Tom Waltz has been one of the prime architects of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic since IDW started publishing it in 2011. This included a long tenure on the ongoing series, co-writing it for a whopping 100 issues. While his focus on the Turtles has mostly been on alternate-future series The Last Ronin, he’s returning to the main continuity in a big way with The Armageddon Game.
This massive Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles story will see our heroes come up against the deadly Rat King. To make things worse, he’s not alone. The Rat King has a trio of new allies in LeatherKrang, Baxter Stockman, and Madame Null. In order for our heroes (led by Shredder!) to save the day, they’ll need to search all of New York City and other dimensions to find allies.
This Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game reading order has been created so you don’t miss any of the action. It has the recommended reading order, credits, and background reading too.
Happy reading!
Background reading
Check out the following if you want to do some background reading.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe #19
Written by Bobby Curnow. Art by Pablo Tunica.
This issue contains a 4-page prelude to the Kingdom of Rats storyline.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #81-84
Written by Tom Waltz and Kevin Eastman. Art by Dave Watcher.
These issues make up Kingdom of Rats, a major storyline for The Rat King. It appears that The Armageddon Game will build elements off it. You can find these issues in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Volume 20: Kingdom of Rats.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Annual 2020
Written by Tom Waltz. Art by Adam Gorham.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Annual 2021
Written by Tom Waltz. Art by Casey Maloney.
Both of these stories from the annuals have been reprinted as part of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game – Pre-Game.
The Armageddon Game reading order
Below is the recommended reading order for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Free Comic Book Day 2022
Written and art by Sophie Campbell.
Available 7th May, 2022
Note: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Free Comic Book Day 2022 was released for free on Free Comic Book Day 2022. If you missed it then you can read it for free here. It tells an alternate universe version of the TMNT that mirrors the original Mirage Comics issue in many ways and hints that it will play a big part in The Armageddon Game.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game – Opening Moves #1 (of 2) (Prelude)
Written by Tom Waltz. Art by Fero Peniche.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game – Opening Moves #2 (of 2) (Prelude)
Written by Tom Waltz. Art by Fero Peniche.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #131 (Prelude)
Written by Sophie Campbell. Art by Pablo Tunica.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #132 (Prelude)
Written by Sophie Campbell. Art by Pablo Tunica.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game #1 (of 8)
Written by Tom Waltz. Art by Vincenzo Federici.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #133 (Tie-in)
Written by Sophie Campbell. Art by Pablo Tunica.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game #2 (of 8)
Written by Tom Waltz. Art by Vincenzo Federici.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game – Alliance #1 (of 6) (Tie-in)
Written by Erik Burnham. Art by Roi Mercado.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #134 (Tie-in)
Written by Sophie Campbell. Art by Pablo Tunica.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game #3 (of 8)
Written by Tom Waltz. Art by Vincenzo Federici.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game – Alliance #2 (of 6) (Tie-in)
Written by Erik Burnham. Art by Roi Mercado.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #135 (Tie-in)
Written by Sophie Campbell. Art by Fero Peniche.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game #4 (of 8)
Written by Tom Waltz. Art by Vincenzo Federici.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game – Alliance #3 (of 6) (Tie-in)
Written by Erik Burnham. Art by Roi Mercado.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #136 (Tie-in)
Written by Sophie Campbell. Art by Fero Pe.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game #5 (of 8)
Written by Tom Waltz. Art by Vincenzo Federici.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game – Alliance #4 (of 6) (Tie-in)
Written by Sophie Campbell. Art by Sophie Campbell.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #137 (Tie-in)
Written by Sophie Campbell. Art by Fero Pe.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game #6 (of 8)
Written by Tom Waltz. Art by Vincenzo Federici.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game – Alliance #5 (of 6) (Tie-in)
Written by Paul Allor. Art by Pablo Verdugo.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #138 (Tie-in)
Written by Sophie Campbell. Art by Fero Pe.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game – Alliance #6 (of 6) (Tie-in)
Written by Paul Allor. Art by Pablo Verdugo.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game #7 (of 8)
Written by Tom Waltz. Art by Vincenzo Federici.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #139 (Tie-in)
Written by Sophie Campbell. Art by Fero Pe.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game #8 (of 8)
Written by Tom Waltz. Art by Vincenzo Federici.
Buy TMNT: The Armageddon Game on:
After TMNT: The Armageddon Game
IDW have promised that The Armageddon Game will ring in a new era of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics. What that will look like is unclear right now. However, we should know in early 2023. I will update this guide with more information when it has been announced.
TMNT: The Armageddon Game collected editions
Prefer to read this TMNT event in trade paperback? These are the collections you’ll want to track down if you want to read everything.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game – Opening Moves
Collects: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game – Opening Moves #1-2, “Kingdom of Rats Prelude”, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #84, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Annual 2020, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Annual 2021
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game
Collects: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game #1-8
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game – Alliance
Collects: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game – Alliance #1-6
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Reborn Volume 7: Isolation
Collects: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #133-139
There’s also Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game Deluxe Edition. This hardcover collects all of the event in a single edition.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game Deluxe Edition
Collects: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2021 Annual, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game – Opening Moves #1-2, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #131-139, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game – The Alliance #1-6, and Armageddon Game #1-8. As well as extras such as story notes from writers Tom Waltz and Sophie Campbell, a full cover gallery, and development art.
Additionally, The Armageddon Game has been collected in The IDW Collection hardcovers.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The IDW Collection Volume 16
Collects: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2011 series) #125-132, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Annual 2021, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Annual 2022, The Armageddon Game: Opening Moves #1-2
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The IDW Collection Volume 17
Collects: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2011 series) #133-137, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game – Alliance #1-5, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game #1-6
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The IDW Collection Volume 18
Collects: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game #7-8, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game – The Alliance #6, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2023 Annual, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles issues (2011 series) #138-150, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Untold Destiny of the Foot Clan #1-5
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To make the story make sense, alliance issue 6 should be before Armageddon Game issue 7. The events that happen in Armageddon issue 7 take place immediately after Alliance issue 6
Thanks Felix! I’ve just fixed that up.
I\\\’m just starting to read this now, but it seems like Opening Moves #2 should be before TMNT 131. That way, Shredder finishes his business with Kitsune before going to train the turtles. And his reply to them about her makes more sense after the events of Opening Moves #2.
Thanks Quantum! I’ve updated the reading order based on your feedback.