#maligna

Evil Lyn by Walter Geovani

Tanith Lee does whimsy and I'm very confused

Tanith Lee is one of those writers that fantasy writers love and emulate. Her prose is impeccable. Her take on older stories is always adding new perspectives. Her characters are often fascinating in their evil. Alongside classics like Birthgrave, the Flat Earth series and Paradys there are dozens of bizarre and creepy books that bring fantasy to a new level.

In her career she's had a few outliers. The Gods are Thirsty is a historical fiction about the French Revolution and how things can go very badly very fast. Silver Metal Lover is one of those science fiction books that brings the Turing Test into love and while it's pretty obvious that the robot is only telling her what she wants to hear, how much do we distinguish between true love and love that goes on in our heads (yeah, I have issues)

This is the first time (and probably the last time) that I've read a whimsical book by Tanith Lee. I know that she's written books for children and YA readers that tone down a great deal of sex and violence and nihilism, but this is the first time I've read a book where the main purpose was to amuse the reader.

Stephen King wasn't kidding when he talked about how the first published book is the one that is the least like the author (actually that was an insight by Jack Finney in regards to Invasion of the Body Snatchers but he agreed with it) but I've never seen a first book that was quite as much of a weird outlier than this one. Tanith Lee is not the writer you go to for whimsical children's books.

Then again, there are some very Tanith Lee touches. The plot moves in unexpected ways. There are certain bits that fit together like puzzle pieces. Her characters are exaggerated, especially the ridiculous evil witch Maligna who has bats in her hair. She's also very cheerful about playing around with tropes. The aforementioned Dragon's Hoard is taken without a problem because honestly the dragon doesn't care. One character is cursed to want to give everything away. There are a couple nasty wolves that are often used for comic effect. The curse that turns the Prince into a raven is mostly used for comedy.

There are also points where characters get names like Goodness and Fearless and oddly enough they actually live up to those names.

The main feeling I get from this book is a wonder at what Tanith Lee's career could have been. I don't want Tanith Lee to be any different. I only wish that she had lived on after 2015 and was still writing, but strange to think of an alternate world where Tanith Lee had a Terry Pratchett like career.

come y duerme bien,

y sueña con los angelitos

y no en esta cosa maligna que soy yo.

Pero no me olvides”.

Inej to Nina: Ughhhh men are confusing

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES ADVENTURES #10-18 MAY 1990 - MARCH 1991 BY RYAN BROWN, DEAN CLARRAIN, KEN MITCHRONEY, JIM LAWSON, DON SIMPSON, DAN BERGER, MARLENE BECKER, BUZ MCKIM AND BARRY GROSSMAN

SYNOPSIS (FROM COMIC VINE)

As this issue begins, we see Bebop and Rocksteady dumping toxic waste into the sewers, an act that seems to have caused something wicked to happen to a large planarian worm swimming in the tepid waters.

Cut to the sewer hideout of our favorite mutant turtles. Leo and the boys are having a discussion and they seek out Master Splinter’s advice. It seems that the recent events have deeply troubled our heroes and they’ve decided to stop being reactive to Krang’s evil deeds and try to do something proactive to stop him. The Sensei recommends that they start with their best lead to Krang… the Shredder himself!

Raph is dressed once again in the all-black wrestling costume. Splinter inquires why Raphael is wearing a suit so different from his brothers’, and Raph explains that it will help him be stealthy in the dark. Splinter approves of this reasoning, much to Raph’s delight (and Leo’s disgust!)

Meanwhile, in the Shredder’s secret hideout, an exterminator has arrived to get rid of Shredhead’s roach problem. Shredder leaves the man to his work and calls Krang on the vid screen. It seems that the vile little alien has something planned… he’s searching for something… and of course, Shredder wants in on the action!

The exterminator is busy chasing roaches around when he slips in a room full of mutagen and falls into the sewers.

By now, the TMNT have arrived where Shredder’s sub was hidden… except the vessel is now missing. The Turtles decide to head down a tunnel that has lead to Shredder before, and begin their trek… unaware that a hideous giant planarian worm mutant is following them! As the ninjas head down the pipe, they end up running headlong into a giant mutated roachman! It seems that the exterminator got exposed to the mutagen and has been turned into a monster… much like the planarian worm directly in front of him!

