TMNT Armageddon Game #8. Preview and Discussion

[AlZarkovski]

Preview here (https://graphicpolicy.com/2023/07/04/preview-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-the-armageddon-game-8/).

[Monty Mole]

How did this book end? I couldn't find it on the readcomicsonline site, so I'm just wondering if anyone has read it yet.

[shredder orokusaki]

How did this book end? I couldn't find it on the readcomicsonline site, so I'm just wondering if anyone has read it yet.

ir released yesterday

[Cowabung-Gal]

I couldn't find it on the readcomicsonline site

Neither can I find The Last Ronin Lost Years #4

https://media.tenor.com/SFQHXiBvEgwAAAAC/what-whats-going-on.gif

[CyberCubed]

How did this book end? I couldn't find it on the readcomicsonline site, so I'm just wondering if anyone has read it yet.

Neither can I find The Last Ronin Lost Years #4


This is what you get for reading comics illegally, kek

[Cowabung-Gal]

This is what you get for reading comics illegally, kek

I’ve got physical copies of The Lost Years. I just prefer to read online because I’d like to use the physical copies as little as possible so that they wouldn’t lose their value.

Besides, I’m sure you read woke comics illegally so that you wouldn’t support them financially.

[Cloudrunner]

lol so did anyone read it? Big finale?

[Monty Mole]

lol so did anyone read it? Big finale?

Nope. Aside from TLR and Lost Years, I haven't bought anything from IDW since 2019.

Did you read it? And if so, was the "big finale" worth it?

[AlZarkovski]

Full retelling of the plot, including the final twist (SPOILERS!):

https://aiptcomics.com/2023/07/04/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-the-armageddon-game-8-review/

[CyberCubed]

Well that was certainly an issue. I don't know whether I liked it as a whole, but it was certainly...something. I did like the callbacks to the earlier Pantheon issues/plots that people forgot about over the years. Hopefully this is the end of the Pantheon as a whole.

A lot of the side plots seemed to be setting up future storylines, like another war in Dimension X for the Neutrinos/Nova Posse/Cherubae, etc to fight in, but that stuff can pretty much happen off-screen as it's not really that important. I did like Shredder leaving Earth as he has no place here anymore. The Turtles seemed to make peace with Old Hob and Karai for the time being, and everyone has Baxter under lock and key ala Trump.

One thing I didn't like is...Metalhead reactivates again at the end of the issue. Meh, I don't really have any interest in any more Metalhead stories, I was hoping the robot was destroyed for good. Although if it becomes an ally of the Turtles that would be better, but it remains to be seen.

[Toxin45]

Well that was certainly an issue. I don't know whether I liked it as a whole, but it was certainly...something. I did like the callbacks to the earlier Pantheon issues/plots that people forgot about over the years. Hopefully this is the end of the Pantheon as a whole.

A lot of the side plots seemed to be setting up future storylines, like another war in Dimension X for the Neutrinos/Nova Posse/Cherubae, etc to fight in, but that stuff can pretty much happen off-screen as it's not really that important. I did like Shredder leaving Earth as he has no place here anymore. The Turtles seemed to make peace with Old Hob and Karai for the time being, and everyone has Baxter under lock and key ala Trump.

One thing I didn't like is...Metalhead reactivates again at the end of the issue. Meh, I don't really have any interest in any more Metalhead stories, I was hoping the robot was destroyed for good. Although if it becomes an ally of the Turtles that would be better, but it remains to be seen.
I think metal head has more potential

[lonewarrior20]

I think metal head has more potential

I was kinda hoping they’d do a crossover with transformers with him finding cybertronian tech at area 59 when he was teamed up with Bishop.

[ChosenOne]

I'm not really clear on what happened to Rat King and the others, felt kinda meh on the deus ex machina scale. I did tell y'all they would make a sacrifice play, though.

The characters that left for the thin places feel like a random assortment, my guess is they'll either tie into Armaggon or set up some other cosmic horror threat for later.

And once again, the Turtles had to rely on others to solve their problems for them...

