Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Juan Ferreyra
Letters: Shawn Lee
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Format: Digital
Platform: Hoopla
Device: Samsung Tab S4
Happy Turtle Tuesday, Ya’ll!
I took a quick break over the past two weeks, life got busy, and rather than rush a review, I decided to come back fresh. But now I’m back and diving into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #8, continuing Jason Aaron’s run on the series. After covering the first arc (issues 1–6), I’m officially making these single-issue reviews a recurring feature on the blog and this is the second one..
Previous Reviews here: Volume 1 and Issue 7
Issue #8 Overview:
Released on April 16, TMNT #8 clocks in at 32 action-packed pages and focuses on Leonardo, making him the emotional and narrative center of this issue.
We open with Leo mentally torn between finding peace during his time spent with the turtles’ in India and the current chaos erupting in the NYC subway system thanks to the Foot Clan. While the fight against the Foot takes center stage, the internal conflict among the Turtles simmers in the background.
With Hieronymus Hale handing out mutant masks to city henchmen, the danger is escalating for the mutant population and the Turtles are stretched thin trying to protect them.
This issue also includes an appearance two of my favorite mutant villains: Bebop and Rocksteady! Which raises new questions especially surrounding Karai, what is exactly happening behind the scenes with her right now.
As the issue ends, we get a major development: Leonardo begins to suspect that Donatello might not be so crazy after all, and the final cliffhanger pushes Donny’s arc to the forefront.
Donatello: The Quiet Catalyst
Jason Aaron has done a phenomenal job balancing screen time for each Turtle, and I especially appreciate how Donatello is quietly becoming the driving force of the story. As a lifelong Donny fan, it’s great to see him getting serious plot development. His current struggles might seem rooted in paranoia or delusion, but after this issue’s final moments, I think we’re seeing the beginnings of something huge.
Art that Elevates the Story
Artist Juan Ferreyra continues to absolutely crush it. As I said in my volume one review, not having consistency in art really was the only issue, and Ferreyra’s visuals give TMNT a cinematic quality that elevates it from good to legendary.
This issue opens with two incredible double-page splash pages, setting the tone right away. The composition, detail, and movement in these pages make this one of the most visually exciting issues in the run so far.
Final Thoughts
If you’re still on the fence about checking out the current Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles run, this is your sign: do it! Start with Volume One (available now on Hoopla if your library offers access), then continue with the single issues. It’s a fast-paced, character-driven series with high stakes, emotional arcs, and mutant madness, which is everything a Turtles fan could want.
Let’s Talk!
Are you enjoying the current TMNT run?
Have a favorite turtle or storyline so far?
Any of the side stories you think I should be reading?
Drop your thoughts in the comments—and if there are any comics or books you’d like me to check out, I’d love to hear your recommendations!
Cole Talks Books 
Leave a comment