"IDW's TMNT Reunites Brothers at IGN Fan Fest 2025"

IDW has been pushing the boundaries with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, launching multiple exciting projects in recent years. In 2024, they relaunched the flagship TMNT comic under writer Jason Aaron, began the sequel to the best-selling TMNT: The Last Ronin, and introduced a ninja-heavy crossover with TMNT x Naruto. Moving into 2025, the main TMNT series introduces a new regular artist and a fresh status quo, with the four Turtles reunited but not on the best of terms.

During IGN Fan Fest 2025, we had the opportunity to speak with Jason Aaron and Caleb Goellner, the writer of TMNT x Naruto, to discuss the future of their series. We explored how these stories evolve, the overarching mission for the TMNT line, and the potential for reconciliation among Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo. Here's what we discovered.

The Mission Statement of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

IDW has launched several new TMNT series in a short span, with the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 becoming a major hit, selling around 300,000 copies and ranking among the top-selling comics of 2024. Jason Aaron's guiding vision for the series is to reconnect with 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 told IGN. "Last year was the 40th anniversary of that series, and that was my first experience with those characters. Before the films or the cartoons, it was that original black and white Mirage Studios book. So I wanted to recapture some of the grittiness and griminess, and the big double-page spreads and action scenes of grimy turtles fighting ninjas in New York City alleyways."

Aaron aims to tell a story that feels both new and forward-moving, reflecting the Turtles' growth over the previous 150 issues of the IDW series. He focuses on their journey of coming back together as heroes amidst their personal struggles and differing paths.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #11 - Exclusive Preview Gallery

5 ImagesTMNT #1's success aligns with other major comic successes like Marvel’s Ultimate Universe line, DC’s Absolute line, and Skybound’s Energon Universe, indicating a strong audience demand for reboots and streamlined major franchises. Aaron shared his excitement about being part of these trends, emphasizing his passion for storytelling over industry trends.

"I sit down to do my job here at my desk, in an empty basement by myself, and I'm just trying to make up stories that get me excited," Aaron said. "As soon as I got the call about doing Turtles, I knew I could do something kind of cool. And then got to work with an incredible, ridiculous cavalcade of artists over the course of those first six issues. This is a story for anyone who's loved The Turtles for 40 years or if you've never heard of them until now."

A TMNT Family Reunion

Aaron's TMNT run begins with the Turtles scattered across the globe, each facing their own challenges. By the end of the first storyline, they reunite in New York City, though not happily. Aaron finds great satisfaction in exploring their dynamics once they're back together, even if tensions are high.

"Those first four issues were really fun to write when you're seeing each of the brothers in a different situation around the globe," Aaron explained. "But the real fun is what happens once they are all together, seeing how those four characters bounce off each other. At this point in time in the book, things aren't great. They're not really happy to see each other, and they're not reliving old times. They're very much rubbing each other the wrong way."

In issue #6, the Turtles return to a changed New York City, now weaponized against them by a new Foot Clan villain. The city's hostility and their internal conflicts create significant challenges for the Turtles as they strive to reunite and overcome their adversaries.

Starting with issue #6, Juan Ferreyra becomes the new regular artist on the series, bringing a consistent visual style that Aaron praises highly.

"Having Juan come on with issue #6 made sense when the main bulk of the plot picks up," Aaron said. "Juan, even though he was following this group of artistic Titans, is doing incredible work. I think anybody who sees issues #6 and #7 will realize this guy was born to draw the Turtles. His work on this has been absolutely killer."

Merging the TMNT and Naruto Universes

Combining TMNT and Naruto is no small feat, but Caleb Goellner and artist Hendry Prasetya have successfully created a universe where the Turtles and the Uzumaki Clan coexist. Goellner credits Prasetya for the Turtles' redesign, making them fit seamlessly into the Naruto universe.

"I couldn't be happier," Goellner told IGN. "I only had a few basic suggestions about how to do that. What they came back with was unreal. I hope they get made into toys. That's my wish, just so I can put them up on my shelf with my collection."

The crossover series highlights the interactions between the characters, with Goellner enjoying the dynamics between Kakashi and the other heroes, reflecting his own experiences as a father.

"The job for me is to make sure all of the characters have a moment together through the course of the book," Goellner said. "I really like seeing Kakashi with anyone because now that I'm a dad, Kakashi is my viewpoint character to the Naruto world. I'm like, ‘How do you manage all these kids?’ I love Splinter, too, but Kakashi is doing a lot of internal face-palming, but he's staying professional and keeping the trains moving for the youth."

Goellner also enjoys the interactions between Raphael and Sakura, both strong characters in their respective teams. As the series progresses into Big Apple Village, fans can expect a significant TMNT villain, specifically requested by Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto, to make an appearance.

"He had one request for this crossover. It was to have a certain villain appear and for the Naruto characters to fight that certain villain," Goellner teased. "I'm not going to say who, but I think everybody's going to be pretty stoked. I know I am, and I can't wait to see how folks react because so far the vibe on the book's super positive."

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

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