TMNT Armageddon Game #7. Preview and Discussion

[hypered1]

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[TheLabRat]

I hope Krang is really dead in the end, there is no reason to bring him back.

Null's failure was very disappointing. Her minions suddenly and inexplicably bite her back because they didn't want to be her slave. Everything is anti-climactic.

[ChosenOne]

Not gonna lie, this felt somewhat underwhelming, especially compared to what I was expecting.

[CyberCubed]

I really enjoyed Krang's end, especially since this is his "third" death in the series. Seeing the Neutrinos/Fugitoid and particularly the King deliver the final blow felt fitting. And Donatello destroyed Metalhead once and for all as well.

Kleve and some of the other Utroms who sided with Ch'rell were imprisoned, and Traag/Granitor are captured again. I wonder how they'll deal with the fallout in the next issues, how many Triceratons are still alive? The Utroms and Triceratons still have to find a new homeworld in space to live on, so we still have that to deal with. I am just glad the Utrom/Triceraton conflict is finally over.

Null's defeat did happen fast (as I mentioned, seemed like a continuity glitch with Null's escape from all those Foot Soldiers apparently happened off-screen), but Krisa turning on her felt fitting. Null is captured and not killed, so I guess they'll throw her in with her cousin? So all these years all Null planned to do was put mutants in a slave trade for Dimension X? This is what the writers were brewing with her since 2016? lol.

But overall I am glad to see things come to a close. All these villains honestly should of been dealt with years ago. If Rat King really is defeated in the final issue than all the "big" villains are done, since Baxter seemingly will fall out of being Mayor, and Shredder and Karai still seem "good" as far as we can tell right now.

[ChosenOne]

Wouldn't be surprised to see Stockman fail upwards in the political food chain. If there's a way, he'll find it.

And smart money says the Utroms and Triceratons will indeed find a new homeworld, only to find themselves in some sort of trouble there which will require the help of the Turtles. There's a lot of mileage in that concept.

[neatoman]

I'm a bit confused as to what the point of "killing off" Krang before killing him off was, wouldn't it be enough to just kill him off here?

[CyberCubed]

I just realized Ma'riell and Regenta are now the leaders of the Utroms and Triceratons, so they will likely work out a peaceful solution for the rest of their kind. I do hope they can find a suitable planet for them to relocate to so they don't drag it out of them staying on Burnow Island again for another 20+ issues off-screen like the last time. But overall the villains are done.

I assume the Nova Posse will take Null back with them to imprison. It's kinda funny how Karai and the Foot were pretty much not involved in any of this conflict but stopping the gang of 4, who were Null's henchmen.

We know from the next solicitations Dr. Barlow and Leatherhead are the next story arc, so I guess we can see Barlow defeated soon too and Leatherhead given some closure.

[TheLabRat]

Krang's story should end in The Trial of Krang arc. Whether Krang ended up being sentenced to death, or Leatherhead digested him without being parasitized.

[MikeandRaph87]

Krang's story should end in The Trial of Krang arc. Whether Krang ended up being sentenced to death, or Leatherhead digested him without being parasitized.

I felt let down by Krang's arc. He is separated from Leatherhead and takes on Metalhead as his robotic suit only for Chrell to defeat him thanks to fellow backstabbing and an issue later is killed for good? I don't see the point. Sure, none of the three of them were going to work together and have their own plans which is why they fail as the heroes reach across the aisle and are able to work together. Krang's use was just a letdown.

[Zog The Magnificent]

I agree. Krang's story WAS over back in Trial of Krang. Because honestly, what did he acomplish since then? He wandered around attached to Leatherhead for 50 issues or so doing nothing, then got detached with no effort, immediately went to go fight Ch'rell, lost in 4 pages, then came back to life AGAIN, then died the very next issue AGAIN. There was no room for him in the story at this point, and it shows in the writing and the way they ultimately handled him. It would have been better for him to have just had his original arc up to #44, followed by the epilogue in Trial of Krang closing the book on him for good. Because at the end of the day, what did his survival amount to? Absolutely NOTHING.

[ChosenOne]

What annoys me the most is how passive the Turtles are in the face of everything. Saki warned them about the pending doom, Karai took out the Gang of Four and Stockman, Seri took out Ch'rell, Zenter took out Krang, Krisa took out Null, and I bet you in the end it'll be Kitsune and/or Saki who take out Rat King. You could pull a "Garfield Without Garfield" on Armageddon Game, remove the Turtles, and it would've shaken out pretty much the same. What even is the point of the TMNT in their own comic anymore?

[TheLabRat]

What annoys me the most is how passive the Turtles are in the face of everything. Saki warned them about the pending doom, Karai took out the Gang of Four and Stockman, Seri took out Ch'rell, Zenter took out Krang, Krisa took out Null, and I bet you in the end it'll be Kitsune and/or Saki who take out Rat King. You could pull a "Garfield Without Garfield" on Armageddon Game, remove the Turtles, and it would've shaken out pretty much the same. What even is the point of the TMNT in their own comic anymore?