[Allio]

This is what you get for reading comics illegally, kek

https://media.tenor.com/HMC5UdiHbhQAAAAC/gokai-red-kaizoku-sentai-gokaiger.gif

I haven’t bought a floppy since middle school. Even if there was a store near me, a floppy isn’t really worth the price.

[CyberCubed]

The characters that left for the thin places feel like a random assortment, my guess is they'll either tie into Armaggon or set up some other cosmic horror threat for later.

It feels like they're setting up for some of the worst spinoffs imagineable. I have no desire to see Nova Posse/Neutrinos, Cherubae, the 4 Wings, etc. fight Mazool (I don't know if you recall or not, but Mazool appeared in the Archie series as the main enemy of Nova Posse, only briefly though). Unless that all happens in just a 4 issue mini down the road, I really don't want that plotline taking up space in the comic.

Zodi and Krissa the Null mutant henchmen joining Karai was a surprise though. I thought they would just be written out off-screen. So Karai has what...like 6 mutant henchmen now? lol. But yeah that will probably tie into the next main arc.

I am still hoping the Utroms and Triceratons find a new homeworld in space though, I wonder how much longer they're going to stay on Earth now that their problems are done.

[Monty Mole]

I'm not really clear on what happened to Rat King and the others, felt kinda meh on the deus ex machina scale. I did tell y'all they would make a sacrifice play, though.

The characters that left for the thin places feel like a random assortment, my guess is they'll either tie into Armaggon or set up some other cosmic horror threat for later.

And once again, the Turtles had to rely on others to solve their problems for them...

So, is the Rat King dead now?

[Andrew NDB]

How have they handled Cherubae so far? Is she supposedly the same Cherubae from Archie or a new one?

[ChosenOne]

It feels like they're setting up for some of the worst spinoffs imagineable. I have no desire to see Nova Posse/Neutrinos, Cherubae, the 4 Wings, etc. fight Mazool (I don't know if you recall or not, but Mazool appeared in the Archie series as the main enemy of Nova Posse, only briefly though). Unless that all happens in just a 4 issue mini down the road, I really don't want that plotline taking up space in the comic.

Zodi and Krissa the Null mutant henchmen joining Karai was a surprise though. I thought they would just be written out off-screen. So Karai has what...like 6 mutant henchmen now? lol. But yeah that will probably tie into the next main arc.

I am still hoping the Utroms and Triceratons find a new homeworld in space though, I wonder how much longer they're going to stay on Earth now that their problems are done.

I can see a space-based arc with the Turtles and their allies versus Mazool to tie up those loose ends and maybe move the Burnow community off-planet (not that there's any real need for the latter, now that mutants and their general weirdness are common knowledge.)

What I would love to see, though, is for Stockman's victory lap around the country to run into trouble and for the Turtles to have to bail him out, setting the stage for a trip around America.

Either way, a change of scenery and focus is most welcome.

So, is the Rat King dead now?

Well... It's a comic book, we didn't see him die or his body afterwards, and he's an immortal, so... Yes-ish? At least as dead as the story needs him to be at the moment.

[hypered1]

Zodi and Krissa the Null mutant henchmen joining Karai was a surprise though. I thought they would just be written out off-screen. So Karai has what...like 6 mutant henchmen now? lol. But yeah that will probably tie into the next main arc.

This actually ties up the plot thread from #112/113 where Karai was after more mutants and tried to buy Tokka and Rahzar from Hob.

So, is the Rat King dead now?

It was implied that Kitsune sent him and the other Pantheon members into the Ghost trap where Chi-Yu was previously trapped.

What I would love to see, though, is for Stockman's victory lap around the country to run into trouble and for the Turtles to have to bail him out, setting the stage for a trip around America.

This is possibly how the Street Fighter mini-series fits in.

[ChosenOne]

It was implied that Kitsune sent him and the other Pantheon members into the Ghost trap where Chi-Yu was previously trapped.

