At New York Comic Con, IDW is offering fans an ashcan preview of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #13, and I was lucky enough to get an early look at the inks and lettering. While it’s only six pages, it was enough to leave me excited for what’s to come in this new era for the Turtles.
First Impressions (Spoiler-Free)
Freddie E. Williams II, making his debut as interior artist on the main TMNT series, doesn’t disappoint. His crowd scenes are packed with detail, and the nuance in each Turtle’s look really pops. Raphael’s mask even has intriguing, pointed edges that add extra character, making him stand out from the rest. The story itself feels like a seamless continuation of Jason Aaron’s acclaimed run, with the team working more cohesively while still needling each other like brothers do.
The design of Ujigami, the deadly new assassin entering the mythos, comes through strongly even in these early pages: an ancient ninja vibe that feels right at home in TMNT. From what I saw, there’s a hopeful undercurrent to the brotherly bond at the center of the book, balanced by a harder edge of violence that carries forward from Aaron’s tone — this isn’t just for kids.
Ujigami in the flesh!
Courtesy IDW
Six pages in, I’m already eager for the full issue, where the promise of a “war in New York” looms large at a moment when at least some of the city is learning to love the Turtles again.
What Fans Need to Know
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Creative Team: Eisner-winning writer Gene Luen Yang (Shang-Chi, American Born Chinese, Superman Smashes the Klan) teams with blockbuster artist Freddie E. Williams II (Batman/TMNT, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe).
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Launch: TMNT #13 begins this December, picking up after Jason Aaron and Juan Ferreyra’s best-selling run concludes with TMNT #12 in October.
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Story Setup: The Turtles are back together and hopeful about the future of the city, but their celebration is cut short when Ujigami makes their deadly debut.
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Variants: To mark this new era, IDW is offering a special blind bag variant program with covers by top creators including Daniel Warren Johnson, David Nakayama, and Clayton Crain.
The Creators Speak
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Gene Luen Yang: “I’ve admired the Turtles for a long, long time. I’m absolutely thrilled to get to tell their stories at IDW.”
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Freddie E. Williams II: “Finally I’m getting to really scratch my TMNT itch! … My goal is to draw at least 450 Ninja Turtles per page in each issue!”
Why Check Out the Ashcan
If you’re attending NYCC, the ashcan is worth grabbing; not only does it preview Williams’ art and Yang’s setup, but it also includes design insights and extra material to dig into. It’s a perfect appetizer for what’s shaping up to be a bold new chapter in TMNT comics. Pairing this with Shredder and Casey Jones, and it’s safe to say TMNT fans are fed.
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