The monsters end up battling over who gets to kill the TMNT, and in their fight they break a gas line and a fuse box, causing a deadly combination of free-floating natural gas and electric sparks. The TMNT realize the danger, and quickly huddle together, using their back shells for protection against the impending.

Bebop and Rocksteady, still trapped beneath the Foot vehicle and rubble. Suddenly, Bebop notices an odd smell… followed by a brilliant light… and we see four very alien creatures.

Meanwhile, the TMNT have gotten disoriented from the blast in the previous issue. The lads head down the passageway where the rats are streaming from, as they believe it to be the direction home. As the Turtles walk, the rodents begin swarming around them. Just as the TMNT decide it’s time to whack some rats, a strange being comes into view… a man dressed in tatters who calls himself the Rat King!

Leo answers the Rat King’s questions and the murky monarch tells the TMNT where to find Shredder. The ninjas follow RK’s directions and eventually come to where Bebop and Rocksteady were buried… only to find that they have been removed by a very powerful force. The lads continue along and find evidence of Shredder, until they run into some sort of Super Foot Soldier standing guard in the sewer. The robot is quite deadly and gives the TMNT a run for their money, but Mikey saves the day with two well-thrown shurikens.

The Turtles find an open manhole cover and make their way to the surface. They find themselves in Shredder’s headquarters… but as they close to investigate voices, they are apprehended by 5 strange aliens and held in suspended animation. Bebop, Rocksteady, Shredder and Krang are all reunited and gloat over their victory.

Cut to the Bayou, where we see the old witch Mary Bones watching the whole event through the mysterious crystal ball known as the Turnstone. The woman is disheartened to see Krang here on Earth and wonders how he has gained control over the aliens, who she names as the Sons of Silence. Mary decides that she must depart the Earth, and uses the Turnstone’s powers to revert to her true form. As she disappears into the ether, she states that she will not be leaving alone… and we see the Turtles dematerialize from Krang’s grasp!

Krang announces that the Turnstone and Mary have returned to Dimension X… no doubt with the TMNT in tow. The villains gather their things and head for Dimension X in their spacecraft!

On a rich savanna, we see two rhinos happily grazing on the fertile land. Soon enough we discover that it’s Rocksteady dreaming of a more peaceful place than the spacecraft that he’s currently aboard with Bebop, Shredder, the Sons of Silence and Krang. The villains are traveling to Dimension X to search for Mary Bones, the Turnstone and the Turtles.

Meanwhile, Mary Bones is explaining the scenario to the TMNT in front of a camp fire on the planet Hirobyl. Mary tells the Turtles that her real name is Cherubae, she was merely disguising herself as an old witch while she was living on Earth. Cherubae states that she was once a Warlord in Dimension X, just as Krang was. Eventually a Theocracy took control of Dimension X and banished all Warlords in their goal to seize absolute power. Some of the Warlords were publically executed, sending others (like Mary) into alternate dimensions seeking refuge, while some (like Krang) chose to stay in Dimension X and went into hiding. The Warlords who remained in Dimension X would go on berserker attacks against the Theocracy, destroying entire planets in the wars. Hirobyl is one such planet, a world that Krang himself had heartlessly destroyed while searching for the Turnstone that Mary possesses. The Turnstone is a trans-animating device of great power, capable of giving certain thoughts form.

The Turtles are curious what to do about Krang and Cherubae explains that he’ll find them soon enough - and on cue, as the sun rises, Krang’s ship zooms into their view. Cherubae flies up to meet the craft and transforms Krang’s tracing device into a parrot with the power of the Turnstone. Krang retaliates by firing lasers at his fellow Warlord, which incapacitate the warrior woman. Cherubae drops the Turnstone and it falls to the ground far below.

