Shredder Clones

The Shredder Elite were a group of three entities that lived in Foot Clan Headquarters in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Though their exact origins are a mystery, it is obvious that they are hideously mutated ninja that wear apparel similiar to the Shredder. The Shredder Elite consist of a large, four-armed Shredder (known as Multi-Arm Shredder in toy form, and Shiva Shredder on 4Kids' website), one with large, monstrous crustacean-like claws (known as Claw Shredder in toy form, and Spike-Armed Shredder on 4Kids' website), and a diminutive Shredder with a single, long wrist blade on each arm (called Mini Shredder on 4Kids' website).

In the Mirage Comics the Shredder Elite first appeared near the end of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #20, Return to New York, Part 2. They murder the Triceraton soldier Zog as he is walking through the entrance to their abode. The Turtles battle them in the next issue, and during the brawl, the four-armed Shredder Elite loses an arm, which to the Turtles' surprise, seems to be exuding earthworms.

Shredder later elaborates briefly on the Shredder Elite's origin; using a blend of ancient magic and modern science, Foot scientists have trained a species of colony worm to feed on the remains of a person, and form together to become a replicate of said person. Shredder goes on to indicate that the Shredder Elite were experimental subjects, and on the fourth instance, they were fed Oroku Saki's charred remains. However, nothing is revealed of whose remains the worms were fed to create the Shredder Elite, nor is it mentioned why they have donned the Shredder's outfit.

In the 2003 series they are introduced at the end of Episode 21, Return to New York, Part 1. They are seen in liquid-filled vats deep within Foot Headquarters. The Shredder Elite are released when an alarm goes off shortly after the Turtles and Splinter arrive. In the following episode, the Turtles and Splinter battle them. Their appearance has changed slightly to more closely resemble this universe's version of the Shredder, and the "Claw Shredder"'s claws are less crustacean-like in appearance. Claw Shredder was last seen coming out of a pile of rubble. Shiva and Mini Shredder were last seen on top of an elevator as it was falling. None of their fates are known.

The trio's origins in this series are more obscure; Donatello and Michelangelo refer to them as clones, this however could not be true, as the Shredder is later revealed to be the Utrom Ch'rell (the episode synopsis on ninjaturtles.com confirms they are not clones). Though the action figures and 4Kids blog refer to them as clones.