Written by Jason Aaron
Art by Chris Burnham (Alpha and Issue #4), Joelle Jones (Issue #1), Rafael Albuguerque (Issue #2), Cliff Chiang (Issue #3), Darick Robertson (Issue #5) and Jaun Ferreyra (Issue #6)
Letters by Shawn Lee (1-6) and Nathan Widick (Alpha)
Colors by Brian Reber (Alpha and Issue #4), Ronda Pattison (Issue #1), Marcelo Maiolo (Issue #2), Cliff Chiang (Issue #3), Tony Avina (Issue #5), Juan Ferreyra (Issue #6)
Additional Inks by Norm Rapmund (Issue #5)
Published by IDW Comics.
Expected Release Date: June 24, 2025
This is the first comic review I’ve done in a while, and honestly, it feels like coming home. I actually started this blog as a comic review site (check out my Popscars #1 review), and diving back in with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Return to New York feels like a perfect return to form.
COWABUNGA — this collection rules.
As a lifelong TMNT fan—and now a parent introducing my 3-year-old son to my old toys and cartoons—this hit all the right nostalgia notes, but also delivered something much deeper. It’s not the lighthearted Saturday morning cartoon version of the turtles. This is darker. Heavier. And honestly? Kind of perfect for the millennial audience who grew up with the turtles and are now figuring out adulthood.
Jason Aaron, who I admittedly haven’t read much from before, absolutely kills it here. The emotional weight, the character depth, the pacing—he nails it. Each turtle has a distinct arc that reflects grief, growth, and identity. And the lineup of artists is absolutely stacked. My only real complaint? The shifting art styles can be a little jarring in a collected format. I’ll get into that below.
Quick Thoughts (TL;DR)
After the death of Master Splinter, the four turtles have gone their separate ways—each dealing with grief and identity in different ways: vengeance, stardom, escapism, or solitude.
Each issue focuses on one turtle, then pulls them back together as they face a new villain—Hieronymus Hale—and a darker, anti-mutant political landscape.
If you’re into character-driven stories, emotional arcs, or just love the turtles, this one is worth grabbing. I’m officially hooked.
Issue-by-Issue Breakdown
Alpha Issue
We start with my personal favorite, Donatello, who’s trapped in a mutant prison—fighting for sport. It sets the tone right away: gritty, emotional, and full of questions. It’s short, but it comes out swinging, and sets the pace for what to come.
Issue 1 – Raphael
Raph is locked up too, but voluntarily—trying to clean things up from the inside of prison. Classic Raph move. It shows how far the brothers have drifted, but with the ending, this sets up a possible reunion, with some classic villains.
Issue 2 – Michelangelo
This one blew me away. Mikey’s now a famous TV star, but fame doesn’t mean fulfillment. Aaron gives him some real depth here, and it bumped Mikey way up my turtle rankings making the party dude, maybe not always having a good time. Heavy, relatable stuff.
Issue 3 – Leonardo
Leo’s story is quiet but powerful. He’s trying to find peace—even if that peace means giving up. Cliff Chiang’s art here is [chef’s kiss] and might be my favorite of the series. IDW, give us a Chiang-led Turtle book, please.
Issue 4 – Donnie, Continued
Donnie gets more focus here, still struggling with grief and identity. He’s saving new friends, but clearly still lost, and really missing his father. This issue also acts as the turtles’ homecoming—and setup for the big conflict ahead.
Issue 5 – New Villain Alert
Hieronymus Hale is introduced, and wow—this hits hard. The political undertones and his backstory feel uncomfortably real, but Aaron does a great job giving him a complex origin, even if he’s absolutely vile. It’s crazy how even in how disgusting this person is, we still are feeling some sympathy for them. We also get a Casey Jones appearance…though not the one I was hoping for.
Issue 6 – The Cliffhanger
The team’s reunited, the threat is clear, and New York has changed. The new anti-mutant movement is the final twist, setting up a high-stakes future arc. This was the perfect cliffhanger ending to the first volume, that makes me want to dive into the next volume as soon as possible.
Final Thoughts
This book has me hyped for what’s next. It’s not a simple reboot—it’s a reimagining with serious depth, adult themes, and strong character arcs. The art is killer, even if switching styles issue-to-issue was occasionally jarring when binge-reading. If I had been reading this monthly, I don’t think I would’ve noticed it as much.
Between the emotional writing and the star-studded lineup of artists (Joëlle Jones and Cliff Chiang are two of my favorites), Return to New York is a must-read for TMNT fans—old and new.
So if you’re into:
- Deep character studies of the turtles
- Big action and political stakes
- A fresh start to the TMNT universe
You’re going to love this!
Have you read Return to New York yet? Are you keeping up with the TMNT monthly issues? Let me know what you think—and if you’ve got a favorite turtle or moment from this series!
Format: Digital
Platform: Netgalley Reader App
Device: Samsung Galaxy Tab S4
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