The TMNT scramble to locate the powerful item while the Sons of Silence surround Cherubae, who hangs suspended in the air. Krang laments that he knew the aliens couldn’t be trusted. Shredder, Bebop and Rocksteady board flying machines to search for the Turnstone while Krang decides to call another Warlord for help - an insect-like being named Maligna.

Maligna agrees to speak with Krang, but the warrior queen is not pleased with the brainy alien’s destruction of worlds. Krang requests ten warriors to help him retrieve the Turnstone, for which he will give her the planet Earth. Maligna agrees to the terms.

Meanwhile, Shredder and his two henchmen are searching for the Turnstone on their flying buggies. Shredder tells his underlings that they must find the device before Krang does, as Shredder plans to use its power for his own desires. Fortunately the villains are looking in the wrong direction.

The TMNT are running on the ground, trying to locate the lost orb. The boys find a giant coliseum and spot an incoming airship… which turns out to be Cudley the Cowlick! Cudley explains that Mr.Stump wants to help the Turtles find the Turnstone and will give them some help if they agree to another wrestling match. The TMNT agree to the terms and Cudley spits out the helpers: Wingnut and Screwloose, Leatherhead and a fellow named Trap.

As Cudley flies off, the heroes notice that they’ve been surrounded by Maligna’s insect warriors!

Stump Intergalactic Wrestling is once again broadcasting the Turtles’ battle - only this time it’s a fight to find the Turnstone. The TMNT and their allies (Leatherhead, Trap, Wingnut and Screwloose) are skirmishing with the the insect warriors sent by the creepy alien queen named Maligna.

The Turtles, Leatherhead and Trap aren’t having too much trouble battling the bugs in hand to hand combat, although they’re vastly outnumbered. Wingnut and Screwloose fly off to look for Krang. Leatherhead is eventually grabbed by two bugs and sent flying out of the arena where the battle has been taking place. Wingnut and Screwloose find Shredder, Bebop and Rocksteady flying in their hovercars and attack them. On the ground, Trap and the Turtles mop up the rest of the insect warriors and begin to celebrate their victory… just a bit too early, as Krang arrives in his spaceship and begins firing at our heroes.

Meanwhile, Leatherhead recovers from his throw and immediately sees the Turnstone sitting right in front of him. LH decides to think about the woman who turned him into a gator, and Cherubae appears - along with the four Sons of Silence! Leatherhead is surprised to see the aliens as he hadn’t been thinking about them - Cherubae quickly orders him to “unthink” them. LH complies and the Sons of Silence vanish. The gator then asks Cherubae why she transformed him, and she asks him if he’d believe that she knew that Leatherhead would be the only one who could save the day by finding the Turnstone. LH doesn’t believe her, but he hands her the crystal ball and tells her to “make things right.”

Cherubae takes the Turnstone and uses its power to summon Rocksteady, Bebop, Shredder and Krang, who appear before her held immobile inside of a force field. She then uses the device’s vast abilities to destroy all of Stump’s TV cameras… much to the disappointment of the enraptured audience. Finally, Cherubae uses the power of the Turnstone to banish their foes. She sends Bebop and Rocksteady to a jungle world inhabited only by wild animals - a fate the pair seem to truly enjoy. Shredder is sent to a prison on Earth, where he vows vengeance. Krang is sent to Morbus - a toxic waste dumpworld.

Cherubae then makes the Turnstone vanish out of existence, explaining that its power was too great for anyone to wield. The TMNT complain that she could have sent them home before doing that, but Cherubae explains that they’ll be traveling back to Earth with Cudley the Cowlick.

Cudley decides to drop off the TMNT in the tropical rainforest of Brazil, thinking they’ll be of some help.

No sooner has Cudley left than the Turtles are met by a cat man that goes by the name of Jagwar. Friendly greetings are exchanged when a jeep filled with mercenaries suddenly arrives and fires at our heroes. The TMNT and their new ally escape into the jungle and the men leave to tell their partners what they’ve seen.