I was confused by that whole bit, my interpretation was that Kitsune freed Chi-You and he somehow interacted with his family and caused a massive explosion that killed them all. I'm probably wrong, though. Like I said, it was confusing. Still, the explosion doesn't seem to indicate that they were trapped but rather wiped out.

[Andrew NDB]

How did this book end? I couldn't find it on the readcomicsonline site, so I'm just wondering if anyone has read it yet.

Neither can I find The Last Ronin Lost Years #4

Probably not a great sign for a thing when people aren't even bothering to pirate the thing.

[hypered1]

I was confused by that whole bit, my interpretation was that Kitsune freed Chi-You and he somehow interacted with his family and caused a massive explosion that killed them all. I'm probably wrong, though. Like I said, it was confusing. Still, the explosion doesn't seem to indicate that they were trapped but rather wiped out.

Having now re-read it, I think I did misinterpret what was happening and you're right that the explosion killed them all.

[ChosenOne]

Having now re-read it, I think I did misinterpret what was happening and you're right that the explosion killed them all.

Somehow. Doesn't make much sense to me. If being in close proximity killed them so spectacularly they'd be dead long ago. Dunno what was special about Chi-You this time. Feels like I'm missing something here but oh, well.

[Cowabung-Gal]

Probably not a great sign for a thing when people aren't even bothering to pirate the thing.

You kidding? They’re pirating the wokest pieces of garbage out there and posting them online for all to see.

I’m starting to think that maybe IDW has something to do with this. Maybe they’re making it harder to pirate The Last Ronin Lost Years as an attempt to get more people to buy their bestseller because they’re desperate for money.

[Monty Mole]

Found it

https://readallcomics.com/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-the-armageddon-game-008-2023/

[CyberCubed]

So for the rogue gallery:

- The Rat King and the Patheon = dead or at least done away with for the time being

- Shredder left Earth and went to Dimension X. I think it'll be fun if he becomes a Shao Khan like character from Mortal Kombat who rules over a dimension in space.

- Krang = dead

- Ch'rell = dead

- Bishop = dead

- Hun = dead

- Null = captured in stasis, and Noi Tar Dar is imprisoned. They'll probably do a future storyline where they both break free, but for now their stories are over

- Karai = mostly an ally to the Turtles and their friends for the time being (also in command of Koya, Bludgeon, Bebop/Rocksteady and now Zodi and Krisa), so she has 6 mutants under her command. We know Bludgeon said he's done fighting the Turtles and he's training Venus, so I don't think they're going to turn on them anymore. Krisa also was never a villain either.

- Old Hob = based on how friendly Raphael was with him in the last few pages, it seems they've made peace and forgiven him for creating mutant town. The other Mutanimals are allies too. I guess Old Hob will be an uneasy ally from now on

- Baxter Stockman = basically Donald Trump, he's under blackmail by April, Sally, the police and Darkwater to co-operate and make mutant town great again or they'll expose him and get him impeached/imprisoned from office.


The only wild card now is Metalhead, but I hope he becomes an ally because seeing him be a villain again for the umpteenth time is overkill. Besides that the current arc in the ongoing is going to be about that Doctor and Leatherhead, mostly likely that doctor will die and Leatherhead will also make peace for the Turtles.

So all plotlines are being resolved, with Armaggon being set up as the next big villain arc.

[hypered1]

So for the rogue gallery:

- The Rat King and the Patheon = dead or at least done away with for the time being

- Shredder left Earth and went to Dimension X. I think it'll be fun if he becomes a Shao Khan like character from Mortal Kombat who rules over a dimension in space.

- Krang = dead

- Ch'rell = dead

- Bishop = dead

- Hun = dead

- Null = captured in stasis, and Noi Tar Dar is imprisoned. They'll probably do a future storyline where they both break free, but for now their stories are over

- Karai = mostly an ally to the Turtles and their friends for the time being (also in command of Koya, Bludgeon, Bebop/Rocksteady and now Zodi and Krisa), so she has 6 mutants under her command. We know Bludgeon said he's done fighting the Turtles and he's training Venus, so I don't think they're going to turn on them anymore. Krisa also was never a villain either.

