Dimension X (TMNT)

Dimension X is a alternate dimension in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) 1987 cartoon series and the TMNT Adventures comics. Dimension X is the home of the evil alien Krang. Krang uses a "dimensional portal" inside the Technodrome for transportation between Dimension X and the Earth.

Locations in Dimension X

Balaraphon

Balaraphon is an alien world inhabited by a peaceful species native to Dimension X. They were attacked unprovoked by an invasion fleet led by Krang and Shredder, but saved thanks to the interference of the TMNT, who had arrived on the planet. The TMNT's arrival on Balaraphon was the final phase of a plan by Shredder to exhaust and trap them after a period of exploration in Dimension X. It is also the scene of the Technodrome's final destruction, as it was dragged down into the pit of a tentacled creature after its engines were blown out by the TMNT whilst escaping Shredder's trap. Balaraphon was seen in the original series episodes "Turtle Trek" and "Divide and Conquer".

Dimension X Penitentiary

The Dimension X Penitentiary is where some of the worst criminals of Dimension X are being held. Convicts include Skaarg, Dementor, and the Dregma Brothers. Unfortunately, the penitentiary is not protected against dimensional portals. It was seen in the episode "Convicts from Dimension X" [ [http://www.ninjaturtles.com/cartoon/guide/cart160.htm Convicts from Dimension X] ] of the 1987 TMNT cartoon.

Eden worlds

The Eden worlds are planets reminiscent of the wildernesses of East Africa. More "intelligent" species are forbidden to live on those planets. Cherubae sent Bebop and Rocksteady to an Eden world, so they could not do more "bad things". The Eden worlds appeared in the TMNT Adventures comics. The name "Eden Worlds" refers to the Bible stories in the Old Testament about the Garden of Eden.

Hirobyl

Hirobyl is a planet orbiting an aging and dying red giant star. Krang is said to have destroyed all life on the planet. It appeared in the TMNT Adventures comics. The name of the planet is possibly a reference to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945 and the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, since the planet is dying and the TMNT refer that a giant structure reminds much of the workers statues who can be seen in the former Soviet Union back in those days.

Morbus

Morbus is a garbage dump and prison planet. It appeared in the TMNT Adventures comics.

erot

Serot is home to some slave pits and is run by Vorx. It is also the location of the pit of the Great Chaarg, which serves as a death penalty for slaves who attempt to rebel or escape. The Turtles were sent there by the Shredder in the episode "Shredder Triumphant" [ [http://www.ninjaturtles.com/cartoon/guide/cart170.htm Shredder's Triumphant] ] of the 1987 TMNT cartoon.

tump Asteroid

Stump Asteroid is the home of Stump and Sling. From this asteroid, they host the "Stump & Sling Intergalactic Wrestling", in the Stump Arena. Another alien, Cudley the Cowlick, is in charge of transporting the wrestlers to and from Stump Asteroid. In addition to the Turtles, who wrestled at Stump Asteroid twice, famous wrestlers include Ace Duck, Bloodbath, Cryin' Houn (who later changed his name to El Mysterio) and Leatherhead. Stump Asteroid only appeared in the TMNT Adventures comics.

(unnamed Neutrino's homeworld)

The home planet of the Neutrino people remains unnamed. It was the target of an invasion led by General Traag and ordered by Krang, in the TV-episode "Four Turtles and a Baby." [ [http://www.ninjaturtles.com/cartoon/guide/cart071.htm FOUR TURTLES & A BABY] ]

(unnamed rocky planet)

During season 2 of the 1987 cartoon series, the Technodrome is located on a rocky landscape, on an unnamed planet in Dimension X.

(unnamed volcanic asteroid)

During season 4 of the 1987 cartoon series, the Technodrome is located on an asteroid with a volcano.

Dimension or galaxy?

A bit of controversy exists on whether Dimension X really is an alternate dimension, or if it is a distant galaxy. The cartoon and Archie comic provide arguments for both sides.