Jagwar leads the TMNT deep into the southwestern jungle to an ancient temple, a place that the cat man calls home. Jagwar then explains the troubles in his homeland, how some people wish to exploit the rainforest and tear it down to make “a quick buck,” like the mercenaries who had fired at them. He also tells the Turtles that these men assassinated a local union leader recently, a man named Chico Mendes, who was a friend to Jagwar. The mercenaries also kidnapped a reporter who had come to do a story on Chico Mendes, and so Jagwar has vowed to free the newsperson. The TMNT quickly assert that they’ll help Jagwar on his mission.

The five heroes sit down to eat some fruit and Jagwar tells them the lore of his homeland, how the rainforest was both earth and heaven in one. After his tale is finished, the cat man states that it’s time for them to rescue the reporter… who happens to be April O'Neil! The Turtles are astounded by this information, and the group runs through the jungle to save their friend.

Soon enough they find the mercenaries’ camp and quickly defeat the evil men in combat. Once the fight is over, the Turtles and April share a tearful reunion. April notices that Jagwar is also crying, and when she asks him why, the cat man explains that he misses his friend Chico Mendes, and because fifty acres of rainforest is lost every minute.

“April… my friends…” begins Jagwar, “At times I can only cry… because I know not what else to do.”

Meanwhile, back in New York City, we see a skyscraper and hear a phone call to Mr. Null reporting about the problems his organization is facing from “mutant animals.” Null orders the mutants to be followed and scrutinized.

April, the TMNT and Jagwar have spent several weeks rafting down the Pursus and Amazon rivers, living off the land and experiencing an all new and invigorating lifestyle. Jagwar teaches our heroes how to thrive in the jungle and they tell him tales of their adventures, much to the delight of everyone involved.

Eventually the group meets a local tribe known as the Coipacu. They are lead by an elderly woman who holds the title of Paleocha. The woman speaks the “forest language” (something Jagwar is well versed in) and invites our heroes to supper. Jagwar explains that it’s fortunate that the Turtles are turtles, as the Coipacu believe that the world is an island borne on the back of the Great Turtle.

The locals bring the protagonists to a majestic tepui, and lead them through a a cave that reveals an unbelievable world within… populated by not only the Coipacu, but dinosaurs as well!

Later that evening, Jagwar translates the Paleocha’s story about a new creature that has appeared in the tepui - a half man half wolf! Since discovering the wolfman, the tribe has set out a nightly offering of food for him. Jagwar also relates that pirate-miners have discovered this paradise and have begun to kidnap their young men and make them into slaves. The Paleocha seeks the help of the TMNT to stop the pirates and save her people.

Suddenly a howl erupts out of the jungle and everyone spots the wolfman, who has arrived to take his nightly offering. The beast quickly takes his food, noting in English, “That be good stuff, mon” before he zooms back into the jungle.

Later, the TMNT, Jagwar and April head out to investigate the pirate-miners camp at a nearby tepui. The spot hundreds of slaves being forced to dig, and are quickly discovered by an armed guard. Mikey dispatches the man and the heroes attack the pirates. The battle goes well, but Jagwar is surprised by a pirate and held at gunpoint. Before the man can force the Turtles to drop their weapons, something comes screaming out of the jungle at incredible speed and knocks out the villain. The rescuer is the speedy wolfman, who tells Jagwar, “You owe me, mon.” Jagwar cheerfully agrees and the anthropomorphs work together to free the Coipachu slaves.

From a distance, we see a cowboy who calls himself The Kid watching our heroes through binoculars. He notes that the Turtles have been joined by a wolfman and that they’ve wrecked this operation. He also states that Mr. Null is going to be very unhappy with this news. The Kid calls Null and briefs him on what’s happened - Null is upset and tells his henchmen to keep tracking the TMNT to see what motivates them.

The Turtles are welcomed back by the Paleocha and she gives Donatello a gift to thank the Turtles for saving her people. Don is honored to receive the present, which is the leader’s ancient staff. The Paleocha than asks to know more of the wolfman, and he explains that his name is Dreadmon - but at this moment, he’d rather be eating than talking. Mikey backs up Dreadmon on this plan of action.

Later, Don practices with his new staff while the others bask in the beauty of the tepui.

Master Splinter is at home in the sewers of New York City, where he’s attempting to contact the TMNT via astral projection.

