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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2011) #28.5
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game—Opening Moves
The TMNT have faced enemy ninjas, government agents, fellow mutants, and alien armies, but now they must confront the machinations of an actual demi-god!
Untangle the maze of secrets and treachery on the road to The Armageddon Game! One of the Turtles' most enigmatic foes, the Rat King, is finally bringing his long-simmering plan to fruition, after years of quiet preparations.
Soon, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael--under the leadership of the Shredder--will embark on a dangerous quest to find allies against Rat King's trio of terror: LeatherKrang, Baxter Stockman, and Madame Null. But, before the game can truly begin, discover the histories of the Rat King, Kitsune, and the rest of the Pantheon, witness their previous encounters with the TMNT, and understand their connection to the recently resurrected Shredder.
Collects TMNT: The Armageddon Game Pre-Game stories Kingdom of Rats Prelude, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #84, and the 2020 and 2021 TMNT Annuals, as well as TMNT: The Armageddon Game—Opening Moves #1 and 2.
Untangle the maze of secrets and treachery on the road to The Armageddon Game! One of the Turtles' most enigmatic foes, the Rat King, is finally bringing his long-simmering plan to fruition, after years of quiet preparations.
Soon, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael--under the leadership of the Shredder--will embark on a dangerous quest to find allies against Rat King's trio of terror: LeatherKrang, Baxter Stockman, and Madame Null. But, before the game can truly begin, discover the histories of the Rat King, Kitsune, and the rest of the Pantheon, witness their previous encounters with the TMNT, and understand their connection to the recently resurrected Shredder.
Collects TMNT: The Armageddon Game Pre-Game stories Kingdom of Rats Prelude, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #84, and the 2020 and 2021 TMNT Annuals, as well as TMNT: The Armageddon Game—Opening Moves #1 and 2.
156 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 14, 2023
26 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Tom Waltz
716 books49 followersTom Waltz is the Senior Staff Writer and Editor in IDW Publishing, better known as the writer of the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles titles.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 17, 2025
(B+) 79% | Good
Notes: A lookback/recap, teaser/roadmap, primer sort of book, it does the job, though bits and bobs and doesn't really hook.
*Progress updates: Preamble ◦ Prelude–Issue #84 ◦ Annual 2020–Annual 2021 ◦ Opening Moves #1-2
Notes: A lookback/recap, teaser/roadmap, primer sort of book, it does the job, though bits and bobs and doesn't really hook.
*Progress updates: Preamble ◦ Prelude–Issue #84 ◦ Annual 2020–Annual 2021 ◦ Opening Moves #1-2
October 27, 2025
An okay story. I wanted to rate it 3.5 stars but the story is all over the place getting the players, pawns, and commanders.
The Armageddon Game is about to begin. This game is usually played between the Rat King and his Immortal siblings. However many of them have lost interest so the Rat King must motivate/recruit/manipulate others. If he stands unopposed the world is his. An unlikely hero might emerge.
The Rat Kings team is in place, I know the prize but what is the game itself? This is the Rat King's book the Turtles are not in it much. Each chapter of the book finishes with a variant cover.
The Armageddon Game is about to begin. This game is usually played between the Rat King and his Immortal siblings. However many of them have lost interest so the Rat King must motivate/recruit/manipulate others. If he stands unopposed the world is his. An unlikely hero might emerge.
The Rat Kings team is in place, I know the prize but what is the game itself? This is the Rat King's book the Turtles are not in it much. Each chapter of the book finishes with a variant cover.
May 18, 2023
I would like to thank IBW Publishing and NetGalley for granting me this ARC in exchange for writing an honest review!
You may wonder why I gave this a 3 star- Well, I have always loved ninja turtles as I grew up watching the tv show but reading the comics showed that I barely know anything. Frankly, it feels unfair to give it 3 stars BUT if I have read every single comic before this one then I would have understood what was going on instead of walking into this blindly and have given it 5 stars. If you are a core fan then you would love this and give it 5 stars but because I am a nooby to this; I have given it a lower rating which really seems unfair to me but it's an honest review.
