Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem launched a whole new era for the heroes in a half-shell, and with the movie's continuity spreading into an animated series, and now comics, the world of Mutant Mayhem is getting bigger by the day. Now, a classic TMNT character who goes back to the earliest days of the franchise is joining the cast, with Fugitoid making his debut in IDW's Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #4.

Written by Andrew Joustra and drawn by Louie Joyce, Tales of the TMNT #4 brings the quirky and beloved android into the continuity of Mutant Mayhem with a twist that helps him fit right in alongside the new TMNT.

Newsarama spoke with Joustra about bringing Fugitoid into a new era, while also hearing from Joyce about his design process for creating the revamped hero, who goes from being an elder scientist's mind in a robot body to a much younger engineer closer to the Turtles' age. Along the way, we've also got an early look at pages from Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #4.

Newsarama: Andrew, talk to me about Fugitoid! What do we need to know about this version of the character?

Andrew Joustra: Fugitoid is my favorite TMNT character, so it was especially important to me to honor the things that made Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s version unique while making him feel like he firmly belongs in this new iteration.

To be more relatable with our turtles, we’ve aged Zayton Honeycutt down, so he’s 19. He’s a brilliant scientist and he’s developing technology that ends up attracting the attention of the E.P.F. who hire him and fund his research. But it’s not what he signed up for and through a series of devastating events, Zayton winds up in the body of a robot that goes on the run.

What's the process like for bringing a classic character into this latest incarnation of the TMNT? I have to imagine things can get tricky when dealing with corporate IP.

Joustra: Honestly, I was very fortunate to have a good amount of freedom and support from both Nickelodeon and IDW in reimagining the character. Chris Yost and the team from the Tales animated series signed off on my scripts and Rustam Hasanov who was a character designer for the show came in and did designs for Fugitoid, Zayton and a few other characters.

I wanted the look to be consistent with the characters in the show and Mutant Mayhem, so like those I looked at the action figure from the original Playmates toy line first. That’s why he has the gold and black color scheme and similar shapes.

In your mind, is this basically the continuation of the show? We've seen comics before that go down the route of being something like a new season of a show, conceptually.

Joustra: I would say so, yeah. I had read all the scripts and seen the existing episodes when I started writing, so I was careful not to contradict anything that had already been done. I know the continuity is a little murky, but the events of Mutant Mayhem, Chrome Alone 2 – Lost in New Jersey, and the Tales series all take place before this arc begins.

How does writing the comic compare to working on scripts for the animated version?

Joustra: I feel like for a comic script I get to be a lot more specific about what I’d like to see in each panel. It’s almost like directing (which is something you try to avoid in writing a screenplay). With animation you know that what goes on the page is going to get storyboarded and changed repeatedly, while there’s less iterating with comics.

A comic script is also more conversational. In a lot of the descriptions, I’ll just be talking to Louie asking him to try things a certain way. It’s a lot of fun.

Louie Joyce: When I first saw Mutant Mayhem I looooved the unique visual aesthetic of the film! It's so playful, sketchy and grotesque! I also really liked how Tales of the TMNT took that aesthetic and translated it to a more 2D, cartoony style.

It's been so much fun taking all that visual inspiration, smooshing it up with my own stylistic inclinations and pouring it out onto the comics page. I've always loved the Turtles, and there have been so many great takes on them over the years, but this iteration feels like the perfect fit for me as an artist!

Speaking of new TMNT… what can you tell us about the upcoming movie, if anything? Just a taste.

Joustra: I can’t say much other than Shredder is the villain and the turtles are not remotely prepared for what’s coming. High stakes, lots of action, and I truly think it’s going to blow people away. It’s been a blast seeing it come together.

Pie in the sky, if you could bring in any classic TMNT character to the current version, who are you picking?

Joustra: Fugitoid was my dream character to write and I'm still pinching myself that I was able to do that. I'd love to do more stories with him, whether it's in this iteration or something else. More Fugitoid!

But if we're talking another character, I think it would be fun to do a new story with Armaggon, the shark mutant. Sharks make their way up the East River from time to time, which we’ve already established was exposed to some ooze, so you never know… (cue Jaws theme).

Captain Kirk returns from the dead in a new Star Trek comic titled The Last Starship, set in one of the most chaotic and least explored eras of the venerable sci-fi franchise, The Burn. As many Trekkers will know, The Burn is the cataclysmic era in which all active warp cores around the galaxy suddenly ignited, killing literal trillions of people and effectively ending the Federation.

As Trekkers will also know, Captain James Tiberius Kirk (first played by William Shatner, then Chris Pine, and currently Paul Wesley) was the captain of the Enterprise in the original Star Trek series, dying in 1994's film Star Trek: Generations - though it's a bit more complex than just that.

Now, award winning Trek comic writers Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing and artist Adrián Bonilla will tell the tale of Kirk's return to a galaxy - and a Starfleet - much different than the one he left. It's being kept under wraps how exactly Kirk returns. But in season 3 of Picard, Kirk's body was shown being kept in stasis (as we said, it was more complicated than a simple death), so it's very possible that'll be the key to his resurrection.

"Facing a true wild west in space, a mysteriously resurrected Captain Kirk will lead a new crew and ship in a seemingly impossible effort to uphold Starfleet's mission of unity across the cosmos," reads the comic's logline.

Here's a gallery of covers for Star Trek: The Last Starship #1 by Francesco Francavilla, along with variant covers by Skylar Patridge, Michael Cho, and Malachi Ward, and two interior pages by series artist Adrián Bonilla:

"Forget everything you know about Star Trek," says co-writer Jackson Lanzing in a statement. "The Last Starship is a new crew, a new era, and a completely different tone; our aim is to be literary, intense, innovative, and most of all, accessible."

"We're bringing you into the Federation's darkest hour through the brilliant, noir-soaked lens of artist Adrián Bonilla with zero homework required," he continues. "Longtime Trek fans will have a deep and fascinating reading experience, to be sure - this is a pivotal moment in Trek history that's never been even glimpsed before - but above all, The Last Starship is a dark and complex sci-fi you can hand to anyone. We've spent the last eight years celebrating all that Trek has ever been. Now, it's time to rebuild it from scratch and discover all it can be."

"The only familiar face is the one you'd never expect to see in this era: Captain James T. Kirk. William Shatner's iconic performance transcends borders - Kirk is one of the great characters of the modern fiction canon with a timeless actor to match," adds co-writer Collin Kelly. "He was also the first Star Trek character we ever wrote - a leader and warrior poet with boundless tragedy and contradiction. Now, we're honored to be taking this character into truly uncharted, groundbreaking territory in The Last Starship - as the Federation's greatest pioneer must face down the inferno that threatens to consume his entire legacy."

Star Trek: The Last Starship #1 goes on sale September 24.

Captain Kirk is currently appearing in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - but that series now has a time limit before cancellation.

Hey, remember the Street Sharks? Well they're back, in comic form, over 30 years after their initial debut.

IDW, who also publishes Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics, have announced the return of the Street Sharks in a five issue limited series by writer Stephanie Phillips and artist Ariel Medel, via IGN.

If you grew up in the Ninja Turtle dominated '90s, there were plenty of radical, tubular, bodacious, awesome knock-off lines that took the TMNT's anthropomorphic-animals-as-superheroes concept and ran with it. But none of those subsequent franchises was quite like Street Sharks, which became the Turtles' heir apparent in the mid-'90s.

Here's a gallery of covers for Street Sharks #1 by Philip Murphy, Elizabeth Beals, Kevin Anthony Catalan, and Khary Randolph:

The Street Sharks franchise centered on a line of delightfully colorful and carnivorous toys in an oversized scale that put an emphasis on the characters' massive mouths full of razor sharp teeth which they use to literally chew up the very streets they protect. The main cast consisted of heroic brothers Ripster, Jab, Streex, and Big Slammu, who are all humanized sharks (see how it kinda sounds a lot like TMNT, but also kinda different?).

I was solidly a Ninja Turtles kid, growing up through most of the '80s and all of the '90s. By the time Street Sharks came around I had seen my fair share of Samurai Pizza Cats, Biker Mice From Mars, Wild West Cowboys of Moo Mesa, and many other cartoons and toylines that took that mold as far as it could go.

That said, Street Sharks has always stood out among fans and collectors as one of the best toylines of its era, and a concept that managed to have some teeth at a time when mainstream animated shows were becoming more and more homogenized. I have very fond memories of the action figures in particular, so this seems like a great opportunity to help the cult favorite Street Sharks rise above their 'TMNT clone' reputation.

There's a new line of Street Sharks toys that kicked off back in 2024, and are now available through Mattel. Street Sharks #1 is scheduled for release in September.

The Street Sharks comic is brand new, but the TMNT have been in comics since the '80s. Here are the best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics of all time.

IDW has been publishing Godzilla comics for more than a decade now, including many titles where the King of the Monsters grapples with some of their more famous foes, including the likes of King Ghidorah, Mothra, and Mechagodzilla. Recently we interviewed some of the creative team behind Godzilla Vs. America, which saw the Big G stomp all over the United States. All good stuff, but now IDW is stepping things up by several notches, first by extending its partnership with Toho International, Inc (the company that owns Godzilla) through to 2029, and by introducing a new shared universe that will launch this July.

The Kai-Sei era is a new series of connected comics "each one expertly designed to unleash completely different genres and tones for all kinds of fans," according to IDW. The term "Kai-Sei" refers to the radioactive energy that has suffused the Earth, leading to the rise of giant beasts such as Godzilla.

Godzilla

The Kai-Sei era launches in July with flagship title Godzilla – a new ongoing comic from the creative team of writer Tim Seeley and artist Nikola Čižmešija. "In 1954, an experiment with a mysterious energy source called Kai-Sei awakened Godzilla and other terrifying kaiju," explains IDW's synopsis. "For decades, humanity has endured an onslaught of monster attacks. While Japan views these unstoppable rampages like natural disasters, the United States' G-Force is attempting to fight these seemingly immortal titans. Now, they've found a boy who wields the power of Godzilla. Will he save the world… or bring about its doom?" As well as new characters, the series promises a brand new design for Godzilla, which you can see in the gallery above.

Godzilla: Escape the Deadzone

August's Godzilla: Escape the Deadzone introduces the first half-human, half-kaiju hybrid in Toho history. The new series, by Eisner-nominated Kill Your Darlings writers Ethan Parker & Griffin Sheridan and TMNT artist Pablo Tunica, "will explore the biggest mystery of the new connected universe… What is the truth behind the post-apocalyptic Deadzone? The search for answers will forever change how fans view this new universe as they experience this thrilling and shocking ride."

Starship Godzilla

Finally – for now – October sees the launch of Starship Godzilla, by writer Chris Gooch and artist Oliver Ono. The new series takes to the stars with a tale that takes various kaiju-battling characters on an intergalactic mission that will "bridge the gap between the various alien races" previously featured in Toho stories. "They've come to Earth in past tales, but now it's time to visit their worlds as a crew of misfits embark on high-risk high-reward kaiju-based missions with a secret that could impact the whole universe," reads the official synopsis.

Godzilla #1 is published on July 23, with Godzilla: Escape the Deadzone #1 and Starship Godzilla #1 to follow in August and September.

Godzilla has featured in some of the weirdest comic book crossovers ever.

Scott Snyder and Hayden Sherman's indie horror comic Dark Spaces: Dungeon is set to be adapted into a movie by Spooky Pictures and IDW Entertainment. The five-issue serial killer story, which launched at the end of 2023, follows a family who flee the city to build a life in rural New Hampshire, only to discover a sinister dungeon in their house and a terrifying message: "TELL NO ONE."

Spooky Pictures is the US horror production company run by Steven Schneider and Roy Lee. It found considerable success with indie horror Late Night with the Devil in 2023 and critical acclaim for Strange Darling last year.

"There's no shortage of serial killer stories in the marketplace. The challenge is finding one that is both terrifying and goes to places we haven't seen before. Dungeon is it," said Schneider in a statement. "We were instantly gripped, and couldn't put it down. And even as longtime fans and producers in the genre, we found ourselves haunted by what we read. This is our Silence of the Lambs and Seven, and we can't wait to unleash it on audiences."

"We couldn't ask for better partners on the feature film adaptation of Dungeon," added IDW's senior vice president of film & TV, Daniel Kendrick. "Ever since this spine-chilling story entered development as a comic, IDW has loved the terrifying twists and turns. Spooky Pictures has proven they know how to make audiences scream and we're thrilled to work with them to bring this story to life."

For their part, the comic's creators sound equally excited about the new movie, with Absolute Batman writer Scott Snyder adding: "Dungeon was a book that required Hayden and I to go down some dark places. The result was something I'd honestly list as a career highlight. So I couldn't be more thrilled to see Spooky Pictures and IDW bring it to the big screen! I'm a big, big fan of what they do. I can't wait to see what comes next!"

"This book was a special one to make," said Sherman, who is currently illustrating Absolute Wonder Woman. "It allowed Scott and I to explore very foundational human fears in pursuit of a grounded claustrophobic thriller. The result is something I'm very proud of. It's a joy to see it now taken further as Spooky Pictures and IDW work to bring Dungeon to film!"

Dungeon is just one series published by a range of different creators under the Dark Spaces umbrella. The other titles in the series include Dark Spaces: Good Deeds, Dark Spaces: Wildfire, and Dark Spaces: The Hollywood Special. All five issues of Dark Spaces: Dungeon are out now from IDW.

Read up on the best horror comics of all time.

A new range of comics based on some of Paramount's most famous horror franchises is launching in 2025 from IDW. Smile, A Quiet Place, The Twilight Zone, Event Horizon, and Sleepy Hollow (based on Tim Burton's 1999 movie) are some of the movies and TV shows being transformed into comics from IDW Dark – a brand new imprint specializing in terror tales. The line will also publish brand new series as well as sequels and spinoffs from some of the publisher's most popular original series, including vampire saga 30 Days of Night and this year's breakout cuddly serial killer hit, Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees.

"Horror is everywhere today, in the world and on the shelves," said IDW's group editor Maggie Howell in a statement about the new imprint. "There's an impulse to examine and indulge our deepest fears, and we've seen our industry respond with some of the most exciting new genre initiatives in recent memory. So, what sets IDW Dark apart? Horror is in our blood. This imprint is our way of doubling down on the work IDW has been doing throughout our 25-year history as a premier publisher of horror comics."

She continued by highlighting two of the sequel series that will come out of the new imprint. 

"We're expanding on that tradition with titles like Steve Niles and Rodney Barnes' 30 Days of Night: Falling Sun, and we'll continue to trailblaze with new original series, including the next chapter of Patrick Horvath's Eisner-nominated breakout hit Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees and more original stories we can't wait to announce. On the licensed side, we're honored that Paramount Consumer Products has expanded our partnership and trusted us with a trove of blockbuster and cult hit franchises – including some of my personal favorite properties. These are dream projects for talent and editors, and we're all committed to putting our best foot forward as we expand these worlds."

IDW Dark launches at an unspecified date in 2025.

Want something scary to read? Here are our picks of the best horror comics of all time.

The third issue of this year's epic sequel to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin kicks and flips into comic stores today. Taking place more than a decade after the landmark original Last Ronin story, Re-Evolution is focused on the next generation of Turtles, plus their human allies, including an older and tougher April O'Neil.

Much of the action in Re-Evolution #3 centers on young Turtle Yi as she grapples with her burgeoning powers, as well as her place in the world. But as the issue heats up, so April and Casey Marie Jones are forced to make some tough decisions.

An eventful issue, then! Newsarama caught up with the creative team behind the series and creator Kevin Eastman to get their thoughts on what looks to be a pivotal chapter in the series...

Spoilers for TMNT: The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution #3

"We are excited about this one because it feels like the actual transition between them being apprentices and youngsters to actually facing the reality of who they are," said Isaac Escorza, one of three artists working on the new issue. "Fans will love this third issue for sure, [a] couple of great surprises and loooots of dramatism taking place all over the issue."