Seems like they can only accept aids from others, even if that person was their old enemy who killed them in the past life, or the demigod fox who brainwashed Leo. It's funny how the Turtles try to pretend they have a problem with Kitsune's help and still accept her. For now, the Turtles are like pawns who have no opinions of their own at all. No one want to see the protagonists become like this.

[Andrew NDB]

What annoys me the most is how passive the Turtles are in the face of everything. Saki warned them about the pending doom, Karai took out the Gang of Four and Stockman, Seri took out Ch'rell, Zenter took out Krang, Krisa took out Null

As in, they actually killed them? This might all be their way around Nick not letting the Turtles kill. Which is such a stupid, stupid quandary.

[Zog The Magnificent]

As in, they actually killed them? This might all be their way around Nick not letting the Turtles kill. Which is such a stupid, stupid quandary.

It's especially stupid when it doesn't even seem to be "the heroes shouldn't kill anyone." It's literally JUST the turtles. A bunch of their other allies are allowed to kill, even the ones that aren't "antiheroes." Even the friggin' wesels got to kill by slicing a man's throat open on screen, but somehow the turtles themselves are never allowed to kill anyone.

[ChosenOne]

As in, they actually killed them? This might all be their way around Nick not letting the Turtles kill. Which is such a stupid, stupid quandary.

Especially when you have Leo cutting off Zodi's stinger. The idea of holding a severed piece of one's body in one's hands seems to me far more horrific than just being killed in combat, but what do I know? Not to mention that the tip of Zodi's tail is almost as thick as her waist, meaning she would bleed to death in no time anyway.

[TheLabRat]

It's really incomprehensible that they made many IDW TMNT villains super evil and psychotic while making the turtles more peace-loving like the saint. Hate to say it, but maybe even FW turtles are more brutal than IDW turtles.

[Zog The Magnificent]

I think I've pointed this out somewhere else, but the No Kill policy for the IDW turtles also never made sense due to the fact that the 2012 turtles, which were made an owned by the same company and arguably have more mainstream exposure than the comic book, were allowed to kill some of their villains, up to and INCLUDING Shredder at the end of season 4.

[Cloudrunner]

So... question. According to the release order, TMNT 140 (which is a post-Armageddon Game book) is coming out a full month before Armageddon Game #8. Is that accurate? If so, how'd they manage to **** that one up?

[Monty Mole]

So... question. According to the release order, TMNT 140 (which is a post-Armageddon Game book) is coming out a full month before Armageddon Game #8. Is that accurate? If so, how'd they manage to **** that one up?

Maybe they didn't care because they're getting laid off

[ToTheNines]

As in, they actually killed them? This might all be their way around Nick not letting the Turtles kill. Which is such a stupid, stupid quandary.

- Gang of Four arrested.
- Stockman outmaneuvered and forced to quit being a prick.
- Krang was shot in the head by Ch’rell, revived by Metalhead, then shot again by King Zenter an issue or two later. He’s definitely dead.
- Null was apprehended by Krisa, her snake mutant soldier. Leo refused to let anyone kill her. She’s imprisoned in a stasis pod.
- Noi Tai Dar was the worst of it. Leo had “summoned” his Dark Leo self and took him down alongside Shredder. Saki tells him to finish him off, but even as Dark Leo he still sissies out and refuses. So he’s imprisoned in Dimension Z.

It's especially stupid when it doesn't even seem to be "the heroes shouldn't kill anyone." It's literally JUST the turtles. A bunch of their other allies are allowed to kill, even the ones that aren't "antiheroes." Even the friggin' wesels got to kill by slicing a man's throat open on screen, but somehow the turtles themselves are never allowed to kill anyone.

I know we say this all the time, but it’s so mind blowing. In “Owari”, Leo definitively kills Shredder in a barely-censored decapitation. Imagine how many god damn 4 and 5 year old kids were watching that episode when it aired lol.

Meanwhile you have this comic series that started in 2011 that had way less readers than that show ever had viewers. Even being generous and assuming someone was a little on the younger side when it started, they’re easily in their mid twenties by now.

But let’s be real, everyone reading this comic is 35-50. But they handle the turtles with kid gloves. I’ll never understand it… the 2012 turtles kill, the 4kids turtles kill, IDW reprinted almost all of Mirage and Image, plenty of lethal turtle instances there. But no, the IDW turtles have to be wimps.

[Heyowakka]

It’s amazing how all of these years later I still haven’t read The Armageddon Games and I still don’t feel like I missed anything worthwhile.

[ToTheNines]

It’s amazing how all of these years later I still haven’t read The Armageddon Games and I still don’t feel like I missed anything worthwhile.

I just finished this morning. I enjoyed it, overall. It had its issues, but it is much more along the lines of what I wanted out of 90-100, compared to “City at War” (bleh).

WAY too many characters, and it was kinda hard to follow everything even though I binged it in perfect reading order. I imagine trying to juggle the 3 titles over the course of 9 months or whatever was pretty difficult.

