The Original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Return to Comics

IDW Publishing and Nickelodeon today announced that the debut issue of the first TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES comic series, featuring the beloved “Heroes in a Half Shell,” is now available in comic stores throughout North America. The TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES are back in action and ready to fight off evil once again, with an impressive creative team led by TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman!

Starting today, IDW’s TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES offers a brand-new take on the original series, led by Eastman and co-writer Tom Waltz (Silent Hill: Past Life, Infestation: Outbreak). Phenomenal newcomer Dan Duncan will bring the Turtles to life with dynamic interior art, while Sam Kieth and Walter Simonson provide eye-catching covers for issues 1 and 2, respectively. For issues 3 through 5, Fred Hembeck will pay homage to classic covers. Eastman will also provide layouts for Duncan's art, as well as variant covers.

This first TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES series features new and exciting storylines that maintain the “turtle power” core beloved by millions of fans. Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael reunite to bring their ninja aptitude and teenage attitude to these action-packed adventures. The first arc will tell the origin story of the Turtles and introduce a new villain, the fearsome mutant alley cat, Old Hob. Featuring a cast of familiar characters, including Master Splinter, April O’Neill, Casey Jones, and true to the spirit of the original comics created by Eastman and Peter Laird, the TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES are bigger and badder than ever, and ready to rock old and new fans alike.

In addition to this all-new series, IDW will also offer TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION. Beginning in October with volume 1, THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION offers over 300 pages of the best of the Turtles’ underground roots, including Mirage Studio’s issues 1 through 7, and the Raphael one-shot by Eastman and Laird.

IDW and Nickelodeon have a long-term commitment to revitalize the universe of TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES comics and graphic novels. It’s all part of a larger initiative to bring Turtles to a new generation of fans, starting with these new storylines that recapture the magic of the original Turtles comics and continuing in 2012, when Nickelodeon will premiere a new CG-animated version of the wildly popular Turtles franchise.

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #1 ($3.99, 32 pages, full color) is now available in comic stores throughout North America.

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION, VOLUME 1 ($49.99, hardcover, 312 pages, black and white, 9” x 12”) will be available in comic and book stores throughout North America in October. ISBN 978-1-61377-007-8.