Dimension

* Whenever a character refers to it directly, it is called "Dimension" X.
* The device used to travel between Earth and Dimension X is called a "dimensional portal", meaning that it allows travel between dimensions. They are sometimes also used for transportation between two places on Earth (episodes like "Muckman Messes Up" and "Pirate Radio").
* In the cartoon episode "Splinter No More," [ [http://www.ninjaturtles.com/cartoon/guide/cart014.htm "SPLINTER NO MORE"] ] when The Shredder tries to use an ancient magic spell to open a portal to Dimension X, Krang warns him that there are other, more terrifying dimensions he could accidentally get access to.
* In the episode "Bye Bye Fly," [ [http://www.ninjaturtles.com/cartoon/guide/cart062.htm BYE, BYE FLY] ] it is explained that travel to Dimension X can also be achieved using a "dimensional warp drive".
* Interplanetary space in Dimension X has a red-orange colour. Furthermore, several characters are seen outdoors in space or walking on asteroids without any form of protective gear, something that would kill them in normal space.
* There is sound in space in Dimension X, something that is impossible in normal space. However, also other science fiction shows include the mistake of having sound in space, this argument taken alone is unconvincing.
* In the episode "Cyber Turtles", Krang plans to destroy the barrier between the boundaries of Earth and Dimension X, making Earth's boundary merge with Dimension X.

Galaxy

* According to the "TMNT Adventures Sourcebook", Dimension X is a corkscrew spiral galaxy near the center of the universe.
* Several lines of dialogue hint that it is a galaxy called Dimension X:
** When the Shredder opens the dimensional portal in the episode "Hot Rodding Teenagers from Dimension X," [ [http://www.ninjaturtles.com/cartoon/guide/cart004.htm HEROES IN A HALF SHELL - Part Four "HOT-RODDING TEENAGERS FROM DIMENSION X"] ] he says that "all weapons from the distant galaxies will belong to me".
** When the Shredder takes the crystal from the two kids in the episode "It Came from Beneath the Sewers," [ [http://www.ninjaturtles.com/cartoon/guide/cart008.htm "IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEWERS"] ] one kid asks him from where he came from. He answers that he's "from Dimension X, in a far-off galaxy".
** Skaarg, a criminal from Dimension X, speaks of the Milky Way as "an inferior galaxy".
* When Krang tries to take energy from Earth to the Technodrome in Dimension X, in the episode "Super Hero for a Day," [ [http://www.ninjaturtles.com/cartoon/guide/cart078.htm SUPER HERO FOR A DAY] ] he says that they need energy from power plants too, because of the distance, meaning that Earth and Dimension X are separated by a physical distance.
* In issue 12 ("The Lost World") of the Archie TMNT comics, Krang, Shredder, Bebop and Rocksteady go from Earth to Dimension X by spacecraft, without using a dimensional portal.
* In the same issue, when they reach Dimension X, it is shown to be a Spiral galaxy. A similar view of Dimension X is used in issue 23 ("Search and Destroy") and issue 25 ("Raw Power").
* In the crossover comic book "The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles meet the Archies" the flying-cow-head character known as Cudley explains that Dimension X is separated from the Turtle's Earth by space, whereas the world that Riverdale exists in is separated from their world by time.

References

Further reading

* [http://books.google.com/books?id=I5E3AAAAMAAJ&dq=%22Dimension+X%22+teenage+mutant+ninja+turtles "Gopen's Guide to Closed Captioned Video"] by Stuart Gopen (1993); Caption Database Inc.; ISBN 0963572601.
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=bUeO6Ir2pW4C&dq=%22Dimension+X%22+teenage+mutant+ninja+turtles "Museum of Voices: An Autobiographical Miscellany"] by Jay E Valusek (2004); iUniverse; ISBN 0595323022.
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=_KM2AQAACAAJ&dq=%22Dimension+X%22+teenage+mutant+ninja+turtles "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Return of the Shredder"] by Peter Laird, Kevin Eastman (1990); Random House Children's Books; ISBN 0679806865.