Note: will try to read all the releases of ninja turtles and see how my point of view changes.
"ON THE CONTRARY, I'M AS FESTIVE AS THEY COME. I SIMPLY PREFER MY PARTIES TO BE OF THE SURPRISE VARIETY. SPONTANEITY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE, AFTER ALL."
"BUT ALAS ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END AND SOME THINGS ARE BEST LEFT KEPT SECRET"
You may wonder why I gave this a 3 star- Well, I have always loved ninja turtles as I grew up watching the tv show but reading the comics showed that I barely know anything. Frankly, it feels unfair to give it 3 stars BUT if I have read every single comic before this one then I would have understood what was going on instead of walking into this blindly and have given it 5 stars. If you are a core fan then you would love this and give it 5 stars but because I am a nooby to this; I have given it a lower rating which really seems unfair to me but it's an honest review.
Note: will try to read all the releases of ninja turtles and see how my point of view changes.
"ON THE CONTRARY, I'M AS FESTIVE AS THEY COME. I SIMPLY PREFER MY PARTIES TO BE OF THE SURPRISE VARIETY. SPONTANEITY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE, AFTER ALL."
"BUT ALAS ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END AND SOME THINGS ARE BEST LEFT KEPT SECRET"
April 4, 2023
Long on oddball secondary characters and manoeuvres, short on action and, you know, Turtles.
July 10, 2024
Tom Waltz returns to help bring the series back to the glory of the first 100 issues of the series. IDW's TMNT Armageddon Game-Opening moves includes the 2020 and 2021 series annuals and the "Opening Moves" mini series, as well as a few other reprints.
Oftentimes when reading comics, it is easy to skip tie ins, but that is not this case for this series. The annual books help tie up unresolved plot points involving the pantheon, which I enjoyed, while "Opening Moves" sets up the storyline for what is to come in the Armageddon Game even, which I enjoyed less.
The two annuals are necessary for a reader to understand characters' roles in the main series. They provided a big missing piece for me, as I was having a tough time understanding Shredders sudden change in behavior. The annuals also provided important information about Krang's current state, which has been neglected in the ongoing series. They stories also deal with the pantheon characters, which had also been dropped in the ongoing series. Overall, the annuals itched scratches that the regular series had not in a while. The narration style is fun, if you enjoy Rat King's character. The fact that the storytelling device is formulaic did not bother me because of Rat King's humorous personality quirks.
The "Pre Game" mini series feels less creative to me because Shredder and Kitsune don't play the role as narrator in the story. After a summary of Shredder's life--which I found helpful because of how confusing it can be--Shredder's character is more of a plot device. Using a similar narration device as the annuals, Shredder and Kitsune act as stand ins for the reader as they search the memories of important characters. What the reader gets is a handful of new stories involving Krang, Stockman, and Null. I feel like they literally say things like "I didn't know..." in order to remind the readers when information is new or important. I feel like most of the information is not new: Krang and Stockman are paranoid. The Null story introduces new characters and so does the Krang story. I'm guessing they will reappear in the Armageddon Game story. Overall, the memory-stories feel too long for the purpose they serve. Because they were set in the past, the stories had low stakes. I care less about what is going on and more about what is going to happen in the next issues.
All in all, if you enjoyed the first 100 issues, Tom Waltz does not disappoint in continuing his story through the annuals, and I guess "Opening Moves" is helpful in providing a backdrop for the next event to come.
Oftentimes when reading comics, it is easy to skip tie ins, but that is not this case for this series. The annual books help tie up unresolved plot points involving the pantheon, which I enjoyed, while "Opening Moves" sets up the storyline for what is to come in the Armageddon Game even, which I enjoyed less.
The two annuals are necessary for a reader to understand characters' roles in the main series. They provided a big missing piece for me, as I was having a tough time understanding Shredders sudden change in behavior. The annuals also provided important information about Krang's current state, which has been neglected in the ongoing series. They stories also deal with the pantheon characters, which had also been dropped in the ongoing series. Overall, the annuals itched scratches that the regular series had not in a while. The narration style is fun, if you enjoy Rat King's character. The fact that the storytelling device is formulaic did not bother me because of Rat King's humorous personality quirks.
