It felt like a fresh approach to the TMNT franchise, I liked how the story was set up with the individual intros. Im not a huge TMNT reader but i enjoyed the story and the visuals were amazing.

The Turtles are broken up and scattered across the world: Donnie is enslaved and forced to fight cage matches against mutant-haters; Mikey’s starring in a hit Japanese TV show about his life; Raph’s in prison; Leo’s in India, meditating with non-mutant flesh-eating turtles. Meanwhile in New York City, a brutal new mayoral candidate seeks to consolidate his populist anti-mutant platform with the help of the Foot Clan.

When I heard that Jason Aaron was thankfully moving on from his stagnation at Marvel, I was expecting better comics from him either at DC or Boom, which didn’t happen (so far) - but it did at IDW on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles of all places! Return to New York is both Jason Aaron and the Turtles’ best comic in years.

Look at that insane lineup of artists - those aren’t cover artists, they’re all artists that drew at least one issue in this book: Joelle Jones, Rafael Albuquerque, Cliff Chiang, Chris Burnham, Darick Robertson, Juan Ferreyra. All of them incredible artists, and all of them lending their talents to this book - this is such an amazing comic to look at because of this many top-tier creators on it.

And it also makes sense to do it this way too, to highlight the team’s divided self. Each artist draws a different character, including the villain of the story, the Penguin-esque DA Hale, running for mayor of NYC. I like that Aaron took the time to write the character’s background and motivations properly so that the story feels more fleshed out and understandable.

That said, this isn’t totally a perfect jumping on point for new readers. We don’t know why the Turtles have gone their separate ways, what happened to Splinter, and Donnie was a real surprise to me - he seems to be much older than the others for some reason and he’s got a metal shell?! So I feel like if you haven’t been following TMNT for a while, aspects of the story are going to seem somewhat puzzling.

Speaking of Donnie though: despite having known about the Turtles since I was of single-digit age, I don’t think I ever had a favourite Turtle, for whatever reason. Jason Aaron made it very clear to me though who that one is: it’s Donatello. Of course he’s the best. In fact, if this book had been entirely about Donnie only, it might’ve been even better than it was - his storyline was by far the most compelling while the others were… just ok.

The slightly uneven quality of the others’ stories - Mikey and Leo’s were the weakest - and the fact that this is basically an entire book of table-setting, are the only real critiques I have of this one. If Aaron had gotten the gang together sooner and provided a storyline that went beyond mere setup, this would’ve been a more satisfying read.

Otherwise, I thought Jason Aaron’s writing was near-perfect. The tone is exactly what it should be, the voices are dead on - yeah, this is what I’m looking for in a Turtles comic. And I didn’t even know I wanted to read a Jason Aaron Turtles comic!

IDW might have the single worst logo of any comics company ever and be on the verge of bankruptcy, but I really want them to stay around if only for this series to continue.

Jason Aaron’s back and he found his mojo again on a Turtles book - this Turtles book! One of the comics highlights of the year, I found TMNT, Volume 1: Return to New York both unexpectedly moving (luv ya Donnie) and enjoyable. Turtle power indeed.

I loved watching the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles show as a kid and my boys (five and 3) love the Ninja Turtles, still, I had never read any of the comics. This comic does not start at the beginning of the series, but starts in their future when the brothers have gone their separate ways. It was a dark story more for high school students or older, but I really enjoyed the story. The art is fantastic and the story is engaging. It ended on a cliffhanger as many comics do, and it definitely made me want to keep reading! I would highly recommend this to older fans of Ninja Turtles or even newer fans who are high school age or older!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC. This did not impact my review. I thoroughly enjoyed the graphic novel and plan to read more in the series as they are released!

The art? Perfection.
The story? Amazing.
Concept? Yup, loved it.
This was a bit darker than I anticipated and did lack some of the signature comic quips that I love about TMNT. The overall story was well thought out and the inner monologues were true to character.
I like where it’s going and can’t wait for volume two!
Cliff hanger! (Obviously)
Thank you #natgalley for the ARC, I loved this.

