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TMNT: The Armageddon Game - The Alliance #1
- Writer:
- Erik Burnham
- Artist:
- Roi Mercado
- Letterer:
- Shawn Lee
- Cover Artist:
- Roi Mercado
- Publisher:
- IDW Publishing
- Price:
- $3.99
- Release Date:
- 2022-11-09
- Colorist:
- William Soares
The villainous Rat King has declared the Armageddon Games, prompting the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to side with their former archnemesis, the now-reformed Shredder. Since they are still short on allies, Oroku Saki mediates between them and the new head of the Foot Clan, his granddaughter Karai. But Karai is restless and worried about the future of her clan. TMNT: The Armageddon Game - The Alliance #1 from IDW Publishing is an official tie-in miniseries to the main event. Written by Erik Burnham, the issue features artwork from Roi Mercado, colors by William Soares, and letters from Shaw Lee.
TMNT: The Armageddon Game - The Alliance #1 opens with Karai bowing to her grandfather, the Shredder, as the man chastises her for not showing enough ambition. She quickly realizes that she's dreaming, but before she can snap out of it, a mysterious ghost resembling an old man offers her unsolicited wisdom. He introduces himself as the former head of the Foot Clan and master of Shredder. To clear her head, she patrols the city. But trouble finds her soon as the ninja turtle doppelgängers challenge her to a fistfight.
Often an overlooked character, Karai takes centerstage in TMNT: The Armageddon Game - The Alliance #1. The issue finds the rare balance between an introspective narrative and arresting plot development, especially when the plot is laced with heavy soul-searching. Burnham does not spend too much time narrating events from Karai's perspective, instead leaning into what makes the TMNT franchise so great -- its adventurous storytelling. Karai is a woman of action, and the book plays to her strengths, letting her troubled mind blow some much-needed steam. For a slow-burning tale, the book is surprisingly funny, giving Karai a charming and intriguing personality.
Mercado's stylized artwork reflects the wavering conviction of its protagonist. He allows the characters to show their litheness through acrobatic moves, often changing up angles to keep the reader guessing. The clean contour lines depict the characters in dynamic poses, while the inking gives a depth of field around the panels to help important moments pop off the page. Colorist William Soares uses pinkish hues to mimic the polluted skyline. But the most eye-catching aspect of the book is the lighting. The colors produce an ethereal glow around Karai, giving her the focus she deserves.
Karai's character development has been long overdue, and TMNT: The Armageddon Game - The Alliance #1 is a great step forward for the character. Burham takes this moment to show Karai's maturity as a warrior and thinker, all of which make her well-qualified for the Clan's leadership position. TMNT: The Armageddon Game - The Alliance #1 is off to change the status quo, leading readers into unexplored corners of the TMNT universe.