Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is back with brand new series and creative team from IDW. Based on the information we’ve received from IDW this is not going to be a reboot of their TMNT universe but a relaunch. With that relaunch the new creative team of Jason Aaron along with an all-star cast of artists, starting with Joelle Jones for this first issue, are focusing on the core four Turtles of the Hamato Clan. Given everything that has happened to Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo as a family and individually it’ll be interesting to see where they will begin this new series. With that in mind, let’s take a look at how things start with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Joëlle Jones
Colorist: Ronda Pattison
Letterer: Shawn Lee
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #1 SOLICITATION
“NEW SERIES PREMIERE! NEW JUMPING-ON POINT!
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have all left New York to pursue their own interests, but there are forces gathering that will pull them back together—whether the bad guys like it or not. First up: Raphael! But why is everyone’s favorite brawler in prison?! When a surprise attack behind bars puts Raph’s position in jeopardy, he needs to figure out how to get out of jail and warn his brothers that trouble is coming.
Superstar writer Jason Aaron (The Mighty Thor, Batman: Off-World) teams up with Joëlle Jones (Lady Killer, Catwoman) for the first issue of a new TMNT series that will start a bold new era, celebrating the TMNT’s 40th anniversary while setting them up for the next 40 years to come!”
REVIEW
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle #1 immediately begins making you question what happened to the Hamato Clan family. Jason Aaron and Joëlle Jones establish that this introductory story arc will be focusing on where each of the Ninja Turtles are at after an unknown time skip. For this first issue it is no surprise that Raphael is the first Ninja Turtle that is focused on.
The focus on Raphael for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle #1 was very important in setting the tone for what this intro arc for the new creative team sets the table. That’s exactly the note this first issue hits with Raphael locked up in prison. Immediately seeing the image of Raphael walking through the prison mess hall with everyone’s attention on him spoke volumes of his situation.
For followers of IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe, Aaron does the right thing of keeping things vague in terms of timeline. We don’t know how much time passed between Sophia Campbell’s final issue and Aaron’s first issue. But what is made clear is that we are still in that same world with the timeskip giving the opportunity for this fresh start while not going with the dreaded reboot angle.
A lot of Raphael’s inner monologue and observations paint the picture that a lot has happened since we last saw him. Through that we understand that he is carry both the decisions from the blank period and what we saw go down at the end of Campbell’s run. Carrying that weight made the development that Raphael made some sort of agreement with the prison warden to act as a planted prisoner create even more questions. The way Raphael goes about things it seems this deal was to get out of a situation he and his family ended up in.
The set-up of only the prison warden knowing why Raphael is in prison made the moment Foot Clan members arrived be a more dramatic twist. As soon as they appear you know that this will not be a good thing for Raphael. Aaron going through with the obvious plot of the Foot Clan members killing the prison warden was what this story needed. Its one of those things that going with the obvious twist was for the best to cement Raphael’s current status quo.
The appearance of the Foot Clan also works to create a lot of questions about what Karai is doing. Last we saw was that Karai and the Foot Clan had built an agreement to be neutral with the Hamato Clan. With what they do in the prison and the final page now that appears to be completely out the window. Why Karai would suddenly break the alliance creates a lot intrigue for what we will learn in future issues.
On the artwork side of things, Joëlle Jones art style is right at home with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles world. She does an excellent job telling the reader that we are at a point where Raphael walking around in prison doesn’t have everyone freaking out. The visual of how background characters act around Raphael tells a lot about this world. Then there is the action that is breathtaking. The double page spread of Raphael vs the Foot Clan was perfect. Hopefully we see Jones do even more Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles work.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle #1 is a home run start to this new era for the franchise. Jason Aaron and Joëlle Jones nail this story of Raphael in prison to set the foundation for the series moving forward. There are a lot of great moments that have you looking forward to finding out what’s going on with not just the Hamato Clan but also other characters in this universe. Definitely a must buy comic book.
Story Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 10 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 9.5 Night Girls out of 10
For more opinions on anime, comic book, movies, and sports you can follow Kevin on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads, and Twitter/X.