Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #12 officially marks the end of artist Juan Ferreyra’s run. So, what better time for an exit interview to explore all that he’s done to forever alter the world of TMNT.
Over the course of a yearlong collaboration with writer Jason Aaron, Ferreyra helped redefine the look and feel of the Turtles’ world and bring the series into 2025 while honoring TMNT’s deep legacy. Ferreyra says his biggest goal was simple: to make readers feel something every single time they turned the page. He wanted each issue to be exciting and easy to read, but layered with subtle storytelling that rewarded a closer look. Working with Aaron, he grounded the Turtles’ adventures in realism and shadow — “texture, dirt, suffering, and grit,” he said — giving New York City a tactile, lived-in atmosphere.
Collaborating with Aaron was, by Ferreyra’s account, a dream pairing. The two quickly aligned on giving the book a tone reminiscent of the original Mirage Studios comics — grimy, tactile, and grounded. Again, though, with something new, a modern sheen and heft. Similarly, Ferreyra wanted New York City to feel “lived in,” a world we could easily wander into ourselves. That realism carried through to the Turtles themselves, who felt more tangible and imperfect than ever.
Courtesy of IDW.
The artist found some of his greatest joy in set pieces that pushed his creativity to new heights. One standout sequence involved the Turtles fighting in a subway car, where Ferreyra’s dynamic choreography and sense of motion gave readers a front-row seat to chaos in close quarters. Another favorite moment saw Michelangelo storming a police station to save Donatello, a page Ferreyra described as a personal triumph for its ingenuity by condensing the entire scene into one vertical cascade of action as Mikey moved floor to floor. It was a challenge Ferreyra had dreamed of since his first meeting with Aaron, who encouraged him to run wild with his visual instincts.
Ferreyra also brought his trademark use of color and lighting to TMNT, giving the series its signature look. Because each issue focused on a different Turtle’s perspective, he subtly infused the palette with their signature hues — more blue in Leonardo’s issue, more orange in Michelangelo’s, and so on. Even the gutters reflected those colors. During fight scenes, he used bursts of red, purple, or blue to emphasize movement and identity, letting each Turtle’s energy come through on the page.
Courtesy of IDW.
That kind of detail extended beyond the action across each issue. Ferreyra spent considerable time mastering the art of “acting” through the Turtles’ unusual faces — a tricky task given their lack of noses and human expressions. Finding emotional truth in their eyes, posture, and subtle gestures became one of his most rewarding artistic challenges.
Of all the characters, Leonardo remained Ferreyra’s personal favorite, but Donatello surprised him most. Donnie’s bond with the tiny “Splinter” he carried became one of the emotional highlights of his run. Ferreyra also found himself wishing he could have drawn more of “Casey April,” whose energy and physicality inspired ideas for an entire miniseries.
Given his connection, Leaving the series wasn’t easy. Ferreyra calls his time on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles “one of the most fun experiences I’ve had in a long time.” If given one more arc, he says he would’ve loved to tackle Shredder, a character he sees as a perfect foil for his gritty, kinetic style.
Courtesy of IDW.
And in true TMNT fashion, when asked what weapon he’d wield if he joined the team, Ferreyra didn’t hesitate: he’d bring a bow and arrow, a nod to his time drawing Green Arrow. As for his Turtle name? Sandro Botticelli, a playful homage to both Renaissance tradition and his first creator-owned project, Elvisman, inspired by Argentina’s own “Elvis” (a singer named Sandro).
Ferreyra’s run might have come to an end, but his influence on the Turtles’ visual legacy is sure to endure. It’s rich with shadow, heart, and “layers of cool storytelling” (per Ferreyra) that capture the beauty of four brothers fighting for something bigger than themselves.
Ferreyra’s final issue, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #12, is out today.
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