TMNT Universe #21 Preview and Discussion

[AlZarkovski]

Full preview coming soon. First look:

https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple118/v4/39/66/73/396673b1-1302-2790-65d9-163ed1c15e05/source/360x480bb.jpghttps://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple128/v4/8e/a0/f0/8ea0f0f4-d668-d39f-4f33-b32fd8eaf8a9/source/360x480bb.jpghttps://is5-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple128/v4/a7/e0/ae/a7e0aedd-09c8-5eac-4c25-db890a2c02a4/source/360x480bb.jpg

[CyberCubed]

I can barely read the text, but it would be nice if the aftermath of the Triceratons is resolved in this 2-parter.

[Utrommaniac]

Oh, who could have seen that coming?

The guy in the first panel gave me a pretty good laugh with his big ol' headphones.

I was able to read closer on the iTunes preview. And was immediately confused. Did the turtles tell Ma'riell that Krang was dead? Because Kleve and Montuoro never planned to.

Regardless, Don's opening dialogue is pretty suspenseful and I'm hyped to see where it goes. Likely to Ch'rell screwing up whatever peace Ma'riell and Zom try to make.

(Come on, ladies, you can do it!)




'Scuse me, are you taking a nap in the middle of what feels like an invasion, or holding a baby?
https://i.imgur.com/SwpKuW2.png

*Many hours later*
I may have realized that I was looking in the wrong place for the eye...

[Utrommaniac]

By downloading the sample on iTunes, it turns out the two parter is called "Lost Causes".



I'm looking at you, Ch'rell and Kleve.

[ChosenOne]

Huh... So I guess the TPB doesn't get its "The Coming Doom" title from this arc after all?

[Utrommaniac]

In that case...what in the world are Mike and Mondo going to find?


In the other case, I can relax my concerns for my girl Ma'riell's safety.

[bushido]

Full preview here (http://www.multiversitycomics.com/previews/tmnt-universe-21/).

[CyberCubed]

This looks very interesting, I'm glad we're getting the aftermath of the Triceratons so quickly. Also really excited to see what the Utroms do next.

[Utrommaniac]

Yeah, I pretty much saw that exact situation coming :lol: .

Don should probably bring Ma'riell a good, strong coffee at some point while she deals with all this.



But the design of their legs...
https://i.imgur.com/fwcy1Iy.png
Legs for days :lol: . Looks like rubber stretchy toys that got left in the sun too long. I love it.


All things considered though, I do wonder what "aftermath" means. Especially with Universe being the line to fill in spaces and introduce characters when there isn't time otherwise. So I don't think anyone (important) is going to get killed. Nothing "HUGE" happens for the most part in the same way it does for the ongoing line.

Then again, Don's "Instead they got me" comment in his narration is a little disconcerting :lol:

[Utrommaniac]

The "new villain" was Kleve all along??? :-?
And maybe Drel?

A little disappointing on that side, but otherwise a pretty nice issue.


Maybe Ch'rell will come out in the next one...once Kleve gets the security stuff he's been wanting.


Whose idea was it to give the teenager the weird black champagne?

Pffff. Is that a knife in your hand or are you just happy to see him?
https://i.imgur.com/TmrjDWj.png
I'm also pretty surprised that thing didn't go all the way through Kleve's arm; that thing's huge in comparison!

There is a bit where it looks like some speech may have gone missing.
https://i.imgur.com/qXCExgm.png
Because it looks like Kleve never finished speaking where he was supposed to.

With the...rather gruesome reveal at the end of the issue, I get the feeling that it's probably going to be even harder to find any Krang remains, if someone decides they want to make that basically impossible effort.


I do think that the summaries of both issues would efficiently cover the whole thing. Granted, with certain elements swapped.
#22's description was much more appropriate for this issue.
The setup for a "new villain" in this one's summary doesn't really come to conclusion (I'm pretty sure Kleve doesn't count), so that might be the case in the next.


While it was a pretty good read, it does feel like there were a few slips in production. Such as the aforementioned missing dialogue. And some of the character design creating situations in which it looks like Kleve has floating powers on two occasions :lol: .

They don't really bring up what the Utroms have been eating in the negotiations, which might have been helpful for the conversation. They're obviously carnivores, but in their predicament, they've probably resorted to being pescitarians.

And given all the inedible parts that fish have...there's some solution to the plant problem.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

This was a great issue. Really, really loved it. Can't wait for the conclusion! Donatello, Zom, and Mariell really have their hands/tentacles full...