I don’t think I’ve ever read a TMNT comic on a regular basis. I was a huge fan of the 90’s animated series. Had all the toys. Even the really cool sewer play set and the van that shot pizza discs. Eventually I fell out of the turtle love. I decided to give this ARC of the first volume of TMNT from @idwpublishing a chance, mainly because Jason Aaron was writing the book. I mean, why skip over Jason Aaron? Exactly, you wouldn’t. All I gotta say after reading this is HOLY ICE CREAM AND ANCHOVIES PIZZA, DUDES! This was absolutely fantastic. Jason does an amazing job telling this story of the new status quo for our favorite reptilian teens. The brothers are scattered, separated into different situation. Whether it’s Ralph in prison or Mikey in Japan as a huge tv star, Aaron makes you hang on to every page as you jump into this great starting point for any new reader. Do you need to read anything before this to know what is going on? No. Sure it may give you some context, but really IDW and Jason Aaron do a great job of getting you caught up in this volume on what has came before. I wish I could give this more than 5 stars. It’s that good. Now, excuse me while I go tell my comic shop to put this series on my pull list.

#IDWreviews #TMNT #5stars #JasonAaron

This is such a return to form for turtles comics. Best volume in a while.

Jason Aaron throws the turtles into turmoil and rebuilds them anew from the ground up with some fun new quirks and mania and ends the volume leaving us wanting more. This is the fresh restart I was hoping for.

Another great nostalgic TMNT omnibus comic read with really great illustrations that make the story grittier and more emotional with the storyline.

Thank you to NetGalley, IDW Publishing, and Jason Aaron (et. al.) for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was excited to see a new Ninja Turtles graphic novel, especially with a writer I really admire, like Jason Aaron. This Ninja Turtles collection is a new run that follows after the main ending of the original. The Turtles all seem to be doing their own thing, whether imprisoned or making a TV show. When the Foot Clan returns, they seek each other out, knowing they must step up to face the threat.

While I understand that the series was following the different Turtles and showing what they were up to, ultimately bringing them and the story together, it felt rather disjointed at times. My favorite was Donatello's story, actually. He was in this fighting pit for mutant animals and he aimed to keep the other animals safe by being the one to fight. He befriends a rat and calls him Splinter/Father (though it is just a rat). The insanity that he shows demonstrates the harsh life he has lived in the fighting pit for however long. The Turtles reuniting seem like they are just mad at the world and can't deem to find a way to work together anymore. There is a lack of brotherly love that follows the traditional Turtles.

This new series is rather dark and bleak, but it is certainly something fans are sill sure to devour.

Looooooved the art. The writing was good, but it made me sad. I feel so bad for them and what they went through.

Jason Aaron delivers an exciting and nostalgic take on our favorite heroes in a half-shell with Return to New York, Vol. 1. Right from the start, the story pulls you in with a mix of action, humor, and that classic TMNT energy.

One of the biggest strengths of this volume is how well Aaron captures the original personalities of all four turtles. Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo each feel true to themselves, making their dialogue and interactions authentic and familiar. The balance of light and dark tones is also handled well—the story has its gritty moments but never feels overwhelmingly bleak.

The humor was a standout for me. There was one recurring joke in particular that had me laughing out loud, and the mix of action and comedy really made for an enjoyable read. The plot itself is solid and does a great job setting up what’s to come.

I also have to mention the artwork, which I absolutely loved. It beautifully blends the feel of the original comics with a fresh, modern style. The visuals perfectly complement the tone of the story, capturing both the grittiness and the fun energy that make TMNT so great.

Overall, this was a fun, nostalgic read that stays true to the TMNT legacy while introducing fresh storytelling. If you’re a longtime fan or just looking for a solid TMNT story, this is definitely worth checking out! I can’t wait to see where the series goes next.

Thank you NetGalley and Jason Aaron for the chance to read this!

Thank you NetGalley! This was a great read for my child and I as we are currently obsessed with Ninja Turtles. We love the graphic novel type book and the illustrations are great

I go decades without reading a TMNT comic, then two within a few months (even leaving aside Drawing Blood, which is a cousin at least). And this has definite similarities to The Last Ronin, with NYC having fallen under the sway of the Foot ninja clan in the turtles' absence (and indeed, a fairly similar supporting cast overall, though I suppose that's no worse than how almost everyone who gets eg a go on Batman wants to run through the same handful of overexposed foes). But where that series had no ideas past an off-the-shelf cyberpunk dystopia, this one gives us a suited son of the city desperate to prove he's the big man by throwing his considerable weight around, even as the real power players hide in the shadows and laugh at him, which for some unaccountable reason feels much more timely.

