IDW Publishing is preparing for a major shift in its Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic line in 2027. The publisher announced that award-winning writer Matthew Rosenberg will take over as the flagship writer starting with issue #25, joined by artist Juann Cabal.
The upcoming run promises a high-stakes narrative where the Turtles face a massive assembly of villains over the course of a single night. Rosenberg, a lifelong fan of the franchise, expressed his excitement about contributing to the legacy of the characters. He will be taking over the reins from current writer Gene Luen Yang, who is departing the series to focus on a creator-owned project.
“Before I was even a teenager, I was spending all my time reading superhero comics. But it wasn’t until a clerk at my local comic shop told me I had to buy an issue of the Eastman and Laird run of TMNT that I actually fell in love with comics,” stated Rosenberg. “From my first introduction to those Mirage issues, I’ve followed the Turtles the whole way. It is truly an honor to not only add to the legacy of four of New York’s greatest heroes, but to follow in the footsteps of so many creators I love like Erik Larsen, Jim Lawson, Sophie Campbell, Tom Waltz, and most recently legends like Jason Aaron, Juan Ferreyra, Gene Luen Yang, and Freddie E. Williams II. I hope I can bring even just a little bit of what I love about the Turtles to this book. We’re making a book that has everything I love about TMNT: shells-against-the-wall grittiness, laugh-out-loud humor, non-stop intensity, and some genuine family drama.”
The Last Ronin Finale
Beyond the flagship title, IDW confirmed that the popular saga will reach its conclusion next summer. The publisher announced Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin III – Return for New York, which will serve as the finale to the main trilogy. The project reunites the original creative team, including Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz, to wrap up the story of Casey Marie Jones and the new generation of heroes.
“When Kevin Eastman and I sat down to write the original TMNT: THE LAST RONIN, we had high hopes readers would love the story just as much as we loved telling it. Little did we know, that love would be exponentially returned to us and our amazing art teams,” said Waltz. “From that first volume, throughout all the subsequent prequels/sequels that have followed in what we now fondly call the Roninverse. And, here we are, capping off the main trilogy with TMNT: THE LAST RONIN III – RETURN FOR NEW YORK… and we couldn’t be happier! Our creative excitement and enthusiasm remain fully intact, and we are all striving to produce a grand finale worthy of its predecessors. But the real question is, will Casey Marie Jones, Odyn, Uno, Yi, and Moja be worthy of their TMNT predecessors in this ultimate battle for the heart and soul of New York City?”
“It’s hard to believe this journey started nearly forty years ago with a simple twenty five page outline by Peter Laird and myself, finally brought to life with such an incredible creative team, the support of Nickelodeon and IDW, and most of all, the fans,” stated Eastman. “We couldn’t have done it without you! We all hope this final installment of this trilogy is worthy, we’re all working hard to bring this important part of this next generation of Ninja Turtles to a place we never dreamed we’d be able to when we first started. Thanks a billion trillion!”
This announcement marks a significant milestone for the Roninverse, which has expanded considerably since the debut of the original series. For fans of the franchise, the transition to a new creative team on the main book combined with the conclusion of the high-profile Last Ronin series suggests that 2027 will be a pivotal year for the Turtles in the comic book space.
Source: IDW Publishing