Loved the backup, too... over the top, but fun. :tgrin:

[ChosenOne]

This is the kind of issue that makes me glad we have a second ongoing. Just perfect all around!

[neatoman]

Seeing Kleve wrap himself around the Triceraton's face reminded me of this.
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/villains/images/c/c2/Trishred.PNG/revision/latest?cb=20141204145347

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Seeing Kleve wrap himself around the Triceraton's face reminded me of this.
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/villains/images/c/c2/Trishred.PNG/revision/latest?cb=20141204145347

I was wondering if we'd see that, too... :tlol:

[CyberCubed]

This was a great issue, reminded me of Star Trek. The Triceratons are the Klingons, the war like race who are trying to be peaceful but its not in their nature, the Utroms are the Vulcans, and Donatello represents the Federation. I really loved the revelation that dead Utroms helped fertilize the land for the Triceratons food source.

Kleve being a bit of a villain is interesting too, I don't think Ch'rell will wake up anytime soon (honestly I wouldn't be surprised if they save him for post issue 100), and it was interesting to see all the distrust going on. The Woody back-up was fun too.

One last thing, what does, "Let's table this" mean? They said it like 5 times in the issue. I never heard that term before. "We cannot table this" etc...?

[ChosenOne]

One last thing, what does, "Let's table this" mean? They said it like 5 times in the issue. I never heard that term before. "We cannot table this" etc...?

Not sure, but from the context it means "Let's put this on the back burner".

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

This was a great issue, reminded me of Star Trek. The Triceratons are the Klingons, the war like race who are trying to be peaceful but its not in their nature, the Utroms are the Vulcans, and Donatello represents the Federation. I really loved the revelation that dead Utroms helped fertilize the land for the Triceratons food source.

Kleve being a bit of a villain is interesting too, I don't think Ch'rell will wake up anytime soon (honestly I wouldn't be surprised if they save him for post issue 100), and it was interesting to see all the distrust going on. The Woody back-up was fun too.

One last thing, what does, "Let's table this" mean? They said it like 5 times in the issue. I never heard that term before. "We cannot table this" etc...?

To table something means to postpone it; to put off discussing it, and discuss less controversial matters first.

And yeah, Utrom fertilizer was a delightful plot twist... :tgrin:

[ChosenOne]

Leatherhead has probably figured out the use of Utroms as fertilizer himself by now. :D

[Utrommaniac]

Like I said before, anything left of Krang is probably going to be impossible to find by the time they can get around to finding Leatherhead.
I did realize a rather morbid connection with that. Namely when Kleve states that the Triceratons are "used to fighting women and children". So...yeah, that situation got a whole lot worse.


I'm not so sure Kleve is quite worthy of "major villain" levels of antagonism enough to deserve the title that was set up in the summary. If we want to be a little more on the nose, he's not even the one that picked a fight with Drel; he was attacked and retaliated - and wasn't even able to leave a mark on him. (Gotta say though, his immediate change in attitude between Drel's escape and getting aid was great. "See ya later, b*tch"--"OH THE BRUTE!") switch Which is pretty much the worst he's done so far, aside from his sneaking around with the intention of freeing Ch'rell. Who would probably be far more active in doing actual harm to the Triceratons than Kleve would. All things considered, Drel was way more openly antagonistic from the start; you know he gave his rank just to get under that one Utrom's skin.



But...where did Montuoro go? He's pretty much been Kleve's toady for a while but he doesn't seem to be around at this point.


And Ma'riell's quills! They ended up not showing up in this issue.
(I came up with my own answer that they're keratinous in some way, so they can grow and be trimmed back, so at some point prior to everything going on, she just cut them down to the base as close as she could. I imagine they get in the way of a lot of things.)

[AlessandraDC]

Great issue. I loved the dark humor in it. And the back story was hilarious!

[Allio]

So that’s what Ch’rell meant by food is made from Utroms.

[CyberCubed]

I wonder if Kleve will die in the next issue.

[KillCrites]

I can't wait to see what IDW does with Ch'rell as a character.

[CyberCubed]

They have to do something unique with him, otherwise he'd be too similar to their Krang.

[Allio]

Just saying. Ch’rell would look good in a tinfoil hat

[Ninjinister]

Not sure, but from the context it means "Let's put this on the back burner".

Yeah essentially "this can wait until after more pressing issues have been handled".

So how hilarious would it be if Kleve finally revives Ch'rell and he doesn't agree with him?

[Utrommaniac]

I mean, maybe...

But it would mean excluding the fact that he'd have to react to his own sister teaming up with the girlfriend of the guy who nearly killed his "beloved leader" three times.