"We would also like to point to the details in the script and the art that came from it. It has been a different experience from the previous two issues, given where most of the issue takes place," added Isaac's brother and collaborator, Esau Escorza. "I really hope fans enjoy this read and behold what is about to come in this 'deal-changing' story." 

"I had the opportunity with my pages to really push myself, get weird and try some things I think fans are going to really get a kick out of," said Ben Bishop. "Without giving too much away, we get to go back and spend some time in the Lost Years world in this one – shedding some more light on when the new turtles were just little baby ninjas in training. It’s electric.

The issue's colorist, Luis Antonio Delgado, said that as a fan of the series himself, he was "excited finding out how the story continued. I was just like every other fan, at the edge of my seat waiting. Thankfully the story doesn't skip a bit and this sequel is just as amazing as the original, but when the ball passed into my hands I had to step up and deliver even better art for this new instalment. The colors are bolder, sometimes just as dark and grim but others more powerful and intense; we see completely new locations and characters (starting with our four new turtles) and being able to be a part of the creation process is exciting and sometimes intimidating. Everything up to #3 has been a high speed road, but on #4 we get to see some new and exciting elements. Not to ruin any surprises, but I believe #4 is my favorite issue yet."

Addressing the end of the issue, which sees disaster strike the TMNT in their base, writer Tom Waltz said: "Our heroes may have lost their lair home, but they've still got a city to fight for. The question is, just who are they fighting against? Deadly antagonists seem to lurk around every corner – but who is in charge of the bad guys? And what is their end game? April, Casey Marie, and the new Turtles...and their allies in the Resistance...have a dangerous puzzle to solve, no doubt about it. But will there be enough time? Keep reading to find out, my friends!"

Finally, and speaking of the series as a whole, TMNT creator Kevin Eastman said that he "could not be more thrilled watching the whole creative team work so hard to bring our four new TMNT's to life in their first epic adventure! Uno, Moja, Yi, and Odyn have firmly grabbed a big piece of our hearts as they struggle to find their place in this futuristic NYC as an all new evil threatens to tear it all apart. This is the kind of nail-biter we all want a front row seat in."

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution #3 is out now from IDW. #4 is set for January 8, 2025.

Check out our picks for the best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics of all time.

Writer Jason Aaron's big Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles relaunch is now well underway with four of the comic industry's top artists drawing the first four issues revamped title - and now IDW Publishing has announced the new series artist who will start with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6: Juan Ferreyra, who will do everything from pencils, to inks, and even his own colors, a rarity in modern comics.

Ferreyra has been announced as the new series artist starting with #6, which is being touted as a new jumping on point for readers, with Ferreyra confirming in a statement that he'll be the artist on the full arc. Rafael Albuquerque, who drew Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #2, was originally announced as the artist for the title's second arc, though it seems plans have changed. 

To celebrate the announcement of Ferreyra as the new TMNT artist, IDW Publishing has also unveiled an early look at unlettered interior pages from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6, showing Raph, Donny, Leo, and Mikey reunited - but it's not all hunky dory, as Mikey and Raph actually come to blows. 

Check it out:

"Getting to be the artist in TMNT makes me super happy and excited on so many levels. The first one is exciting for the little Juan that lives in me. I was a big Turtles fan when I was 11–12 years old, I used to draw them all the time," Ferreyra says in a statement accompanying the announcement. "The other level is the grown up Juan and the opportunity that I have to give my take on TMNT for a full arc and working with one of my all time favorite writers. Working with Jason for a full arc on anything would've been a dream come true, so when they told me Jason would be writing it I had one of the biggest smiles I've had in a long time."

"The first arc of this new TMNT series featured issues that focused on the individual brothers in different situations, different spots around the globe, gradually bringing them back together to face a new villain who's taken root in New York City," adds writer Jason Aaron. "With issue #6, that all comes to a head, as the Ninja Turtles are back together and finally make their return to New York, only to find that much has changed in the city they used to call home."

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6 goes on sale January 29, with a main cover by Ferreyra.

Check out our picks for the best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics of all time.

Jason Aaron's relaunch of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is one of the most talked about comics of 2024, and marks a thrilling new direction for the Heroes in a Half-Shell. The first four issues of the series each take a look at one of the core four Turtles, with July's #1 following Raphael in jail and last week's #2 covering Michelangelo and his new life as an unexpected TV star in Japan. From IDW's solicitations we also know that #3 will see Leonardo protecting a turtle colony in the Ganges, while the fourth issue is about Donatello trapped in a mutant zoo!

To celebrate the arc, artist Danny Earls has created a stunning piece comprising four interlocking, Easter egg-filled covers depicting the four turtles racing and leaping their way across a New York City skyline. If you're a fan of the series then you've likely already seen #1–#3. Now Newsarama can exclusively reveal both the fourth cover AND the completed piece for the first time.

"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Turtles in a half shell, Turtle Power!!! That theme tune has been playing in my head for the past four months while drawing these covers," said Danny Earls in a statement to Newsarama. "I adore the TMNT. The comics, the cartoons, the toys. To say working on these covers was a dream I've had since I was a little kid, is the biggest understatement I could think of. I felt like I truly knew the Turtles growing up, they talked like me, they skateboarded, they ate pizza, they argued. They were four young teenagers that all had each others back. I am one of four brothers who all had each others backs growing up. Me and my brothers and the Turtles would have been friends if we lived in NYC as kids. I know it!" 

"I've been to New York, I love New York," Earls continued. "That city is the home of comic books in my eyes. I romanticise sitting in a small loft apartment one day looking out over the city and maybe even see Raph, Mikey, Leo and Donnie hiding in the sewers below. It was so important for me to try and capture not only the essence of the Turtles but of NYC itself. I'll be forever grateful for the chance to work on these covers. I poured my heart and soul into trying to do justice to these four brothers that the legendary Eastman and Laird lovingly created all those years ago. I hope I gave lifelong fans of TMNT, just like myself, something that feels true to the iconic characters we all know and love today!"

IDW's official synopsis for #4 reads:

"Trapped in a mutant zoo and forced to fight rich men looking for a thrill, his mind is still broken since last we saw him. As mysterious forces gather against him, can Donnie gather himself to defeat these enemies and set himself free? Superstar writer Jason Aaron continues his exploration of the individual Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, setting the stage for their reunion."

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #3 is published by IDW on October 23, with #4 following on November 27.

Check out the best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics of all time.

Star Trek has its share of dangerous and dastardly villains, but it's rare that any of them manage to triumph over Starfleet and its allies. Nonetheless, that's what happened in September 4's Star Trek #500, in which Lore, the android brother of the Enterprise's Commander Data, used the omnipotent weapon known as the Orb of Destruction to remake all of reality in his image, with himself as its all-powerful god.

But there's hope yet, as heroes and villains alike from all over the galaxy will band together to bring him down in Lore War, a Star Trek crossover event that ties in IDW Publishing's flagship Star Trek title along with Star Trek: Defiant, and a series of special one-shots, all kicking off in 2025 with Star Trek: Lore War #1 by writers Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing, and Christopher Cantwell, and artist Davide Tinto.

"This is it. The moment we've been building to since the Theseus left spacedock and the Defiant was stolen," says Lanzing in a statement. "The ultimate STAR TREK comics crossover event - as the heroes and villains of the galaxy must band together to defend its very existence."

"The gods are dead, and only one mad android holds the reins of our universe. With absolute power comes absolute corruption... but does it come with absolute control?” adds Kelly. "Featuring the incredible art of Davide Tinto - a newcomer to the Trek world - we're not settling for anything less than the most impressive and world-ending STAR TREK event that comics can contain." 

"Since the line’s inception, our grander story in both titles has dealt with STAR TREK’s concept of godlike beings and the rejection of those godlike beings — order and entropy as it exists throughout the four quadrants of the galaxy," Cantwell states. "Who pulls the strings and who dares to cut them? LORE WAR is quite literally the apotheosis of that shared theme, two years in the making."

Star Trek: Lore War #1 goes on sale on March 26, 2025 with a primary cover by Malachi Ward, seen above.

Star Trek: Lower Decks is getting a second life as a comic book.

Who is the masked vigilante known as Nightwatcher? That's the question on everybody's lips in Mutant Town. Well, with the first issue of Juni Ba and Fero Pe's brilliant new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles spin-off published today, we can finally reveal the answer...

IDW recently relaunched its core TMNT comic with a new #1 and a fresh start for the heroes in a half-shell. While that series is currently exploring the lives of the four classic turtles, this new spin-off is dedicated to Nightwatcher – a mysterious masked and armored vigilante who roams the alleys of Mutant Town, protecting those in need. In the 2007 animated film it turned out to be Raphael in disguise, but that's not the case with this version of the tale.

We'll get into exactly who the new Nightwatcher is, right after Fero Pe's main cover...

Spoilers for TMNT: Nightwatcher #1 ahead

As revealed in the final pages of the first issue, the new Nightwatcher is in fact Jennika, the fan favorite fifth Turtle created by Sophie Campbell, Tom Waltz, and Kevin Eastman. This new development makes total sense – there's been much fan speculation about Jennika's status is in this new era of TMNT comics. Now, the Nightwatcher series is set to delve deeper into her character than ever before. 

"Now that the turtle is out of the bag we can finally start tackling the meat of the story!," said writer Juni Ba in an exclusive statement to Newsarama about the surprise reveal. "Why would someone like her put on a mask? What is she hiding? Does a mask help erase the person you are to the point you even forget? We'll be exploring this as well as the lives in Mutant Town."

Newsarama can also exclusively reveal a first look at some inked pages from next month's Nightwatcher #2, which give a strong hint at Jennika's motivation for donning the mask. Check them out in the gallery below.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Nightwatcher #1 is out now from IDW. It's not the only TMNT spin-off on the way – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Nation #1 by writer Tom Waltz and artist Vincenzo Federici follows on September 18.

Check out our in-depth interview with Juni Ba and Fero Pe about the thrilling new Nightwatcher comic.

Though the beloved animated series has been canceled, with just one season left to go, Star Trek: Lower Decks will live on thanks to IDW Publishing, who will release an ongoing Star Trek: Lower Decks comic series starting this winter.

Written by current Fantastic Four writer Ryan North with art from his Unbeatable Squirrel Girl creative partner Derek Charm. North and Charm are no strangers to the characters of Lower Decks, having already created the Eisner nominated one-shot Star Trek: Day of Blood - Shax's Best Day.

"Lower Decks is my favorite Star Trek, and I have seen every single Star Trek there is to see, except for one episode I will never reveal," says North in the announcement. "This raises the obvious question: will something in this comic contradict something that I missed in that one episode I never saw?" 

"Thankfully the answer is no, because the entire Lower Decks team - both at IDW and Paramount - has been so amazing - supportive, clever, brilliant. We're making a big funny heartfelt book with huge sci-fi ideas, important character developments, tons of that Trek flavor, and a bunch of jokes, too," he continues. "If you love Lower Decks, you'll love this comic! I get to team up with some of my favorite artists for this book, starting with Derek Charm, who we last teamed up with on the Eisner-winning Unbeatable Squirrel Girl and on the Eisner-nominated Shax's Best Day. He is: the best."

Here's a gallery of covers for Star Trek: Lower Decks #1 by Derek Charm, Megan Huang, and Chris Fenoglio:

Following Derek Charm on the first arc, each story will rotate with new artists taking on the cast of Lower Decks for "episodic" adventures. North uses a similar style of storytelling in Fantastic Four, which features shorter arcs that add up to bigger stories.

"Just when you thought we couldn't go lower… we're BACK with the first ever ONGOING Lower Decks series,” adds IDW Group Editor Heather Antos. "Just like the fans out there, we too want more Lower Decks and this time we're giving it to you tenfold! Ryan North is showing us just how deep of a Trek nerd he is with these stories, and paired with the comedic geniuses of Derek Charm, Jack Lawrence and more on art duties for a rotating cast of 'episodic' issues, this series is a mission so fun that even the Lower Deckers themselves won't want to miss it!"

Star Trek: Lower Decks #1 goes on sale November 13.

Dig into the official Total Film list of the best sci-fi movies of all time.

Dark Horse Comics has joined forces with Hasbro's Wizards of the Coast for a line of comics and graphic novels based on iconic tabletop franchises Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering. Although no firm details have been released yet, it's known that the publishing program will kick off in summer 2025 and will consist of new stories set in the worlds of the roleplaying and collectible card games.

"If you'd told my 12-year-old self I'd get to work with incredible writers and artists to craft comics for Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering, alongside such thoughtful and creative stewards of these licenses, I wouldn't have believed you," said Spencer Cushing, the range's senior editor, in a statement about the new project. "The opportunity to work with Wizards of the Coast is a dream come true."

"Having the opportunity to work with the Wizards of the Coast team on both Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering is one of the most exciting opportunities I've had professionally," added editor Brett Israel. "As an avid player and fan of the various stories and planes of these two iconic games, I cannot wait to work with many highly-skilled creators on growing these universes."

This is not the first time that Dark Horse has collaborated with Wizards of the Coast on Magic comics. The publisher released the four-issue Magic: The Gathering: Gerrard's Quest limited series in 1998, written by Mike Grell and illustrated by Pop Mahn and Mark Harrison. BOOM! Studios also published an ongoing comic, simply titled Magic, between 2021 and 2023.

D&D, meanwhile, has a very long history in comics, with everyone from DC, TSR, Devil's Due, and more, getting in on the spell-casting action. Most notably, IDW held the license for 14 years from 2010 to early 2024.

"Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering are two legendary games with incredibly strong fandoms and world-building gameplay," said Hasbro's senior vice president of licensed consumer products, Marianne James. "We are dedicated to expanding these universes through unique brand-offerings and world-class partnerships, ultimately bringing players and fans alike new, exciting ways to engage with these iconic franchise brands. From this licensed publishing program with Dark Horse Comics, we anticipate a lot of excitement to come with new artwork and creative storytelling."

Cullen Bunn tells us about Deepest Catacombs, his webcomic inspired by Dungeons & Dragons.

It's the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' 40th anniversary year and there's a lot to celebrate. The main TMNT book relaunches this week with a new #1 and a new creative team in writer Jason Aaron and artist Joëlle Jones, a sequel to TMNT: The Last Ronin is currently ongoing, and an exciting new spin-off, Nightwatcher, is also on the way. 

Now we have an exclusive first look at some of of October 2024's TMNT covers. There's no issue of TMNT: The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution in October, but there is the fourth installment of the monthly Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles book, the third issue of Nightwatcher, and a new instalment of the ever-popular Saturday Morning Adventures. Check out the new covers and IDW's solicitations information for the comics - including full credits, synopses, and release dates - below.

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #3

Written by Jason Aaron
Art by Cliff Chiang
Cover A by Rafael Albuquerque
Cover B by Cliff Chaing
Cover C by Kevin Eastman
Cover D by J. Gonzo
Cover E by Cliff Chiang

RI 1:25 Variant by Danny Earls
RI 1:50 Variant by Darick Robertson
RI 1:75 Variant by Lee Bermejo
RI 1:100 Variant by Lee Weeks

On sale 10/23/24
Preorder deadline: 9/9/24

Leonardo is traveling the world in search of peace. All the adventures—good and bad—he's had with his brothers have taken their toll, and he is seeking a new way to exist, leaving the life of New York far behind. On the banks of the Ganges, he has found a turtle colony that shows him a simpler way to be, but even these turtles have their foes. Leo can fend off the poachers easily, protecting his temporary home, but what will he do when a deadlier enemy comes searching for him?

Continuing this new run of stories by legendary comics scribe Jason Aaron (The Mighty Thor, Batman: Off-World), each of these first four issues focus on one Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. In the Leonardo issue, Jason is matched with fan-favorite artist Cliff Chiang (Paper Girls, Catwoman: Lonely City), whose unique style is a perfect match for this unique TMNT story!

