Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe: 16 review — Origin of Zog and Zom
By Alex Widen
The Triceratons didn’t start out as visitors of Earth. Just how did Zog and Zom start an empire in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #16?
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe #16
Writer: Chris Mowry
Artist: Giannis Milonogiannis
Colorist: Lovern Kindzierski
Back-Up Strip: Erika Anderson & Michael Dialynas
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While the title may bare their names, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles themselves don’t always appear. The previous arc shifted long overdue focus onto Karai and her mutant allies Koya and Bludgeon. Yet now the main TMNT series is dealing with the ramifications of the “Trial of Krang.” Consequently, one of those ramifications were the Triceratons coming to Earth. Yet how did they begin, and how did their leaders Zog and Zom rise to power? Those are questions this arc seeks to answer.
Image by IDW Publishing
The Triceratons have been involved with the TMNT franchise since before there was a TMNT franchise! The dinosaur-themed aliens were originally part of the Fugitoid’s own series, crafted by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman before the Turtles formed. They have appeared in every incarnation of the franchise, and often times Zog is among them. As revealed in previous mini-series in bits and pieces, the twist for IDW’s version is that these Triceratons were genetically modified Earth triceratops from pre-history!
Image by IDW Publishing
A Tale from Dimension X’s Past!
The Utroms, and in particular their leader Quanin, used genetic engineering to breed the Triceratons from their humble beginnings into a warrior slave race. Their chief general was Zog, their oldest and greatest warrior. He lost his parents as a youngster and had grown into a fierce and stern warrior. While the lives of all of his kin, or “herd,” are precious to him, the life of one weighs heaviest on Zog. That would be Commander Zom, his lover and second in command.
Image by IDW Publishing
Zom is a fierce warrior in combat, able to ambush enemies despite being the size of a humanoid dinosaur. Yet achieving another victory for the glory of the Utrom empire weighs heavily on her. She and Zog share a few tender moments, what few they can as eternal warriors. While Zog knows of the oppression his people face, he bites his tongue among their Utrom masters such as Krang, son of Quanin. As much as he hates the Utroms, Zog sees them as critical to their survival.
Image by IDW Publishing
Zog considers the Triceratons as a part of the Utrom empire via their position as their warriors. As such, Utrom victories are their victories, and they live off each other. Yet it quickly becomes obvious how little the Utroms care for them. Krang is as close to an ally as Zog has, and even Krang sees Zog as a pawn in his scheme of regicide. After all, Zog is the sole survivor of “the first herd” of Triceratons who all died in one of Quanin’s wars. He was the only one born outside a test tube.
Image by IDW Publishing
As a Result of Flashbacks, a Classic Villain Returns!
Zom, on the other hand, yearns to see the Triceratons freed from tyranny. As their general, she is aware of the rallying figure Zog could be to their herd, and how they would follow him into battle under any circumstance. Yet when Zog is unwilling to make the first step, Zom makes it for him. While documenting the many Triceratons who have died in yet another Utrom war of expansion, she finds an image of Zog’s long deceased parents. After slaying the Utrom Mifor, their path is set!
Image by IDW Publishing
Chris Mowry, writer of many of IDW’s Godzilla comics, weaves a tale set in the ancient history of Dimension X’s past. It’s the first look readers get of the old Utrom empire since 2014’s TMNT: Utrom Empire mini-series. As such, those following continuity know how the tale will end. Eventually Zog will lead a rebellion of the Triceratons against the Utroms, which will result in the end of Quanin’s reign and Krang’s arrival on Earth. In fact, Zog’s actions led to their life-altering mutagen shortage.
Image by IDW Publishing
Speaking of Krang, this is a fun way to see more of him after his end in the main series. Here, he’s as smug and condescending as ever. In fact, that is a consistent theme among the Utroms. They represent the arrogant yet helpless royalty which we on Earth often saw in our past. They may be in authority and they have visions of conquest, yet they allow others to do their fighting and sacrifice for them. Krang, as well as Mifor, never miss a chance to remind Triceratons of “their place.”
Image by IDW Publishing
Meet the Triceratots!
Yet the biggest wild card here is Commander Zom. She’s leading the Triceratons in the present, and has quickly risen to the fore as one of TMNT‘s many non-traditional female characters. None of the Triceratons are “feminized” to showcase gender. Instead, being reptiles, they all look similar. It is her role in the rebellion which had been unknown, and as she is a newer character, this arc is giving her past more of a chance to be fleshed out. It was Zom who struck the first blow of the rebellion.
Image by IDW Publishing
Giannis Milonogiannis is given a mighty task on art here. He has to work with increasingly inhuman designs, including the massively detailed Triceratons. Yet he rises to the fore here in tremendous ways. He shows tremendous range of emotion with Zog and Zom, which is amazing considering triceratops faces are hardly the cuddliest. From their stubby feet to stout forms, Milonogiannis takes full advantage of their designs to visually tell a tale from another perspective.
Image by IDW Publishing
The back-up strip, “Triceratots,” is simply a fun romp. Michael Dialynas returns from drawing TMNT: Dimension X #2 to pencil a cute tale about a pack of toddler Triceratons on their first combat mission. It should be horrifying — a story where an Utrom leads a pack of slave children into a training session — yet the tone remains lighthearted and comedic. Erika Anderson puts a lot of life into a few lines of dialogue, as poor Grel gets batted around like a ping pong ball!
Image by IDW Publishing
Hence, the Best Version of the Triceratons Ever!
The biggest change to the Triceratons that has occurred in this IDW incarnation is their status. In the Mirage comics as well as other adaptations, they tended to serve the role of evil aliens. Not far removed from Klingons from Star Trek, they often served as simple aggressors. One or two (like Zog) may be noble, but they were exceptions to the rule. Over the course of various series from several writers, their status within this new TMNT Universe is more nuanced and interesting.
Image by IDW Publishing
Their origin connecting them to Earth’s triceratops literally and by design was brilliant. It allows them to technically have more ancient ties to Earth than humans. Yet eons spent in Dimension X as warrior slaves have made them a people without a homeland for much of their existence. While their status as the war-dogs of the Utroms gives them a fierce reputation, they are not simple villains. As Zog and Zom demonstrate, they just want freedom and to raise families in peace.
Image by IDW Publishing
Next: See Karai's most noteworthy rise to power in #15!
This issue serves as a microcosm of why the IDW Publishing era of TMNT has been so rich. The various writers and creators have a healthy respect for the source material, enough to produce faithful renditions of figures like the Triceratons, or Zog. Yet it isn’t enough to repeat the past. The innovative new ideas and twists which add depth and weight, and a better reading experience. The Triceratons have never been sympathetic before, and that is what makes this angle a great one to explore!