- Old Hob = based on how friendly Raphael was with him in the last few pages, it seems they've made peace and forgiven him for creating mutant town. The other Mutanimals are allies too. I guess Old Hob will be an uneasy ally from now on

- Baxter Stockman = basically Donald Trump, he's under blackmail by April, Sally, the police and Darkwater to co-operate and make mutant town great again or they'll expose him and get him impeached/imprisoned from office.


The only wild card now is Metalhead, but I hope he becomes an ally because seeing him be a villain again for the umpteenth time is overkill. Besides that the current arc in the ongoing is going to be about that Doctor and Leatherhead, mostly likely that doctor will die and Leatherhead will also make peace for the Turtles.

So all plotlines are being resolved, with Armaggon being set up as the next big villain arc.

I've seen some hints of what's to come on Sophie's Patreon; Barlow, Leatherhead and Alopex's new clan will all be playing a role and there'll be more elements from Lita's future cropping up but I won't spoil any details of that.

[ChosenOne]

I've seen some hints of what's to come on Sophie's Patreon; Barlow, Leatherhead and Alopex's new clan will all be playing a role and there'll be more elements from Lita's future cropping up but I won't spoil any details of that.

I'm excited for all of those, hopefully inter-clan politics play a big part in future arcs. And even more hopefully, maybe now's the perfect time to introduce a new vilain in the form of a certain masked mutant with mystical powers and a ninja clan of his own...


- Baxter Stockman = basically Donald Trump, he's under blackmail by April, Sally, the police and Darkwater to co-operate and make mutant town great again or they'll expose him and get him impeached/imprisoned from office

More like Joe Biden, then: "Give us billions in aid and those forbidden but nifty cluster bombs to help kick Russia's ass, or we'll go public with the truth about Burisma and the money laundering."

[TheLabRat]

The only good thing is that Kitsune finally did something to redeem herself and the Pantheon plots is over. Although the ends was rushed. Many of demigod were easily killed by Rat King. However, they are immortal and will be reincarnated.

For the rest, I don't think there's anything interesting or memorable about overall storyline. The most embarrassing thing is that most of the main villains are not defeated by the turtles, but by others.

[Toxin45]

Armageddon will likely be dealt with in 10 or 12 issues with him being revealed to be a servant of a greater evil

[TheLabRat]

Stockman may still have a chance to be the major villain in future stories. I don't think this blackmail will stop him for long. If he is smart enough, he may in turn use the opportunity to gain more political support and benefits.

[CyberCubed]

Honestly Baxter's character has gotten stagnant since becoming mayor, I wouldn't mind if he gets arrested or killed off at this point. When characters have fullfilled their role, as we've seen with Krang, Hun, Slash, etc...it's ok to kill them off.

I know they won't ever kill Old Hob because he debuted in issue 1 and was the first breakout character of the IDW universe (and Waltz created him), but I wouldn't mind several of the other villains being reduced in number. Also Natsu or whatever her name is, that bald tattoo woman with Karai, she really has to go. Talk about a boring "nothing character."

[Toxin45]

Honestly Baxter's character has gotten stagnant since becoming mayor, I wouldn't mind if he gets arrested or killed off at this point. When characters have fullfilled their role, as we've seen with Krang, Hun, Slash, etc...it's ok to kill them off.

I know they won't ever kill Old Hob because he debuted in issue 1 and was the first breakout character of the IDW universe (and Waltz created him), but I wouldn't mind several of the other villains being reduced in number. Also Natsu or whatever her name is, that bald tattoo woman with Karai, she really has to go. Talk about a boring "nothing character."

I mean they don’t show up once in a while.

[TigerClaw]

Honestly Baxter's character has gotten stagnant since becoming mayor, I wouldn't mind if he gets arrested or killed off at this point. When characters have fullfilled their role, as we've seen with Krang, Hun, Slash, etc...it's ok to kill them off.

