Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (IDW Publishing)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an ongoing comic book series published by IDW Publishing. Debuting in August 2011, it was the first new comic version of the turtles to debut after the sale of the media franchise to Nickelodeon in October 2009. The initial creative team consisted of "Turtles" co-creator Kevin Eastman (who collaborated on the plot and the page layouts), Tom Waltz (who scripted the series) and artist Dan Duncan. In August 2017, the 73rd issue of the main ongoing series was published, making it the longest running comic in the "Turtles  franchise history; a title that was previously held by the Archie Comics series. In December 2019, the 100th issue of the comic was published, concluding the eight part City at War" arc. Starting with issue 101, series writer and artist Sophie Campbell took over as the sole lead writer for the book. Plot. Volume I (Issues #1-100). Hamato Yoshi is a member of the Foot Clan led by Oroku Saki during Japan's feudal period. After seeing Saki act ruthlessly, Yoshi leaves the Clan and is marked a traitor, and Saki orders Yoshi's entire family to be put  to death. Yoshi's wife, Tang Shen, is attacked and severely wounded, and with her last breath she beseeches Yoshi to protect himself and the children. He flees with the boys and remains on the run for several years. Saki, who will later be known as Shredder, eventually finds Yoshi and his children, and murders them all. Yoshi and his sons' spirits are reincarnated in modern times as a gray rat and four green turtles in a research laboratory called "Stock Gen", owned by Baxter Stockman, a scientist who has secretly allied himself with Krang. An intern at Stock Gen , April O'Neil, names the turtles after Renaissance artists: Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael. Members of the Foot Clan break into the facility to steal an alien mutagen. The animals are taken by mistake, and when they and the stolen mutagen get lost in the sewer, they are covered with the spilled mutagen and transformed into enlightened, humanoid beings. Yoshi, now called Splinter, remembers his past life and begins to train the turtles in the art of ninjutsu. Unfortunately, the seemingly trivial event which led to the creation of the Turtles and Splinter is part of an escalating conflict between several  powers trying to take control of the Earth: Finding new allies as they go, the Turtles are forced to strive against enemies and save the world from total destruction as this many-fold conflict begins to spin out of control. Volume II (Issues #101-). With a mutagen bomb attack by Hob on the New York populace during Baxter Stockman's inauguration as the city's new mayor, the world's public is made aware of the existence of mutants. A ghetto called Mutant Town is erected in the heart of Manhattan to quarantine them, with Hob and his Mutanimals exercising  loose political control over its inhabitants. The Turtles and their friends unite to make Mutant Town both a better place to live in and a hub of tolerance and communication with the outside world,but new conflicts begin to emerge: Characters. The series reimagines the origins of the Turtles, as well as other characters such as April O'Neil, Splinter, The Shredder, Casey Jones, and Baxter Stockman. Notably, the series, like the original Mirage version, initially gives all four Turtles red eye masks until issue #5, where Splinter gives Leonardo, Donatello and Michelangelo their well-known blue, purple and orange masks , respectively. The series features characters and plot devices from throughout the "TMNT" franchise, including: It has also introduced new characters, such as: Comics. Main series. The main ongoing comic started in August 2011 and has released 127 issues . Section::::"Micro-" and "Macro-Series". As per "TMNT" tradition, four one-shots (officially a mini-series) were released focusing on each turtle, with issue #4 tying into #9 of the main series. Due to the popularity of the series, IDW announced another four issues, focusing on Master Splinter, Casey Jones, April O'Neil and the Fugitoid. Associate Editor, Bobby Curnow, says that if popularity  increases, the Micro-Series will become the IDW equivalent of Mirage's "Tales of the TMNT". In April 2013, a new series of eight one-shots was started, under the title "Villains Micro-series". The first four issues focus on Krang, Baxter Stockman, Old Hob and Alopex; subsequent issues focused on Karai, Hun, Bebop & Rocksteady and Shredder. Between October and December 2018, four issues of a ""Macro-Series"" were published which focused on the Turtles, but featured much longer narrations. Section::::"Infestation 2". The Turtles were included in the IDW crossover event "Infestation 2". They appeared in one panel in the  first issue of the main series. Raphael also appeared on the covers for both issues of the main series; as does Donatello on a variant cover of #1. The Turtles were also given their own two-part miniseries. A series of strange occurrences leads the Turtles into long forgotten tunnels, where they are forced to confront the Lovecraftian creature Shub-Niggurath and its cult of warped monstrosities. Section::::"TMNT Annual 2012". A 48-page black-and-white annual issue was released in October 2012. Its plot focuses on the loss of a valuable peace offering to the Foot Clan from the  Savate Ninja syndicate, which inadvertently becomes a catalyst for a vicious gang war that threatens New York City. Section::::"Secret History of the Foot Clan". A four-part mini-series, titled "Secret History of the Foot Clan", was published from January through March 2013. The series tells the story about the founding of the Foot Clan, and additionally provides clues to the impact the conflict in the past will have on the present. Section::::"Utrom Empire". A three-part mini-series, titled "Utrom Empire", was started in January 2014. The series focuses on Krang, Professor Honeycutt and Baxter Stockman, as their struggles  against each other put the last of the Utrom race into dire peril, as well as including a story about the last days of the titular Utrom empire. Section::::"The X-Files: Conspiracy". A one-shot, out-of-continuity issue was published in February 2014 as part of the mini-series crossover event "The X-Files: Conspiracy". Guest characters include the Lone Gunmen and the vampire characters from the "X-Files" episode "Bad Blood". Section::::"TMNT Annual 2014". This annual edition features apprentice time mistress Renet and the Battle Nexus Tournament from the Mirage Comics volume 4/TMNT 2K3. Originally slated for  April 2014, the release was rescheduled to August due to production difficulties. The Turtles are taken from their home by a dimension-hopping Renet and forced to participate in an interdimensional gladiator contest which by the whim of their initiator, Councilman Nieli, has no winners; but the Turtles, the stubborn Renet and some irritated gladiators intend to change this unbearable condition for the better. Section::::"TMNT 30th Anniversary Special". A special edition commemorating the brand's 30th anniversary. Featuring five short stories, one of them entitled "Ready Set Go!" was previously released in "Hero Comics 2012"; the other four short stories  are each set in one of the comic continuities – Mirage, Image, Archie Comics, and IDW – which arose with the franchise. Section::::"Turtles in Time". A four-issue mini-series running from June to September 2014. It was a continuation from the story in "TMNT Annual 2014". Some intertemporary after-effect from their trip with Renet displaces the Turtles successively into the age of the dinosaurs, medieval Japan, the age of pirates, and even the future; and in each time period they are forced to make decisions which have shaped – and still might shape – their own fate and that of the world  around them. Section::::"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters". A four-issue mini-series crossover with IDW's "Ghostbusters" comic series, celebrating the 30th anniversaries of both franchises. It began publication in October 2014. The story deals with the Turtles and their friends testing a teleportation device whose plans were provided by Professor Honeycutt. Due to a slight mishap during activation, they end up in the Ghostbusters' reality, along with an immortal, hostile creature once known as Chiyou, who seeks domination over mankind. Section::::"TMNT: Mutanimals". Another four-issue mini-series dealing with the latest incarnation of the Mighty Mutanimals, published from February  to June 2015. Lindsey Baker, Old Hob's human ally and scientific creator of his mutant army, is kidnapped by the security forces of the "Null Group", a genetics firm headed by the fiendish Madame Null, who wishes to conquer the world's economy by creating hybrid mutants. As the Mutanimals fight to get Lindsey back, the team – and especially Hob – are forced to seriously reconsider their conduct as mutant liberators. Section::::"TMNT: Free Comic Book Day 2015". A story was published as part of the May 2015 Free Comic Book Day. It was a prelude to the "Vengeance" story arc  of the main series (#45–50). Section::::"Casey & April". A four-issue mini-series that started publishing in June 2015. Its plot deals with April O'Neil and Casey Jones investigating the contents of a scroll found in the Foot Clan's archives which points out the resting place of a book dealing with a group of immortal entities called the Pantheon, which includes the Rat King and Kitsune in its ranks. During this journey, Casey and April are also forced to do some soul-searching and exploring of their budding relationship. Section::::"Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles". DC Comics published the six-issue  miniseries "Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" (Feb.