Artemis Zogg is the main antagonist of the Ratchet & Clank comic series. A markazian politician from the Polaris Galaxy, Zogg served as the former Minister of Defense for the Polaris government. After a failed presidential bid against Captain Qwark, Zogg sought to create his own Artemis Galaxy by stealing planets from across the universe and enslaving their populations.
Once regarded as noble and a man of the people, Zogg's defeat in the election marked a turning point. He lost faith in democracy and in the public, ultimately transforming into a tyrant. Zogg retained the support of numerous former government loyalists, including Mr. Klink and his right-hand man Vorn Garblak. Zogg ruled his galaxy from his personal warship.
History[]
Early life[]
Artemis Zogg was an old colleague of fellow markazian Max Apogee, whom he respected for his tenacity. Apogee's research on the "Lombax Secret" led Zogg to discover the Surinox Shard.[1]
At some point, Zogg became Minister of Defense of the Polaris Galaxy. He was widely regarded as level-headed and peace-oriented by many, including Talwyn Apogee[2] (who later voted for him for president[3]), President Phyronix of the Solana Galaxy (who referred to him as "Artie"),[4] his advisor Vorn Garblak,[5] and Captain Qwark.[6] Zogg owned a tower in Luminopolis named Zogg Tower.[7] During his tenure as minister, Zogg encountered Flint Vorselon, who held a dozen terachnoids hostage in the Hall of Knowledge for ten hours; Zogg, impressed by Vorselon's resolve, refused to send in the Polaris Defense Force.[8]
In preparation for potential galaxy-wide catastrophes, such as temporal rifts, black holes, or supernovae, Zogg developed the Helios Project, using the Surinox Shard's transdimensional properties. It was built in Meridian City, Igliak, with his advisor Vorn and the Galactic Panel of Interstellar Know-It-Alls.[9]
Ten months before Lost and Spaced, Zogg launched a presidential campaign, with Cronk and Zephyr assigned as bodyguards, and sought Qwark's endorsement. During their initial meeting, Zogg explained the Helios Project to a curious Qwark.[9] However, at a later event, Qwark announced his own run for president, thereby shifting his support.[10]
Five months later, Qwark's election as president left Zogg embittered, particularly when Qwark canceled the Helios Project, citing safety concerns. Enraged, Zogg led his loyalists, including Mr. Klink, to seize the Helios Project and the Vartax Detention Facility.[11]
Comic series[]
Zogg began his conquest by abducting planets from across the universe, including Terachnos, Sargasso, and Cobalia by the events of Ears of War.[12] He ruled over these planets tyrannically, enforcing slave labor as a means for their populations to earn sunlight.[13] The Vartax Detention Facility, overseen by Mr. Klink as warden, was similarly brutal, where minor infractions were punished by ejection into space.[14]
In Ears of War, Zogg scouted Veldin, and despite Vorn's dismissal of the planet's value, Zogg chose to abduct it along with its inhabitants, Ratchet and Clank. In Friends with Benefits, he imprisoned them, sparing their lives due to his admiration but sentencing them to indefinite detainment in Vartax for three months.[15] When Cronk and Zephyr betrayed him by freeing the captives, Zogg held Mr. Klink accountable, dismissing his pleas by quoting, "He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else," before having him executed.[16]
Over the months, Zogg also abducted planets Umbris, Zaurik, Fastoon, and Kerwan.[13] During Lost and Spaced, President Phyronix was on a goodwill trip to Zaurik when Zogg abducted the planet, offering Phyronix the title of Vice President of the Artemis Galaxy. When Phyronix refused, he was condemned to the trillium mines. Later, Zogg moved Veldin away from the Helios sun, giving Ratchet and Clank an ultimatum: surrender or watch Veldin freeze. When Qwark asked why Zogg didn't abduct him, Zogg replied he wanted Qwark to witness his empire's destruction one planet at a time.[17]
In Thanks for the Armories, Zogg ignores his lieutenant Vorn's concerns over freezing a planet and shifts blame onto Ratchet and Clank, calling them "threats to the peace" in his galaxy. He threatens Vorn if he dares defy him again.[18] When Ratchet and Clank arrive, Zogg refuses to spare Veldin, declaring its destruction will show his resolve. Ratchet escapes Zogg's grasp with a grenade, stealing the Surinox Shard in the process. Zogg catches up and vows to kill Ratchet and Veldin, but Talwyn crashes her ship into Zogg's and is taken prisoner.[19]
In Multiple Organisms, Zogg, now unable to return to Polaris without the Shard, learns that Talwyn is Max Apogee's daughter. He taunts her, claiming Max abandoned her to save Angela Cross. He also informs her that his fleet is en route to Veldin to kill Ratchet and Clank.[20] Sasha Phyronix demands Zogg's surrender, but he uses Talwyn as leverage, daring Sasha to sacrifice her. Zogg also threatens to kill Vorn for incompetence[21], pushing Vorn to betray him and release Talwyn.[22] Although Zogg catches them attempting to flee, they are on an escape pod when Glahm destroys his ship.[23]
In Bros Before Foes, Zogg arrives at the Apogee Space Station with Talwyn, Vorn, and an army of Zurkons. When Talwyn manages to escape, Zogg flees to the teleporter, pursuing the Surinox Shard.[24] He confronts Qwark, blaming his presidential run for the galaxy's turmoil, but Vorn warns him that his actions are destroying his legacy. Zogg calms momentarily, then refuses surrender and points a Tesla Coil at Ratchet. Ratchet activates a portal with the Surinox Shard, sending Zogg to dimension A2-66[25], where he meets Tachyon, and the two immediately clash for control.[26]
Characteristics[]
Appearance[]
Artemis Zogg is a large, male markazian. As a government official, he wore a formal blue suit with yellow accents. Later, as a ruler, he adopted a grand red and gold robe with a trailing cape, a high collar, as well as golden jewelry including a large chain, rings, and bracelets. He also possesses a large Tesla Coil as a weapon.