I know they won't ever kill Old Hob because he debuted in issue 1 and was the first breakout character of the IDW universe (and Waltz created him), but I wouldn't mind several of the other villains being reduced in number. Also Natsu or whatever her name is, that bald tattoo woman with Karai, she really has to go. Talk about a boring "nothing character."
Old Hob is a character who started off as a villain, and off an on have been on both sides, He's a keeper, He's kind of the Magneto of the TMNT universe.

[TheLabRat]

Old Hob is a character who started off as a villain, and off an on have been on both sides, He's a keeper, He's kind of the Magneto of the TMNT universe.
Magneto had many of followers. Most of the original Mutanimals abandoned Hob, even many of mutants hate him. Hob was a violent, backstabbing bastard from the start. Now, It feel like the writers try to make him look anti-hero with poor writing.

[Zog The Magnificent]

The problem with Hob is that they completely botched him. He started out as a villain with a completely understandable motivation, then gradually started mellowing out as he gained more mutants on his team, eventually becoming an uneasy ally before shifting over to an anti-hero.

BUT THEN, Slash died and it pushed him back over the edge. He went full villain, turned himself into Magneto, then created Mutant Town.

BUT THEN, he immediately lost all his power, became pathetic, everyone abandoned him, and then everyone just sort of forgave him and we were expected to forget about all the Mutant Town stuff he did. So now he's back to being an anti-hero, despite the fact that he crossed the line into villany, followed by immediately being ruined as a character, when the only thing left for him should have been either death or prison. Now he's just yet another character who just kind of hangs around, acomplishes nothing, and isn't interesting to watch.

[Sumac]

So they basically treated like any other comic book character this days.

[CyberCubed]

The Armaggeddon game essentially cleaned the slate of the villains so we can have new stories going forward. Rat King, Null, the Pantheon, Krang, Ch'rell, etc... have all been around forever. It's easy to forget how long they've all been in the series. Now they're all done, Karai and her mutants are allies as is Old Hob, and Shredder went into Dimension X.

Other than Baxter still being mayor, all the villain arcs are over for the time being. So Dr. Barlow and Leatherhead were the only loose ends left, and they're the main part of the next story arc which is good.

[Zog The Magnificent]

The Armaggeddon game essentially cleaned the slate of the villains so we can have new stories going forward. Rat King, Null, the Pantheon, Krang, Ch'rell, etc... have all been around forever. It's easy to forget how long they've all been in the series. Now they're all done, Karai and her mutants are allies as is Old Hob, and Shredder went into Dimension X.

Other than Baxter still being mayor, all the villain arcs are over for the time being. So Dr. Barlow and Leatherhead were the only loose ends left, and they're the main part of the next story arc which is good.

I'm at the point where I don't really want new stories; I just want them to end it already so we can all go home. Plus, we just resolved the Pantheon. The only thing left up on the sorting algorithm is "Even Bigger More Evil God," which I guess they're doing with Armaggon. But once they deal with that there will REALLY be nowhere left to go, unless there's an endless pantheon of even bigger, more evil gods that just keep showing up inexpicably.

[TheLabRat]

when the only thing left for him should have been either death or prison. Now he's just yet another character who just kind of hangs around, acomplishes nothing, and isn't interesting to watch.

I think that only way. At least, Saki was killed, went to hell, so he had a chance to redeem himself. Kitsune sacrificed herself. Stockman was blackmailed, not the best, but at least he won't do bad things for a while if they keep an eye on him. Only Hob and Karai still get away with it. And then it's still up to the turtles or others clean up the mess these two have made.

I hope Krang actually dead this time instead of transfer his mind and consciousness into Metalhead before he get killed.

[neatoman]

I've seen some hints of what's to come on Sophie's Patreon; Barlow, Leatherhead and Alopex's new clan will all be playing a role and there'll be more elements from Lita's future cropping up but I won't spoil any details of that.

So essentially, with AG ended, we can safely quit reading because nothing interesting will happen in the near future and we can just wait for a reboot?