Meanwhile, Mr. Null’s henchmen, the cowboy named The Kid, is searching the jungle inside a helicopter, trying to locate the Turtles and their allies. Our heroes manage to escape detection and reach their destination: the Atlantic Ocean. April asks how they’re going to cross the vast sea and the guys get to work building some rafts made from the debris found on the polluted beach (except Mikey, who takes the opportunity to do some surfing).

Once the rubber tube rafts are complete, Jagwar and Dreadmon bring fruit from the jungle so the TMNT and April will have food on their journey. Goodbyes are said and the heroes in a half shell set sail for America.

The group finds an island and decide to do some swimming and investigating. No sooner have the TMNT beached than they’re attacked by a strange submarine that’s equipped with robotic arms, which grabs the Green Team and April and stuffs them into its hull, carrying them off to an underwater headquarters.

Our heroes soon meet up with two other captives, Man Ray (aka Ray Fillet) and his diminutive buddy, a fishy dude from a species called Glublubs. Ray explains that he was swimming with some dolphins who were teahing him how to cope with his new body when he discovered the Glublubs. Unfortunately the fish folk’s coral reef home has been the site for toxic waste dumping. While Ray and the Glublub were viewing the radioactive waste, they both became sick and passed out, eventually waking up as prisoners. The Turtles decide that they’ll have to stop the illegal dumping and hatch a plan to escape. Ray uses his echo-location abilities to determine the thickness of the walls and discovers that the large mirror in the room is thin - which allows the Green Team to cannonball Mikey through the glass and create an escape route.

The TMNT find a group of men on the other side of the glass lead by The Kid - who tells the pirates (known as the Oceanauts) to capture the mutants alive. The Turtles have other ideas, however, and begin to kick Oceanaut butt. Ray runs down The Kid, who fires his pistol - the bullet narrowly misses Man Ray, but strikes the little Glublub in the chest, killing him. The murder enrages Ray, who starts to tear the ship apart. The Turtles try to calm Man Ray, but there’s no stopping him - so they find an access pool that allows them to escape into open water.

Later, Man Ray and the Turtles bury their fallen Glublub friend on the beach, just as a shooting star falls from the sky.

An asteroid is hitting the Earth’s atmosphere - but this is no ordinary meteor, it’s actually a spaceship piloted by two of Maligna’s insect warriors, Skul and Bean. The aliens report to their master, who orders them to find a human that will help them “feed our great hunger.”

Meanwhile, Man Ray has found two humpback whales who were willing to carry April O'Neil and the Turtles back to America, and they arrive at New Orleans. The whales drop the heroes off on a half-sunken ship that has hit a reef offshore. Everyone dives into the sea and begins to swim towards shore when they spot two shrimp boats dropping nets. Ray explains that the nets are supposed to be equipped with a device that will allow sea turtles and other larger animals to escape. April is interested in the process and asks Man Ray to show her how it works, and the former scientist agrees. Ray swims with April on his back up to the nets, but shockingly discovers that these nets do not have the proper extruder devices. This enrages Man Ray and he swims to the surface and demands that the shrimpers pull up their nets. Not surprisingly, the captain of the boat tells Ray to buzz off, but the mutant isn’t happy with this reply and attacks. Unfortunately for the zealous Ray, he is quickly captured in a net and beaten into submission. April swims back to the Turtles to let them know what’s happened.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) are back on board the abandoned ship, where Master Splinter has finally managed to contact them via astral projection. Splinter is pleased to discover his sons are doing well and experiencing so much of the world. As Splinter’s image fades, April arrives with the news.

Later, the Shrimpers pull up their nets expecting to see a rich booty of shrimp, but only find trash and debris. The Turtles appear on the back of a giant turtle, wearing costumes and trying to pass themselves off as vengeful turtle spirits. The act fools one of the crews and they abandon ship, but Cap'n Mossback is unimpressed and fires a harpoon at the turtles. The TMNT dive into the water and climb aboard Mossback’s ship, where a battle ensues. April uses the diversion to free Man Ray, who crashes through the deck and frightens Mossback into falling overboard. To everyone’s surprise, the captain can’t swim and soon sinks beneath the surface of the water. No one is in a hurry to rescue the pirate, but soon the giant turtle that the TMNT had arrived on surfaces, with the captain safely on its back.

