Krang
Encyclopedia
Krang is a fictional supervillain
who appears in the Sonic The Hedgehog
TV shows and most frequently in the 1987 STH cartoon and its associated media, such as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures
comic book and most of the classic TMNT video games
.
Krang's first comics appearance was in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures
vol. 1, #1, published by Archie Comics
in August 1988. In the TV series, Krang was voiced by Pat Fraley
.
, a powerful mobile battle fortress, and banished Von Drakus who helped Krang build it to Earth. One day, an unexplained, bizarre incident occurred that caused Krang to be stripped of his body and reduced to a brain-like form, also resulting in his exile from Dimension X to Earth, along with the Technodrome.
While on Earth, Krang allied himself with the Shredder
, who, along with his robotic Foot Soldier
army, moved into the Technodrome
. In exchange, the Shredder had to design and build a new body for Krang, a human-shaped exo-suit. Shredder lived up to his part of the bargain in the season 1 episode Shredder was Splintered, in no small part because he was unable to deal with the Turtles and needed Krang's help. Indeed, in the season 3 episode Shredderville, the Turtles have a dream of a parallel world
in which they never lived, and Shredder had no problem taking over the world. In this world, Shredder abandoned Krang after his conquest was complete, leaving him with no body and a heavily-damaged Technodrome.
Krang's ultimate goal is to take over the Earth; it probably only became his objective after he was exiled on the Earth, but this point is never made clear. Every plan Krang conceives is either aimed at that goal, or towards the short-term objective of powering-up the Technodrome. He does not share Shredder's obsession with the Turtles and Splinter; while Shredder sees them as mortal enemies, Krang seems to regard them more like annoyances to be destroyed when they interfere in his plans.
Counting from the first meeting between the Turtles and Shredder and Krang, Krang spent seven seasons in the Technodrome, either somewhere on Earth or in Dimension X, scheming to power up his battle fortress and take over the Earth. Eventually the Turtles managed to banish the Technodrome back to Dimension X without Krang and Shredder. At that point they began operating out of an old science building. Krang and Shredder eventually returned to the Technodrome in the season 8 episode Turtle Trek, but the Turtles destroy the engines of the Technodrome, trapping it and its inhabitants in Dimension X and putting an end to Krang's plans.
Krang spent the next two years in Dimension X, until he was contacted by Dregg. Dregg arranged for him and Shredder to come back to Earth, to help him fight the Turtles. However, Dregg betrays them, and drains Krang's intelligence. Shredder escapes and restores Krang, but Dregg captures them again. Finally, the Turtles spoil his plan and transport Shredder and Krang back to Dimension X.
In the series finale, Divide and Conquer, the Turtles return to the Technodrome to take Krang's android body, which they need to fight Dregg. Krang is nowhere to be seen, but it is assumed that he is still somewhere in Dimension X.
In the Archie Comics series, Krang was depicted as far more evil and wicked than in the cartoon. He was said to have the blood of whole races on his hands, like Wingnut and Screwloose's home planet Huanu.
proportions. This chip was subsequently destroyed in the first episode the suit debuted, though it was apparently repaired in a later episode in which the suit is brought to life by a computer chip from a videogame being played by Bebop and Rocksteady, only for the robot's entire body to be destroyed by a powerful explosive developed by an at the time amnesiac Shredder after Michaelangelo
managed to take control of the machine via his own copy of the same game, though he obviously found a way to somehow repair it in Turtles Forever
, as he again uses its ability to increase in size. The Utrom Shredder Ch'Rell co-opted this technology and quickly defeated Krang in direct hand to hand combat in a matter of seconds.
Even without the microchip, the exosuit had many capabilities. The hands could shapeshift into various weapons (axes, maces, pincers) and even a communication device. In later episodes, however, Krang could be seen changing his arms from a collection of different types he had in his personal quarters aboard the Technodrome. Krang's suit also could "grow" jet wings in place of his arms, which he used to manage a quick escape with Shredder in its first appearance.
