'Rise of the TMNT' Comic Book to Debut in Advance of Nickelodeon's New TV Series

Nickelodeon's upcoming Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series has drawn a vocal response from fans, who have been both intrigued and skeptical about the radically redesigned versions of Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s iconic Heroes in a Half-Shell.

Nickelodeon’s Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Pictured (clockwise): Raphael, Michelangelo, Leonardo, Donatello and April O’Neil.

While the show won’t debut until September 2018, the latest iteration of the pop culture mainstays will first debut in comic book form, and CBR has revealed details of the project, first announced this past weekend at C2E2 in Chicago! The Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #0 one-shot is scheduled for release in July 2018, from current TMNT license-holder IDW Publishing. It’s written by Matthew K. Manning, who wrote 2016’s Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures miniseries, and illustrated by Chad Tomas, a veteran of multiple TMNT animated adaptations at IDW.

It’s not yet clear what IDW’s plans for Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are beyond the #0 issues, but a follow-up series certainly seems like a safe bet.

First announced in March 2017, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is set to reinvent the TMNT mythos in several ways, along with the visual changes: the main four Turtles will have “mystic ninja powers” and tweaked weapons, and April O’Neil is depicted as an African-American girl. The 2D-animated series stars the voice talent of Omar Miller (Ballers) as Raphael, Ben Schwartz (Parks and Recreation) as Leonardo, Josh Brener (Silicon Valley) as Donatello, Brandon Mychal Smith (You’re The Worst) as Michelangelo, Kat Graham (The Vampire Diaries) as April O’Neil and Eric Bauza (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) as Splinter. Pro wrestling superstar John Cena lends his voice as villain, Baron Draxum, an alchemist warrior mutant who seeks to turn all of humanity into mutants.

Nickelodeon’s previous CG-animated TMNT series, simply titled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (billed as Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in its fifth and final season), wrapped its five-year run this past November.

Solicitation information for IDW’s Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #0, and Chad Tomas’ cover, follow below.

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #0

- Matthew K. Manning (w) | Chad Thomas (a & c)

- A new age of mutant madness begins with the Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! This special zero issue is your very first look at the new adventures the guys in green will be getting into this fall! Will the TMNT be able to master their new weapons, or will the weapons master them?!

- FC | 32 pages | $3.99

- Excited for the new upcoming TMNT new animated series Rise of the TMNT? Catch the comic first!

- New characters, new weapons, new attitude!

- Hilarious action and adventure for all ages!

Visit the Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles page on Nick.com for more information and follow @TMNT for Turtle Power updates.

More Nick: Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | First Look | Teaser Trailer | Nickelodeon!

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