Back in New York City, The Kid arrives at Null’s headquarters to report his failure in tracking the Turtles. Null is angry, and introduces Kid to his new business partners… the insect warriors Skul and Bean!

April and the TMNT bid farewell to Man Ray as they board a train that will carry them back to New York City. The heroes arrive safely back in the sewers and as they head for their lair, they hear music. The guys decide to track the tunes and discover that they’re coming from Shredder’s abandoned headquarters. The Turtles wonder what’s up, since Saki is in prison, and they investigate the source of the music. Soon enough the TMNT discover that a local Metal band has set up a practice space in the warehouse. The lead guitarist begins some histrionics that cause a fuse to blow and the room falls into darkness. The TMNT hear something entering the room, and when the lights come back on, they see that the Metalheads have been surrounded by robotic Foot Soldiers!

April and the TMNT spring into action as the Foot assault the group. The band’s leader, Mondo, is punched and sent flying into a stockpile of barrels - filled with Mutagen! Mondo has a pet gecko on his shoulder, so the Mutagen begins to morph him into a gecko-man.

The battle with the Foot continues. A Super Soldier has grabbed Mondo’s girlfriend and carries her off to a rooftop, with Mikey and Mondo in hot pursuit on skateboards. Mondo uses his thrashing abilities to knock the Foot off of the roof and saves his girl, Candace. Unfortunately for the mutant Metalhead, Candy tells him that she doesn’t think she can deal with his new appearance, and the two split up.

The TMNT arrive and assure Mondo that he’s welcome to stay with them. Donatello notices a bunch of meteors zooming around a building that bears a familiar logo. The guys note the weird phenomena and then head back to the sewers, where they find Master Splinter and some fresh pizzas.

REVIEW

Little I knew the first time I read this, that it was all part of the plan to introduce the “Mutanimals”. It all makes much more sense now.

I mentioned before that Barry Grossman seems to paint all eyes as blue. Well, it continues here, but it feels sometimes like the art team wasn’t in the loop with the cartoon version of these characters. In this story, Rocksteady dreams about his time as a Rhino in Africa. And in the end, both him and Bebop are sent to a planet to roam free with other animals. This of course contradicts both, the cartoon and the book itself, as in issue #6 it was mentioned that they used to be humans.

The Rat King is thrown in the mix for no other reason than to make another character debut. You remove him from the story and nothing changes (although, he does tell them where the Shredder is, but because they ended up being trapped I have the feeling, they were always going to end up there).

And as great as the “final conflict” may feel. Cherubae could have prevented all of it by doing what she ended up doing, at the beginning of the story. There was no need of letting things unfold like that, unless of course, she thought the future was already set in stone.

Then we have the trip to Brazil were everybody seems to speak Spanish or English. My feeling here is that they weren’t completely in Brazil. It is mentioned at some point that they are in the border with Colombia, so that could explain why characters and language sound Spanish. The art in that issue, however, is the least good looking of the bunch.

Ray Man becomes Ray Fillet, officially, even if no one calls him by that name. And we have a death. This death was just weird, as the little fella comes with the toy (I would have expected him to stay alive for the book). Some people feel uneasy with the eco-messages in this story. Well, let me tell you something. I read this when I was 10 or 11. And I actually learned things by doing it. Like how to make Turtles not die when fishing for shrimps. And even the circle of life, before the Lion King, in something that I probably didn’t understand back then, but I do now (the book gives perfect examples of how the circle of life works in the rainforests).

Finally, the Mondo Gecko issue felt too rushed, just like most of the issues that introduce a new character.

Overall, these comics left memories in my head. Whenever I remember this run, I remember these issues, plus the final confrontation with Krang that came later. Sure its message about the environment are heavy handed, but it’s not a topic that doesn’t fit the property. In fact, Mirage Studios made a lot of stories around these subjects.