“Yesterday’s” Comic> Fugitoid

Some Star Wars fans treat knockoffs a bit too strict.

Fugitoid

Mirage Publishing (1985)

(originally presented in Gobbledygook #s 1&2; 1984)

WRITERS/ARTIST: Kevin Eastman & Peter Laird

This story takes place after the fourth issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and carries into issue #5. Or more accurately it takes place DURING the events of the fourth issue.

On a far off planet, a scientist named Honeycutt is being pushed by General Blanque to complete work on his transmat device, which Honeycutt is convinced he wants to use for war and power. During a lightning storm a bolt hits Honeycutt and his robot, Sal, frying Honeycutt’s body but thanks to an experimental telepathic headband his mind is transferred into Sal. Initially ordering him destroyed for murdering Honeycutt, Blanque learns about the mind transfer and wants to force the robot (who has no rights) to finish the transmat. He orders the “fugitoid” captured instead but as Honeycutt tries to get to the city he’s captured by scavengers and sold at auction, believed to just be another robot. Honeycutt manages to escape his buyer while Blanque tells his loyal assistant about Honeycutt’s actual fate. This turns out to be a mistake as one of the general’s enemies, the Triceratons, learns through her (the agent is fueling her drug habit) about Honeycutt and the transmat. He kills her and his own associate to keep secret that he knows. Meanwhile, the police manage to catch up with Honeycutt but before they can take him in a teleportation beam drops off four strange creatures, resembling Earth terrapins wearing masks and carrying ninja weapons.

What they got right: We get a good introduction to all the major players in this event: Honeycutt, General Blanque, and the Triceratons aren’t fleshed out (and the “Federation” Blanque is part of won’t be in this storyline–making Blanque himself the only actual villain on the human side) but are shown what their roles will be in the Turtles’ latest adventure.

What they got wrong: The Turtles’ arrival may lead into the next issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles but the ending as presented does hurt the standalone potential of the story. What they have might have made an interesting series on its own, and the next issue of TMNT does a good job summing up these events.

What I think overall: This story isn’t necessary to follow the events in the Turtles’ comic. It wasn’t included in the First Publishing colorized trade I own and I didn’t miss it, nor did IDW reprint it to my knowledge when they were doing their “Color Classics” colorized reprints. At best this story is flavor text but worth finding if you can get it at a decent price. After a quick check…good luck with that.