Mark's Epic Blog of Randomness

 By Mark Rodriguez The Armageddon Game is here! The Rat King begins his deadly game with the help of Krang, Baxter Stockman and Madame Null. Meanwhile, Shredder trains the Turtles in the mystic arts to prepare for this event. Now the heroes will go to gather other allies that could be useful in this epic battle. The story opens with Kistune in a deep slumber as she regains her powers after helping Shredder in an earlier ritual. She is being watched over by her sister Aka, when suddenly the Rat King appears. Aka asks if he came to gloat. He says he is only there to wish them luck. Aka says he might have the advantage since he's been spying on Kitsune. He says he is content only with knowing that she is playing the game, there wouldn't be any fun in cheating. The Rat King says the time has come for the game to begin.  Meanwhile in the Turtles' current church lair, Shredder has gathered the members of the Splinter Clan and the Foot Clan together on what he calls neutral ground

 By Mark Rodriguez The Rat King is finally on the move for his Armageddon Game with the help of Krang, Baxter and Madame Null. The Turtles must prepare but they must learn new spiritual techniques from their former enemy, the Shredder! The issue opens with a vision of Leonardo facing his former dark self, who taunts him over trusting the Shredder. Leo says this is what their father would have wanted. Dark Leo defeats him and says he is always leading his family on the wrong path. Later on Shredder leads the Turtles to a Thin Place, and entrance to the spirit world that will aid in their mastery of the Kuji-Kiri. The crew see odd flying things and Mikey asks what they are. Shredder says they're spirits. He shows them a carving of a bellflower and tells them it represents the five elements which ties into mystic arts and nature. The talisman called Gofu can be constructed by natural elements that can be found in this mystic forest.  The Turtles gather things like branches, mud and su

 By Mark Rodriguez Shredder and Kitsune embark on a psychic quest to search for weakness within their enemies in Rat King's upcoming Armageddon Game. After finding weaknesses within Krang, they now go after Baxter Stockman.  Shredder and Kitsune, in spirit form, arrive in front of Baxter Stockman, the current New York City Mayor. He calls for his secretary and tells her to bring him information on the private company Agent Bishop had in contract under the Earth Defense Force. Shredder and Kitsune venture into his mind. Months ago in TCRI Stockman and Flood are checking over their specimens and expected delivery. Ms. Flood reminds Stockman that she has holiday vacation coming up which he already approved. She asks if he has any holiday plans, and he says nothing beside his usual Mayoral duties. He tells her to use her time wisely and be ready to work when she returns from vacation. Baxter mutters to himself about people wasting their time on the holidays while people like him still

 By Mark Rodriguez The Shredder has returned to life after literally escaping hell. Rather than continue his evil ways, he is actually trying to redeem himself from his past sins and sets out to lead the Turtles against the Rat King and his evil plans.  The story opens with Shredder talking to the Turtles around the campfire in the forest. He wanted to keep away from the Turtles after all the harm he's caused them, but with the upcoming Armageddon Game coming soon, he can't sit idly by. He says the Rat King will bring obstacles that will not know how to deal with and with proper training they will not survive.  Shredder will teach them the lost mystic arts of Kuji-Kiri, The Ten Cuts, hand gestures that can summon the energies of the universe. These techniques were taught to individuals in critical secret missions and are forbidden to use them outside of that mission. Mikey asks why these techniques are so dangerous. Leo says these techniques have close ties to black magic, simi

 By Mark Rodriguez A lot has changed since I last read the Ninja Turtles comics from IDW. The Shredder was killed but has recently returned form Hell. Splinter was killed. Krang has taken over Leatherhead's body. Jennika was mutated into the fifth Turtle, and now we have Venus lurking around the corner. Throughout it all there has always been the lurking threat of the Pantheon, run by several other-worldly members such as Kitsune and the Rat King. It seems they have finally started to play their game now. The story opens with Shredder watching over the New York skyline contemplating his past and present to prevent a perilous future. Back in ancient Japan, he was the one bringing peril as Jonin to the Foot Clan. Oroku Saki would kill any who stood in his way, which would include the execution of Hamato Yoshi and his four children. He would later perform of ritual of death and rebirth with the help of Kitsune. He took his own life and was preserved by a demonic fluid and hidden away