Personality[]
Before his shift in character, Artemis Zogg was a compassionate and principled politician, known for his honesty, kindness, and dedication to peace.[4][5] His foremost concern was the safety of the Polaris Galaxy,[11] and he admired Ratchet, Clank,[25][15] and Qwark,[27] likely for their heroism.
However, after his electoral defeat and the Helios Project's cancellation, Zogg lost faith in democratic processes and developed a disdain for the universe's inhabitants, who he believed elected unfit leaders, causing war and recession. He came to see the public as unworthy of making crucial decisions.[4] Consumed by a need to prove the public wrong, Zogg became cold and unfeeling, even willing to kill millions to make his point.[8] Clank suggested that Zogg's sudden transformation was the result of a psychotic breakdown following his political loss.[28]
Zogg admired people with relentless determination. He revered Max Apogee as a markazian who could accomplish anything he set his mind to,[1] and he held Flint Vorselon in high regard for his ruthless resolve, exemplified by taking hostages for ten hours.[8] Zogg sought to mirror this resolve, going so far as to justify his decision to destroy Veldin,[8] and demanded Sasha show a similar resolve by daring her to sacrifice Talwyn to defeat him.[21]
Behind the scenes[]
The name Artemis is inspired by the Greek goddess Artemis.[29]
Zogg's plan to steal planets originated from a brainstorming session for A Crack in Time between writer TJ Fixman and Insomniac Games creative director Brian Allgeier. Originally intended as a plot for Dr. Nefarious, this concept was deemed unsuitable for the game's time-travel storyline. With the comic series, Fixman found the opportunity to bring this idea to life.[30]
Citations[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Multiple Organisms, p. 5
- ↑ Lost and Spaced, p. 8
- ↑ Thanks for the Armories, p. 5
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Lost and Spaced, p. 16-17
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Multiple Organisms, p. 16
- ↑ Lost and Spaced, p. 10
- ↑ All 4 One script § "Access the Fusion Turrets atop Zogg Tower (gameplay)"
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Thanks for the Armories, p. 6
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Lost and Spaced, p. 1-2; 6-7
- ↑ Lost and Spaced, p. 10-14
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lost and Spaced, p. 18-20
- ↑ Ears of War, p. 6
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Lost and Spaced, p. 4
- ↑ Friends with Benefits, p. 7
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Friends with Benefits, p. 1-4
- ↑ Friends with Benefits, p. 22
- ↑ Lost and Spaced, p. 22-23
- ↑ Thanks for the Armories, p. 2
- ↑ Thanks for the Armories, p. 16
- ↑ Multiple Organisms, p. 6
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Multiple Organisms, p. 10
- ↑ Multiple Organisms, p. 16
- ↑ Multiple Organisms, p. 18-19
- ↑ Bros Before Foes, p. 7-9
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Bros Before Foes, p. 14-18
- ↑ Bros Before Foes, p. 14-20
- ↑ Lost and Spaced, p. 1
- ↑ Thanks for the Armories, p. 1
- ↑ George, Schedeen 2010
- ↑ George, Schedeen 2010
References[]
- George, Richard; Schedeen, Jesse (2010, September 7). "Ratchet & Clank's Vacation Adventure". From IGN. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024.
- George, Richard; Schedeen, Jesse (2010, September 7). "Ratchet & Clank's Vacation Adventure". From IGN. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024.
- Fixman, TJ (2010). Ratchet & Clank (Issue 1: Ears of War) [Book]. Wild Storm.
- Fixman, TJ (2010). Ratchet & Clank (Issue 2: Friends with Benefits) [Book]. Wild Storm.
- Fixman, TJ (2010). Ratchet & Clank (Issue 3: Lost and Spaced) [Book]. Wild Storm.
- Fixman, TJ (2010). Ratchet & Clank (Issue 4: Thanks for the Armories) [Book]. Wild Storm.
- Fixman, TJ (2011). Ratchet & Clank (Issue 5: Multiple Organisms) [Book]. Wild Storm.
- Fixman, TJ (2011). Ratchet & Clank (Issue 6: Bros Before Foes) [Book]. Wild Storm.
- Insomniac Games (2011). Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 3.