_1_87)

Fan Art: Spider-Man and Gwen Stacy Color by Protokitty

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers (👏=didn't like it, 👏👏=it was ok, 👏👏👏=I liked it, 👏👏👏👏=I really liked it!, 👏👏👏👏👏=I loved it!)

Reactions As I Read: ● oo good point about the signal! I've never considered that.

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Synopsis: On the top of the police station building Mayor J Johan Jameson, Chief Pratchett and Carlie Cooper stand near to the improvised "Spider-Signal". Jameson boasts about his wise ruling policy while Carlie doubts Spider-Man will ever show up. But he finally does and short-circuits the signal. Jameson discharges oaths about wasted taxpayer dollars, and Spider-Man explains they can hinder him using the signal, humiliating Jameson between the lines.

After he promised to provide the authorities with shielded number, Pratchett asks the hero to team up with Cooper one more time and investigate crimes committed by Vulture's gang since they both already worked on this case earlier. Spider-Man agrees.

In the NYPD lab, Carlie blames "Peter" for manipulating Jameson. She is more than ever convinced that's something wrong with her friend, but hesitates to speak about her suspicions directly. Peter/Otto removes her from the investigation and leaves to end with Toomes once and for all alone.

On the way to the Vulture's hideout, Otto recalls the first meeting of Sinister Six. Parker's consciousness sees during this flashback that both Octavius and Toomes actually respected each other as a science men. He decides to snoop around in Octavius' memories, while back in the streets of New York Otto detects the hideout and breaks into the building their.

However, instead of attacking he offers Toomes to give up the crime life and leave the city with the money given by him, Otto. Of course Vulture doesn't believe a word and orders his little henchmen to attack the web-slinger. Spidey accidentally knocks out one of the flying midgets; although it turns out that all this time Vulture had used children for his own purposes. Shocked, Otto recalls his own childhood and permanent beating by abusive father. These memories lead him into a rage and he attacks Toomes.

After the heavy battle in the air Spider-Man manages to black out the upgraded lenses, blind the old man activating the Spider-signal and crash him right into it. Carlie appears and sees the broken and bloody Vulture. Horrified, she demands an immediate explanation, but Peter/Otto just "errs".

Ultimately, he tries to justify himself reminding Carlie how cruel Toomes was towards her and different runaways under his command. Carlie ends the talk calling him by the name but with a touch of resentment and doubt in the voice. As Otto is sure she doesn't suspect anything, the real Peter Parker does not agree with it.

(https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Superior_Spider-Man_Vol_1_3)

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers (👏=didn't like it, 👏👏=it was ok, 👏👏👏=I liked it, 👏👏👏👏=I really liked it!, 👏👏👏👏👏=I loved it!)

Reactions As I Read: ● no Goldbug. Bumblebee. me want Bumblebee ● Buster has a brother?

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Synopsis: After the Predacons succeed in stealing a supply of LOX and the Constructicons pilfer building supplies, III demands that Walter Barnett gets some secrets out of the captured Throttlebots. After interrogating the Autobots, they continue to try to explain to Barnett that there are two different factions of Transformers, however, Barnett refuses to be convinced. Before leaving the Institute with his family, Forrest Forsythe tells him that it may be too late to get whatever information they can out of the Autobots. That night as Walter and his wife watch the evening news, Forsythe does an interview where he warns against any more robot attacks. Failure to stop will lead in the destruction of the six captured Autobots.

The next morning Walter barges into his superior's office and tries to convince him that doing so is playing into the Decepticons hands, now finally believing Goldbug's story. However, it is too late and following the news broadcast there was another robot attack. Forsythe then informs Barnett that he intends to execute the Autobots the next evening at 6:00 on national television. Unable to sleep, the guilt-ridden Barnett returns to III headquarters, smuggling in six of his sons radio controlled cars and removes the Autobots brain components and places them in the toy cars. Sure enough the next evening at 6:00 the Autobots bodies are destroyed. When news reaches the Witwicky's, who are awaiting the return of Buster's brother Spike from college, they mourn the loss of the destroyed Autobots. Buster is particularly upset because one of the destroyed robots resembled his old friend Bumblebee.

When news reaches the Decepticons, Ratbat, and the Predacons are dispatched to III to confirm that the Autobots have been destroyed. There they easily smash through the defenses and before Forsythe tear open the crumpled Autobot bodies but find no brain components. Demanding to know where the Autobots minds are, Forsythe realizes far too late that there really were two different factions of Transformers.

Walter Barnett meanwhile, on Goldbug's advice, sought out the aid of Buster Witwicky. At the Witwicky garage, Goldbug and Barnett explain everything and Sparkplug allows Buster to go with Barnett to seek out the Autobots. With their batteries running low, they decide to go to the mall first to pick up more. When the Predacons and Ratbat arrive at Sparkplug's garage, he refuses to tell the Decepticons where the Autobots are and in retaliation they destroy his garage.

They track the Autobots, Buster, and Walter to the mall where they put up a chase, the Autobots in their small RC car bodies manage to trip up the Predacons and make good their escape. As Buster and Goldbug flee the mall, Buster takes the batteries out of his boom box to replenish Goldbug's dying ones, leaving it open for Ratbat to hitch a ride. When they arrive at Mount St. Hillary, they are shocked to find that the Ark is missing. However, they do find some radio equipment and beam out an SOS message in the hopes that the Autobots come back for them. Just then Ratbat pops out of Buster's boom box, crushes Goldbug and captures Buster.

(https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Transformers_Vol_1_37)

Fan Art: Shattered Glass Ratbat by RID-NightViper

Accompanying Podcasts: ● Transformers Chronicles - episode 37

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers (👏=didn't like it, 👏👏=it was ok, 👏👏👏=I liked it, 👏👏👏👏=I really liked it!, 👏👏👏👏👏=I loved it!)

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Synopsis: {none available}

(https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Spider-Man:_The_Manga_Vol_1_6)

Fan Art: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #75 by inhyuklee

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers (👏=didn't like it, 👏👏=it was ok, 👏👏👏=I liked it, 👏👏👏👏=I really liked it!, 👏👏👏👏👏=I loved it!)

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Synopsis: {none available}

(https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Spider-Man:_The_Manga_Vol_1_5)

Fan Art: Spider-Man by grandsyeuxbleu