“Why did we build that giant Baxter Stockman balloon?”
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Utrom Empire #1
IDW Publishing (January, 2014)
WRITER: Paul Allor ARTIST: Andy Kuhn COLORIST: Bill Crabtree LETTERER: Shawn Lee EDITOR: Bobby Curnow
On Burnow Island Honeycutt wants to destroy himself rather than let Krang download the data he needs to complete the Technodrome. Baxter recruits the robotized scientist to hurt Krang by killing off the Utrom and using the Technodrome for his own plans, But Honeycutt isn’t happy with either situation.
Spliced in are the early days of the Utrom empire, possibly after Krang’s story in the “Villains” micro-series based on his attitude. The Utrom under Krang’s father created the Triceritons using Triceratops from ancient Earth. However, the Tricertons soon decide that empire-building will only destroy the Utrom and rebel.
What they got right: More filling in the gaps of the early days of the Utrom, plus seeing what happened to Fugitoid and Baxter. I like this, and it’s off to a good start.
What they got wrong: Although there’s not much of a framing device as it goes back and forth between the “old days’ and modern times. I know I’m missing a few issues but when did April get any of Chet’s stuff, much less something with info on the Technodrome? Finally, now the Triceratons are tied to this evil version of Utrom? Everyone seems to be connected to these guys, even Shredder and the Turtles despite their own connection. Next we’ll learn Casey’s mom was an Utrom experiment or something.
Recommendation: If you’re following the series, event here are going to be important (provided the writer here is properly consulting with the series writer…I keep having to ask that for these specials) so for them it would be a must-have. For you casual readers, you might get into it and you might not. Might at least be worth a peek.
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