Warning: Spoilers for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers / Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #1!The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' new crossover with thePower Rangersshould have been a celebration. But now that their adventure has begun by causing them to suffer an unthinkable loss, this friendship may be one the Turtles regret.
Even before the newly releasedMighty Morphin Power Rangers / Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III#1, the Rangers have beenallies to the Ninja Turtles. That includes taking guidance from their respective leaders, Splinter and Zordon. Which means the opening attack from Shredder cuts both of the teams. But certainly not equally.
The two teams' plan to foil the budding alliance between Shredder and Lord Zedd goes horribly wrong, whenthe Power Rangers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles watch Lord Zedd evaporate Master Splinter into thin air.
The Power Rangers' Villain Lord Zedd Brutally Kills Master Splinter
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers / Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III#1 by Ryan Parrott and Vincenzo Federici
Following the events ofMMPR / TMNT II,the two teams are dismayed to learn thatLord Zedd has partnered with TMNT rival Shredder. The heroes remain frustrated as their antagonists send one monster after another, leaving them no room to breathe. They are physically and emotionally exhausted from Shredder and Zedd’s assaults.
Zordon and Splinter insist that the ‘teenagers with attitude’ remain patient, and trust the process. Instead, they decide to venture to the Moon Palace alone to investigate their enemies' plans. They are immediately overwhelmed by Zedd and Shredder’s forces, includingnew Power Rangers Bebop and Rocksteady. Worst of all, Zedd takes an opportunity to kill Splinter.
This May Be Splinter’s Most Devastating Death in Comics Yet
Splinter’s Death Comes Without Warning, Caused By One Mistake
This isn’t the first time thatSplinter has died in theTMNTfranchise. InTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #100,Splinter sacrifices his life to save the world. This sacrifice was substantially built up in the storyline, and while it remains bittersweet for fans and the Turtles, his death felt like a natural consequence of the events of the arc.
Splinter’s new death, by contrast, is unexpected and sudden in a way that’s a devastating blow to the Turtles. It’s even worse when considering that it comes as a direct consequence of the Turtles' impatience and ill-conceived plan with the Rangers. Because theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesrefused to trust the process, a Power Rangers villain kills their father.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers / Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III#1is on sale now from BOOM! Studios.
