The Turtles are forced to fight Triceratons warriors in a big arena

#6Edit

Script: Kevin Eastman & Peter Laird
Pencils: Kevin Eastman & Peter Laird
Inks: Kevin Eastman & Peter Laird
Lettering: Steve Lavigne

• Major characters: Commander Mozar, Donatello, Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Raphael, Fugitoid, Triceratons, April O'Neil, Zanramon, Triceraton All-Star Team, Monza Ram, General Zath, Zed and Raz, Jim McNaughton, Captain Farrillo,
• Cover date: February, 1986

SynopsisEdit

The Fugitoid, a captive on one of the Triceratons' asteroid ships, is taken to the Triceraton homeworld - an unbelievable conglomerate of other asteroid ships connected into a single, gigantic planetoid. As the Triceratons try to convince a doubtful Honeycutt to join them, the TMNT are found on board the ship which brought them here. The Turtles have put themselves into a meditative trance to conserve the limited oxygen that was available in the cargo hold during the space journey. Surprisingly, the Triceratons who find our heroes decide to keep them alive.

Meanwhile, the Triceraton High Council is meeting with the Fugitoid in effort to convince him that the Federation is a terrorist organization that must be stopped. Prime Leader Zanramon of the Triceratons states that the good doctor's Transmat device is just what they need to accomplish their goal. Honeycutt confesses that even if he could build the device, he wouldn't do it for anyone, as he has no desire to see it used as a weapon. As Zanramon makes a veiled threat, he is interrupted by his men who display the captured TMNT. The Fugitoid asks the Triceratons not to harm his friends and the High Council quickly seize on the opportunity to blackmail Honeycutt into working for them.

The Turtles are shackled and lead to a jail cell. Before they're incarcerated, Michaelangelo picks a fight with one of the guards and a scuffle breaks out. The Triceratons are impressed with Mike's spunk, but the battle is easily won by the saurians (who have the advantage of being unbound) and the Turtles are thrown headlong into the awaiting prison.

We cut to the Fugitoid who is mourning the situation alone in nice quarters. Honeycutt decides that he cannot work on the Transmat, even if it means the death of himself and his four friends.

Back on Earth, we find April entering her apartment and missing the boys, who have been gone for two days. April turns on the television and hears a news report regarding a strange phenomena emanating from the T.C.R.I. building (where the Turtles had gone 48 hours ago). A police captain explains that when the boys in blue attempted to enter the building to investigate, it sealed itself off and has become an impenetrable fortress. The National Guard has been requested for back-up. April sits on the floor in shock and dejectedly wonders what she can do to help her friends.

On the Triceraton homeworld, the TMNT are being forced to fight for their lives in a monstrous arena filled with thousands of bloodthirsty fans. Fortunately the boys are no longer shackled, and their battle against the Triceraton gladiators goes well. As the fight wages, one of the television camera ships that's covering the event zooms in too close to the action and the TMNT are able to board it. The Green Team maneuvers the vehicle to the platform housing the Triceraton High Council and the Fugitoid and bail out. The Turtles quickly take the Prime Leader hostage and prompt him to lead them to a ship. As they approach the hangar, our heroes are ambushed. Zanramon is killed in the crossfire by his own men. Just as the Turtles and Honeycutt are about to be blasted to bits, they're engulfed in a power field... along with three Triceraton warriors.

NotesEdit

• This story follows TMNT(Vol. 1) #5. The story continues in (Vol. 1) #7.
• The Turtles’s gladiatorial battle will leave them quite a legacy among the Triceraton people, as seen in TMNT (Vol. 4) #28.
• A unit of Triceratons, dispatched to follow the transmat signal to Earth, will appear in TMNT (Vol. 2) #12.
• The first printing of this issue also featured a bonus pin-up by Jeff Gaither and Willie Peppers and a Prime Slime Tales back-up story, “Zigbone the Cat in Catatronic Dreams”.
• CHET ALERT: The name “Chester” can be seen on a building on page 14. “Chet/Chester” was an Easter Egg dropped into many Turtle comics by the Mirage Studios staff because… they just liked that name!
• This issue was adapted in the 2003 TV series "Turtles in Space" episodes.

Reprinted inEdit

• 2nd printing, with added back-up story It's a Gas (May 1987)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Book II, in color.
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Collected Book 1
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Collection Volume 1
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Color Classics #7, in color.

External linksEdit

• Complete issue avaliable to read at the Mirage Group website