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: NIGHTWATCHER #3

Written by Juni Ba
Art by Fero Pe
Cover A by Fero Pe
Cover B by Jon Lankry
RI 1:10 Variant by Juni Ba

On sale 11/6/24
Preorder deadline: 9/30/24

In the wake of the M-Bomb that was dropped in Union Square over a year ago, many New Yorkers' lives were turned upside down as they struggled to adapt to their new normal as human-born mutants. As the social media circus descends on a new mutant who turned to crime after her life was destroyed, Nightwatcher seeks to find her first and discover the full story. The supposedly simple case rapidly gets more complicated as more details are revealed, though, and it's up to Nightwatcher to determine who truly needs justice.

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: SATURDAY MORNING ADVENTURES #18

Written by Erik Burnham
Art by Sarah Myer
Cover A by Sarah Myer
Cover B by Rik Mack

On sale 10/23/24
Preorder deadline: 9/16/24

The New York Museum of Science and History had itself a curious mystery! Somehow, each night, an exhibit was broken, and it went on too long to be a practical joke. That’s the setup that led Mona Lisa and Raphael to investigate, and inadvertently free, the ancient mutant inventor Ptah from his centuries-long imprisonment. Now, teamed up with the friendly mutant mummy Bakari, our heroes must stop Ptah from conquering the city. Plus, Shredder tries to escape an imprisonment of his own, all in the latest issue of TMNT: Saturday Morning Adventures!

Get your fill of TMNT action right now with the best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics of all time.

The recent trend with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics has been to lean a little more towards the dark side of things. There's an obvious reason for that: TMNT: The Last Ronin was a monster hit for publisher IDW, one that pushed the comics in a tougher, more mature direction. The currently ongoing sequel series, The Last Ronin II: Re-Evolution, has taken and run with that tone, and the upcoming Jason Aaron-led relaunch of the main series, while different in many ways, also looks like it's leaning into a grittier approach to Turtle Power.

IDW's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: 40th Anniversary Comics Celebration, which publishes next week, is very different. For a start, it's an anthology, containing 11 new strips from a myriad of different creators. And while some of the stories have a harder edge, the comic as a whole is an all-encompassing celebration of the diversity of tones that this franchise is capable of.

All of the TMNT's different comic eras are evoked here, from the earliest Mirage Studios days to the current IDW era. The issue opens, as it should, with a piece from TMNT creator Kevin Eastman - a four-page retelling of the Turtles' early days set against the poem 'Alone' by Edgar Allen Poe. The Mirage era is further evoked with Jim Lawson and Steve Lavigne's 'Monsters,' and Tales of the TMNT: Gang Wars by Tristan Jones and Paul Harmon. 

That story in particular smartly sums up the approach the special is taking, when journalist Lauren Stanton muses, "All the stories... all the different versions of them... they start to make sense." The Turtles' adventures are often contradictory and strange, but that's part of what makes them so much fun.

From there all of the disparate versions of the Turtles get a story. 'Downtime' by Gary Carlson and Frank Fosco takes place within TMNT: Urban Legends, IDW's reprints of the Image Comics series. Chris Allan's 'The Man Behind the Mask' is set within the TMNT Adventures continuity. Erik Burnham, Sarah Myer, and Luis Antonio Delgado's 'What About Tomorrow' is part of the Saturday Morning Adventures strand. Later, Lloyd Goldfine, Khary Randolph, and Emilio Lopez's 'Splinter Forever,' Ciro Nieli's 'Kraang Among Us,' and Andy Suriano's 'Farewell' all move away from the comics and into the cartoons.

Finally, Tom Waltz and Michael Dialynas's 'Father's Day' and Ronda Pattison and Pablo Tunica's 'Teen Spirit' bring us firmly into the IDW era, with the former a melancholic piece about the boys visiting Splinter's grave, and the latter looking back to The Armageddon Game event which marked the beginning of the end of IDW's first era.

It's hard to pick highlights when there's so much good stuff here, but I especially dug the moody '90s flavor of Paul Harmon's art on 'Gang Wars,' the sheer fun of 'The Man Behind the Mask,' and the outright weirdness of Ciro Nieli's tale. You'll have your own favorites, as there really is something for every fan here, in a comic that does what every anniversary issue should do: remind you why you feel in love with these characters so much in the first place. Here's to another 40!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: 40th Anniversary Comics Celebration #1 is published by IDW on July 10. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 by Jason Aaron, Joëlle Jones, and Ronda Pattison follows on July 24.

Juni Ba and Fero Pe discuss their new TMNT spin-off, Nightwatcher.

My Chemical Romance is one of the most popular bands of the last 20 years, and in the time since their last official release, several of the group's multi-talented members have branched into comic storytelling - including bassist Mikey Way, whose latest comic is a short in the upcoming anthology comic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Black, White, and Green #2.

A veritable teen idol of his own thanks to My Chem's beloved presence in the punk and emo scene, Way is tapping into a deep-seated love of both the TMNT and their personal favorite food of pizza for a story that captures the youthful energy of the Turtles in a way that only someone who was there for their meteoric rise and pop culture presence could.

"I was a massive Turtles fan as a kid! Being born in the '80s, wave one of Turtlemania hit when I was about eight years old, so safe to say I was all in," Way tells Newsarama. "My older brother was into the black & white comics early, so I was at least aware of the Turtles prior to that big boom, but my fandom really came alive with the original cartoon series." 

"Followed up by the Playmates toy line and then into the live action movie, it really checked every box imaginable for me," Way explains. "The characters and the world building had something for almost everyone. While I was initially into Michelangelo, (because of his name and the nunchucks) I grew into way more of a Raphael fan. He's got more layers as a character in my opinion."

Way's brother is, of course, Gerard Way, singer of My Chemical Romance and founder of the DC imprint Young Animal, which published Mikey Way's first comic, Collapser, which was co-written by Shaun Simon with art by Ilias Kyriazis. For TMNT: Black, White, and Green, Way collaborated with artist Nikola Čižmešija and colorist Lee Loughridge, whose art you can see in the newly revealed pages from the story seen here.

"I love Nikola’s style so much!," Way says. "He has this fantastic anime inspired quality to his work, and it lends itself perfectly to a Ninja Turtles story. I was floored by his pencils and he was a pleasure to work with."

As for the content of the story itself, it all comes down to something that many fans of the TMNT probably love as much as the Turtles do themselves: pizza. Way brings in a classic villain, Pizza Face, who first appeared in the original TMNT toy line in 1990 as a villainous pizza chef, before being revived in the 2012 animated series as a mutated pizza blob.

"I wanted to do a story that was an ode to '80s horror, with a nod to Candy Man or the urban legend of Bloody Mary," Way says of why he chose Pizza Face. 

"The character of Pizza Face fascinated me as a kid, because he looked like the mascot on most Pizza boxes mixed with a 'Freddy' or 'Jason'," Way continues. "That mythology I created in my head as a kid really stuck with me. When the opportunity arose to write a Ninja Turtle story, it was literally the first thing that popped out of my head."

And yes, Mikey Way does have a favorite pizza place: 

"Star Tavern in Orange New Jersey. Hands down the greatest there is, in my opinion."

Though Way's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Green story is only eight pages, Way does plan more comics to come very soon - though he's not quite ready to say exactly what just yet.

"I feel like I have more stories that I want to tell," he hints. "At the risk of sounding vague, I would say one can expect an announcement of some sort very soon."

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Black, White, and Green #2 is on sale now.

Check out our picks for the best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles stories of all time.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are turning 40 in 2024, and to mark the occasion, IDW Publishing is relaunching the entire TMNT comic line with some new additions, including a new title for Nightwatcher, a mysterious superhero guarding the streets of New York City who has a connection to the Turtles.

Writer Juni Ba and artist Fero Pe, along with colorist Luis Antonio Delgado, will reintroduce Nightwatcher, who has a history in older TMNT lore, into the current world of the Turtles to protect the citizens of Mutant Town. And with a preview in IDW's Nightwatcher FCBD release already on the books, the stage is set for some one-of-a-kind TMNT superhero action.

Newsarama caught up with Juni Ba and Fero Pe ahead of Nightwatcher #1's August 14 release to dig into the mysteries around the rising hero, including his connection to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, his mission, and what he's up against in his new title. And we've also got some brand new uncolored art from Nightwatcher #1.

Newsarama: Juni and Fero, you both have worked on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics in the past, but this is a little different. How does it feel to be creating a brand new title as part of IDW's big TMNT relaunch?

Juni Ba: It’s daunting! When I was approached and told who it would be about, who would be in the suit and the format it would be, I think I saw it as a challenge. There’s a big playground to explore with Mutant Town, and it’s like a semi uncharted landscape you get to build in. Every issue is going to explore some more of that world through the adventures of this new folk hero.

Fero Pe: For me it is a great honor to be part of both the end of the series and the beginning of this new era. At first, when they offered it to me, I immediately accepted it with excitement. But now that I think about it better, I see that it is a great responsibility to start a new title and it makes me give my best and a little more.

Nightwatcher revives a superhero identity that has been used by Raphael in the past, but the new Nightwatcher's identity is a big mystery. What clues can you give us about which Turtle is under the mask? Is this incarnation of Nightwatcher connected to any of the past versions?

Ba: I can’t say anything lest the Nickelodeon hitmen come after me. I can, however, say that because this is in the IDW world, there’s an opportunity for a fresh start and reinvention. And I hope it’s looked at that way.

Pe: Oh, I can't say anything, I already had a Tom Holland-type incident, but it was a misunderstanding and I don't want my bosses to stop telling me things.

On that note, how does Nightwatcher tie in to the other titles in the new TMNT line? Do the rest of the Turtles know that one of them has a secret identity?

Ba: The idea so far is to let the book grow on its own terms, and let the main title do the same. There have been talks of connections, though! I think the best way to explain would be to compare it to the Buffyverse, with Buffy and Angel having characters move from one to the other, or the events of one impacting the other in little ways.

Pe: Considering that it is the first appearance in the TMNT universe, I don't know how much connection it may have. But at least visually I always try to include things that can connect them in some way and make reference, mostly as Easter eggs.

What went into the design of the new Nightwatcher costume? What's it like designing a convincing superhero costume for a Turtle, rather than for a human?

Ba: Before I gave my initial concepts to Fero, the idea was to lean into the mix of medieval knight and leather biker. Some new elements came in that are story related so I can’t say much for now.

Pe: It was a lot of fun, Juni had some design ideas and gave them to me to interpret in my style, but he also gave me the freedom to make changes to the design that I wanted. And little by little the final idea that we will see in the comic grew and took shape.

The preview we've seen of Nightwatcher delves deep into the hero's role as a protector of mutants in New York, from people who would prey on them because they're different. What makes that such an important and poignant theme for the Turtles right now?

Ba: I think the impetus for this is that the world of TMNT suddenly has a new group of people whose entire existence wasn’t planned for, and has no social or legal basis or protection. 

And in this world, just like ours, there’s precedent for what happens to people who are too poor, too low in number or too different to be cared for by the powers that be. In fact, being so vulnerable makes them easy targets for the corrupt and the opportunists. 

And Nightwatcher comes in to make up for the lack of a structure helping the weak navigate the world, and protecting them from danger.

Pe: I felt that after being among clan fights and intergalactic fights, with celestial entities and destroyers of time and space, I believe the most unprotected and poor were neglected in pursuit of saving all of humanity. And I think it was time to look back and remember who they do things for.

Juni, you're a visual artist yourself. How does that play into the working relationship the two of you are developing on this title?

Ba: The big test for me is managing to convey the story without encroaching on the art side too much. I’m a visual storyteller and so it’s tempting to over-detail the image description. It’s a special pleasure seeing the pages coming afterwards. Fero has a great sense of both cartooning and atmosphere and I’m trying to lean into that.

Fero, how does it feel focusing on just one Turtle rather than all four? How does that consideration play into your visual storytelling?

Pe: Oh! feels good in a certain way, hahaha. Since I started with ninja turtles in Armageddon Game Opening Moves, I have had comics with many characters per panel, from the triceratons, the Utroms, the riotous mutants from Mutant Town, not only the four turtles, but also the false four turtles.

So when I only have to draw one or two characters in a panel, I feel like I have more space to show the scene, work a little more on the expressions and even a little extra on the art.

But also, there are times when I miss drawing them all together.

Every hero needs a good villain, so what can you tease us with about what Nightwatcher is going to be up against?

Ba: The biggest villain is the pitfalls of Mutant Town, so we will gradually see more and more characters, both humans and mutants, who embody the darker and more complex sides of being a person in that world. 

What do you want fans to know about Nightwatcher going into the first issue?

Ba: I would say go at it as a fresh thing! I’m really curious to see how people feel about this reinvention on its own terms, as it builds into its own corner of the TMNT world. 

Pe: There will be a lot of action and street fighting. And if you enjoyed the story of the FCBD, know that you will have the same team in # 1, Juni writing, me drawing and Luis with his incredible colors too.

Check out the best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics of all time.

This summer, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ongoing title is relaunching with a series of spotlight issues individually reintroducing Raphael, Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Donatello (in that order). Now, IDW Publishing is showing off the solicitation text for the relaunched TMNT #2 catching up with Michelangelo, via ScreenRant who initially revealed the synopsis along with some covers for the issue.

For the TMNT relaunch, incoming series writer Jason Aaron is joined by a different artist on each of the first four issues, with artist Rafael Albuquerque tagging in for the Michelangelo spotlight story. Albuquerque will also return to the relaunched Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles title for the entire second arc, following the individual spotlight issues.

In Michelangelo's issue, we'll learn that the "party dude" of the TMNT is now living in Japan as a TV star. But just as he starts missing his old life, the past comes calling whether he's ready or not.

"Michelangelo is living in Tokyo, where he’s become a big TV star. It’s a pretty cool life, full of fame and fortune, but if he’s being honest, Mikey misses his brothers and the sense of purpose they had together," reads IDW publishing's official synopsis. 

"Well, in a classic case of 'be careful what you wish for,' that old life looks like it’s coming to find him when ninjas show up in his apartment armed to the teeth!"

Following the initial relaunch of the core Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, the line will expand with a whole slew of new comic titles.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #2 goes on sale September 11.

Read about the best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics of all time.

IDW has revealed a blistering first look at its soon-to-be-relaunched Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic to The Hollywood Reporter. The new series, written by Jason Aaron, is set to be drawn by four different artists, with Joëlle Jones providing the bone-crunching and gritty art for the first issue, which focuses on Raphael alone and in jail. As you can see from the pages below, things aren't looking too great for him at the moment. 

"When this new series begins, the Turtles have gone their separate ways and ended up in some surprising places," Aaron explained to THR. "First up is Raphael, the one mutant inmate in a prison full of killers, as brought to gorgeously gritty life by Joëlle. Can't wait for folks to read it, and to see where we go from here." Check it out in the gallery below...

Future issues of the series will feature art from Rafael Albuquerque in #2 (which stars Michelangelo), Cliff Chiang in #3 (Leonardo), and Chris Burnham in #4, (Donatello). Rafael Albuquerque will then become the series' regular artist for the second story arc.

IDW's synopsis for the new issue gives us a few more details of what to expect from the debut:

"The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have all left New York to pursue their own interests, but there are forces gathering that will pull them back together - whether the bad guys like it or not. First up: Raphael! But why is everyone's favorite brawler in prison?! When a surprise attack behind bars puts Raph's position in jeopardy, he needs to figure out how to get out of jail and warn his brothers that trouble is coming."

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 is published by IDW on July 24. Before then there's also the recently delayed release of the second issue of the mature readers-focussed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution #2 on June 12.

Have you checked out IDW's dark, hilarious serial killer thriller Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees yet? You really should and here's why.

