We’re back with another edition of TMNT Tuesday, your one-stop shop for insider info, previews, and more! This week, IDW has given AIPT an exclusive look at the entire first issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #13, out on December 10th. The issue is significant, as it marks the start of Gene Luen Yang and Freddie E. Williams II’s takeover of the series following Jason Aaron’s twelve-issue run.
After putting TMNT #13 down, it’s safe to say many will be energized to read the Ninja Turtles after reading this issue. This is mainly due to Yang almost constantly infusing this book with brotherly banter. The Ninja Turtles aren’t just a team; they’re family, and they’re constantly dropping jokes or digs on one another out of love. This aspect is so important in part because it defines their identity, be it the movies, television shows, or past comics. Their personalities shine through thanks to this, and the bond helps remind us of how unique this series can be.
Outside of the excellent creative team, TMNT #13 will get fans talking as it introduces a new character called Ujigami. The ashcan gave us a taste of their dangerous ways, but the entire first issue does far more to flesh out the character. The character is significant from the start, capable of killing enemies of the Ninja Turtles while brandishing a ninja look and feel. This character helps make this new arc feel like it’s going to new places, with the cliffhanger cementing them as possibly the most important addition to the Ninja Turtles mythos ever. Sure, that may sound boisterous and over the top, but you gotta read the comic and see the cliffhanger to understand how monumental this character is in the series to believe it.
There are also many tried-and-true staples that longtime fans will be pleased to see. There’s pizza, there’s iconic supporting characters, and there’s plenty of fighting. There are also mutants to fight along with human soldiers. That helps mix up the fighting, especially when Williams II puts an extra oomph on punching and kicking. You practically feel the action at times, thanks to the dynamic art and plenty going on in the backgrounds and foregrounds during the melees.
Who is Ujigami? Read the issue, and maybe you’ll find out?
Courtesy IDW
Thanks to the way the Turtles are drawn, along with all the action, this is an easy jumping-on point for new readers. They may not know the gangster characters, or even what the Turtles have been through of late, but there’s no denying that the banter and the cliffhanger will pull in even the most lapsed Turtle fan.
Props should go to letterer Shawn Lee, who makes Ujigami’s dialogue pop using red around the word balloons. Emphasis is particularly well done, from a “No!” to a “cowabunga!” It’s not always going big; it’s mostly easy to read and tempered, but when it does, it adds an extra oomph to the scenes.
The art throughout is some of Williams II’s best work yet, with fun layouts that mix things up and plenty of action on every page. Andrew Dalhouse’s colors keep the visuals grounded, never going too bright with the color palette. Color tones in the turtle’s skin help add definition and volume.
TMNT #13 fires on all cylinders, blending sharp character work, explosive action, and a game-changing new addition to the mythos in Ujigami. Yang and Williams II capture everything that makes the Turtles exceptional—the warmth, the humor, the scrappy energy—while delivering an issue that feels both welcoming to newcomers and thrilling for longtime fans. With stellar artwork, smart lettering choices, and a cliffhanger that practically demands the next issue, this chapter proves the future of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is not just bright—it’s downright electrifying.
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