IDW Publishing is bringing in a fresh creative team for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, with acclaimed writer Gene Luen Yang (American Born Chinese, Superman Smashes the Klan) stepping in as the new writer starting with issue #13. He’ll be joined by dynamic artist Freddie E. Williams II (Batman/TMNT, He-Man/Thundercats), marking a major new chapter for the heroes in a half shell.
Yang and Williams are taking the reins from Jason Aaron and Juan Ferrerya, whose “back-to-basics” run launched the series to critical and commercial success last year. You’ve read all about it via AIPT’s exclusive TMNT Tuesday column, I’m sure. Their final issue, #12, arrives this September, with Yang and Williams debuting their arc on December 10.
For Yang, the assignment is deeply personal. He grew up obsessed with the original TMNT cartoon and comics, even recreating turtle battles with action figures. “That blend of gritty martial arts and wild, imaginative storytelling blew my mind,” Yang shared with THR, noting the deep influence Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird had on his career, including a self-published comic funded by Laird’s Xeric Foundation.
Williams, who previously illustrated TMNT crossovers but never the interiors, echoed that sentiment. “The original Mirage comics made me fall in love with the medium,” he said. “Getting to draw the Turtles now is a dream come true.”
While much of their story arc remains under wraps, the new run will kick off with the Turtles reunited and optimistic—until a deadly new assassin named Ujigami surfaces to threaten their fragile peace.
To celebrate the launch, IDW is offering a special blind bag variant program featuring covers by top artists including Daniel Warren Johnson, David Nakayama, and Clayton Crain. The main cover is by Williams, with a variant by Dustin Nguyen.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #13 goes on sale December 10. Final order cutoff is October 20.
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