Free Comic Book Day is almost upon us! Yep, this Saturday, May 4, participating comic shops around the world will have a vast number of titles that you can pick up and take home entirely for free. It's a great chance to discover new comics, preview upcoming story events, and support your local comic shop all at the same time. And hey, if you can, why not help them out even further by buying a couple of regular titles or a graphic novel while you're there too?

As ever, there are a lot of new releases this year. Rather than simply list them all, we've rounded up 10 of the FCBD special issues that we're most looking forward to...

Free Comic Book Day 2024: Absolute Power Special Edition #1

DC's big summer event this year sees a "trinity of evil" comprising Amanda Waller, Braniac, and Failsafe unite in an attempt to destroy the world's superheroes once and for all - you can find out more about it here. Along with Marvel's Blood Hunt, this is going to be one of the year's biggest comic events and this 32-page one-shot, which includes a brand new 12-page story by Mark Waid and Mikel Janín, as well as a recap of some of the important recent events, looks like a great place to start.

Free Comic Book Day 2024: Blood Hunt / X-Men #1

Here's that other big event... Marvel's absolutely massive Blood Hunt crossover begins today - and believe us, it gets off to a genuinely surprising start! You can get a preview of some of the action from the event in this special teaser issue, written by Jed MacKay, drawn by artist Sara Pichelli, and colored by Federico Blee. But that's not all... The X-Men line is undergoing a lot of changes right now and you can get a taste of the new From the Ashes era with a new Jubilee tale also included.

Free Comic Book Day 2024: Energon Universe 2024 Special #1

We're big fans of Skybound's Energon Universe books and this special issue looks like an essential grab. It features three brand new stories from the EU's three main pillars - Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Void Rivals - by series writers Robert Kirkman, Daniel Warren Johnson, and Joshua Williamsonm, with art from Lorenzo De Felici, Ryan Ottley, and more. Ryan Ottley is also the artist on the FCBD exclusive cover, which features Decepticon Megatron. This one will go fast, but don't worry too much if you miss out on the big day - the same stories will be repackaged the following week as the Energon Universe special. You'll have to pay for that one though.

Free Comic Book Day 2024: Marvel Voices #1

Marvel's Voices imprint launched a year ago, dedicated to celebrating creators and characters from marginalized backgrounds. This FCBD special includes a brand new adventure for Pavitr Prabhakar - the star of Spider-Man: India - by writer Nikesh Shukla, alongside a chance to "discover the legacy of the last Black Panther! Join Web-Weaver in hot pursuit of a thief in NYC! Jam out with Spider-Gwen! And see the world of the X-Men through a whole new lens."

Free Comic Book Day 2024: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1

IDW's long-running TMNT title recently hit its 150th issue, which also marked the departure of writer Sophie Campbell - we talked to her about it here. Fans need not fear a long wait for new adventures, however: fan-favorite writer Jason Aaron is taking over the series, which launches with a new #1 in July. This FCBD issue provides two new stories, the first a unique prelude to the new series written by Juni Ba and drawn by Fero Peniche, followed up by a classic TMNT tale from writer Paul Allor and artist Andy Kuhn.

Free Comic Book Day 2024: Doctor Who #1

Beloved British sci-fi institution Doctor Who is about to launch its hotly-anticipated new season on Disney Plus and the BBC - the first starring Ncuti Gatwa as the time-travelling hero. Titan Comics are joining in the excitement with a new series starring Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor and companion Ruby Sunday which starts with this 24-page FCBD special written by Dan Watters and drawn by Kelsey Ramsay, who are also the creative team on the main comic. Plot details are scant, but this should be a lot of timey-wimey (sorry) fun.

Free Comic Book Day 2024: Ultimate Universe / Spider-Man #1

Amazing Spider-Man is swinging towards its 50th issue and the long-heralded return of the Goblin, with a new Goblin also on the way soon. You can get a sneak peak at what's to come with a preview of #50 by writer Zeb Wells and artist Ryan Stegman in the first half of this split FCBD issue, which also features an Ultimate Universe story featuring the debut of "a powerful new hero" in a story by Deniz Camp and Juan Frigeri.

Free Comic Book Day 2024: Hellboy / Stranger Things #1

Sadly this isn't a crossover between the two horror franchises - though wouldn't that be great? It is, however, an issue that includes two brand new stories. The Hellboy adventure, titled 'The Fortune Teller', is written by series-creator Mike Mignola, and illustrated by Márk László. In it, Hellboy investigates a mysterious fortune teller who seems to know a lot about his history - making this the ideal chance for new readers to learn more about his lore. Meanwhile the Stranger Things story 'Deliver Me From Evil', by Derek Fridolfs and Jonathan Case, sees Argyle and Jonathan swapping scary stories as they make a pizza delivery.

Free Comic Book Day 2024: The Worlds of James Tynion IV #1

James Tynion IV is one of our most prolific current writers and his work in horror comics is particularly acclaimed. To celebrate five years of his hit series, Something is Killing the Children and the 10-year anniversary of both The Woods and Memetic, Boom! Studios have put together this specially-curated issue of some of his most frightening stories, as well as including some teasers for what's soon to come from the award-winning writer.

Free Comic Book Day 2024: Star Wars/Darth Vader #1

It's time to ignite your lightsabers because this year's Free Comic Book Day also lands on Star Wars Day (May the 4th be with you, etc.), so of course Marvel are capitalizing on that by putting out a Force-themed special. As with their superhero FCBD issues, this contains two stories. In the main Star Wars story by Charles Soule, Ibraim Roberson, and Rachelle Rosenberg, the rebels embark on a rescue mission to Echo Base. In the Darth Vader tale by Greg Pak, Ramón Rosanas, and Guru-eFX, the Dark Lord of the Sith turns to a familiar face in his hunt for Luke Skywalker.

To find out more about the comics being released this month, check out Marvel and DC's solicitations.

It can be hard to predict what's going to be big in comics. Sure, you can rely on the big name Marvel and DC titles to regularly sell well and there are certain creators who can shift thousands of copies based on their name alone, but given that there are more than 150 different comics, graphic novels, and trade paperbacks published this week alone, it can be hard to cut through the noise. Every now and again, though, something entirely unexpected will take off. 

Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees is one such book. The blackly comic murder mystery series from IDW launched in October last year and, in its five issues so far, has become the company's best-selling original (ie. not based on a franchise like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) comic. What's even more remarkable, however, is that it's written and painted by a creator who is more-or-less a newcomer to the comics industry: Patrick Horvath.

Described by IDW as, "Dexter meets Richard Scarry's Busy Town" Beneath the Trees is blessed with an instantly attention-grabbing pitch. 

Woodbrook is a town full of walking, talking, anthropomorphic animals. It's cute, picturesque, and seemingly entirely safe. Little do the residents know, however, that their neighbour - and the comic's protagonist - Samantha is a serial killer. She makes sure to practice her hobby far from home in the big city, but when another killer starts to brutally off her friends in Woodbrook, Sam is forced to try and solve the mystery of their identity and take them out before the murders draw too much attention to her own crimes.

Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees's premise instantly raises a smile, but what really makes it work is the contrast between Horvath's cutesy storybook visuals and the utter horror of both Sam and the mystery killer's actions. There's a real sense of melancholy amid the guilty chuckles. These animals are, for all intents and purposes, just regular people, and that makes the comic's mix of adorable art and outright brutality all the more impactful.

If you go down to the woods today...

So who is Patrick Horvath? Before breaking into the comics world, he was best know for writing a string of indie horror films, including work on the Southbound anthology and The Pact 2. Frustrated with the slow pace of the film world, however, he returned to his youthful love of drawing every day. After several years of doing this, he self-published an online graphic novella Free For All (which is due to get a print release later this year) and published a short story in Josh Trujillo's Love Machines Anthology. Arguably his first mainstream work came, however, when he painted an issue of Image's Haha back in 2021. Horvath's work caught the attention of IDW and he was approached to pitch to the publisher as part of a new creator push.

Beneath the Trees has its origins in one of Horvath's daily sketches - in this case, a teddy bear carrying a bloodied axe - as well as a famous nursery rhyme. Talking to Bearded Comic Bro on YouTube, he revealed that the title of the series was plucked from the song 'Teddy Bear's Picnic.' "I think it's the second chorus where they sing, 'Beneath the trees where nobody sees, they hide and seek as long as they please, because that's the way the teddy bears have their picnic' and I was like, what do they do beneath the trees where nobody sees?!" 

Clearly Horvath's idea has struck a chord. The five issues of Beneath the Trees published so far have sold almost 150k copies, with the first three issues each requiring several reprints. According to IDW, comic shops have shown increased interest in the book with each passing issue - an unusual and pleasing development given that the numbers generally tend to trend downwards after a series launch and the hype of a first issue has died down.

"When I heard from my editor Maggie Howell that we had sold out that first printing, I couldn’t believe it," Horvath told Newsarama. "I always thought there would be an audience out there for this book, I just never thought they'd show up so quickly! I still can't believe it, to be honest. IDW has been amazing in doing everything to help it grow, and I've been floored by the response from readers, critics, and comic shops." He says that he has also been heartened by the willingness of readers to embrace the stranger, darker moments in the book. "The biggest surprise to me has been that everything in the story I thought might be the strange and weird details that would put off readers ended up being the things they've liked the most!"

IDW's associate editor Jake Williams says that he always knew that the series would be a success from the moment that he saw Horvath's cuddly cartoon murderer. "My first interaction with Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees was a brief description of the plot, sent along by Patrick as one of a few different pitches," he explains. "From that alone, we knew this would be a hit. THEN, Patrick sent his first sketch of Sam, and we knew this would be absolutely massive."

Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees ends with #6 and there's no word as yet on if the book will be back for a second arc - though, assuming Samantha makes it out of the series alive, we're sure that IDW will be keen. Whatever the case, it's really encouraging to see an original title like this not only win critical acclaim, but also chime with the wider comics-buying public. And with Patrick Horvath, the series has introduced the world to an impressive new comics talent whose work we'll be keeping a keen eye on.

Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees #1-#5 are all available now. The final issue is published by IDW on May 8, with a trade paperback of the series publishing on September 17.

Want something scary to read? Here are our picks of the best horror comics of all time.

It's hard to believe (and it makes me feel ancient), but the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been around for 40 years, since 1984. And to mark the milestone, IDW Publishing is releasing a TMNT: 40th Anniversary Comics Celebration one-shot this summer.

The oversized anthology one-shot will include contributions from creators from across the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic history, including a story by co-creator Kevin Eastman, and a cover by both Eastman and his TMNT co-creator Peter Laird, who's been away from the franchise for some time (IDW does clarify that Laird's pencils were drawn in the past, though this specific piece has never previously been published).

Other creators along for the ride include Jim Lawson, Ciro Nieli, Tristan Jones, Paul Harmon, Steve Lavigne, Andy Suriano, Ronda Pattison, Pablo Tunica, Freddie E. Williams II, Sophie Campbell, Tom Waltz, Lloyd Goldfine, Khary Randolph, Emilio Lopez, Dan Duncan, Erik Burnham, Sarah Myer, Luis Antonio Delgado, Chris Allan and more, some of whom will contribute to the anthology's multiple stories, and some of whom will provide pin-ups of the TMNT and their supporting cast.

Here's a gallery of covers for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: 40th Anniversary Celebration including the main cover by Eastman and Laird, as well as variant covers by Sophie Campbell, Isaac and Esau Escorza, Simon Bisley, Michael Dialynas, Vincenzo Federici, Khary Randolph, Emilio Lopez, Michael Cho, Dave Wachter, and Ben Bishop:

"Having a childhood dream – in my case to write and draw comics for a living, is one thing – to then actually spending every minute of the next 40 years doing it, is a whole other matter altogether – humbling is the first word that comes to mind," says Eastman in a statement accompanying the announcement. "My co-creation of TMNT with the amazing Peter Laird has been the driving force of living that dream, and working with a number of really talented writers and artists along the way has made, and still makes, the journey the greatest shared experience I never imaged and could not be more grateful for."

"From the raw beginnings of a 40-page self-published black and white ‘origin of’ comic, to the 200-page full color ‘final tale’ of the original TMNT's graphic novel, The Last Ronin, I want to thank the people directly responsible – our fans. Without them, I would not have had the chance to live that childhood dream." 

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: 40th Anniversary Celebration one-shot goes on sale July 10. The main TMNT comic title will relaunch later this year following the release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #150, along with a whole new line of spin-off comics.

Check out the best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics of all time.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin was one of the biggest comics of the last few years and a huge hit for IDW. Sequel series The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution started publishing in March and got off to a flying start - IDW has stated that 140,000 copies of the debut issue have been ordered to date, with a second printing on the way. 

There will be a slightly longer wait for the second part of the story, however. IDW has confirmed exclusively to Newsarama that The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution #2 has moved back in the release schedules by just over a month to June 12 from its originally planned May 8 release date.

Speaking of the delay, the series' art team of Esau and Isaac Escorza expressed their excitement at the way the new series is coming together. 

"For the last six months we have been so excited about Last Ronin II and all the surprises that it has for the fans," the pair said in a statement. "The anticipation for the second issue is electrifying. Every stroke of our pencils feels like a small leap towards a big splash in the comic world. The pages are not just filled with ink, but with the essence of our passion and dedication."

The pair went on to tease the new issue, stating that "This upcoming issue promises to bring more action, more drama, and even more heart... and few surprises we don't think we are allowed to talk about yet but will knock-your socks off for sure. We are so thrilled to share this new adventure with fans, knowing that we've pushed the boundaries of storytelling once again. Can't wait for you to see what is about to come!"

IDW have also shared with us an exclusive first look at several unleterred pages which you can check out in the gallery below. Here are pages 7, 23, and 24 from the new issue.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution #2 is written by Tom Waltz and Kevin Eastman, and drawn by Esau and Isaac Escorza, with colors by Luis Antonio Delgado, and lettering by Shawn Lee. The issue is available to pre-order until April 22 and will be published by IDW on June 12.

We recently spoke to veteran TMNT writer Sophie Campbell about reaching the main Turtles comic's landmark 150th issue.

2024 is a massive year for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It's the 40th anniversary of the Heroes in a Half Shell and publisher IDW is going all out in celebrating their adventures with a range of new comics and a sequel to the hit Last Ronin series just the beginning of the treats in store.

Alas, this year also marks the end of long-standing TMNT writer Sophie Campbell's time on the core Turtles comic. Campbell has been involved with IDW's Turtles range for many years, initially as an artist - she designed the fifth turtle Jennika - and then later as a writer. Since 2020's TMNT #101 she has been the regular writer of the monthly series. But all good things come to an end and while Campbell will still be involved with the Turtles line, this month's epic, double-sized #150 marks the conclusion of her run on the comic.

In an exclusive interview with Newsarama, Campbell looks back at the last few years and teases the "bittersweet" final chapter of her run.

Newsarama: Sophie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #150 is a massive issue for both the comic and for yourself. How does it feel reaching this milestone?

Sophie Campbell: It's pretty amazing! I finished working on the issue over a month ago and it feels like it hasn't fully sunk in yet that my time on the series is over. I'm sure I'll have a clearer head about it once #150 is actually released and my run is officially concluded.

Can you tease a little of what fans can look forward to in the issue?

Lots of Donatello stuff! We finally see his "kids" who have been teased for a while, we get to see some stuff touching on the Hamatos' reincarnation again, and we'll head back to Northampton one last time.

How did you decide where to leave all the characters at the end of your run? 

The ending was a bit different in my original outline for the story, the details shook out differently as often happens, but I always knew it was going to be a bittersweet sort of ending that leaves the characters in an ambiguous place rather than something triumphant.

What are some of the challenges that come with ending a chapter of an ongoing comic like TMNT while also leaving it open ended enough for what's coming next?