The "Pre Game" mini series feels less creative to me because Shredder and Kitsune don't play the role as narrator in the story. After a summary of Shredder's life--which I found helpful because of how confusing it can be--Shredder's character is more of a plot device. Using a similar narration device as the annuals, Shredder and Kitsune act as stand ins for the reader as they search the memories of important characters. What the reader gets is a handful of new stories involving Krang, Stockman, and Null. I feel like they literally say things like "I didn't know..." in order to remind the readers when information is new or important. I feel like most of the information is not new: Krang and Stockman are paranoid. The Null story introduces new characters and so does the Krang story. I'm guessing they will reappear in the Armageddon Game story. Overall, the memory-stories feel too long for the purpose they serve. Because they were set in the past, the stories had low stakes. I care less about what is going on and more about what is going to happen in the next issues.
All in all, if you enjoyed the first 100 issues, Tom Waltz does not disappoint in continuing his story through the annuals, and I guess "Opening Moves" is helpful in providing a backdrop for the next event to come.
February 13, 2023
The Armageddon Game is on the horizon - but how did we get here?
It's nice that IDW are collecting some of the stuff here, which I didn't think was ever going to get put in a trade. We've got two annuals, which are traditionally not in the main Turtles trades, as well as the Opening Moves two-issue mini-series, and the Kingdom Of Rats prelude from a few years ago.
It goes to show how long the Armageddon Game has been in development, bubbling along in the background. The collection as a whole would be a good reminder as to where all of the big players have been in the last few years, especially that two-issue mini-series which seems to be precisely that, visiting each of the villains to see what they're up to right now.
Whether the stories here turn out to be important or just set-dressing remains to be seen, since the Armageddon Game is still ongoing at time of writing, but given how tightly plotted the Turtles books have been since their inception at IDW, I can't see anything in this volume being throwaway.
The Turtles haven't had a big event like this in a long time, so if you're thinking of getting on board, Opening Moves is a good place to start.
July 29, 2023
I thought I might dip my toe into current TMNT comics since the new movie is coming out. But I guess I shouldn't have. Book description says "one of the Turtles' most enigmatic foes, the Rat King" -- I fail to see how he can be enigmatic when he literally CANNOT SHUT UP telling us all his backstory and motivation and plans. Endlessly monologuing villains aren't menacing; they're simply tedious AF. I get that this volume is simply setup, but with such a rubbish villain, I doubt I'll be reading anything else.
June 28, 2023
Not as good as The Last Ronin. Introductory set-up for the rest of the series. The Rat King is interesting in a Fables/American Gods kind of way. Explains Shredders multiple reincarnations including one that's reminiscent of a villain from Alan Moore's Swamp Thing. Worth reading, but overly wordy and drags a bit. Great art.
February 15, 2024
I am posting my full review for Vol 6, 7, and all three Volumes of The Armageddon Game (Main Title, Opening Moves, and The Alliance) on the Volume 7 review. Please see there for my full opinions about this huge crossover.
January 16, 2025
The [Armageddon] Game is interestingly established and aFoot for Turtle friend and foe alike.
I'm yet to be convinced that a redemption arc for Oroku Saki is required but I remain open to proceedings...
I'm yet to be convinced that a redemption arc for Oroku Saki is required but I remain open to proceedings...
October 24, 2022
La expectativa es alta en este evento, solo me preocupa que estén inventando sobre la marcha nuevos aliados, siendo que ya tienen de sobra.
November 1, 2022
As a TMNT fan for so many years I can't help it - I love the story and the art is gorgeous! Will definitely get a physical copy. All TMNT fans should check this out!
May 30, 2023
Not bad, but it’s very much fleshing out secondary characters in preparation for Armageddon Game. But they have my attention. I’ll definitely be reading Armageddon Game.
June 6, 2024
As interesting as the Armageddon Game sounds this volume as a whole felt messy. Like the first bit was from a previous volume, and then it just DRAGGED. This probably didn't need to be it's own volume either. Like I'm hype for what this is leading up to but on it's own it was a snooze.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews