Kevin Eastman, co-creator of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, probably had the best explanation for why half-shell heroes continue to thrive.
He has a point as Turtle is a star in a variety of comics, films and TV shows featuring vastly different takes. They went to space, traveled throughout time, meeting characters ranging from Batman to Power Rangers. IDW Publishing held a panel this morning entitled “The New Era of Turtle Power” to show off a rather diverse range of cartoons.
Attended by Eastman, Tom Waltz (co-writer for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin), Ben Bishop (The Last Ronin Artist, The Last Ronin II: Re-Evolution), Caleb Gorner (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto), and Id Eddif in Zaifu Yen Yen Yen Yen Yen Yen Yen Yen Yen Yen Yen Yen Yen Yen Id Editor (Klan, Shanchi). Comic Book Couples Counseling Brad & Lisa Garixon served as moderators.
Eastman kicked things out by saying how “humble” it was to see Turtles fans of all shapes and sizes. Curnow echoed his emotions, saying it was “heartwarming” to see a room full of fans. “I can do this as a creator, but I’ll remain a fan,” Waltz said as he spoke about what drew him to the turtle.
This led to Jan and Freddie E. Williams taking over the ongoing title of Jason Aaron and Juan Ferrelia’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Yang discusses his love for turtles and says he grew up watching the 1987 animated series with his brothers, and Eastman and Peter Laird’s original TMNT run were blown away by Mirage. “My love for cartoons is a harbinger,” he said, pointing out how crazy the turtle concept is and why it works. Williams received similar praise, noting that Curnow took nearly a decade to win him for the ongoing TMNT title.
Aaron and Ferreya praised their run as Ferreya’s incredible artwork and Aaron’s approach returned to the roots of the Mirage era. To bridge the run between Aaron and Yuen, IDW releases the teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles annually by Kenny Porter, Michael Shelfer and Maria Keene. Jared Cullem draws a series of celebration covers for other books introducing TMNT Annual 2025 and Holiday Gear turtles.
The lecture turned to the final Ronin, with Eastman discussing how The Dark Knight’s “Poem of Love” is “Poem of Love.” “I tore most of my career out of Frank Miller,” he joked. Eastman and Waltz also discussed how reevolution is the “reverse” of the classic TMNT origins. Odeen, Mouja, YI and UNO have been intentionally created since Leonardo, Raphael, Michael Guerro and Donatello were born from the accident. Their names, translated into all “1s”, were partly Star Trek references, but also because their teacher, Casey Marie Jones, is “number one” in her mind.
Bishop talked about how he grew up as a TMNT fan and how surreal he was, even contributing to the heroes with his half-shell legacy and designing a new generation of turtles. After praising Issac & Esau Escorza, Eastman and Waltz hinted that the third article could be in the works. Next was the Shredder and Casey Jones miniseries. Curnow says the book will find Shredder fighting to regain his fate, and Casey will return to vigilance after being shot in Aaron’s TMNT run.
Golena loved working for teenage mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto and said it was his first comic that 10,000 people had subtracted sales. He also talked about how much fun it was to draw “handshake through Fistifs” when he told Naruto or his friends that it was ninja communication. Other TMNT titles on display included the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Saturday Morning Adventure #30 by Erik Burnham and Sarah Myer, featuring the return of The Mutagen Man. The story of the teenage mutant ninja turtles from the teenage mutant ninja turtles: mutant mayhem spin-off. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Nation #9 by Declan Shalvey and Drew Moss.
Finally, two major crossovers were announced! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Godzilla by Tim Seeley and Fero PE had previously been on display at IDW’s Godzilla panel, but the biggest surprise was the teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Battle Nexus. A weekly series featuring most creators on the panel, Battle Nexus reaches across time and space, catching turtles from different dimensions from one another. Facing the shredder of the Mirage era, IDW’s Leonardo is one of those matches.
Battle Nexus is a testament to the versatility and longevity of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Even after 40 years, creators are finding new stories to tell and new ways to build on Eastman and Laird’s legacy.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Vol. 1: Return to New York, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin II – Re-evolution. See all SDCC 2025 coverage.