That part was tough! I knew I couldn't tie everything up because the story would have to continue without me, but I tried to wrap up as many of the storylines and themes I'd been working with for the past few years, and touch on some of the more important supporting characters I'd introduced. There are definitely things I wish I could have done and characters I could have spent more time with but that's how it always goes.

The TMNT are multi-generational characters, with parents and kids sharing their love of these characters and stories. What do you think has made these characters so enduring?

Probably the fact that it's such a weird "wait, what?" sort of concept, and that the Turtles themselves aren't human and are outsiders, I think there's something appealing about that. 

I know you've been a fan of TMNT for a long time. What has it been like being able to work on this title and with the creators of the characters? 

It's truly been a dream come true. It hasn't always been smooth and there's always things I wish I would've done or had done differently, but it's still amazing that I got the opportunity. It's still kind of hard for me to believe that I was able to write as much as I did, never in a million years did I think I'd be writing TMNT for 50+ issues, or that I'd be working with Kevin Eastman, one of my heroes. It's been a labor of love for me.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #150 is published by IDW on April 24.

Travel back to the start of Sophie Campbell's run as writer on the TMNT comic with this archive interview from 2019.

Kevin Eastman, co-creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, has drawn a very different kind of mutant in this totally brutal looking variant cover for Wolverine: Blood Hunt #1. The comic itself is a tie-in to Marvel's massive Blood Hunt summer crossover event, and it's written by TMNT: The Last Ronin co-writer Tom Waltz with art by Juan José Ryp and colorist Guru EFX.

In Blood Hunt, the entire Marvel Universe is overrun with bloodthirsty vampires, with nearly every Marvel hero out there getting roped into the fight. In Wolverine's four part limited series, he teams up with supporting character Louise of the Nightguard, also depicted on Eastman's cover.

"I couldn't be more proud and thrilled to join my ‘Last Ronin Bro’ Tom Waltz on his first Wolverine story!” Eastman says in the announcement. “I was lucky enough to be invited to add a cover to the issue, and do my small part for the incredible team that brought this issue to life. The story rocks, the art rocks - can't wait for you all to sink your teeth into this one!"

Eastman's art may be polarizing - it's definitely not Marvel's house style. But if you're a fan (and I most certainly am), it's extremely cool to see him rendering Wolverine in his own instantly recognizable way.

"Logan fights back the darkness! Wolverine's the best there is at what he does – and today, fighting vampires is going to have to top that list!" reads the official solicitation text for Wolverine: Blood Hunt #1. 

"As the sky darkens across the globe and vampires reign, what hidden plot puts Logan directly in their crosshairs? Hint: it’s like nothing you’ve seen in Blood Hunt yet! Be here as the plot (and blood!) thickens when a secret vampire sect enacts a startling strategy that’ll take Logan — and the world — to the brink! Guest-starring some surprise characters from Wolverine’s past!"

Wolverine: Blood Hunt #1 goes on sale June 5.

Check out the best Wolverine stories of all time.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin was a blockbuster series with a gloriously simple premise. Years into the future - and in a continuity separate from the original TMNT - three of the original Turtles have been killed in battle leaving only one survivor, Michelangelo, to avenge his fallen family. It was tougher and darker than most Turtles comics and fans lapped it up.

Two years later, the sequel is upon us. Clearly hoping that lightning will strike twice, IDW has re-assembled the original creative team, including writers Tom Waltz and TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman, along with artists Esau and Isaac Escorza, and Ben Bishop. We've read the first issue and while we can't get into spoilers just yet - the issue is published this Wednesday - it's safe to say that The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution #1 will satisfy those hoping for an action-packed sequel even if, on the basis of this first issue, it has quite a different tone to the previous series.

The story picks up 15 years after the events of The Last Ronin. Hiroto and the Foot Clan are long gone, but New York City is falling ever further into chaos. Meanwhile, April O'Neil and her daughter Casey Marie are raising a new generation of ninja turtles in secret while also fighting to keep a lid on the growing violence on the streets. It's not quite working - as Casey puts it early in the issue, "it's become a war of attrition" - and even their allies are starting to feel that the Resistance's non-lethal methods aren't making enough of an impact.

Enter the new Turtles: Yi, Odyn, Moja, and Uno, trained in the skills and traditions of Clan Hamato and Masters Splinter and Michelangelo. Can they turn the tide and save the city?

It's fair to say that The Last Ronin II isn't simply more of the same. By its nature, four young, wise-cracking Turtles are going to be a very different proposition to the terse, solitary and vengeance-driven Michelangelo going it alone. In some ways it feels closer in tone to the regular TMNT - not a bad thing, but it does mean that this first issue feels less distinct and radical than the original Last Ronin. It's also a little slower, with lots of exposition, often in very wordy speech bubbles. Hopefully this cautious pacing will pay off as the run continues.

Where the book shines is in its art. Primarily drawn by Esau and Isaac Escorza (with a tasty interlude by Ben Bishop, the nature of which we won't spoil here), it's kinetic and hyper-detailed, especially in the later pages where we see the new team leap into their first mission. The fights are as crunchy and physical as you'd hope and there's plenty of action here both involving the turtles themselves and Casey Marie, who has grown into something of a badass.

Indeed, the characters are another of the book's strengths. None of the original turtles feature here and the new gang have a slightly different and younger dynamic, but there's something really appealing about being with these brothers and sisters as they make their first moves in the hero game. 

Of course, with only one issue to go on so far it's too early to judge how The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution will stack up against its predecessor, but it certainly feels good to be back in this version of the TMNT world. The second issue is set for May 1 and it can't come soon enough.

You can keep track of everything happening with TMNT: The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution right here.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin 2 is almost here, and it's shaping up to be one of the biggest new TMNT comics in years. It's the highly anticipated sequel to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin, which launched in 2020 to both critical and commercial success; the five-issue limited series took place in an alternative future (separate from regular TMNT continuity) where three of the iconic heroes in a half shell have died, leaving only Michelangelo to avenge his brothers and their father Splinter by taking on Oroku Hiroto, the grandson of the Shredder, and the deadly Foot Clan. 

TMNT: The Last Ronin landed in October 2020, written by Tom Waltz and TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman, and drawn by Ben Bishop. It ran for just five issues over the course of two years, with #5 being published in April 2022. Tougher and darker than the regular TMNT comics, The Last Ronin ended with the death of Michelangelo and a tease for a potential follow up series that would explore a new generation of turtles. Now, two years after the Last Ronin ended, that sequel is almost here.

Below you'll find everything you need to know about TMNT: The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution, including details on the release date, creative team, and more. 

What is TMNT: The Last Ronin II – Re-Evolution?

TMNT: The Last Ronin II takes place some 15 years after the events of the previous series. The four baby turtles we saw at the end of the previous run are now teenagers and have followed in the footsteps of their predecessors. They live beneath New York City and are training in martial arts to one day combat crime. They also, like Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael have a love of pizza. 

Unfortunately, while the Foot Clan was defeated in the first Last Ronin series, the city continues to decay and crime is on the rise once more. It's time then for the still secretive next generation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to step out of the shadows and save the day - though precisely what threat they are facing this time remains to be seen.

TMNT: The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution #1 release date 

The good news is that you don't have to wait very long at all for the first issue of the new series. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution #1 release date has been set by IDW for Wednesday, March 6. Collectors and hardcore TMNT fans will no doubt be pleased – or perhaps horrified – to note that the first issue of the new series will be available in no less than 24 different covers, including numerous incentive, open-to-order, and retailer exclusive variants.

TMNT: The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution schedule

It's worth pointing out here that IDW has not confirmed its full release schedule for The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution yet, but we do know when the first two issues are coming out. Like we say, #1 is published on March 6, with #2 following two months later on May 1. Here's how the rest of that schedule may play out if IDW sticks to publishing issues on the first Wednesday of every second month. We'll keep this schedule updated as we find out more information.

• #1 is confirmed to be out on March 6
• #2 is confirmed to be out on May 1
• #3 may be out on July 3, but that's still to be confirmed
• #4 may be out on September 4, but that's still to be confirmed
• #5 may be out on November 6, but that's still to be confirmed

How to read TMNT: The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution online

If you want to read TMNT: The Last Ronin 2 in print then it’s simply a case of hot-footing it down to your local comic store on the release date, or by ordering from IDW directly. The publisher even offers an exclusive hardcover edition of the first issue. If, however, you want to read TMNT: The Last Ronin 2 online then there's a number of options open to you. You can also buy the digital edition from IDW to read through their IDW Digital Comics Experience app. Alternatively you can buy the issue from Amazon to read on your Kindle or via the Kindle App on your tablet or smartphone.

The TMNT: The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution creative team

Like the original Last Ronin series – and indeed all the current TMNT comics – The Last Ronin II is published by IDW. Excitingly, the creative team for the new book is the same as it was on The Last Ronin, including original writers Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz, and artist Ben Bishop. Given how good that book was, it bodes well for the new series. Anyway, here's how the creative credits break down.

• Writers: Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz
• Artists: Ben Bishop, Esau Escorza, and Isaac Escorza
• Colorist: Luis Antonio Delgado
• Letterer: Shawn Lee

The TMNT: The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution team roster

The first Last Ronin story ended with hints that a new generation of turtles was being raised by the older April O'Neil and her daughter Casey-Marie to take the place of the original team. We met these new characters briefly in the interim series The Last Ronin - The Lost Years which, while mainly focused on the original gang in flashback, gave us little glimpses of the new team as they matured.

A mixture of brothers and sisters, the new Turtles are called Odyn, Yi, Moja, and Uno, and you can find out more about them right here. We don't know a whole lot more about them just yet, except that they share some of the traits of the original line-up, though are very different characters. Uno appears to be the leader of the gang, with a bit of an ego. Odyn is the largest of the group with a passion for food as well as fighting. Yi brings a degree of calm to the squad, while her sister Moja is the opposite - a bit of a hothead.

The TMNT: The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution preview

Scroll through the gallery above to find a TMNT: The Last Ronin 2 preview, showcasing early pages from issue one of the sequel. If you like what you see, you'll need to be ready to grab a copy on March 6 - if it's anything like the first series, expect this to sell out pretty quickly. 

IDW Publishing went through some changes in 2023 as the licenses for Hasbro's GI Joe and Transformers moved to Skybound Entertainment. But 2024 is starting off on a different note with the publisher renewing its publishing license with Paramount for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics, just in time for the 40th anniversary of TMNT's 1984 debut.

"The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are iconic. They are part of the tapestry of comic book history and I’m honored to be publishing their continuing adventures during this milestone year," says IDW Co-Publisher Mark Doyle in a statement. 

"Our Editor-in-Chief Jamie S. Rich and the Editorial team have put together an incredible publishing plan that will thrill long-time fans, excite new readers and show why the Turtles stand shoulder to shoulder with the biggest heroes in comic shops all over the world. It’s a great time to be a fan of TMNT!"

That's great news for fans of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin, the most successful TMNT story in recent memory, which has a sequel coming in 2024. TMNT: The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution #1 goes on sale March 6 (an updated release date), introducing a new generation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles who will take up the mantle of their classic predecessors in a dystopian future where Michelangelo was the so-called Last Ronin.

In addition to TMNT: The Last Ronin II, IDW's long running Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ongoing comic title is approaching its milestone 150th issue, Jesse Lonergan's expansive cover for which can be seen above.

IDW is also continuing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures, a title which takes place in the continuity of the classic TMNT '90s cartoon. IDW is also planning "multiple new comic titles" in the TMNT line, as well as yet to be revealed plans to celebrate the Turtles' aforementioned 40th anniversary.

Check out the best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles stories of all time.

Comics publisher IDW has announced that it is undergoing a series of cost-cutting measures, including major staff layoffs, managerial changes, and removing itself from the New York Stock Exchange. 

In total, 39% of the workforce at IDW Media Holdings, which covers entertainment as well as comics, will be laid off. It is hoped that these cuts will lead to $4.4 million in annual savings for the company.

The widespread changes include the appointment of a new CEO. Davidi Jonas, the son of IDW's chairman of the board, Howard Jonas, has replaced Allan Grafman in the role. 

"Since re-joining the Company as Executive Chairman, I have taken a deep dive into the Company and have strong views on what is needed to put the Company’s best foot forward on the path of success," Jonas said in a press release. "The painful cuts we are making are unfortunately absolutely necessary. We need to ensure that the Company can survive and then grow."

He continued, "Today we hit reset. Today I take on the responsibility to those for whom I work and those whom I work with, the stockholders and my colleagues at IDW. I will work tirelessly to unlock value."

IDW was founded in 1999 and is generally recognized as the fifth-biggest US comics publisher in the direct sales market, behind Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, and Image. It's been home to breakout hits, such as Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith's 30 Days of Night and Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez's Locke & Key. It also has a long track record of publishing licensed titles based on TV shows such as Star Trek, CSI and Doctor Who, films, such as the recent Dungeons & Dragons, and toys like Transformers and My Little Pony.

Some of the high profile executives who have departed the company include executive vice president and head of IDW Media's entertainment division Paul Davidson, head of publishing Nachie Marsham, and chief financial officer Brooke Feinstein.

It's currently unclear what this will mean for the various entertainment projects, all based on comics, that were announced to be in development last year with Ánima Studios, Cartoon Network Studios, HBO Max, Universal Content Productions, Universal International Studios and Warner Bros.

2023 marks the 40th anniversary of beloved toy line My Little Pony. To celebrate this - and the many spinoffs that the toys have inspired - IDW is publishing a mammoth 100-page one-shot comic. The My Little Pony 40th Anniversary Special features three all-new tails - sorry, tales - full of the warmth and positivity that the franchise is famous for. 

The first story, written by Sam Maggs and drawn by Keisha Okafor, is set in the decade that gave birth to the Pony phenomenon: the 1980s. In it, four young girls (plus their G1 Ponies) must bond together and use their imaginations if they're going to save their local stable from closing.

The second story is set in the MLP universe. Written by Jeremy Whitley and drawn by Amy Mebberson, Sunny Starscout and the rest of her G5 friends must learn about the history of Equestria and the first ponies. 

The final story, by Tony Fleecs and Brianna Garcia, is set in the present day and sees an aunt and her niece having to rely on some old and dusty G1 My Little Pony toys for entertainment during a power outage.

Check out a gallery of covers for the anniversary special below.

My Little Pony was launched by Hasbro in the early 1980s and quickly became a popular multi-media franchise. While the toys have waxed and waned in popularity in the years since, they've developed a huge fandom, most notably in the wake of the TV series, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. That show was an enormous hit and spawned a comic which ran for 102 issues. It was relaunched last year. 

The current generation of My Little Pony toys (G5) began in 2021 and introduced fans to Sunny Starscout, the protagonist of the My Little Pony: A New Generation film.

The My Little Pony 40th Anniversary Special is released on July 12 by IDW Publishing.

Remarkably, there's a My Little Pony adaptation of Little Women.

The latest comic from Eisner Award-winner and recent GLAAD Media Award-nominee Andrew Wheeler is a glamorous, high-stakes crime caper. Told over six issues, Cat Fight follows the misadventures of master thief Felix Lamarr, who has fallen into debt with some very bad people. Still, things are about to get a lot more complicated when a mysterious relative gets in touch with an enticing - but dangerous - offer.

Wheeler has previously written Sins of the Black Flamingo for ComiXology and Dark Horse Books, Another Castle for Oni Press, and Shout Out, an all ages LGBTQ-themed anthology. Ilias Kyriazis draws the new series, which is inked by Auguste and colored by Dennis Yatras.

We've got an exclusive first look at the new IDW Original book below.

IDW's official synopsis for the comic reads: "Caught up in the glamor and excessive lifestyle of an international career criminal, Felix Lamarr lives only for the thrill of the next big score. Suddenly contacted by his estranged and wealthy grandmother, he is shocked to learn that she is a storied career criminal herself—the lithe and legendary burglar Kitty Midnight—and that she wants him to partner with her cat-themed associates on a lucrative upcoming heist. Unaccustomed to collaboration, Felix declines Kitty’s offer…but a shocking incident sends his life into a sudden, chaotic tailspin. Framed for murder and on the run from a mysterious syndicate, he leaps at full-throttle from one international hot spot to the next in a deadly game of cat and mouse!"

