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IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics are going even bigger. Coming this fall is a new arc, an annual, a new comic, and… Godzilla.
T U R T L E Power
Turtle power is surging indeed. Well, it is as far as publisher IDW is concerned, as the comics company has revealed a bevy of books that are en route. That’s nothing new for fans, who’ve been treated to what’s been arguably one of the best Turtles runs ever in the company’s ongoing. And though that book came to an end, another series picked right up from its close. And that same run will be rolling over into lucky #13 this fall.
Not just a thirteenth issue, TMNT #13 will signal a brand new arc, hailing from Eisner-winning writer Gene Luen Yang and artist Freddie E. Williams II. They’ll be joined by former Marvel staffer, Group Editor Jake Thomas, for what IDW is saying will be a fresh jumping-on point.
In it, fans will see the team reunited, and ready to settle back into NYC. Not that it’ll be all sewers and skateboards, since there’s also a new villain lurking in the shadows, in the form of “a deadly new assassin”.
New run, same numbering
“I’ve been a fan of the TMNT since I was young. I remember watching the ‘80s cartoon with my brother and then reenacting the Turtles’ adventures with our action figures,” remarked Yang. “I read my first issue of TMNT at a friend’s house, and I was blown away by the melding of gritty martial arts action and wild, out-of-left-field ideas. Many years later, I began my cartooning career in American independent comics. All of us from that corner of comics owe a huge debt to Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. Their talent and creativity, both as comics creators and as businessmen, carved out a path for the rest of us to follow. In fact, the very first comic I ever self-published was funded by a grant from Peter Laird’s Xeric Foundation. I’ve admired the Turtles for a long, long time. I’m absolutely thrilled to get to tell their stories at IDW.”
Williams is no stranger to working on the Turtles, but to finally work on the ongoing series’ interiors is a real joy for the celebrated artist. ”Finally I’m getting to REALLY scratch my TMNTitch! I’ve been so lucky to draw the Turtles on covers and crossovers, but it’s not enough, never enough.” Williams continued, “I LOVE the Turtles! The original Mirage comics were instrumental in making me fall in love with the comic book medium, and of course I am SUPER inspired by the POWER and TEXTURE in that early Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird art! Now, after begging Editor-in-Chief Bobby Curnow for over a decade, I am so happy to draw my first FULL ON TMNTseries! My goal is to draw at least 450 Turtles per page in each issue! Can’t wait for everyone to see what we’re working on, I’m having a BLAST!”
IDW press release
Fans can look for TMNT #13 to hit stores this December, and for it to be accompanied by special blind-bag variants. According to IDW, included there will be covers from “Daniel Warren Johnson, David Nakayama, Clayton Crain, and more”.
Landing ahead of that title though, will be a new TMNT Annual, in October. Writer Kenny Porter and artists Michael Shelfer and Maria Keane will be onboard for that, and IDW says that it will “bridge the gap” between the two runs of the main book. There’s no hint as to what the story will entail, but we do know that the release will include the kick off for what’ll be a series of TMNT holiday-themed covers.
These special variants will be from artist Jared Cullum, and land across the various Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics.
Into the Battle Nexus
And now for something completely different. Well, mostly different. We’re still talking about the TMNT here, but the book tat will be known as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Battle Nexus is radically different from the above in terms of what’ll be going into it.
For one thing, it’s set to be a five-week event series. So no, we’re talking about another ongoing. Battle Nexus looks like it might be quite the ride for longtime fans too, with a massive lineup of talent telling one of the more interesting-sounding Turtles tales yet. To that end, the mini-series will be bringing together a crew of villains from across various TMNT eras.
Oh, and one of those will be the original Mirage Comics version of Shredder. Black and white look and all.
Featuring beloved characters from various incarnations of the franchise – including the classic Shredder from Mirage Studios, Metalhead from the 2012 animated series, Slash returning from the dead and the IDW debut of Ninjara – this adrenaline-filled adventure is crafted by fan-favorite TMNT creatives, including writers Tom Waltz, Paul Allor, Sophie Campbell, Caleb Goellner, and Erik Burnham with art from the Escorza brothers, Ben Bishop, Vitor Cafaggi, Omar Francia, and Hendry Prasetya
IDW press release
The King rises
Turtled out yet? No? Good, because there’s even more than the trio of titles we talked about above. And yes, it includes the King of Monsters himself, Godzilla. Making the rounds as he continues his rampage through several comics universes, Godzilla will be tussling with Shredder and the Foot in TMNT x Godzilla, a title that’ll arrive this November from writer Tim Seeley and artist Fero Pe.
Stomping its way into comic shops this November is a crossover even bigger than the Technodrome itself: TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES X GODZILLA! From the innovative minds of writer Tim Seeley and artist Fero Pe comes a jaw-dropping blend of the two pop culture franchises as it’s revealed the Foot Clan exists to stop the onslaught of kaiju attacks, but Shredder and General Krang have different plans to give mutagen a giant upgrade.
IDW press release