Krang also occasionally employed a machine he referred to as a 'walker'. This device was primarily a set of mechanical legs attached to a platform with either glass or some form of transparent but protective covering through which Krang could see, and holes for him to extend his tentacles through so that he could manipulate objects. This particular mode of transport was the version used for the first toy of Krang produced by the toy company Playmates. There were also two toys of Krang and his android body, one a large-scale figure and the other in in scale with the regular-sized figures. Both came with removable Krang figures.
In the 1987 animated series, Krang's natural physical shape is not brain-like, and when he cloned
himself in Invasion of the Krangazoids, his clones, though initially brain-creatures like himself, continued developing until they had complete bodies, leading to the thought that Krang's true form is a large reptilian creature. However, in yet another episode (The Four Musketurtles), members of Krang's species appeared in a flashback looking just like him without the body, using bubble-walkers like his own to move. This is considered to be one of multiple mistakes within the series, and has been contradicted many times on the show.
The Dan Berger
run on the TMNT comic strip
in the mid-1990s indicated that Krang was indeed an Utrom criminal.
While the race of Utroms were not in any way part of the 1987 cartoon, other than being represented by Krang, they would appear in the 2003 TMNT series. Krang of the 1987 universe comes face to face with the Utrom Shredder during Turtles Forever
. Krang is initially pleased with his resemblance to the Shredder's Utrom form.
in the 2003 series as an Utrom in the episode "Secret Origins Part 3". As the Utroms are walking to the transmat to go home one of them complains, "I hate walking on my tentacles". Then, another Utrom replies "Oh, shut up, Krang!". This Krang was voiced by Wayne Grayson
.
Krang also appeares in the 2009 crossover movie, Turtles Forever
, in which he, Shredder and the turtles from the 1987 show end up in the 2003 universe. Although Shredder was able to find his 2003 counterpart, he was unable to find Krang's, even though he exists in this universe (albeit as a regular, non-evil Utrom). Krang is voiced here by Bradford Cameron.
Krang appears briefly in the 2011 fan film Casey Jones
.
Supervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
who appears in the Sonic The Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog may refer to:* Sonic the Hedgehog , a video game series released by Sega starring its eponymous mascot** Sonic the Hedgehog , a video game character and the main protagonist of the Sonic video game series released by Sega** Sonic the Hedgehog , a 1991 platform game developed by...
TV shows and most frequently in the 1987 STH cartoon and its associated media, such as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures was a comic book series published from August 1988 to October 1995 by Archie Comics. It is mainly based on the stories of the mutant turtles Donatello, Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Raphael, and their rat sensei Splinter...
comic book and most of the classic TMNT video games
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (video games)
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles video games have been produced since 1989, largely by Japanese video game manufacturer Konami.The older TMNT games are mostly based on the 1987 TV series, with elements borrowed from the movies, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures, action figures and even...
.
Krang's first comics appearance was in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures was a comic book series published from August 1988 to October 1995 by Archie Comics. It is mainly based on the stories of the mutant turtles Donatello, Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Raphael, and their rat sensei Splinter...
vol. 1, #1, published by Archie Comics
Archie Comics
Archie Comics is an American comic book publisher headquartered in the Village of Mamaroneck, Town of Mamaroneck, New York, known for its many series featuring the fictional teenagers Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge, Reggie Mantle and Jughead Jones. The characters were created by...
in August 1988. In the TV series, Krang was voiced by Pat Fraley
Pat Fraley
Patrick "Pat" Fraley is an American voice actor, who is best known as the voice of Krang, Casey Jones and numerous other characters from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...
.
Biography
Prior to the start of the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon, Krang was in command of an army of Rock Soldiers under the leadership of General Traag, and took the completed TechnodromeTechnodrome
The Technodrome is the semi-spherical tank-like metallic mobile subterranean fortress of Krang and Shredder, the main villains in the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon, the Archie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures comics and most TMNT video game adaptations. The Technodrome was also...
, a powerful mobile battle fortress, and banished Von Drakus who helped Krang build it to Earth. One day, an unexplained, bizarre incident occurred that caused Krang to be stripped of his body and reduced to a brain-like form, also resulting in his exile from Dimension X to Earth, along with the Technodrome.
