IDW's TMNT Reunites Brothers at IGN Fan Fest 2025

IDW's ambitious approach to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) franchise has been nothing short of remarkable in recent years. In 2024, they relaunched the flagship TMNT comic under the guidance of writer Jason Aaron, introduced the sequel to the best-selling TMNT: The Last Ronin, and launched a thrilling crossover with the ninja-centric world of Naruto in TMNT x Naruto. As we step into 2025, the main TMNT series welcomes a new regular artist and a fresh status quo. The four Turtles—Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo—are finally reunited in New York City, though their relationships are strained.

During IGN Fan Fest 2025, we had the opportunity to delve into the future of these stories with Jason Aaron and TMNT x Naruto writer Caleb Goellner. We explored how these narratives evolve over time, the overarching mission for the TMNT line, and the prospects of the Turtles reconciling their differences. Here's what we discovered.

The Mission Statement of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

IDW has been prolific in launching new TMNT series, with the flagship monthly series, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1, becoming a massive hit, selling approximately 300,000 copies and ranking among the top-selling comics of 2024. We asked Jason Aaron about the guiding vision behind the TMNT line. He emphasized a return to the roots of the classic Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird TMNT comics from the Mirage days.

"For me, on this book, the guiding principle was just looking back at that original series, the original Mirage Studios book," Aaron explained to IGN. "Last year marked the 40th anniversary of that series, which introduced the Turtles to the world. That was my first experience with these characters, before the films or cartoons. I wanted to recapture the grittiness, the griminess, and the dynamic action scenes of those early Turtles fighting in New York City alleyways."

Aaron further elaborated, "We aimed to maintain that spirit while telling a new story that reflects the characters' growth over the previous 150 issues of the IDW series. They've matured and are at a turning point, heading in different directions but needing to come together to reclaim their role as heroes."

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The success of TMNT #1, alongside other major comic releases like Marvel’s Ultimate Universe line, DC’s Absolute line, and Skybound’s Energon Universe, suggests a strong demand for rebooted and streamlined franchise narratives. Jason Aaron reflected on this trend, "It certainly seems like there's a demand for books that offer easy jumping-on points for these big properties. I'm thrilled to be part of it, but my focus remains on crafting stories that excite me."

Aaron also shared his excitement about working on the Turtles, "Getting the call to write for TMNT was unexpected and thrilling. I knew I could do something special with it, especially with the incredible artists we've had on the first six issues. This book is for both long-time fans and newcomers alike."

A TMNT Family Reunion

Aaron's run on TMNT began with a unique status quo: the four Turtles scattered across the globe. Raphael in prison, Michelangelo a TV star in Japan, Leonardo a brooding monk, and Donatello facing his own challenges. By the end of the first storyline, they were reunited in New York City. We asked Aaron about the satisfaction of bringing the brothers back together, despite their current tensions.

"Those first four issues were fun, exploring each brother's situation around the world," Aaron said. "But the real joy comes from seeing how they interact once reunited. At this point in the story, they're not happy to be together. They're clashing and struggling to fit back into their old dynamic."

He added, "When they return to New York in issue #6, the city has changed. It's been weaponized against them by a new Foot Clan villain, making them the most hated entities in the city. With such high stakes and internal conflicts, their journey to unity is challenging but essential."

A significant change from issue #6 onwards is the introduction of Juan Ferreyra as the new regular artist. Aaron expressed his enthusiasm for this collaboration, "Using different artists for the first five issues made sense, focusing on each Turtle's story. But Juan's arrival in issue #6 aligns with the main plot's escalation. His work is phenomenal, perfectly suited for the Turtles' urban adventures."

Merging the TMNT and Naruto Universes

Combining TMNT and Naruto is no small feat, but Caleb Goellner and artist Hendry Prasetya have successfully crafted a crossover where the Turtles and the Uzumaki Clan share a world. Goellner praised Prasetya's work on redesigning the Turtles to fit seamlessly into the Naruto universe.

"I couldn't be happier with the redesigns," Goellner told IGN. "I made a few suggestions, but Hendry's work is unreal. I hope they turn into toys because I'd love to add them to my collection."

Discussing the character interactions in the crossover, Goellner shared, "My goal is to ensure all characters have their moments. I enjoy seeing Kakashi with anyone; as a dad, he's my viewpoint character in the Naruto world. I also love Splinter's wisdom, but Kakashi's internal face-palming while keeping things professional is relatable. All the pairings are great, but I'm particularly excited about Raph and Sakura; their dynamic as the 'tanks' of their teams is intriguing."

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Goellner also teased upcoming developments as the ninja clans enter Big Apple Village, mentioning a specific TMNT villain requested by Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto. "He had one request for this crossover: to include a certain villain for the Naruto characters to fight. I'm excited to see how fans react to this."

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #7 hit stores on February 26, while Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto #3 is set to release on March 26. Be sure to check out IGN’s exclusive preview of the final chapter of TMNT: The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution.

Additionally, during IGN Fan Fest 2025, we got an early look at IDW's new Godzilla shared universe and a sneak peek of an upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog storyline.