“Return To New York”: New TMNT Writer Jason Aaron Teases The Turtles’ Next Comic Era

A new chapter of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is on the horizon, as acclaimed comic book writer Jason Aaron will be crafting an exciting new story for the franchise’s next era. Right now in TMNT comics, Sophie Campbell is finishing her 50-issue run as series writer with TMNT‘s Road to 150 event, which promises to bring a satisfying end to the current storyline. And with that end comes a new beginning from Jason Aaron, one which will maintain the series’ established continuity (indeed, his run will not be a reboot) while also taking the series in an all-new direction.

This year marks TMNT’s 40th anniversary, which only adds to the significance of Jason Aaron ushering in a new era for the franchise – one that the writer promises will be reminiscent of the original Mirage Studios TMNT books. Screen Rant had the chance to speak with Jason Aaron about taking the helm as series writer for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, where he shares exactly what fans can expect from this bold new chapter in TMNT canon.

TMNT is a Passion Project Aaron’s Wanted Throughout His Career

Screen Rant: What made you want to tackle the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?

Jason Aaron: The last year and a half has been about looking for new challenges, looking for different projects than what I’ve been doing. After being exclusive with Marvel Comics for so long, I’ve been excited about being able to expand my horizons a little bit, and see what else is out there, and pursue any opportunity that might come along. And that’s led to some stuff I’ve wanted to do for a long time, characters I’ve wanted to write for a long time. And Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was certainly one of those.

Those are characters that I’ve been reading, literally, for the entirety of their existence, going back 40 years. When they first appeared, was when I was first getting into comics as a fan, as a kid, and discovered that original Mirage Studios book that made a huge impression on me.

So those are characters I thought I’d never be able to write, just because it was one of those things that hadn’t crossed my mind really, that that was an option. Once it was an option, I was like, “Oh, absolutely, yes, I would love to do that.” It was the same thing when I did Star Wars for the first time. Those are things that, at that moment in time, I realized, “Oh, yeah, this is really exciting. I think I can do something cool here”.

Jason Aaron Answers the Burning Question: Who’s His Favorite Ninja Turtle?

SR: Is there one Turtle in particular that you’re really excited to delve into?

Jason Aaron: Everybody wants me to choose a favorite Turtle, which I don’t understand. I have to write all four of them. Right? So do you really want me to have a favorite? I mean, I want to be able to bring something interesting and exciting to each one of them separately, which is how the book really starts.

We have the first four issues focused specifically on a different Turtle before we bring everything crashing together. So those four issues in particular, I’ve been very, very excited about writing them, getting the art from four different amazing artists who are drawing them, and using that as a way to introduce not just my take on these characters (and to put them in some wildly exciting new circumstances than what we’ve seen in the past), but also just using that as a way of introducing the tone and the themes and the direction of this new series by plopping you into situations with each one of these guys.

That’s a long way of saying I don’t have a favorite. But these first four issues are so different, so unique, and kind of lean into what separates these Turtles from each other, and I’ve been excited to tackle each one of those.

“Return to New York”: Jason Aaron Reveals the Tone & Scale of His New TMNT Run

SR: The tones of TMNT have varied wildly over the years from dark and gritty to light and kid-friendly. Where does yours stand?

Jason Aaron: To me, especially this year on the 40th anniversary of when the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles first appeared, and the fact that my association with them goes back to that original series, I’m trying to bring in some of the tone of the original in a modern way, and the way that I do stuff. So it’s very much looking back to the grittiness and rawness of that original black and white Mirage Studios series, a book that always felt like the characters were grimy, that sewer was grimy, it felt a little grimy after you read it. I want that kind of feel to the book.

There’s a quote from an architect, I can’t remember who said it, but he was talking about architecture and how it’s having a conversation with the past, that takes place in the present, with an eye towards the future. And that’s the way I feel about really everything I do in comics, especially when you’re writing characters that have been around for so long and have such a long history. I’m looking at the history of the Turtles in print, whether it’s that Mirage Studios stuff, of course, the amazing run IDW has been doing now for almost 150 issues.

How do I take what I connect with out of all that stuff? What resonates the most? What defines these characters? And I’ll take that and use it in a story that feels relevant to today, but also takes these characters somewhere they haven’t ever been before. So I think that’s very much what I’m trying to do with this new book.

SR: Speaking of the IDW Publishing run: The Road to 150. It’s very cosmic in nature. Is that something that you’ll continue? Or should fans expect a more grounded storyline?

Jason Aaron: Yeah, I would say you can expect a more grounded storyline. The stuff that Tom Waltz and Sophie Campbell have done over the last several years, it’s been amazing, and they’ve taken the Turtles in so many different cool, crazy directions, and expanded that cast in exciting ways. And all that stuff will continue to be relevant and exploited going forward, as will all the different books that IDW Publishing is doing within the TMNT Universe.