I could see Ch'rell being more interested in avenging Krang until the EPF forces him to swallow his pride and work with Zom to drive them out.

On the side of things not going like Kleve expected, it would probably be more of a "Okay, that's going a little overboard sir, please chill."

[neatoman]

"Soylent Green is Utroms!"

[Redeemer]

Is anyone else getting tired of them teasing about Ch'll
I mean come on!!!!!!!! I want hime to wake already.

[Utrommaniac]

YES.

p6BEdKTGhNg

[ChosenOne]

If he doesn't come out of stasis in the next issue, then the odds of his revival being saved for post-#100 increase dramatically. After Kingdom of Rats, the main ongoing is only one or two arcs away from the finish line starting in the early- to mid-#90's, and there's plenty of ground left to cover there already.

[CyberCubed]

Ch'rell probably won't wake up till post issue 100. The main series is dealing with the Patheon for the next few issues till issue 85, then we'll likely have more Bishop stuff (the attack on Burnow Island, probably?), and then lead back to the Patheon for the issue 100 finale.

Beyond that they'll probably cover Null in Universe and have Karai and Leatherhead return to the main series soon. There's just not much room for another rogue Utrom now.

[Utrommaniac]

Still doesn't mean he won't get out.

Kleve's ambitions with getting around security has go somewhere. And it's too big a tease for someone to slap him on the "wrist" and tell him to cut it out next issue.

[ChosenOne]

Ch'rell probably won't wake up till post issue 100. The main series is dealing with the Patheon for the next few issues till issue 85, then we'll likely have more Bishop stuff (the attack on Burnow Island, probably?), and then lead back to the Patheon for the issue 100 finale.

Beyond that they'll probably cover Null in Universe and have Karai and Leatherhead return to the main series soon. There's just not much room for another rogue Utrom now.

At this point, I'd be okay with Null waiting until after #100 as well. There's just not much room left to pick up on yet another thread and whatever it is she's cooking up seems big enough that it won't just be confined to Universe. Hell, it might end up being the biggest threat the Turtles have faced so far.

[CyberCubed]

Null has never appeared in the main series, she really has no reason too. She's disconnected from everything else. She seems like the typical side-villain subplot that TV shows do when they need a sidestory cooking.

[ChosenOne]

Null has never appeared in the main series, she really has no reason too. She's disconnected from everything else. She seems like the typical side-villain subplot that TV shows do when they need a sidestory cooking.

I once asked Bobby about that, not long ago, and he said she would or might (drawing a blank on the exact word) eventually appear in the main ongoing. I know exactly what you mean, but it's not unheard of for those same typical side villains to take over as the big bad once the competition is gone.

[Utrommaniac]

The biggest problem with postponing Ch'rell to a post-100 issue is that #100 won't be until November 2019 by my calculation.

And Ch'rell was first teased two years ago. So delay him just another year or two is just too much - and frankly irritating. He would have been revealed in 2016 and then not let loose until 2020 by that calculation. That's too long even by this series' standards. Leave the slowburn to Kitsune's big ambitions.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

The biggest problem with postponing Ch'rell to a post-100 issue is that #100 won't be until November 2019 by my calculation.

And Ch'rell was first teased two years ago. So delay him just another year or two is just too much - and frankly irritating. He would have been revealed in 2016 and then not let loose until 2020 by that calculation. That's too long even by this series' standards. Leave the slowburn to Kitsune's big ambitions.

You forget how long we had to wait for Leatherhead.

And I think I figured out where Monturo is... hunting Leatherhead, who is in hiding somewhere on Burnow Island.

[Utrommaniac]

Yeah, that is true. Though, the teasing in Turtles in Time before his proper introduction two years later does coincide pretty evenly with Ch'rell's stuff. And it doesn't seem like too much of a coincidence for a new waiting game to start as soon as Leatherhead finally showed up properly. And that was still after the second tease when Leatherhead brought the Ooze to heal Donatello (it never explains where he was keeping it, though).
I'm not so sure they'd keep Ch'rell on the shelf (literally and narratively) for too much longer.


It actually would make for a pretty funny scene for Montuoro to emerge from the forest without any luck finding Leatherhead and seeing the Triceratons on the island working with the Utroms.
"What the hell happened here...and how?"

[CyberCubed]

Slow burning plots is what this series does a lot. Null was introduced several years ago, her main plot in the series hasn't even started yet. :lol:

[ChosenOne]

Are we sure Leatherhead's back on Burnow? Feels like a waste of an arc to bring him to New York, he's much more interesting smack dab in the middle of everything (not that plenty doesn't happen on the island but you get my point).