While on Earth, Krang allied himself with the Shredder
Shredder (TMNT)
The Shredder is a fictional character and primary antagonist from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. At one point or another in every incarnation of the TMNT stories, he has been the archenemy of Splinter and the Turtles...
, who, along with his robotic Foot Soldier
Foot Clan
The Foot Clan is a fictional ninjutsu clan in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles universe and the Turtles' main antagonists. It is usually led by the Shredder. The Foot Clan was originally a parody of the criminal ninja clan the Hand in the Daredevil comics...
army, moved into the Technodrome
Technodrome
The Technodrome is the semi-spherical tank-like metallic mobile subterranean fortress of Krang and Shredder, the main villains in the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon, the Archie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures comics and most TMNT video game adaptations. The Technodrome was also...
. In exchange, the Shredder had to design and build a new body for Krang, a human-shaped exo-suit. Shredder lived up to his part of the bargain in the season 1 episode Shredder was Splintered, in no small part because he was unable to deal with the Turtles and needed Krang's help. Indeed, in the season 3 episode Shredderville, the Turtles have a dream of a parallel world
Parallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
in which they never lived, and Shredder had no problem taking over the world. In this world, Shredder abandoned Krang after his conquest was complete, leaving him with no body and a heavily-damaged Technodrome.
Krang's ultimate goal is to take over the Earth; it probably only became his objective after he was exiled on the Earth, but this point is never made clear. Every plan Krang conceives is either aimed at that goal, or towards the short-term objective of powering-up the Technodrome. He does not share Shredder's obsession with the Turtles and Splinter; while Shredder sees them as mortal enemies, Krang seems to regard them more like annoyances to be destroyed when they interfere in his plans.
Counting from the first meeting between the Turtles and Shredder and Krang, Krang spent seven seasons in the Technodrome, either somewhere on Earth or in Dimension X, scheming to power up his battle fortress and take over the Earth. Eventually the Turtles managed to banish the Technodrome back to Dimension X without Krang and Shredder. At that point they began operating out of an old science building. Krang and Shredder eventually returned to the Technodrome in the season 8 episode Turtle Trek, but the Turtles destroy the engines of the Technodrome, trapping it and its inhabitants in Dimension X and putting an end to Krang's plans.
Krang spent the next two years in Dimension X, until he was contacted by Dregg. Dregg arranged for him and Shredder to come back to Earth, to help him fight the Turtles. However, Dregg betrays them, and drains Krang's intelligence. Shredder escapes and restores Krang, but Dregg captures them again. Finally, the Turtles spoil his plan and transport Shredder and Krang back to Dimension X.
In the series finale, Divide and Conquer, the Turtles return to the Technodrome to take Krang's android body, which they need to fight Dregg. Krang is nowhere to be seen, but it is assumed that he is still somewhere in Dimension X.
In the Archie Comics series, Krang was depicted as far more evil and wicked than in the cartoon. He was said to have the blood of whole races on his hands, like Wingnut and Screwloose's home planet Huanu.
Abilities
Krang used a large, bulky, powerful mechanical body. Krang rested inside a cockpit within the torso. Originally, the suit had a microchip installed that allowed both Krang and the robot to change his size to near GodzillaGodzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
proportions. This chip was subsequently destroyed in the first episode the suit debuted, though it was apparently repaired in a later episode in which the suit is brought to life by a computer chip from a videogame being played by Bebop and Rocksteady, only for the robot's entire body to be destroyed by a powerful explosive developed by an at the time amnesiac Shredder after Michaelangelo
Michelangelo (TMNT)
Michelangelo is a fictional character, one of the four Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles . His mask is typically portrayed as orange outside of the Mirage/Image comic series and his weapons are dual nunchaku, though he has also been portrayed using other weapons, such as a grappling hook, tonfa, and a...
managed to take control of the machine via his own copy of the same game, though he obviously found a way to somehow repair it in Turtles Forever
Turtles Forever
Turtles Forever, also known as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles Forever or TMNT: Turtles Forever is a 2009 made-for-tv animated movie that was produced by 4Kids Entertainment...
, as he again uses its ability to increase in size. The Utrom Shredder Ch'Rell co-opted this technology and quickly defeated Krang in direct hand to hand combat in a matter of seconds.