[hypered1]

So essentially, with AG ended, we can safely quit reading because nothing interesting will happen in the near future and we can just wait for a reboot?

No one was forcing you to read it before and it doesn't take a genius to know that if you aren't enjoying something then you shouldn't waste your time on it.

[CyberCubed]

I'm fine with it ending after whatever the Armaggon arc is. I've wanted to see Armaggon in IDW for awhile, but with Bludgeon around I didn't think we would get him. The fact that this Armaggon seems to be a time traveling space god instead of just another mutant makes him seem fairly interesting.

Have Shredder and the others and maybe the future incarnations all join to stop Armaggon, and then the series can end.

[Cloudrunner]

I'll wait and see what happens with the Alopex stuff. I still don't think the split from the turtles was handled well at all, but at least she's back to being a ninja rather than a housewife. Maybe I can have the best of both worlds and her relationship with Raph will be repaired but still remain with her ninja clan.

[neatoman]

No one was forcing you to read it before and it doesn't take a genius to know that if you aren't enjoying something then you shouldn't waste your time on it.

No it's just that now that we know for sure that it'll literally just be uninteresting garbage with no bright spots in sight, there is literally no reason left to care. The hope that it'll get better is gone because now the parts I cared about has been more or less concluded, all that's left is the stuff introduced after the book stopped being good.

[CyberCubed]

I imagine Sophie must be getting paid not that much if IDW is willing to keep her on over hiring a different main writer. IDW cut 39% of its workforce earlier this year so they probably cannot afford to pay a different script writer more money. So Sophie stays on to whatever her agreed upon salary was.

[Monty Mole]

Was Eastman fired too? Or was it just Waltz?

[hypered1]

Was Eastman fired too? Or was it just Waltz?

He is still a story consultant and also still provides covers for most issues, which has been the case for some time now.

[MikeandRaph87]

Positive: We have become accustomed to Baxter Stocman being an inhuman subordinate. Here he is mostly a subordinate of others be it Krang, Shredder, or Rat King at least he has developed this arrogant demeanor and has means of gaining position on his own and finding outs to situations.

I also liked all the little nods to past characters and the successful integration sans Vernon's unneccessary inclusion for foder like the mob bosses earlier.

The story has finally been told and overall it was good. It had a sort of Ninja Tribunal feel.

I look forward to see what Shredder and the Neutrinos might still have to contribute.

Negative:
I found Krang's involvement disappointing. He was eaten whole by Leathrhead instead of being sentenced to life only to learn that he was a parasite and took control of LH. Okay,fine cool actually. Then he is finally removed from Leatherhead only to immediately fight Chr'ell for command and get scared by former subordinates and killed an issue later? I feel like there could have been a better story to tell if the narrative goes out of its way to bring Krang back. I don't get the point.

Also, the weasels murdered Man Ray? Why? Was he a threat to them?

[Toxin45]

Positive: We have become accustomed to Baxter Stocman being an inhuman subordinate. Here he is mostly a subordinate of others be it Krang, Shredder, or Rat King at least he has developed this arrogant demeanor and has means of gaining position on his own and finding outs to situations.

I also liked all the little nods to past characters and the successful integration sans Vernon's unneccessary inclusion for foder like the mob bosses earlier.

The story has finally been told and overall it was good. It had a sort of Ninja Tribunal feel.

I look forward to see what Shredder and the Neutrinos might still have to contribute.

Negative:
I found Krang's involvement disappointing. He was eaten whole by Leathrhead instead of being sentenced to life only to learn that he was a parasite and took control of LH. Okay,fine cool actually. Then he is finally removed from Leatherhead only to immediately fight Chr'ell for command and get scared by former subordinates and killed an issue later? I feel like there could have been a better story to tell if the narrative goes out of its way to bring Krang back. I don't get the point.

Also, the weasels murdered Man Ray? Why? Was he a threat to them?
and also ch'rell dying now we have armagon as a time god and maybe new villains coming wonder if viacom after idw is over would give the comic rights to another comic book publisher like dark horse,dynamite,or boom.