The first issue comes with an array of different covers from some stellar artists - and we've got them all below. The artists are (from left to right): Ilias Kyriazis, Morgan Beem, Alex Moore, Sweeney Boo and Veronica Fish.

Check out our list of the most iconic LGBTQ superheroes in comics.

30 Days of Night writer Steve Niles will reunite with his October Faction co-creator artist Damien Worm for a new five issue "gothic horror" limited series titled Brynmore through IDW Publishing.

Brynmore focuses on Mark Turner, who returns to his hometown of Turner Island following a divorce. The newly sober Turner aims to reunite with his daughter Sophie while reconnecting with his ancestral roots in the town named after his family.

But those same ancestral roots have a "dark and sinister legacy of intrigue" that follows Mark's family into the present day - including into his own life and the life of his daughter. And to save both of their lives, Mark will have to solve the mystery of his family's legacy while struggling with reconciling his own demons.

"I've had the title Brynmore in mind for years, waiting for the right story," states Niles in IDW's announcement of Brynmore. "This one just felt right. It has themes that I love to work with often: being an outsider in a strange land, the struggles of a single parent, plus a good dose of horror and scares. One of the big motivations for Brynmore was getting to work with Damien Worm again. I love working with him, and he’s really bringing out the big guns for this series."

Here's a gallery of the main cover for Brynmore #1 by series artist Damien Worm, along with variant covers by Francesco Francavilla and Martin Simmonds:

That name, Brynmore, seems to be the name of an old church which Mark attempts to renovate into a home - a process which sets him off on the mystery of his family history.

"When Steve came up with the idea of Brynmore, I was sure it would be fun," adds Worm. "The history of the island, with its ancestral magical heritage having a direct impact on the story taking place centuries later, was really exciting for me. I also loved watching the characters fight against ancient monsters and personal demons at the same time. Very dark, gritty, atmospheric stuff."

Brynmore #1 goes on sale in June. 

Can't get enough horror comics? Check out the best horror comics of all time.

You can probably guess the plot of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Vs. Street Fighter by the title alone as this new comic miniseries will see the heroes in a half shell go to war with the cast of Capcom's classic fighter.

Publisher IDW has announced the five-issue miniseries will launch in May 2023. Written by Paul Allor, the series will feature art by Ariel Medel and colors by Sarah Myer. The story picks up as the turtles arrive in Atlantic City for a fighting tournament where, naturally, they run into the Street Fighter crew "and their legendary Psycho Powered fighting forms." The plot thickens with a wave of disappearances around the town and some mystery around the tournament's benefactors.

In a press release, Allor also provides a few hints on how the characters will interact, "from Mikey and Chun-Li’s unlikely bond to Raph and Guile’s rivalry and mutual - but very grudging - respect." Preview pages show a bit of how that fight between Raph and Guile goes down and, well, it looks like Guile's about to need a new jaw.

Both TMNT and Street Fighter have historically been franchises big on crossover events. In the comics world, the turtles have met everyone from Batman to the Power Rangers. In games, Capcom's roster has been part of some of the greatest crossover fighting titles ever made - and the turtles even ended up as DLC fighters in Injustice 2. At this rate I wouldn't be surprised to see them cameo in Street Fighter 6.

Time will tell if this ends up being one of the best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles stories.

Scott Snyder's deal with IDW Publishing to bring out a series of new titles continues this May with Dark Spaces: Good Deeds, a new limited series presented by Snyder and written by Che Grayson (Batman: Urban Legends), with art by Kelsey Ramsay (Joan Jett and the Black Hearts, I Love Rock-n-Roll), and colors by Ronda Pattison (Dark Spaces: Wildfire).

First announced at Comic-Con International: San Diego in summer 2022, the details of Dark Spaces: Good Deeds are finally being revealed. Good Deeds focuses on teen Cheyenne Rite as she moves to St. Augustine, Florida with her mother Rebecca. There they meet Jean McKnight, a journalist working on a piece about the city's upcoming 450th anniversary celebration. 

But Jean's investigation will uncover supernatural secrets tied to the "sinister colonial past" of St. Augustine, with Cheyenne and Rebecca getting caught up in the mystery.

“The most rewarding part of overseeing Dark Spaces is watching the ascendant talent of newcomers evolve from ideas into incredible new comic books,” states Snyder. “Che and Kelsey have crafted a pitch-perfect, soul-searing mystery in Good Deeds. It’s the perfect story to expand the Dark Spaces line to visionary new creators…and it’s only the first of more to come.”

Dark Spaces is billed as an "anthology" line, in which each Dark Spaces limited series focuses on a different subject and characters. Snyder himself wrote the first series in the line, Dark Spaces: Wildfire, with new creative teams now expanding its overall world.

"I’m incredibly excited to get this into the hands of horror fans who are searching for a story that will be scary and thought-provoking in equal measure," says Dark Spaces: Good Deeds writer Che Grayson. 

"I've always been drawn to stories where flawed characters find themselves thrust in the middle of a mystery. But the only way they can uncover the truth of that mystery is if they face their own dark secrets. I hope that readers find Jean’s journey really satisfying as she searches for meaning in the world and in her own life."

"It’s been such an effortless collaboration with this absolute powerhouse of a team," adds artist Kelsey Ramsay. "I am beyond excited for when Good Deeds reaches readers, and I can only hope our story spooks readers into loving it!"

In addition to a main cover by Ramsay and Pattison, Dark Spaces: Good Deeds #1 features variant covers from Elizabeth Beals (Star Trek: The Next Generation—Terra Incognita), Hayden Sherman (Dark Spaces: Wildfire), and Martin Morazzo (Ice Cream Man) with colors by Chris O’Halloran.

"Scott and I are thrilled to see Che and Kelsey thriving in the Dark Spaces spotlight. They ran with the challenge of following Wildfire, and their work in Good Deeds exemplifies the vision for this line," states IDW Publishing senior editor Maggie Howell. "It’s a razor-sharp and unsettling story told fearlessly by creators on the verge of becoming the industry’s next household names. The mystery of Cheyenne and Jean’s unusual partnership haunts every page, and we can’t wait to share it with readers."

Dark Space: Good Deeds #1 goes on sale in May.

Read up on the best horror comics of all time.

IDW continues to expand the world of its successful Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin now-franchise. Its latest addition, the January 15-debuting prequel five-issue limited series TMNT: The Last Ronin—Lost Years, is getting a new May tie-in 40-page one-shot special Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin—Lost Day Special.

Written by Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz, illustrated by Ben Bishop, and colored by Luis Antonio Delgado the Lost Day Special will "straddle both the past and the future of the Last Ronin universe."

In the story "longtime resistance leader" April O'Neil finds herself, her daughter, Casey Marie Jones, and the four young mutant turtles she and Casey Marie are raising and training together once again "caught up in the battle for the soul of New York City."

"When April takes the turtles with her on a supply run into the city, they get lost and risk becoming collateral damage in the newest power struggle overtaking the streets," reads IDW's description. "Old memories mix with new realities as April and her four small charges race to get back home before it's too late."

"As Tom Waltz and I dig deep into the evolution of New York City post-Last Ronin, the Lost Day tale brings the future of all things TMNT up close and very personal,” says Eastman in IDW's announcement. "Buckle up, things are about to get messy!"

"The amazing success of TMNT: The Last Ronin has certainly opened doors to new and exciting storytelling opportunities within what we are now fondly calling the Ronin-verse," adds Waltz.

"Lost Years will expand upon some of the Last Ronin's history that was hinted at in the first volume, while simultaneously pushing forward the new reality that was teased in its epilogue."

IDW also announced an expanded Director's Cut edition of the new limited series' first issue, which will go on sale in April. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin—Lost Years #1 Director's Cut will feature "never-before-seen" supplemental materials from TMNT co-creator Eastman, as well as series artists Ben Bishop and SL Gallant.

"Just like with TMNT: The Last Ronin, there is a ton of development work taking place on Lost Years that is just as entertaining and exciting as the story being told in the comics," says Waltz. "In particular, the art designs—both characters and settings—have been a joy to watch unfold, and I couldn't be happier that our many loyal fans will get a chance to peek at the amazing work being done behind the scenes.

Published between October 2020 and April 2022, The Last Ronin told the story of the last living member of the four original Turtles, Michelangelo, as he took up his brothers' weapons for a revenge-fueled quest against the Foot Clan in a dark future with some familiar faces such as April O'Neil in tow.

The Last Ronin was based on concepts originally conceived back in the '80s by TMNT creators Eastman and Peter Laird. Eastman himself is credited as one of the creators of the limited series, providing layouts for the interior pages.

IDW reports the original limited series sold over 850k issues and 125k copies of the collection.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are one of the best teen superhero teams ever.

Star Trek: Day of Blood is the title of IDW Publishing's first-ever Star Trek comic book crossover.

The five-issue event which will also have a lead-in story in Prelude to Day of Blood, IDW's Free Comic Book Day offering on May 6, launches in July with the Star Trek: Day of Blood #1 special and then continues in the monthly August and September issues of the flagship Star Trek ongoing series (issues #11 and #12) and the upcoming new ongoing series Star Trek: Defiant (#6 and #7).

In Prelude to Day of Blood FCBD special co-written by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, and Christopher Cantwell, illustrated by Mike Feehan and with cover art by Malachi Ward, the U.S.S. Santa Cruz travels to the Korvat colony for the sacred Klingon festival Kot'baval, which honors Kahless the Unforgettable's defeat of the tyrant Molor in combat for you non-Klingon scholars out there.

"But what was supposed to be a simple observation of the festival quickly turns into a bloodbath when the cult of the godkiller reveals themselves to the universe," reads IDW's description.

"I've been nothing short of ecstatic to be a part of this new, larger Star Trek initiative at IDW," says Cantwell. 

"There were moments in our writers' room with Jackson and Collin where I couldn't believe we were really doing this - not just telling one Star Trek story but weaving together multiple Trek stories at the same time, with plotlines from Star Trek and Star Trek: Defiant converging. We threw all our boldest ideas and best character pairings into a story of pure chaos, starship battles, and real epic dramatic resonance you can only achieve in the scope of comics."

Described as "dark and edgy" and "the Dirty Dozen meets Star Trek," Star Trek: Defiant launches in March 2023 and features Worf assembling "a hand-picked crew to face a galaxy-spanning threat." 

That crew features an all-star team of characters from past Star Trek franchises, including Spock, Data's malevolent 'brother' Lore from The Next Generation, B'Elanna Torres from Voyager, and Ensign Ro Laren (TNG).

The main IDW Star Trek series that launched last year features Deep Space Nine's Benjamin Sisko after his return from Bajoran Wormhole. With his omnipotent godhood failing, he captains the U.S.S. Theseus along with two other TNG veterans - Data and Beverly Crusher - on a mission to stop a killer murdering the Star Trek Universe's gods.

"It's time for Benjamin Sisko to face the past," says Lanzing of the crossover, "and for readers to finally get a look at the true fallout of the Dominion War. Deep Space Nine is the inspiration for this entire line, so it feels only right that the crew of the U.S.S. Theseus come back to where it all started.

"This is the kind of event you could only do in comics, with enormous stakes and two starship crews colliding in the middle of a truly deadly crisis. This is our season finale."

According to IDW senior editor Heather Antos Star Trek: Day of Blood is what the publisher's last year of comic book planning was all about.

"It all leads to this moment," she says. "Was Sisko the correct choice of the Prophets? Will Worf's Klingon honor serve him well? Or will the two remain in the crossfires of the godkiller? Jackson, Collin, and Chris are asking some of the biggest questions we’ve ever seen in Star Trek comics, and it's time to answer them in the franchise's first-ever classic summer crossover event."

Check out first look preview art from Star Trek: Day of Blood.

Star Trek is getting a new lease at IDW as Transformers and GI Joe left the publisher at the end of 2022.

IDW's hit R-Rated five-issue limited series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin came with an "insane" amount of variant covers, and in June 2023 IDW will collect nearly 200 of them in a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin—The Covers, a hardcover collection of every variant cover published.

Of course, the 200-page, full-cover collection also features a new cover by TMMT: The Last Ronin series co-artist Ben Bishop. Artists that illustrated all those variant covers include TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman, series co-artists Esau & Isaac Escorza, and Bishop, along with Mateus Santolouco, Sophie Campbell, Freddie E. Williams II, Justin Roiland, Peach Momoko, Tyler Kirkham, John Giang, Amanda Conner, Rob Liefeld, Simon Bisley, Stan Sakai, and more.

"All five issues of The Last Ronin came with absolutely insane artwork on hundreds of incredible variant covers—not only from top established legendary creators who may have been drawing TMNT their whole lives but from up-and-coming creators and everyone in between," says Bishop in IDW's announcement. "A cover for The Last Ronin was an opportunity, and every artist knew it and wanted to be a part of it."

"The Last Ronin—The Covers is a celebration of the series and its monumental success," adds IDW senior editor Alonzo Simon. "We had so many incredible covers to showcase and the result is this amazing collection of covers from some of the most talented artists working in comics."

Published between October 2020 and April 2022, The Last Ronin told the story of the last living member of the four original Turtles, Michelangelo, as he took up his brothers' weapons for a revenge-fueled quest against the Foot Clan in a dark future, with some familiar faces such as April O'Neil in tow.

The Last Ronin was based on concepts originally conceived back in the '80s by TMNT creators Eastman and Peter Laird. Eastman himself is credited as one of the creators of the limited series, providing layouts for the interior pages.

IDW reports the limited series sold over 850k issues and 125k copies of the collection.

The Ronin-verse will be expanded in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin – The Lost Years, a five-issue limited series set in its world by co-writers Eastman and Tom Waltz and artists SL Gallant and Bishop. The series "straddling Michelangelo's past as a lone wanderer and the future where four new turtles will grow up in his shadow" was originally announced this past summer for a November debut but according to this latest announcement it will now launch in 2023.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are one of the best teen superhero teams ever.

Go go Power Rangers - heroes in a half-shell!

OK, maybe our attempt at a combined catchphrase needs some work, but what's already pitch-perfect is the combination of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers, who are coming back together for a second crossover limited series published through Boom! Studios.

Also returning in the sequel are long-running Power Rangers writer Ryan Parrot and artist Dan Mora, recently of DC's World's Finest title. The new limited series, titled simply Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II, is published in partnership with IDW Publishing, home of the current TMNT comic book license.

Though BOOM! Is quick to recount the many thrills of the original MMPR/TMNT crossover - including Ninja Rangers, the Turtlezord, and Green Ranger Shredder - a statement from Boom! senior editor Dafna Pleban teases only "familiar faces and unexpected villains in an adventure full of new shocking twists and turns!" for the sequel.

Here's a first look at pages from the debut issue:

As for what the MMPR and TMNT may be up against, Boom! calls the sequel's villain "a rising danger that threatens to bring both teams to the brink!".

"Several months have passed since the Teenagers With Attitude and the Heroes In A Half Shell teamed up to defeat the unholy alliance of Rita Repulsa and Shredder, but a new threat will force them to reunite in the crossover YOU demanded!" reads Boom!'s official description.

"Between an invasion from beyond, old enemies teaming up with unlikely accomplices, and a threat to the Rangers’ powers themselves, will the two teams survive the onslaught from a terrifying new foe?"

In recent years, both the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers have had their share of intercompany crossovers, including a crossover between the TMNT and Batman, and one between the MMPR and the entire Justice League.

Still, there's something particularly fitting about the two beloved '90s toy and TV darlings, both teen teams focused on martial arts who square off with a host of colorful, thematic villains.

Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #1 goes on sale in December. Issue #1 features a slew of covers, including the main cover by Dan Mora and variant covers by Bon Bernardo, Miguel Mercado, Goñi Montes, Simone Di Meo, Ejikure, Taurin Clarke, Jenny Frison, Bjorn Barends, InHyuk Lee, and more. 

Mora's connecting main covers to the entire series will also be available in a double gatefold variant, and each issue of the series will also feature a variant cover
by TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman and a Freddie Williams II, and a "Deluxe Edition" variant cover by Williams II will include 1 of 10 evenly intermixed trading cards and an exclusive print.

Finally, a Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #1 pack includes the variant covers by Eastman, Frison, and Bernardo, a blank sketch edition variant, and a rare variant cover by Mike Del Mundo.

Take a look at a gallery of covers below:

Should the original MMPR/TMNT crossover join the ranks of the best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles stories ever?

Two great tastes that taste great together are mashing up again as cartoonist and storyteller Stan Sakai is set to create Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo: WhereWhen, a five-issue limited series that reunites the TMNT with Sakai's own cult favorite hero Usagi Yojimbo.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Usagi Yojimbo both originated in the independent comic scene of the early '80s and quickly began crossing over in comics thanks to the similarity of their Japanese-inspired animal characters. Since then, the relationship between the TMNT and Usagi Yojimbo has stayed strong, with continued crossovers in comics, and even in cartoons and toys with Usagi often showing up as a character in different TMNT series and their related toy lines.

Now, starting in March 2023, IDW Publishing will team up with Stan Sakai's own Dogu Publishing and Paramount Consumer Products (owner of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles license) for a new adventure in which the TMNT enter a portal created by a villain known as Dr. WhereWhen which sends them back in time to crossover with Usagi, the rabbit Yojimbo, in his own time period of feudal Japan.

Here's a gallery of some interior pages along with the cover of TMNT/Usagi Yojimbo: WhereWhen #1:

"I am so pleased with the story and art for WhereWhen," states Sakai in the announcement. "There is a lot of emotion and, of course, lots of action. I actually wrote this story about five years ago and had been anxious to get to it. In the past, the Turtles have met just a few of Usagi's friends. This time, everyone is thrown in—Gen, Tomoe, Jotaro, Yukichi, Kitsune, Chizu, and more! This one is epic!"

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are one of the best teen superhero teams ever.

IDW Publishing's long-standing license to publish comic books based on the Hasbro toy line franchises G.I. Joe and Transformers seems to have ended, with longtime IDW editor David Mariotte tweeting a farewell to the Transformers franchise on his personal Twitter account on the occasion of the publication of the last IDW Transformers issue. 

IDW published Transformers comics starting in 2005, and G.I. Joe comics starting in 2008. The original announcement of the change came through The Hollywood Reporter, who reported in December 2021 that Robert Kirkman's Skybound imprint of Image Comics was in talks to pick up the license.

"At the end of 2022, IDW will bid a fond farewell to the publication of G.I. Joe and Transformers comic books and graphic novels. We’re exceedingly proud of our stewardship of these titles — 17 years with the Robots in Disguise and 14 years with A Real American Hero — and thank the legion of fans for their unwavering support, month in and month out," read a statement from IDW provided to THR at the time of the initial announcement. "We're also eternally grateful to every one of the talented creators who helped bring these characters to four-color life through our comics."

IDW published one final major G.I. Joe story for 2022 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the release of the revamped GI Joe: A Real American Hero toy line, which revised the original GI Joe soldier toy into the concept of a fighting force made up of unique and distinct characters, with equally colorful enemies to match.

No announcement has been made regarding where the publishing licenses for G.I. Joe and Transformers will wind up following IDW's deal ending and Skybound never commented on THR's December 2021 report. IDW will apparently retain the license to publish comics based on other Hasbro properties including MASK, Visionaries, ROM, and more.

In addition, IDW has been publishing more Star Trek and Dungeons and Dragons licensed comics in recent months.

The best place to get G.I. Joe and Transformers comics is at your local comic shop.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is one of the most beloved entries among fans of the long-running sci-fi franchise, notably for the way the series balanced quirky, character-based plots with striking political intrigue. In 2023, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Deep Space Nine's 1993 premiere, IDW Publishing is putting out a new limited series that aims to capture the feeling of a "lost episode" of the cult favorite show.

And from the looks of the plot of the five-issue limited series, titled Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - The Dog of War, writer Mike Chen (best known for his Star Wars novels) and veteran Star Trek artist Angel Hernandez are channeling both sides of the show's themes.

In The Dog of War, Quark (the Deep Space Nine space station's resident bar owner and entrepreneur) comes into possession of a rare, pure-bred Corgi (as in the dog). But when he brings the dog onto Deep Space Nine, it's discovered that it's also carrying a rare Borg component with it.

"I'm absolutely ecstatic to hang out with DS9's crew, and I hope that this story touches on all of the characters and intensity that made the show so powerful and great: Sisko's history with the Borg, the Dominion War, Garak's great outfits, Jadzia being Jadzia, Miles and Julian's holosuite adventures, and so much more," states Chen in IDW's announcement. "Also, Quark gets a dog. If that doesn't earn your latinum, I don't know what will!"

Latinum is, of course, a precious metal used as currency in the world of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. And true to form for the money-hungry Quark, Latinum is also the name of the station's new resident dog.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - The Dog of War #1 goes on sale in April with covers from series artist Angel Hernandez, Star Trek: Lower Decks artist Chris Fenoglio, a series of connecting covers that will span all five issues by artist Andy Price, a black and white version of Hernandez's cover, and a pair of Deep Space Nine schematic variant covers with and without trade dress.

Here's a gallery of all the covers:

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - The Dog of War joins the new Star Trek: Strange New Worlds comic as part of IDW's Star Trek line.

If anytime between the years 1983 through 1985 you woke up on Saturday morning and flipped on your local CBS affiliate to catch the animated Dungeons & Dragons, posted on the legendary TST roleplaying game, IDW has your back.

The publisher is returning to the world of the Saturday morning cartoon series for the appropriately-titled Dungeons & Dragons: Saturday Morning Adventures, a four-issue limited series launching in March to celebrate the 40th (geez ... 40??) anniversary of the cult-favorite show.

The series ran for 27 episodes over three seasons and fans might not immediately recall it was a co-production of TSR, Japanese Toei Animation, and Marvel Productions.

The series tells the story of a "lost episode charting new territory" in the world of D&D, by writers David M. Booher, Sam Maggs, and artist George Kambadais.

"As a lifelong D&D fan, it is an absolute dream to get to work reviving a childhood classic," says Maggs. "It's been such a blast working with IDW and the fine folks at Wizards of the Coast to hone in on what made the Dungeons & Dragons Saturday morning cartoon such a cult favorite. Setting these characters up for a whole new run of stories has truly been a career highlight, and I hope fans will love seeing Uni (well…all our cool kids, but especially Uni) back in action as much as I do!"

The series 'reunites' the cast of "Noble ranger Hank, intrepid acrobat Diana, quiet thief Sheila, impulsive barbarian Bobby, fearful cavalier Eric, and uncertain magician Presto."

As always, the gang only wants to return to their own world, but it's much harder escaping the Forgotten Realm of D&D than it was being stranded there.

"Danger lurks at every turn, the enigmatic Dungeon Master is less than helpful, and Venger - the force of evil - will stop at nothing to get his hands on the magical weapons that the kids have come to rely on," reads IDW's description of the series.

And if that wasn't enough, Hank discovers that despite the dangers they face, the rest of the gang aren't so sure they even want to go home.

"As a kid, I would wake up on Saturday morning, pour a bowl of cartoon-themed cereal, and plop myself in front of the Dungeons & Dragons cartoon. When IDW approached me about writing Saturday Morning Adventures, there was no chance I was passing up the opportunity to help this D&D party face Venger once more," says Booher. "I can’t wait for readers to pour themselves a bowl of cereal and join us on a thrilling new adventure with Presto, Diana, Bobby, and the whole crew!"

Each issue of the series will feature a main cover by Kambadais, a variant by My Little Pony artist Brenda Hickey, and a retailer incentive cover by Tim Levins.

"Just imagine being me - a 12-year-old boy in the body of a 38-year-old man - getting to play with some of the coolest yet cutest characters in one of the most immersive universes ever made," says Kambadais. "I am so lucky, yet so freaking scared as to whether one can ever be enough of an artist to take on this huge of a job. Here's hoping that I'll do right by Presto and Sheila (low-key my favorites)!"

Dungeons & Dragons: Saturday Morning Adventures #1 goes on sale in March, the same month the big-screen, live-action, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves hits theaters, which will be proceeded by an IDW prequel graphic novel Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves - The Feast of the Moon in February.

"With Dungeons & Dragons: Saturday Morning Adventures, we celebrate the cult classic animated series that introduced so many fans to the Forgotten Realms. George Kambadais' stunning art reminds us of that beloved old-school animated style while giving it his signature modern flair for the contemporary fan. This new series demonstrates the continued collaboration between IDW and Wizards of the Coast to create never-before-seen D&D comics," says editor Jonathan Manning.

While you wait for all three of these projects, check out the best Dungeons and Dragons books that need to be on your shelf.

IDW Publishing is celebrating the fifth anniversary of its first Sonic the Hedgehog comic book, what it calls "five fantastic years of friendship, adventure, and chili dogs" by publishing a new edition of ... its first Sonic the Hedgehog comic book.

April's Sonic the Hedgehog #1 Fifth Anniversary Edition is an expanded reissue/"encore presentation" of the IDW first issue, which according to the publisher has sold over one million copies.

Sonic the Hedgehog #1 Fifth Anniversary Edition will feature a new bonus short story entitled 'Familiar Territory,' by the issue's original creative team of writer Ian Flynn and artist Tracy Yardley. The new edition will also include a look at how Sonic comic books get made, a cover gallery, and more.

"I'm truly fortunate to be part of this project," says Flynn. "I've been involved with the Sonic series for over fifteen years now, and it's still as exciting and inspiring as it's ever been. The Sonic fandom gets that, and their passion and creativity is part of the reason that the brand is so much fun! I look forward to enjoying Sonic, and contributing to that joy, for a long time to come."

"Ever since I first saw Sonic the Hedgehog in my local game store back in 1991, I've been a fan, and being part of the Sonic fan community and having the opportunity to bring his adventures to readers the world over has been a dream come true," adds Yardley. 

"Seeing the love and excitement that Sonic brings to gamers and readers inspires me to give it all I've got when bringing such a kinetic, iconic hero to the comic page. It was a great honor to create art for issue #1 five years ago, and I'm very happy to revisit that landmark by drawing the new short story for this special anniversary reissue. As long as Sonic keeps on running, I'll keep on drawing!"

Sonic the Hedgehog #1 Fifth Anniversary Edition will be available with a series of variant covers by different artists. Cover A by artist Tyson Hesse is a foldout featuring the connecting covers from the original issues #1-4 (seen above); Cover B is by Yardley; Cover C is by Matt Herms; Cover D is by Jennifer Hernandez; and they'll also be three retailer incentive covers (seen below) from artists Adam Bryce Thomas, Evan Stanley, and Jon Gray, respectively.

"We're so excited to bring the past and present together in this anniversary issue!" concludes editor David Mariotte. "Revisiting the story that started it all with so many of the amazing creators who kicked off our journey gives readers a chance to see not just where we came from, but where we’re going, too!"

Check out the best video game comics of all time.

IDW Publishing has announced a new slate of six comic book and graphic novel properties that are in active development as television series. 

First up there's Bacchus, creator Eddie Campbell's graphic novel published by IDW imprint Top Shelf Productions set in a present-day world where ancient Greek Gods still walk among mortals.

Will Davies (Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, Man Vs. Bee, How to Train Your Dragon) and Chloe Moss (Switch, Hollyoaks) will write and executive produce the series.

Another Top Shelf graphic novel, the Eisner Award-winning Dragon Puncher by James Kochalka, will be developed as Dragon Puncher and Spoony by showrunner and executive producer Holly Huckins (Recess, Angela Anaconda, Sheriff Callie).

The comedy-adventure follows the titular Dragon Puncher, "a cute but rather ruthless kitty who dons his heroic armored battle suit as he punches out evil dragons together with sidekick Spoony (a fuzzy little friend armed with a wooden spoon)."

Korgi is writer-artist Christian Slade's coming-of-age story about a friendship between a young fairy and her magical puppy as they uncover the secret history of their homeland and face evil monsters threatening their idyllic community.

The TV series will be developed by showrunner Aury Wallington (Spirit Untamed, Spirit Riding Free, Veronica Mars, Heroes, and Gravity Falls).

David and Maria Lapham's graphic novel Lodger is a crime-noir psychological thriller and twisted love story about a young woman bent on revenge against a serial killer who she blames for the murder of her mother and incarceration of her father, set in a "tangled American landscape."

Max and Adam Reid (Gil's All Fright Diner, Aeon Flux, Sneaky Pete) will serve as showrunners for director Patricia Riggen (The 33, Dopesick).

Relic of the Dragon, a graphic novel by Adrian Benatar and Miguel Ángel García, is a fantasy action-adventure about an ordinary man named Uric hunting for a relic of enormous power. The choices Uric makes in his dangerous quest change his life and the fate of his entire nation.

Bryan Q. Miller (Shadowhunters, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe) serves as showrunner.

Finally, Satellite Falling, based on Steve Horton, Stephen Thompson, and Martin Morazzo's comic books set in a "seedy future of radical technology, sentient aliens, and familiar prejudices," will be co-executive produced by Will Pascoe (Orphan Black, Absentia) who will serve as showrunner and Jude Weng (Finding 'Ohana, Only Murders in the Building) who will direct.

IDW describes the series as "sharp social commentary about the horrors of xenophobia" where only humans are allowed on corrupt Earth and "incredible creatures from across the galaxy" are forced to reside on a city-sized space station called Satellite.

Cabbie/bounty hunter Lilly, the only human on Satellite, finds her world crumbling when dark secrets from her past resurface as tensions rise between aliens and humans.

These newest projects follow additional IDW properties that were announced earlier this year, including Dark Spaces with Universal Content Productions (UCP), Earthdivers with 20th TV, The Delicacy with Warner Bros. TV, and Brutal Nature with Anima Studios.

"It"s a dream to get to work on so many great properties with so many amazing talents," says Paul Davidson, IDW executive vice president in the announcement. "This group of writers, directors, and showrunners represent some of the best and IDW is pleased to be working with them."

Before Sonic Frontiers hits video game consoles on November 8, players can take an early dive into the story in two ways: through the IDW Publishing comic book one-shot Sonic Frontiers Prologue: Convergence, written by Ian Flynn and drawn by Evan Stanley, and through the animated short Sonic Frontiers: Divergence.

Sonic Frontiers Prologue: Convergence was originally released on Sega's social media, and today IDW Publishing has made it available for free on digital comics platforms. 

Now that it's even more widely available and the game releases tomorrow - allowing players to explore a Hyrule-esque environment - Newsarama spoke with Flynn and Stanley via e-mail about the comic and their personal histories with Sonic the Hedgehog.

Samantha Puc for Newsarama: Ian and Evan, what are your personal histories with Sonic the Hedgehog?

Ian Flynn: I grew up on Sonic. The Sega Genesis was our first family console, I grew up reading the old Archie comics [editor's note: Sonic the Hedgehog comics were published by Archie from 1992-2016] and watching the two Saturday morning cartoons… the whole shebang. After getting my degree, I caught a lucky break and became the lead writer for the comic I'd grown up with. I've been writing some form of Sonic media for over 15 years now.

Evan Stanley: I started playing Sonic games around 2005 when my big brother brought home an old Sega Genesis along with Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2. I was 13. 