Even without the microchip, the exosuit had many capabilities. The hands could shapeshift into various weapons (axes, maces, pincers) and even a communication device. In later episodes, however, Krang could be seen changing his arms from a collection of different types he had in his personal quarters aboard the Technodrome. Krang's suit also could "grow" jet wings in place of his arms, which he used to manage a quick escape with Shredder in its first appearance.
Krang also occasionally employed a machine he referred to as a 'walker'. This device was primarily a set of mechanical legs attached to a platform with either glass or some form of transparent but protective covering through which Krang could see, and holes for him to extend his tentacles through so that he could manipulate objects. This particular mode of transport was the version used for the first toy of Krang produced by the toy company Playmates. There were also two toys of Krang and his android body, one a large-scale figure and the other in in scale with the regular-sized figures. Both came with removable Krang figures.
Utroms
Krang's physical appearance was inspired by the Utroms from the original TMNT comic book and in the 2003 animated series there is an Utrom named Krang. However, in the 1987 cartoon, Krang is not an Utrom. There are several important differences:- The Utroms come from another planet in the Milky WayMilky WayThe Milky Way is the galaxy that contains the Solar System. This name derives from its appearance as a dim un-resolved "milky" glowing band arching across the night sky...
galaxy, while in the 1987 cartoon Krang comes from Dimension X. - The Utroms are naturally brain-like aliens, while in the first animated series Krang is an alien who has been stripped of his body and left with only his brain.
- Krang never refers to himself as an Utrom, nor does anyone else, in the 1987 version.
In the 1987 animated series, Krang's natural physical shape is not brain-like, and when he cloned
Cloning
Cloning in biology is the process of producing similar populations of genetically identical individuals that occurs in nature when organisms such as bacteria, insects or plants reproduce asexually. Cloning in biotechnology refers to processes used to create copies of DNA fragments , cells , or...
himself in Invasion of the Krangazoids, his clones, though initially brain-creatures like himself, continued developing until they had complete bodies, leading to the thought that Krang's true form is a large reptilian creature. However, in yet another episode (The Four Musketurtles), members of Krang's species appeared in a flashback looking just like him without the body, using bubble-walkers like his own to move. This is considered to be one of multiple mistakes within the series, and has been contradicted many times on the show.
The Dan Berger
Dan Berger
Dan Berger is an American comic book artist best known for his work on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series.Berger began his career working on the TMNT Adventures series published by Archie Comics and officially began working on TMNT in August 1989...
run on the TMNT comic strip
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic strip
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic strip was started on December 10, 1990 by Creator's Syndicate as a daily. The strip ceased publication in January 1997....
in the mid-1990s indicated that Krang was indeed an Utrom criminal.
While the race of Utroms were not in any way part of the 1987 cartoon, other than being represented by Krang, they would appear in the 2003 TMNT series. Krang of the 1987 universe comes face to face with the Utrom Shredder during Turtles Forever
Turtles Forever
Turtles Forever, also known as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles Forever or TMNT: Turtles Forever is a 2009 made-for-tv animated movie that was produced by 4Kids Entertainment...
. Krang is initially pleased with his resemblance to the Shredder's Utrom form.
Other series
Krang was supposed to appear in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Secret of the Ooze under the false identity of Professor Jordan Perry but it was scrapped though he did make a very brief cameo on a triangular pyramid while the professor put the canistar of ooze on the holder. He also made a cameo appearanceCameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
in the 2003 series as an Utrom in the episode "Secret Origins Part 3". As the Utroms are walking to the transmat to go home one of them complains, "I hate walking on my tentacles". Then, another Utrom replies "Oh, shut up, Krang!". This Krang was voiced by Wayne Grayson
Wayne Grayson
Vinnie Penna is an American actor and voice actor who is mostly known for voice over under the name Wayne Grayson and has worked with 4Kids Entertainment, NYAV Post and DuArt Film and Video....
.
Krang also appeares in the 2009 crossover movie, Turtles Forever
Turtles Forever
Turtles Forever, also known as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles Forever or TMNT: Turtles Forever is a 2009 made-for-tv animated movie that was produced by 4Kids Entertainment...