With this series, I wanted to go back to focus on just this core cast. Initially, we’re just focusing on brothers. And, you know, the bad guys that they’re fighting, which is the Foot Clan that we know. But there’s also a new figure who’s a part of that, that we haven’t seen before. So it’s very much focusing on them.

This arc is called “Return to New York”, but that doesn’t mean we start out in New York City. The four brothers have ended up in the far corners of the world. But it’s very much about I think, going back to: where did these characters start? What defined them initially? Why did they initially become what they’ve become? And that, again, to me, starts with looking back at that original Mirage series.

Jason Aaron’s New TMNT Will Introduce an Original Foot Clan Villain (& Maybe Others)

SR: Without spoilers, is the first villain or villains the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles face one that’s familiar, or a totally original character?

Jason Aaron: Yeah, in terms of the Foot Clan, we’re very much continuing on from where things have gone with them in the previous volume, with Karai. But in the midst of that, we’re introducing a new bad guy who’s completely new, but I think will, in some ways, a nod back to the origins of the Turtles to begin with.

SR: As the series progresses, should fans be on the lookout for some more original characters? Either totally new, or ones that have been pulled from the past and reshaped in the current continuity?

Jason Aaron: I mean, little of both. Again, I want this book to feel very focused, and the cast is going to be a little more limited. But definitely we’ll be doing some of both of those, I think you’ll see a little sprinkling of new ideas along with bringing back some old favorites as we gradually expand things as we go.

Jason Aaron Expresses Interest in a Future TMNT/Marvel Comics Crossover

SR: To a certain extent, TMNT has always had a connection with Marvel Comics. From Jack Kirby inspiration to unofficial ties with Daredevil. And, of course, you have had a long history with Marvel. Do you foresee a crossover happening at any point?

Jason Aaron: Oh, like a TMNT/Marvel crossover, like Turtles/Daredevil? I mean, I can make some calls and see what I can do. I’d certainly be up for that. I’m a sucker for any kind of intercompany crossover you ever see in comics. I’ve never written one of those.

I’ve never written a single one in my 20 years of doing this, but I have read every single one of them that anybody has done over the course of the last 40-something years. Not just a big Marvel/DC crossover, but when the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have crossed over with anybody, Godzilla, Planet of the Apes, Predator, any of those, I’m down for it. I’m there.

So, would I want to write one of those, especially a big one, like TMNT/Daredevil or TMNT/Spider-Man or whoever? Absolutely, sure. Let’s make it happen.

SR: If a Marvel Comics crossover did happen, who would you want the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to crossover with?

Jason Aaron: You know, this story that we’re doing is called “Return to New York”, and I’ve always loved the fact that Marvel has remained so New York centric in a lot of ways. So it feels natural to bring the Turtles up against some of the Marvel characters that we know are still swinging around the five boroughs.

So, Daredevil and Spider-Man seem like low-hanging fruit, but… and TMNT/Fantastic Four would be pretty fun too…

Jason Aaron Reveals How Artist Collaboration Helped Shape This New TMNT Chapter

SR: How has your collaboration with the many talented artists helped shape this new TMNT chapter?

Jason Aaron: For these first four issues, each one focuses on a different Turtle in a different location, different kinds of setting, different stories with each one of these four. So it made perfect sense to bring in different artists for each one of those.

And then Jamie Rich and IDW were able to put together this ridiculous ‘murderer’s row’ of artists. You get Joelle Jones doing the first issue, Rafael Albuquerque on number two, Cliff Chiang on three, and Chris Burnham doing four – and Chris has also drawn the Donatello story that will be in the Alpha issue that comes out in June, the month before Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1.

Those four are powerhouse artists in their own right, four different kinds of styles. But I think, as with anything I do, I never try to feel like I can tailor a script for a specific artist, or tell them in any way how to do what they do. My job is just to give them stuff that they’re excited to go off and knock out of the park, and just get out of their way.

I feel like there’s so much stuff I’m excited about in these four issues, in terms of the tone, the situations, and the stuff we see these guys do, in ways that are familiar, but also new and different from what we’ve seen before. And the pages that have been coming in from everybody are just exactly as gorgeous as you would expect from artists of this caliber.

SR: Is there anything you’d like to add that we didn’t touch on?

Jason Aaron: This is such a cool and exciting time for me, career wise, to be able to pursue all these different, crazy new possibilities and gigs. And Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is certainly one of those that I knew would be surprising, just like it was surprising, to me, when the opportunity came along.

What a great time to be able to jump on board with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, as we’re going to be celebrating the 40th anniversary all year, and there’s so much cool stuff to come in terms of all the publishing plans that IDW Publishing has. I’m just really excited for people to see what we’re cooking up with this book in particular. I think fans, old and new of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are going to dig it.

Jason Aaron’s run on IDW Publishing’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will begin with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Alpha #1, on sale June 5, 2024.