–July 2016) It is the second intercompany crossover between IDW and DC Comics, after "Star Trek/Green Lantern". The story, out of continuity, deals with the Turtles and their master Splinter, along with Shredder and a good number of his Foot Ninjas, having been interdimensionally displaced by their common enemy Krang; an eviction which landed them in Gotham City in the DC Universe. Section::::"Bebop & Rocksteady Destroy Everything!". A weekly five-part miniseries published in June 2016. In this story, Bebop and Rocksteady get their hands on Renet's time scepter and, as the simpletons  they are, wreak havoc to all creation as they use the artifact to hop all over time and space, forcing the Turtles and Renet to fix the damage before it becomes irreversible. Section::::"TMNT Universe". A spin-off series similar to Mirage's "Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles", which started publication on August 31, 2016. It serves as a narrative expansion to the main series with the introduction of crucial sideplots and additional characters. The series ended after 25 issues in August 2018. Section::::"TMNT: Free Comic Book Day 2017". A story was published as part of the May 2017  Free Comic Book Day. It was a prelude to the "Dimension X" story arc of the main series (#73–75). Section::::"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo". A one-shot crossover story re-uniting the "Turtles" franchise with Stan Sakai's "Usagi Yojimbo", which also references Usagi's earlier encounters with the Mirage-Turtles. Here, the Turtles must join forces with Miyamoto Usagi and the mystic Kakera against Usagi's sinister enemy Jei und Namazu. This issue was published in July 2017. Section::::"Dimension X". A five-issue limited series which started weekly publication on August 2, 2017. Its plot is a tie -in to the main series' "The Trial of Krang" storyline (issues #73–75), dealing with the Turtles and Professor Honeycutt trying to locate several material witnesses for Krang's trial before Krang's hired assassin, Hakk-R, can get to them first. Section::::"TMNT Day Sampler". A free sampler comic reviewing the series from issues #1 to #73 and "Dimension X", which was distributed on October 25, 2017, by selected comic stores for the occasion of issue #75's publication. Section::::"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters II". In July 2017, IDW announced a sequel series to the 2014–2015 "TMNT/Ghostbusters" crossover, scheduled for  weekly publication starting November 1, 2017. Setting in upon the conclusion of issue #75, the Turtles are stranded in a spirit dimension where they are beset by the vengeful ghost of their late adversary Darius Dun and must get help from the Ghostbusters in order to ever stand a chance of returning home again. Guest appearances within the story include the Dark Turtles from the 2003 series' "Fast Forward" season, and Shibano and an alternate version of the Punk Frogs from the 1987 "TMNT" cartoon series. Additionally, an action figure assortment named "Ninja Ghostbusters" was issued for sale parallel to  the publication of the mini-series; the Ninja Ghostbusters also have a guest appearance within the comic story itself. Section::::"Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II". A six-issue sequel series to "Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" was announced, with the first two issues being planned for release on December 6 and December 20, respectively. The plot deals with Donatello's desire to become a stronger fighter, which drives him into activating an interdimensional doorway to ask Batman for help. Unfortunately, this deed accidentally unleashes Bane on New York City, who loses no time uniting the Foot Clan, which is fractured  by internal discord, under his rule. Batman and Robin therefore must travel to the Turtles' reality to aid their mutant friends in bringing down their common foe. Section::::"Bebop & Rocksteady Hit the Road". Another weekly five-part miniseries starring Bebop and Rocksteady which entered publication in August 2018, as a follow-up to the "Destroy Everything!" storyline. Bebop and Rocksteady engage on a two-man roadtrip across the United States, but new and old enemies, as well as a number of hazards lying on the way – including their inexplicable transformation back into their former human forms – begin to pose a collection  of serious obstacles for their plans. Section::::"TMNT: IDW 20/20". "IDW 20/20" is a multiple-issue, 20th-anniversary comic special with plot settings in the main comic franchises published by IDW: "Ghostbusters", "Jem and The Holograms", "My Little Pony", "Star Trek", and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles". Each issue features a one-shot story set 20 years in the respective franchise's future; in the case of the Turtles, it entails the aftereffect of a civil war between the Utroms which threatens to destroy Earth once again. The "TMNT" issue was released on January 16, 2019. Section::::"Shredder in Hell". "Shredder in Hell  is a limited five-issue series picking up on The Secret History on the Foot Clan", "Villains Micro-Series #8: Shedder", and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" #50. As the Shredder wanders the afterlife, companions and enemies of old join him on or try to hinder his journey to find redemption from his cruel, ruthless past in life and his forced destiny to become the Dragon's vessel. The mini-series was released for publication in January 