Splinter is a mutant rat who is the sensei and father of the Ninja Turtles. His background seems to be similar to that of the IDW series' Splinter, being a former rat who is also referred to as "Hamato Yoshi."

Along with his four sons and his nemesis Shredder, he was thrown into a different dimension by the alien warlord Krang. Once there, Splinter and his sons took refuge in the sewers, until they clashed with (Bruce Wayne (Prime Earth)|Batman). Splinter kept the superhero at bay until his sons could retreat, then made his own escape. However, he followed Batman to a laboratory, discovering the effect that this dimension was having on the mutants, reverting them back to base animals.