Terrorpin

Terrorpin is a monstrous from the second volume of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mirage comic series. He would later return in second volume of Tales of the TMNT in the story 'The Cure'. He is the companion, guardian protector, and make-shift steed of Rihana,the Sewage and her young baby Ocenee. It is unknown if he is a mutant, or just a rare case and genetic anomaly of an overgrown snapper. Snapping turtles have remained almost genetically unchanged for millions of years and can potentially live an extremely long time. That being said, this near-primitive beast may actually be a very old creature.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Volume 2
The Terrorpin was the largest alligator snapping turtle to go under the humans' records and is the biggest threat in some of the lost portions of the N Y C sewer system.

Upon seeking new refuge for his family, Leonardo had accidentally invaded the creature's space. Also the nest and domain of the mystifying fish woman...Rihana, The Sewage.

Her people near extinct,the protection of her unborn child became her priority. Leonardo's sudden appearance had represented questions with little time for communication or answers on both sides.

The Terrorpin, but a Juggernaut and would devour any living thing for naught. Even a distant mutated relative.

No matter what the case, the Terrorpin was protecting his master's domain.

Leo would smite the creatures right eye to escape it's powerful bite at one point. But this would do little in hindering the beast's pursuit of the Teenager.

It was survival of the fittest, even if the maddening situation was brought upon a premise of miscommunication in the first place. In fact, Leo was at ground zero. The Sewage's protector was finally catching up to the young Ninja in the mad dash.

Seemingly have eluded the Snapper, Leo was face-to-face with the Fish Woman.

Leo had had enough if all this. He threatened to slaughter Rihana's egg with his sword.

She screames, "NO ! ".

But hot on Leo's trail, yet a level above the nest, the ancient structures and support of this dilapidated area could not withstand the overbearing weight of the Snapper.

The structure from above gave way and the monster came careening straight down upon his master, the Fish Woman and Leo.

Leonardo barely survived and was rescued from the rubble by Casey Jones and his brothers.

Sadly it seemed as if Rihana and her mighty Terrorpin had not survived in the wreckage.

Although her egg lay in tact amidst the rubble. Mother laying over the fragile cocoon protecting it's most precious of treasures.

Tales of the TMNT, Volume 2
Rihana is no ordinary creature herself with as much mystery surrounding her origins as that of her mighty steed. Ancient healing arts, mysticism, magic, are questionable properties surrounding her nature. The Entity in her own right would enigmatically and slowly heal herself. She would also help cure her dear friend,The Terrorpin after the ordeal with the Ninja Turtle leader.

She somehow restored the Snapper's left eye which Leo had sliced out in defense.

Leaving the system, the ruins and the rubble The Sewage recalled the invader and primitive mark and rendering of an angry Leonardo that had destroyed her home. She left the drawing on a near collapsed of the wreckage.

Forever burned in her memory and swimming in her soul is the 'THREAT'.

Leonardo threatened to destroy her egg...her unborn had she not halted her approach during their tussle. After all, He was invading HER nest !

But it was, however time to move on.

With her beast's dwindled eyesight returned, a new journey North to cleaner, safer ground was upon the duo.The exhaustive trek would lead deeper underground where no human or mutant had ever trekked.

A foolish school creatures also sought to make a short meal of Rihana during the journey.

But with Terrorpin's help the beasts were fended off. He handled the underwater menaces with the same, swift,indomitable jaws that almost devoured Leonardo's person.

When the threat was abaded, Rihana and her heavy-footed companion made it to the refuge of the higher caves.

Her beautiful baby had hatched, the littlest fish creature known as Baby Ocenee. Giving a tiny amount of hope to the the survival of a lost people.

The small family headed into the even higher, wooded mountains of the great North. Far away from man.

And even Further away from the angry Mutant.

Mysteries abound surrounding the origin of the giant Snapper. A Mystery possibly forgotten by the ' Fearless Leader ' of the TMNT. Little does he know that he has not been forgotten. Future confrontations with the Fish-creatures and massive Snapping Turtle may prove potentially hazardous. As now Leonardo is considered a threat and enemy.

Trivia
* Tokka, the Snapping Turtle villain from second live action movie was based on Terrorpin's rejected toy design. He was Initially created by legendary horror and comics creator S.R.Bissette. The character concept was of a bipedal alligator snapping turtle called "Terrorpin the Terrible". His sidekick ( this would have been a companion toy ) was a smaller snapper with wad of messy blond hair in a tomato soup can named "Snappy Warhol". Coincidentally around the same time in the early 1990s, Ryan Brown was also designing a snapping turtle character for the TMNT Toy line. Bissette's design was picked up and adapted to development for the villain of the film. At that point Brown was instrumental in making sure Mr.Bissette received printed credit on subsequent products featuring Tokka as inspiring the creature's inception. Most Tokka action figure card-backs received this printed credit.

Terrorpin's incarnation in the comic is slightly different than that of his initial concept. He his not bipedal in the books as he appears in the toy illustration. At this point he also is also an entirely separate entity from Tokka.