, in which he, Shredder and the turtles from the 1987 show end up in the 2003 universe. Although Shredder was able to find his 2003 counterpart, he was unable to find Krang's, even though he exists in this universe (albeit as a regular, non-evil Utrom). Krang is voiced here by Bradford Cameron.
Krang appears briefly in the 2011 fan film Casey Jones
Casey Jones (film)
Casey Jones, also known as Casey Jones: The Movie, is a fan film made by Polaris Banks that premiered August 14, 2011 in Austin, Texas at the Marchesa Hall & Theater, and on the internet shortly after on September 18, 2011.-Plot:...
.
Video games
Krang frequently appears in TMNT games as either a final boss or the penultimate boss, as the final boss before fighting Shredder.- In the first arcade gameTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (arcade game)Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, released as Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles in Europe, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Super Kame Ninja in Japan, is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up released by Konami as a coin-operated video game in...
(and the version ported to the NES), he is one of the bosses of the final TechnodromeTechnodromeThe Technodrome is the semi-spherical tank-like metallic mobile subterranean fortress of Krang and Shredder, the main villains in the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon, the Archie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures comics and most TMNT video game adaptations. The Technodrome was also...
stage. He is the penultimate boss of the game. - In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fall of the Foot ClanTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fall of the Foot ClanTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fall of the Foot Clan, released as Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles: Fall of the Foot Clan in Europe, and simply Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in Japan, is a 1990 Game Boy game by Konami. The game is based around the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles television series...
, he is the final boss, rather than Shredder. - In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan ProjectTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan ProjectTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project, released as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Manhattan Project in Japan, is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up released by Konami for the Nintendo Entertainment System in North America in...
, he is once again the penultimate boss. - In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Back from the SewersTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Back from the SewersTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Back from the Sewers, released as Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles II: Back from the Sewers in Europe, and simply Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 in Japan, is a 1991 Game Boy game by Konami...
, he has two boss battles. The first is at the end of the third level, where he fights the Turtles in his walker. He is also the final boss, and fights the Turtles in his exosuit. - In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in TimeTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in TimeTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time, released as Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles: Turtles in Time in Europe, is an arcade video game produced by Konami. A sequel to the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade game, it is a scrolling beat 'em up based mainly on the 1987 TMNT animated...
, Krang initially makes an appearance in the opening, using his giant-sized exosuit to steal the Statue of LibertyStatue of LibertyThe Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886...
. The exosuit appears once again in its giant form on the opening stage, "Big Apple: 3 AM", and near the end of the game he has two boss battles. The Turtles face him first at the end of "Neon Night Riders", and destroy his exosuit. The Turtles face him again in "Starbase: Where No Turtle Has Gone Before", where with his exosuit destroyed, Krang instead flies an archetypal flying saucerFlying saucerA flying saucer is a type of unidentified flying object sometimes believed to be of alien origin with a disc or saucer-shaped body, usually described as silver or metallic, occasionally reported as covered with running lights or surrounded with a glowing light, hovering or moving rapidly either...
. In the XBLA remake, Krang is voiced by Wayne GraysonWayne GraysonVinnie Penna is an American actor and voice actor who is mostly known for voice over under the name Wayne Grayson and has worked with 4Kids Entertainment, NYAV Post and DuArt Film and Video....
. - In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone HeistTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone HeistTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist, released in Europe as Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist and in Japan as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Return of the Shredder is a side-scrolling beat 'em up based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, and was also the...
, he is the mid-level boss of the final stage, featuring the exosuit. - In the Mega Drive/Genesis version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament FightersTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament FightersTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters, or Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles: Tournament Fighters in Europe, is the title of three different fighting games based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, produced by Konami for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Genesis, and Super NES and...
, Krang appears as a non-playable boss with his exosuit.
Utroms
In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash-Up, an Utrominator (from the 2003 episode Same As It Never Was) is a player character. It features a visible Utrom inside the stomach cavity of the suit, it is a homage to Krang.External links
- Krang's profile on the Official TMNT website.
- Krang's Android Body on X-Entertainment.
- Krang - A Tribute on The Rubber Chicken.