The first issue of Gene Luen Yang and Freddie E. Williams II’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles run was chock full of the character dynamics, martial arts action, and themes of family that make the Heroes in a Half-Shell some of the best comic book characters around. It also brought a new villain in the form of Ujigami, who has dedicated himself to taking out the Turtles’ biggest enemies. All of that feels like a hard act to follow, and yet Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #14 delivers on all counts.
The bulk of the issue is dedicated to the Turtles having to protect some of their fiercest enemies from Ujigami’s wrath, which means that if you’ve been with IDW’s TMNT since its inception, you’ll get to see a wide cast of characters. Lo Ban from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Nightwatcher makes an appearance; so does Old Hob, who appeared in the very first storyline of Tom Waltz’s TMNT run. Even Karai shows up, and while her motives remain a mystery, her enmity for the Turtles remains – even when they’re trying to save her life.
As you’d imagine, having to protect all of these people means that the Turtles are once again divided. Yang makes this a central plot point, along with the fact that the Turtles are grappling with protecting people who’d just as soon see them dead. In tackling this moral dilemma, he switches to Leonardo’s viewpoint, which makes perfect sense given that Leo’s usually the most level-headed Turtle. There’s a phrase that Leo repeats throughout the issue: “There’s an honorable path and a dishonorable path to justice.” He and his brothers are trying to follow the honorable path, which leads to yet another major twist that’ll have fans talking and speaks to Yang’s skill as a writer.
Williams also deserves a fair amount of praise, as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #14 is packed with action from beginning to end. From Leo going undercover to stop Ujigami from killing Lo Ban (and doing it while dressed in a sharp suit, no less) to the Turtles having to fight for their lives against Bebop and Rocksteady, the story’s structured in a way that makes every punch, kick, and swing of a weapon count. A great example is Donatello, who, in one panel, is relatively quiet, and in the next, his bo staff is striking Rocksteady hard enough in the jaw to draw blood. None of it works without Andrew Dalhouse’s colors, which bring the action to life by making great use of the Turtles’ signature hues.
The issue ends on yet another massive cliffhanger, but this works to its favor as it both adds another wrinkle into the Turtles’ lives while also letting Yang and Williams fold another character from TMNT lore into the mix. Again, I’m surprised at the way this creative team manages to both pay tribute to and upend what fans know about the Turtles; it’s no easy feat, but they make it look effortless. It’s also a great roadmap for other creators on how to keep a long-running property fresh.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #14 continues to flesh out a new status quo for the Heroes in a Half-Shell, bringing the action and the emotion in equal measure. If you haven’t been reading this title, now’s the perfect time to start.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #14 will be available wherever comics are sold on January 14, 2026.