2019. Section::::"Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III". The publication of a third and final installment of the successful crossover miniseries was announced on February  15, 2019, for May in the same year. In this series, Krang is presented as the main adversary, and with the most dangerous technology from the DC Universe in his hands, he merges the DC and the "TMNT" universes into an amalgam reality, where Batman was raised by Splinter alongside the Ninja Turtles following his parents' murder. Escaping from Krang after being abducted along the rest of the original Mirage turtles and Pre-Crisis Batman, Mirage Raphael alerts the Batman and Ninja Turtles of this merged world about Krang's meddling with reality. Now, in order to separate the merged  world back, the five heroes need to find their old allies, regain their memories of the original universes, and stop Krang and the Laughing Man (Joker with elements of the Shredder). Section::::"TMNT: Casualty of War". A Free Comic Book Day issue (May 2019) connected to the main story issues #93-#95. A secondary story, Road to War, is also included, and is subsequently updated in "TMNT: Road to 100" (November 2019). Section::::"Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles". A crossover project between the "Power Rangers" and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" franchises (the second one since "Power Rangers in Space") was  announced. The series went into publication on December 4, 2019. The non-canon story (in which the "Power Rangers" universe and the "Ninja Turtles" continuities of the IDW comics and the 1987 series are merged into one reality) deals with the Power Rangers confronting - and later teaming up with - the Turtles while looking for one of their number, Tommy, who has to everyone's surprise joined the Foot Clan. Section::::"TMNT: Jennika". A three-issue miniseries starring the original IDW character Jennika was announced for a 2020 publication in November 2019. In this story, past, present and future collide for Jennika  when she is forced to face the ghosts from her former human life and is given a chance to permanently reverse her mutation. Section::::"TMNT Annual 2020". Another special annual story was scheduled for publication in June 2020 but delayed until late July due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It deals with the aftermath of The Dragon's defeat during the "City at War" storyline, the Rat King's attempt to find himself a new pawn to carry on his game of eternal intrigue, and an old enemy returning from the dead. Section::::"TMNT: The Last Ronin". A limited five-issue story based  on an unused idea by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird for the Mirage comics (hence making it the first IDW title crediting Laird's participation). Originally set for publication in August 2020, it was rescheduled to be released in October. Its plot tells a story set in the future where Michelangelo is the only Ninja Turtle left standing against the Foot Clan following their conquest of New York, and seeks vengeance against their master for his lost family and friends. Section::::"TMNT: Jennika II". Due to the popularity of the "Jennika" mini-series, a sequel limited series with six issues was  announced in August 2020 for publication in November of the same year. In the first three parts, Jennika is forced to unite with Ivan in order to discover the source of dangerous, monstrous transformations among the people of Mutant Town while the rest of the world is casting a suspicious eye at their transmutated neighbors. The second half of the series sees Jennika getting entangled in the schemes of a mafioso's widow who - through Jennika's friendship with her young son - intends to use her to re-cement her position in her crime family's hierarchy. Section::::"TMNT Annual 2021 . In March 2021, the upcoming publication of another annual was announced for June of the same year but was published in late July. Its plot concerns the Rat King's path of decision to end his family's game" of cosmic intrigue and create his own chaos game, to finally emerge as the ultimate "winner". Section::::"TMNT Annual 2022". Another annual was published on March 30, 2022. Its plot revolves around Leonardo's doubts about his capability of leading his brothers while they run into and battle a terrifying new enemy. Chronological comic order. This is a chronological listing of the  in-continuity comics in which the timeline of events developed. Collected editions. The IDW series has been compiled into the following collections which feature micros spliced into story in reading order. Initially they were released exclusively in deluxe hardcover format, but as of March 2021, they are confirmed to be planned for release in paperback format starting in November 2021. The various series have been collected in the following trade paperbacks: Other TMNT publications by IDW. Graphic novels. Collections of the original Mirage comics series: Collections of the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures" originally published by Archie Comics: Teenage Mutant