TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #7 / Script by JASON AARON / Art and Colors by JUAN FERREYRA / Letters by SHAWN LEE / Published by IDW PUBLISHING

Leonardo. Donatello. Raphael. Michelangelo. Once four turtle teens, they have grown to manhood in the wake of the death of their father, Splinter. They have also grown apart, going their separate ways into the world away from their native New York City.

They reunited reluctantly after it became clear that the peace they negotiated with the Foot Clan had fallen apart. This was unexpected but not unsurprising. What did surprise them, however, was that the NYPD and the Mayor are gunning for them too. This leaves the brothers in for the fight of their lives… presuming they can stop fighting each other, as old wounds reopen and old grudges resurface.

While technically the first issue of a new story arc, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #7 picks up right where the previous issue ended. What is remarkable, however, is how smoothly Jason Aaron manages to establish recent events with a minimum of exposition. This is something of a miracle, give how wildly the IDW TMNT continuity deviates from most incarnations of the franchise.

The short version is that, in this world, there are so many Mutants in NYC that they are a notable minority and have their own neighborhood. This doesn’t factor into this issue much, however, as this is largely devoted to a series of extended action sequences. There are only a few interludes that do not involve combat.

These action scenes look fantastic, thanks to artist Juan Ferreyra. I will admit to some bias, having been a fan of Ferreyra’s work since he partnered with Ben Percy on Green Arrow. I am hard pressed, however, to think of an artist who is better suited to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. There is a sense of dynamic motion to everything Ferryera draws and his use of color pushes that sense of everything always moving.

If you’ve ever been a fan of TMNT, it would do you good to check out this series. It offers a mature take on the Turtles, without being too grim and gritty. There is intense action, dark comedy, and a bit of wonder. What more could you ask for in a superhero comic?!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #7 arrives in comic shops on February 26, 2025.