Despite the fact that he is the sworn arch enemy of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Shredder will be leading the team in an all-new event that has been more than a decade in the making: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game will be an eight-part series helmed by longtime TMNT writer Tom Waltz and will be illustrated by Vincenzo Federici who is best known for their work on Red Sonja. The first issue of the series will feature three variant covers, one from series artist Federici, the second from TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman, and a third from artist Pasquale Qualano.
In a release from IDW Publishing announcing the new TMNT series, writer Tom Waltz expressed how excited they are to return to the Turtles’ saga and describes the creative process behind this storyline. “It’s an absolute honor and privilege to return to IDW’s main TMNT continuity, and to have the opportunity to do it as the creative lead on a huge multilayered event like The Armageddon Game (which has been bouncing around in my brain ever since I stepped away after issue #100) is the veritable icing on the cake." Waltz isn’t the only one who is eager to unveil their vision for the next chapter of TMNT lore as series artist Vincenzo Federici detailed their creative thought process behind this new book. “My personal vision of TMNT is forged in the television series and films of the ‘80s and ‘90s, but I also take inspiration from those who have worked on the IDW series from the beginning, such as Mateus Santolouco or Sofia Campbell. In the tradition of those great artists, I’ll be giving my very best effort for this series. Readers will be delighted!”
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game will detail the Turtle’s quest to vanquish the villainous Rat King and his trio of terror–a group of villains consisting of LeatherKrang, Baxter Stockman, and Madame Null. The Rat King and his deadly squad are so dangerous that the Turtles are willing to work with Master Shredder despite their longtime conflict with the evil Foot Clan leader to stop this even greater threat. The circumstances surrounding this odd team-up is, at the moment, unclear but what is clear are the implications of this alliance on the characters moving forward. While it is possible the Shredder will find redemption in leading the Turtles against the Rat King, the Turtles themselves could be taken down a questionable path in order to achieve that victory. In the second image above, the artwork depicts the team in a much darker light which gives the impression that the villainous Shredder may leave a lasting mark on them after this event has concluded. The Rat King is a deadly threat, and it is clear that the Turtles will do whatever it takes to defeat him including partnering with Shredder, someone who is known for his villainous actions. If Shredder pushes the Turtles to cross their moral lines, there may be no returning to their previously heroic ways.
While this series will be an all-new event unlike anything the Teenage Mutant Turtles have ever faced in the past, the groundwork has been over a decade in the making beginning with the re-established TMNT continuity sparked with the very first issue of IDW Publishing’s ongoing series. Now, all of the efforts from everyone involved in making the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles what it is today will culminate in an epic event that could redefine TMNT lore forever–including possible redemption for the villainous Shredder himself or perhaps even the corruption of the heroic Turtles. IDW Publishing's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game #1 will be available in August, 2022.
Source: IDW Publishing