I reckon I’ll make it all the way to #150. Only about 11 more issues to get to it.

I will say, now that I’ve made it this far… everything they’re doing in their second volume era is even more baffling. They’re just undoing everything they spent time building up over the past couple of years. I don’t get it. Just reboot.

[TheLabRat]

After this crisis, they never use these magic technique they had learned, as if they had suddenly forgotten them. Funny that in the v2 era, the reason of why Karai want to attack the turtles again is because they carried these Foot Clan magic secrets.

[Dancefloran]

After this crisis, they never use these magic technique they had learned, as if they had suddenly forgotten them. Funny that in the v2 era, the reason of why Karai want to attack the turtles again is because they carried these Foot Clan magic secrets.

They have new powers but only use them for one event ?
That's kinda meh. And yes I am aware of the restrictions : kuji-kiri can't be used too much and in front of witnesses because of heavy risks.
There is a reason in-universe why they can't use them, but it feels like a waste to the readers.

[CyberCubed]

Yeah all the magic training just for it to be briefly used in this arc (and not even how they defeat Rat King really), is really odd. Granted it's obvious the Turtles keeping mystic abilities forever would be a negative so they had to drop them, but they didn't even use them much for all the training issues they had.

[Dancefloran]

It’s amazing how all of these years later I still haven’t read The Armageddon Games and I still don’t feel like I missed anything worthwhile.

It was a fun read with the lore of the verse fully exploited and even expanded.
But it was also a chaotic story at the same time :
A lot of characters involved, and many storylines are mixed together.
Basically we have Rat King's new game, Shredder's redemption, Mutant Town civil war for their rights, Null and Baxter's plot against mutants, Ch'rell's war against the Triceratons, Karai's new Foot Clan and even some set ups for the next story arcs.

Basically Krang's story ended at the Trial of Krang and didn't bring much to the table since (except making Leatherhead suffer).
The Utroms using mutant exosqueletons as disguises and Triceraton bodies as host were the coolest concepts.
I also liked the idea of new magic powers for the turtles and it is sad they never use them again.

There were some issues in The Alliance mini serie focusing in Alopex and Casey that I enjoyed a lot, they brought the characters a much needed exploration after their treatment in the main run.

In the end, Karai and Shredder's characterization in this story will be undone by the relaunch which gives them new directions...

[Heyowakka]

But let’s be real, everyone reading this comic is 35-50. But they handle the turtles with kid gloves. I’ll never understand it… the 2012 turtles kill, the 4kids turtles kill, IDW reprinted almost all of Mirage and Image, plenty of lethal turtle instances there. But no, the IDW turtles have to be wimps.

You know, I was thinking about this, and it’s even funnier when you take into account that the Fred Wolf turtles killed Lord Dregg.
It’s literally just the IDW turtles! :lol:

[ToTheNines]

Damn, you’re right! Pretty pitiful distinction to have.

Should have been Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles.

[Dancefloran]

I am 27, and I also read Naruto (a manga about ninjas).
The "good protagonists" have no issues killing either ^^
The universe is a world at war though... (and war is a bad thing so the ninjas are on a quest for a world at peace)

I don't dislike the "no killing rule" of the Hamato clan, it was necessary to adress Splinter's morally gray behavior. But sometimes not killing becomes an handicap when facing deadly enemies...

[TheLabRat]

IDW Turtles has some kind of silly Batman logic; they'll try to save any villain out of some pointless saintly morality, even if these people showed no gratitude and and were still willing to kill them.

[Andrew NDB]

Wait, where did the 2012 Turtles kill? That can't have been a thing.


I don't dislike the "no killing rule" of the Hamato clan, it was necessary to adress Splinter's morally gray behavior. But sometimes not killing becomes an handicap when facing deadly enemies...

There's no "sometimes" about it. It's suicidal and by default makes the Hamato ninja "clan" a sham.

[TheLabRat]

2012 Leo did cut off Super Shredder's head, at least, for me, he were still "human".

But more important is, even if the show doesn't allow them to kil, 2012 Turtles and even 80 Turtles still show much willing careless for their enemy's life than IDW Turtles.

[ToTheNines]

Well if season 5 never happened, I think the season 4 finale was trying to convey that Donnie killed B&R, Mikey inadvertently killed Stockman by punching him out and leaving him unconscious on the floor of a soon-to-be burning building, and Raph quite obviously killed Xever by destroying his legs and his breather and leaving him on land gasping for his life. (Bonus points for Leatherhead drowning Bradford in the previous episode, that was gnarly.)

And yeah, Leo clearly beheads Saki. They did probably have to mutate him to make that happen, but it was still cool. Ciro later revealed that he did want to do the “Lawson line” on Saki’s neck, but Nickelodeon wouldn’t let him. So he added extra blood spatter coming off Leo’s sword in the final version lol.

Other than that, they killed some Triceratons and Neko ninjas in Usagi’s world. Splinter chopped some Kraangs up in the flashback episode if you look closely. Oh and the turtles tried to electrocute Saki to death in season 1, but Karai interfered.