The games themselves were good but what really got me hooked was when I started doodling the characters in my sketchbook; the pure joy of teaching myself cartooning via Sonic set my brain on fire and catapulted me headfirst into learning everything I could about the Sonic series. I found a thriving community of other fan artists making Sonic comics online, which inspired me to start my own. I discovered a passion for making comics that's shaped my personal and professional life ever since.

When I was 18, I sent some fan art to the official Sonic the Hedgehog comic series, published by Archie Comics at the time. It was just for fun - I thought that maybe it'd get printed in the letters section, and that would be nice. But I ended up getting an e-mail from the editor at the time asking if I'd like to try doing some freelance illustration work for him! Naturally, I jumped at the chance, and I've been working as a freelance cartoonist ever since. 

My editors at Archie also gave me a chance to start writing, and when IDW began making Sonic comics, I came along for the ride. I've continued writing and drawing for Sonic the Hedgehog, and it's taken me farther than I could have ever imagined. 

Nrama: How does Sonic Frontiers Prologue: Convergence tie into the video game, in terms of chronology and story?

Flynn: Ideally, you'll read it, boot up the game, and see how one flows into the other.

Stanley: Along with its companion piece, the animated short Divergence, Convergence tells the story of how the principal cast of Sonic Frontiers becomes embroiled in the plot of the game. Chronologically, it's quite immediate; you'll see the game pick up right where Convergence leaves us.

Nrama: What was your favorite part of working on the prologue comic? 

Flynn: For me, it's the multilingual aspect, which was mostly handled by artist and letterer Evan Stanley. It's always a thrill to know so many people can enjoy Sonic's adventures. Granted, I didn't have a direct hand in all that but…I wrote the script, so that laid the foundation. That counts, right? 

Stanley: I think the Eggman scene was the highlight for me; I always love to draw him interacting with Orbot and Cubot, and there was also a moment of introspection which is quite unusual to see from the Doctor. I also did the lettering for this story, which I don't often get to do - that was a fun change of pace. 

Nrama: What has the reader response been so far?

Flynn: The overall response was very positive. Fans enjoyed the call-backs to older Sonic media, seeing the characters interact in fun and positive ways, and the little teases for what's coming in the game. And the fact that it was free. That went over very well. I'm very happy IDW is supporting it too so that even more people can enjoy it because Sonic should be available to everyone. 

Stanley: From what I've seen, it's been really positive! For a lot of fans, this may have been their first time seeing a Sonic comic, and they liked it. Hopefully, they'll like discovering the rest of the Sonic library even more! 

Nrama: Will Sonic Frontiers or Convergence have any impact on other IDW Sonic titles?

Flynn: The IDW series follows the course set by the game material, so their events will inform future events. That said, the IDW series explores a lot of other aspects of Sonic's world, so those effects may not show up immediately.

Stanley: The IDW Sonic titles closely follow game canon so while we don't have any immediate plans to, say, do an adaptation or follow-up of the game's story, the events of the game may have a long-term impact on the books.

Nrama: What are you working on now, if you can say?

Flynn: So many NDAs, so many #KnowingSmilesQ. I’ve got a number of fun Sonic projects in the works. Those won't be public for a while, so sit tight! I'm working with Aether Studios on their growing game universe, as well as other super-secret projects. I'm running a nearly daily Q&A podcast, the BumbleKast. And I'm trying to get my original stuff off the ground too. 

Stanley: I'm drawing Sonic the Hedgehog #56, which I also wrote! It's the final issue of the "Overpowered" storyline, which follows Surge the Tenrec's desperate struggle to surpass her physical and psychological limits and exact her misguided revenge on Sonic. It's a really intense one - Sonic and Tails are fighting for their lives, Eggman and Metal Sonic are in the mix, and there's a big emotional turning point for Surge and her partner Kit.

After that, I'll be working on my scripts for the 2023 "season" of the book, a celebratory cover illustration with all the fixings, and some secret stuff!

Nrama: Is there anything you'd like to add?

Flynn: I’m so very happy and thankful to be where I am right now and to see so many people entertained by what I contribute to. I want to give a big thank you to everyone who's sent their well-wishes, encouragement, and shared their joy over everything the past few months. You're awesome! 

Stanley: I'd like to thank whoever's reading this for giving the Sonic comics a try! Sonic has been a huge source of joy, excitement, and learning in my life, and I hope these stories can do the same for you! 

Sonic Frontiers Prologue: Convergence #1 is available now. Sonic Frontiers will be available November 8 on PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

Check out the best video game comics of all time.

Before Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is released in theaters next year, IDW Publishing will release a prequel graphic novel. The publisher has announced Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves - The Feast of the Moon, which seemingly takes its name from an in-game festival that Dungeon Masters and players can choose to incorporate into their campaigns.

The Feast of the Moon will be a 96-page graphic novel written by Jeremy Lambert and Ellen Boener and drawn by Eduardo Ferigato and Guillermo Sanna. The story will follow Edgin the bard (played by Chris Pine in the movie) and his band of thieves as they attempt to save a town from the Bandit King, who's been violently exploiting the town's resources for years.

"I can't begin to describe how fun it was to open up my notebook filled with scribbles for old D&D campaigns and start a new chapter for a different kind of story," Lambert says in the announcement. "What I love about these characters is that they aren't the brave, gallant, all-powerful warriors that will forever win the day—they're regular people, just like you or me. They're emotionally messy, and they are completely in over their heads."

Ferigato adds, "I've always been a huge fantasy fan. Dragons, dwarves, elves, and barbarians are all among my favorite things to draw. I think of my style as very cinematic, so I'm really excited for the film and eager to see how it's going to turn out. I hope the fans will have as much fun reading the finished comic as I've had drawing these pages!"

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves will follow Edgin and his friends on an epic quest to retrieve a lost relic. The Feast of the Moon will introduce at least some of these characters - Edgin and Forge Fitzwilliam (played by Hugh Grant) included - and give readers a taste of what they can expect from the movie.

"Creating a comic set in the world of this exciting new film means we get to enjoy the fun of bringing together all the elements that make D&D so versatile and well-suited to different mediums," says IDW editor Jonathan Manning. "Not only did we get to build and expand on the personal histories of these exciting new characters, but we also got to explore so many of the elements we love the most about the game of D&D - its class systems, its creatures, and its mechanics. Feast of the Moon is the perfect introduction for anyone looking to get into the world of D&D for the first time, as well as for longtime fans. Play the game, watch the movie, read the comic!"

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves - The Feast of the Moon will be available in February 2023, shortly before Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves hits theaters on March 3, 2023.

In the meantime, check out the best Dungeons and Dragons books that need to be on your shelf.

IDW Publishing appears to be pouring resources into its Star Trek license, announcing its fourth new Trek title in the last three months, and this latest one has some star power attached.

Star Trek: Defiant is a March 2023-launching ongoing series that features Worf assembling "a hand-picked crew to face a galaxy-spanning threat."

IDW describes the "dark and edgy" series as "The Dirty Dozen meets Star Trek" and stars Worf along with Spock, Data's malevolent 'brother' Lore, B'Elanna Torres from Star Trek: Voyager, and while she isn't named in the announcement, that sure looks like the likeness of Michelle Forbes as Ensign Ro Laren on the cover.

The series is written by Chris Cantwell and illustrated by Ángel Unzueta.

In the series, someone is killing the gods…but while Benjamin Sisko and his own "Avengers"-like all-star Starfleet crew in the new ongoing flagship Star Trek series are facing threats in the "higher cosmos," there's a new threat in the "street-level" corner of the far future.

Worf puts together a crew of his own aboard the U.S.S. Defiant to combat a dangerous human messiah who leads a genocidal cult. According to the publisher, the fan-favorite Klingon unites "some of the strongest personalities in the franchise ... on a mission with very little guarantee of success!"

"Ever since I made my dad take me to my first Star Trek convention when I was ten, I have been waiting for this moment," says Cantwell in the series announcement.

"When Heather Antos, Jackson Lanzing, and Collin Kelly reached out to me about writing the first book to spin out of their flagship Star Trek title, I wanted the quality to match my massive wells of enthusiasm; I knew this book needed to be undeniably Star Trek first and foremost, but also something new and complex that would have readers leaning forward as they engaged with a more unexpected journey to the stars. 

"Whereas the new Star Trek book carries forward the grand tradition of Starfleet's saga of discovery and exploration, Defiant immediately sets out to break the rules of the Federation and go on a fugitive run from Starfleet with a cast of Trek's best iconoclastic heroes and ne'er-do-wells, each of them straddling worlds in their identities and calibrations in their moral compasses as they embark on a high-stakes galactic manhunt…the Prime Directive be damned."

IDW, who will lose its Transformers and GI Joe license with Hasbro later this year, seems to be placing significant resources into the Star Trek license. Defiant will join the aforementioned new flagship Star Trek ongoing along with a Star Trek: Resurgence title that serves as a prequel to the video game, and the recently-announced Star Trek: Strange New Worlds series. 

"To be part of this amazing new Star Trek universe is a big challenge, and I love big challenges," says Unzueta. "It will be very exciting to show how far our crew can go to save the universe, how many rules they can break just to make things right, how 'badass' these guys can be when compared to the more clean-cut crew of the Theseus from the ongoing series."

"Just when you thought Star Trek comics couldn't get any bigger, we're continuing to boldly explore new frontiers," says senior editor Heather Antos. "Between the flagship title and Defiant, it's safe to say that we have comics' biggest Trek fans—Lanzing, Kelly, Cantwell, Rosanas, and Unzueta themselves—crafting what is going to be Star Trek's biggest and boldest interconnected comics story ever. And this is only just the beginning!"

Star Trek: Defiant #1 goes on in March with variant covers by Unzueta, Malachi Ward, Declan Shalvey, David Aja, and Daniel Warren Johnson.

Star Trek is getting a new lease at IDW just before Transformers and GI Joe leave the publisher at the end of 2022.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is the latest hit streaming series in the Star Trek franchise, and now it's coming to comics with its own Star Trek: Strange New Worlds series from IDW Publishing. 

Fully titled Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - The Illyrian Enigma, the four-issue limited series focuses on Una Chin-Riley (AKA Number One), the First Officer of the USS Enterprise in the Strange New Worlds era, played by Rebecca Romijn in the Paramount Plus streaming series. It's set in between the recently concluded first season and the upcoming second season.

In the story, Number One is accused of "unlawful genetic modification" by Starfleet authorities, leading Captain Pike and the rest of the crew to embark on a mission in search of evidence of her innocence.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - The Illyrian Enigma is written by Strange New Worlds producer Kirsten Beyer and Star Trek author Mike Johnson, whose previous comic book collaborations include stories based on the streaming series Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: Discovery. The limited series is drawn by artist Megan Levens, with color art from Charlie Kirchoff.

"The only thing more fun than Strange New Worlds is more Strange New Worlds," reads a joint statement from writers Beyer and Johnson and colorist Kirchoff, all of whom have previously worked together on Star Trek comics.

"We're thrilled to bring fans the first comic book adventure starring everyone's new favorite crew, in an all-new story that picks up where Season One left off. We couldn't be happier that Megan Levens is beaming aboard to join us!"

Levens, no stranger to her own contributions to previous Star Trek comics, adds her own statement in IDW's announcement, stating "What ultimately draws me to any project is the characters, and after only one short season, I'm already so deeply invested in the entire cast of Strange New Worlds."

"Bringing this cast onto the comic page for the first time has been a delight for me, both as a Trekkie and as an artist!" she concludes.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - The Ilyrian Enigma #1 goes on sale in December with covers from Levens, Jake Batrok, Liana Kangas, and Malachi Ward.

Star Trek is getting a new lease at IDW just before Transformers and GI Joe leave the publisher at the end of 2022.

As part of its new line of original comics, in September IDW will launch a five-part limited series, Crashing, written by Matthew Klein and illustrated by Morgan Beem, with colors by Triona Farrell and letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Crashing follows recovering addict Dr. Rose Osler, one of only a handful of United States physicians who specialize in training "Powered individuals," aka humans who demonstrate some kind of superpower. After a wave of violence allegedly attributed to these Powered individuals, Rose has to maintain an air of professionalism and resist the urge to relapse, while also struggling to reconcile her past and keep her marriage together.

"Crashing is a story about sacrifice, heroism, and self-care," says Klein. "Over the pandemic, we saw such an increase in people needing help, falling into self-destructive behaviors, addiction, or alcoholism, it felt like there needed to be a story about a first responder who needs help but doesn't know how to ask for it.

"Heroes need help, too. Whether they wear capes or stethoscopes, the responsibility of saving someone's life can be overwhelming. We've all seen an extraordinary number of heroes step up on the frontlines of the pandemic. I wanted to explore a story about an everyday hero who wants to save everybody at the expense of herself and how dangerous that kind of self-neglect can be."

For artist Beem, Rose encapsulates important aspects of humanity. "One of the things that really excites me about this project is that all our characters—and especially Rose, our main character—are flawed," she says. "They all have a lot of strength but also a lot of genuine weaknesses. They make mistakes, sometimes huge ones, but they keep going. They learn to forgive others, and especially themselves. I love that because it's something that I feel all of us can relate to."

Check out a new preview of Crashing #1 below.

Editor Heather Antos says there's no better time for a story like Crashing. She notes that the creative team has put together "an extraordinary display of humanity that will help a lot of people hopefully connect, grow, and heal."

"One of the greatest powers we all possess is the ability to reach out and connect with one another, but sometimes finding the strength to do so gets lost along the way," she says. "Joining Rose on her journey of self-growth while caught between powers quite beyond her has been a joy."

Crashing #1 will be available with three variant covers by Beem, Jorge Corona, and Liana Kangas. The issue hits shelves September 21.

The best superhero teams of all time have sustained plenty of injuries on the job.

IDW Publishing's G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero title will come to its conclusion with #300 this November, as the publisher's license for the G.I. Joe franchise ends. But the venerable title is going out in style with original G.I. Joe comic creator and longtime writer Larry Hama penning a special issue that also boasts a cover from artist Jamie Sullivan which IDW Publishing claims will set a world record for the most characters depicted on a single comic book cover, clocking in at "over 300," by IDW's count.

(Not to be sticklers, but we're guessing that's the record for the most characters depicted on a single monthly comic book cover. Alex Ross and George Perez's cover for the anniversary collection of Crisis on Infinite Earths features 562 characters).

Back to the matter at hand, behind the reportedly record-setting cover will be a story from Hama, who developed the original comic book concept for G.I. Joe at Marvel Comics in the early '80s and who wrote most of its 155-issue Marvel Comics run, as well as almost 150 issues of IDW's most recent volume of the title. 

He's joined by artists SL Gallant, Maria Keane, and J. Brown, as well as letterer Neil Nuyetake - a veritable all-star creative team for fans of the long-running G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero title. It'll also receive variant covers from Netho Diaz, Kieran McKeown, John Royle, Ron Joseph, a 'virgin' style variant of Jamie Sullivan's main wraparound cover, and a second cover from Sullivan.

Here's a gallery of all the covers:

"I did 155 issues at Marvel, and they pretty much gave me free reign to do what I pleased. When IDW got the license, they wisely chose to turn me loose with my own methods, and I happily produced a run that is only five issues short of my Marvel run," reads a statement from Hama.

"Now, however, I have come to the end and it truly feels like leaving home, leaving characters that have been my friends for four decades—many of which are, in fact, based on my actual friends and acquaintances—and I can feel a real emptiness looming."

However, Hama hints that there may be more in store from G.I. Joe in comics, including the possible potential for more of his own work in the franchise.

"Somehow, though, I suspect the story doesn't completely end here, that the story will go on and the PIT will not be in mothballs for long. See you in the next incarnation!" he concludes.

G.I. Joe's owners Hasbro haven't stated where the G.I. Joe comic license may wind up next, or when fans will know what lies in store for the Real American Heroes.

G.I. Joe are technically soldiers, but they almost qualify as some of the best non-Marvel/DC superheroes ever.