The new era ofTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlescomics is in full swing, as the Hamato Brothers have all finally reunited and are now making their way back to New York City to free their hometown from the rampant corruption that has been spreading unchecked in their absence. To celebrate this excitingnew chapter inTMNTlore, a few artists who had previously left their mark on the iconic franchise are making their return toTMNT. They’re creating new variant covers that honor their personal histories with the series, while also joining in on the current fun.
In a Screen Rant Exclusive release from IDW Publishing, it’s revealed thatTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles#9 and #10 will have variant covers done by artists Andy Suriano and Ciro Nieli, respectively. Suriano was the co-showrunner for the 2018 animated seriesRise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Nieli was the co-showrunner for the 2012 animated seriesTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Not only shouldTMNTfans be excited about the return of these iconic versions of the Turtles in the form of sweet new variant covers, but IDW Publishing itself couldn’t be happier to bring back the beloved iterations.
Andy Khouri, Senior Editor: “We’re pleased beyond words to present these beautiful covers by Andy Suriano and Ciro Nieli, the visual forces behind the incredible RISE OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES and TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (2012) animated series. The phrase is ‘the best of both worlds,’ but in IDW’s history with the Turtles, we frequently have far more than two. In this case, we have our bestselling interpretation of the Ninja Turtles by Jason Aaron and Juan Ferreyra with these variant covers by two of the characters’ most definitive artists from other eras and styles, each iconic in their own rights.”
Both animated series were beloved byTMNTfans, so seeing their respective styles brought back toTMNT’s newest ongoing comic seriesis a true treat. AndTMNTfans who want to buy these variant cover issues need to talk to their local comic shop, as they are specifically retailer incentive variants. To help with that process, visit:comicshoplocator.com!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Relaunch was the Biggest Comic Book Launch of 2024
Jason Aaron’sTMNTSaga is a New Golden Age for the Franchise
In 2024,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesentered a new era championed by legendary comic book writer/creator Jason Aaron, along with an all-star cast of artists. Right now, five issues have been released - the first of which marked the biggest comic book launch of the year - and fans have only just begun to witness what’s in store for the Turtles as they continue down the path Aaron is charting for them.
TMNT Unleashes the Team’s Ultimate Forms, Setting Up a Monstrous Prophecy
The next generation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are experiencing secondary mutations the originals didn’t, transforming them into monstrous kaiju.
This new iteration is a return to gritty violence and mature, hardcore themes. However, that isn’t to say that the Turtles have begun taking themselves too seriously, as they’re still the Heroes in a Half-Shell generations of fans have grown up with - including fans who were introduced to them in the 2012 or 2018 animated series. That’s why these new variant covers are so exciting, as they merge multiple eras and tones of the same beloved franchise.
What’s Next for the TMNT in Jason Aaron’s New Era?
The Turtle Brothers are Struggling Like They’ve Never Struggled Before
While these variant covers remind fans of two bygone kid-friendly eras of theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, that’s far from what they’ll get upon reading the comic series itself. As previously mentioned,Jason Aaron’s newTMNTerais a return to the original tone of the series: dark and gritty. So, as the Turtles return to New York to battle corruption in the form of a Foot Clan-controlled local government, they are painted as fugitives, outlaws, and murderers. Indeed, the Turtle Brothers are struggling like they’ve never struggled before, and no level of nostalgic fun can save them.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles#6 will mark the TMNT’s official return to New York City after coming together again in issue #4. It will also be the first issue to welcome the series’ ongoing artist, Juan Ferreyra. That issue is available June 27, 2025.
Well, nostalgic fun might not be able to save the Ninja Turtles from their current predicament in-canon, but it can certainly brighten fans’ days. Andy Suriano’sRise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesand Ciro Nieli’sTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles(2012) make their official return to the franchise in the form of new variant covers for issues #9-#10 of this record-setting new series, andTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesfans should be very excited to get their hands on them.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) is a multi-media franchise that began with Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s comics in the 1980s. Throughout the years, their comic books expanded to movies, TV shows, video games, and toys. Most notably, the animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ran for nearly a decade and has become a nostalgic staple of the ‘80s and ‘90s. Several other movies have featured the four anthropomorphic turtle brothers (Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael), including the trilogy of live-action films in the ‘90s and the more recent movies Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and its sequel Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows.
