In the four-plus decades since their debut, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have become a pop culture staple, both in their country of origin and around the world. From comic books, to theatrical films, television shows, video games, and so much more, the Turtles have entertained generations of fans.
It all started with what was initially meant to be a one-shot comic created by artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird in 1984, which was met with positive feedback and went on to become a surprise success. A few short years later, the Turtles were turned into action figures, and almost immediately skyrocketed in popularity.
42 years on from their first appearance, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are gearing up to star in the comic’s 300th issue, set to arrive on July 22nd. The milestone issue will kick off a new era for the franchise, and is being celebrated in a full-circle sort of moment for the series, as Frank Miller has contributed cover art for the release.
Frank Miller Draws the Heroes in a Half Shell for TMNT #300
The Turtles Have a Full-Circle Moment as TMNT #300 Approaches
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles began life as a 1884 standalone, one-shot comic. Very few, if anyone at all, expected the sort of success the franchise has enjoyed in the years since. What began as a loving parody, poking fun at the noir style of comics that were popular at the time, and Marvel’s Daredevil in particular, the series will now be entering a new era more than four decades later.
To usher in TMNT #300, the franchise is finally enjoying a full-circle moment of sorts, as Frank Miller, whose Daredevil the Turtles were directly parodying in their debut, is drawing a special cover in celebration of the upcoming issue. The cover is one of many that will launch with TMNT #300’s blind bag event, featuring a number of variations from a lengthy lineup of artists.
6 Years Later, TMNT’s Greatest Series Officially Returns With a New Action-Packed Prequel
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ franchise’s fan-favorite dystopian future is getting a reprise, as the “Roninverse” continues to expand.
The upcoming issue will bring along a feast for fans, with IDW Publishing pulling out all the stops, including a side story by Eastman and co-writer Tom Waltz as the series kicks off an all-new arc, titled “The City That Never Dies.”
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is looking ahead to a new era, but will first celebrate the past 42 highly successful years for the series—Miller’s cover being a testament to just how far the Turtles have come.
TMNT Is Kicking Off Its New Era in Style
There’s quite a bit to be excited about with the upcoming arrival of TMNT #300, but that’s not all that was announced for the franchise. A special one-shot is also scheduled for May, titled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin—Training Day, from the team behind the original The Last Ronin series.
With the 300th issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, alongside the blind bag event celebrating its release, the return of The Last Ronin, a side story from creator Kevin Eastman, and even a planned live-action Turtles film, it appears 2026 will be the year of TMNT. Fans won’t want to miss the start of a new era on July 22nd.
- Created by
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Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird
- Latest Film
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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
- Upcoming Films
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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 2
- First TV Show
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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) is a multi-media franchise that began with Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s comics in the 1980s. Throughout the years, their comic books expanded to movies, TV shows, video games, and toys. Most notably, the animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ran for nearly a decade and has become a nostalgic staple of the ‘80s and ‘90s. Several other movies have featured the four anthropomorphic turtle brothers (Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael), including the trilogy of live-action films in the ‘90s and the more recent movies Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and its sequel Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows.