Similarly, while I initially sighed at yet another comic in which the heroes have been torn asunder for reasons unseen and unspecified, Jason Aaron at least has some fun lampshading the narrative contortions which hold off explaining what happened to the readers. And splitting the team is a fine excuse to get a bunch of different artists to do an issue each, including some very good ones (Cliff Chiang, Darick Robertson, Chris Burnham), each of them a smart match for the very different situations the brothers find themselves in. Which I hesitate to specify, some of them coming as quite a surprise, especially after the first two had made me worry we were just getting variations on a limited theme.

More than anything, though, what elevates this is simply that Aaron can write. The balance between angst, recrimination and fun never tips too far or invalidates the other strands; he can even take something as elemental as the memory many readers will have of trying to use nunchucks, and making an embarrassing hash of it, and incorporate that as a meaningful character note for the Michaelangelo spotlight issue. I don't know how long he's going to be on the book, even assuming IDW gets through its current worries, and I've never read a long run by him that didn't have its wobbles and losses of focus. But equally, I've never read anything major by him that didn't have some impressive insights, witty scenes, and of course face-crunching violence. Add this one to that list.

(Netgalley ARC)

Great start to a series looking forward to more great art. Thanks for the ark for this book. First book by the author does the turtles justice

Absolutely loved this! It's been a while since I've read TMNT and this was an amazing way to come back into it. Loved how each turtle's journey let their personality, strengths and weaknesses shine through and still made space to demonstrate all the ways that grief can look.

I'm excited to read the next one. Thanks for the e-ARC!

This graphic novel is a great jumping in point for new fans of the TMNT, or, like me, returning fans. All of the different art styles were beautiful and I'm interested to see where this new series goes.

This was a very enjoyable read, having lost touch with the TMNT crew decades ago and the bulk of my knowledge stemming from the classic cartoon and video games, I went into this not knowing what to expect. I thought it was a killer narrative and an imaginative leap into a modern era. I have so many questions about how we got here, it’s exciting. My desire to find and know the events leading to “Return to New York is equaled by my desire to know where we go from here. Turtle Power!

A great entry point for Ninja Turtles! Jason Aaron delivers an exciting adventure that begins with the turtles separated. The artwork is fantastic as well.

My 7.5 yo is huge into graphic novels. She was really excited to try this one.

She overall liked this graphic novel. She said it wasn't her favorite, but she would definitely read another again. From looking through it - the story seemed well developed and a typical "TMNT" storyline.

For TMNT fans, this is sure to be a hit!

My son LOVED this book and he felt very special for reading it ahead of the publishing date. Thank you so much for sharing with us!

4⭐

LIKED:
- The tone is pretty fascinating. It’s obviously quite gritty, but there is definitely still a layer over everything that still feels very TMNT-ian. Most of the Turtles still feel very deeply rooted in who we know them to be as characters which I love because that’s why we love these boys
- Oh the colorwork in Leo’s chapter is just mind-boggling. It’s so stunning. The linework is nice, but oh wow those colors
- Some of the spreads are, of course, stunning. My favorite is the spread of Raph fighting the prisoners in the sewers. The way that the boxes for the panels are askew but still easy to visually devour is just what I crave while reading comics & graphic novels
- I loved that each of the Turtle’s internal monologue bubbles matched their respective colors. Just a really nice easy win.
- Mikey’s story was my favorite, or at the very least it elicited the most emotion from me while reading. The end of his chapter and then start when we see him again just really worked with my brain chemistry
- So. Much. Art. There were just so many standalone illustrations. Incredible. 10/10.

LOATHED:
- Nothing was loathed, but I found Leo’s story very dry. Leo is my least favorite turtle to begin with, so that was an uphill battle for me personally.
- Donny was the only Turtle that felt confusing to me character-wise, but that’s mostly because I haven’t kept up super closely with some of the more recent TMNT comics. I still really enjoyed what was happening with his psyche and his side of the story. Also the way he was drawn was harrowing when seen against Raph or the other turtles who still have their bulk
- This was a lot. I know it’s only 176 pages but it is SO information dense that I got really bogged down with text on the page. Sometimes they got a bit hard to follow because there were so many, but for the most part that wasn’t an issue
- Personally, didn’t care about Hale. I get his purpose and I see what it served. I just didn’t care about him.

LONGED FOR:
- More moments between the brothers. That’s just what I love so much
- Less info-dumping
- A bit steadier momentum

Will I read the next one? : Sure! But mostly I think I’ll double back and gain more backstory first