Richie's Recommendation
IDW Comics
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Battle Nexus
(W) Tom Waltz (A/CA) Escorza Brothers
In 1987, I stumbled onto a brand-new cartoon about four mutant turtles getting into all kinds of wild ninja adventures - and instantly, I was hooked. It had everything my younger self could ever want: action, goofiness, and an unapologetic love of pizza. I proudly claimed my place as a fan and begged my parents for every toy, comic, and soundtrack I could get my hands on.
But it wasn’t until the early ’90s that I made a discovery that blew my mind: the TMNT didn’t start on TV at all - they began in a comic book, years before I ever met them. These early versions weren’t the brightly colored jokesters I knew. They were gritty, and raw. They didn’t just wield weapons; they used them, pointy ends and all. From that moment, I was enthralled, I had become a full-blown Turtle Fan.
Over time, I realized something about fandom - it evolves. It’s like a train station: you can stay for the whole ride or hop off whenever it feels right. And there’s nothing wrong with either choice. But for one reason or another, I never stepped off the TMNT train. Iteration after iteration, reboot after reboot, I’ve watched these four turtles mutate into countless new forms, just like their namesake.
Fast forward to November 2009. One of my favorite TMNT shows was in the middle of a strong run, and to close it out, they released “Turtles Forever” - a movie where the turtles fall through a dimensional rift and meet alternate versions of themselves. Plenty of franchises had played with multiverses before, sure, but experiencing it through the TMNT lens was something else entirely. Seeing my childhood heroes meet their past, present, and possible futures ignited a whole new level of excitement for me. What would the ’90s cartoon turtles think of their darker comic counterparts? How would these worlds collide? I couldn’t stop thinking about the endless possibilities.
And now, I’m thrilled to say we get to experience that magic again with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Battle Nexus! This December, guided by the brilliant mind of Tom Waltz (of the 2011 TMNT comic series), our four heroes are diving into a reality-warping tournament where every incarnation of the Mean Green Fighting Machines will clash, compete, and fight to protect the people they care about.
If you’re still riding this now-40-year-long TMNT journey - whether you hopped on early or joined somewhere along the way - I’m reaching out with a big, welcoming high-three. Don’t miss out on this totally tubular tournament of titans.
Cowabunga!