As for Null, there needs to be something to look forward to after #100... ;) The Archie version was one of that run's biggest villains and she has even more going on here. More than a fitting successor to Shredder, Krang, Kitsune and Bishop.

[Utrommaniac]

He took the portal that Kleve and Montuoro were supposed to go through with Krang, so that's why we think he's there.

But yeah, total agreement on his brief departure to New York being a waste of time.

[Powder]

This was a great issue. Really, really loved it. Can't wait for the conclusion! Donatello, Zom, and Mariell really have their hands/tentacles full...

Loved the backup, too... over the top, but fun. :tgrin:

This is the kind of issue that makes me glad we have a second ongoing. Just perfect all around!

Well said!

Ch'rell probably won't wake up till post issue 100. The main series is dealing with the Patheon for the next few issues till issue 85, then we'll likely have more Bishop stuff (the attack on Burnow Island, probably?), and then lead back to the Patheon for the issue 100 finale.

Beyond that they'll probably cover Null in Universe and have Karai and Leatherhead return to the main series soon. There's just not much room for another rogue Utrom now.

At this point, I'd be okay with Null waiting until after #100 as well.

Yeah, that's all fine with me. The book has a tendency to get crowded, so the pace for our course ahead seems just right!

[Redeemer]

Also I have to give props to the back-up issue, I still rather them just drop it to get the price down to 3.99, but the last two back up issues I have really enjoyed.

[ChosenOne]

Yes indeed, Woody's little wartime adventure was really fun and seemed to last longer on the page than the number of pages it lasted (if that makes sense :lol:), which I'd say is the sign of a job well done!

(Is it weird if I say the art for the back-up reminded me of Calvin & Hobbes a tad? Almost like a cross between Watterson and Eastman.)

[neatoman]

The pizzaman we see handing off the pizzas to Woody, is Rupert? If so, this is the first time we've actually seen him, right?

[spookycookies]

The pizzaman we see handing off the pizzas to Woody, is Rupert? If so, this is the first time we've actually seen him, right?

Yes if it’s Rupert he’s only been referenced to before.

[DrSpengler]

Here's my full summary and review of TMNT Universe #21 at TMNT Entity. (https://tmntentity.blogspot.com/2018/04/tmnt-universe-21.html)

"Invasion of the Triceratons" had such a hasty conclusion, it really needed this epilogue. So far, I'm enjoying it quite a bit and it might retroactively improve my opinion of the "Invasion" arc, though I don't want to get ahead of myself.

Also, good to see Torres again on art. I know he returned previously during TMNT/Ghostbusters 2, but Delgado's colors didn't really match his pencils/inks so I'd rather overlook that one and consider this to be his real comeback. Pattison got the mood of the colors right and they're a great blend. This is a very grim and intense arc, both in terms of script and artwork.

[Utrommaniac]

In light of the use of using Utroms as fertilizer, I realized...why don't they just make Unity Field a burial ground? It's not like humans are already experimenting with "organic burial" to nurture plant life! (http://www.naturalburialcompany.com)
It's tricky, but it would be a pretty simple compromise. One problem is that it's so close to the shore that everything could get washed out in a storm. (Also, I'm pretty sure that's the location of Krang's "Simba Lift" scene)

Of course, it would be a neutral burial ground, Triceratons would just need a bigger hole in the ground.

Also, how was it not incredibly obvious that the Triceratons were using Utrom casualties as fertilizer? The whole population is wiped out and suddenly the land is prolific? It's a pretty easy connection.

It doesn't really take all that much though. I even figured it out as soon as Yot refused to tell Churk how they did it.
They put sapience, a sense of morality, and bipedalism in big dumb grazing muscle tanks and conquered space travel. I'm sure they could have figured it out easily enough.



https://i.imgur.com/1Y1nWRK.png?2

[Zage]

Yes if it’s Rupert he’s only been referenced to before.Is it just me, or does he kinda look like a pre-mutated version of the 90s toy version of Pizza Face

[***First of Two Latin Kings***]

Leatherhead has probably figured out the use of Utroms as fertilizer himself by now. :D

Why? Is Leatherhead growing a garden with his own poo?

[ChosenOne]

Why? Is Leatherhead growing a garden with his own poo?

Yay, someone who figured out what I was getting at! :D

Not necessarily a garden but I bet there's a particularly good-looking shrub in a corner of his sewer lair right about now... In a shade of pink! :lol: