Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Cobra Kai had a bizarre crossover recently that was actually more significant than fans knew, & Splinter proves why.
Aside from the obvious focus on martial arts, there aren’t too many similarities between the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the Cobra Kai (aka Karate Kid) franchises. Well, except for the fact that they had a crossover that was so under the radar, everyone forgot about it. Not to mention that this crossover–based on canonical information about the character–was Master Splinter’s dream come true.
The TMNT/Cobra Kai crossover didn’t happen through a live-action, animated, or even comic book medium, but instead through action-figures. In 2021, Playmates Toys released limited two-figure box-sets of a Ninja Turtle facing off against a character from Cobra Kai. The toys were displayed and advertised as if this was an actual martial arts tournament–which are commonplace in Cobra Kai–and the TMNT were just like any other challengers. Four of the box sets that were released were: Leonardo vs Miguel Diaz, Michelangelo vs Danny LaRusso, Donatello vs Johnny Lawrence, and Raphael vs John Kreese.
All four Turtle brothers were up against four of the starring characters of Cobra Kai in a crossover tournament that transcended the need for cohesive plot by pairing these action figures against each other and leaving it up to the fans to decide who would win this particular ‘tournament’. It was a fun idea, and it actually had more of an in-canon significance than Playmates Toys may have intended.
TMNT’s Splinter is Inspired by Mr. Miyagi from the Cobra Kai (Karate Kid) Franchise
In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #90 by Kevin Eastman, Bobby Curnow, Tom Waltz, and Michael Dialynas, Splinter–who, at this point in time, is the leader of the Foot Clan–is reminiscing about the good times he used to have with his children. After Splinter accepted his position as Foot Clan leader, the Ninja Turtles turned their backs on him. Splinter did murder a man right in front of them, after all, which came after years of preaching pacifism. Basically, Splinter was a hypocrite, and in this issue, he’s starting to come to terms with that fact. One memory that sparks this change within him is that of Splinter sitting with the TMNT a few years ago, watching kung fu movies.
All four of the Turtles had favorite martial artists, and they were arguing about which one was the greatest of all time. While one Turtle said Bruce Lee and another said Jackie Chan, Splinter said that his favorite was actually the fictional martial artist from the Karate Kid movies: Mr. Miyagi.
Mr. Miyagi is the one who trained Danny LaRusso in the ways of Miyagi-Do Karate, which leads to the formation of the Karate Kid movies and its eventual metamorphosis into Cobra Kai. Basically, Mr. Miyagi is integral to the entire franchise, which is something that Master Splinter is not only aware of, but legitimately inspired by. During the events of this TMNT comic, Splinter was at a crossroads. Splinter isn’t sure if he should continue leading the Foot Clan, or go back to living his life the way he originally intended–the way Mr. Miyagi would have.
Interestingly enough, when Splinter thinks back to the moment he named Mr. Miyagi as his favorite movie martial artist, he gets a visit from Karai who wants to take over the Foot Clan herself, as she is Shredder’s granddaughter, and Splinter immediately makes the effort to begin that transition of power.
Mr. Miyagi inadvertently helped Splinter find his way back to his children, which helped him find his way back to a life of peace. This makes the character immensely significant to Splinter’s life, and the lives of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which is why their forgotten crossover with Cobra Kai is quite literally Splinter’s dream come true.
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