* SPOILER-FREE REVIEW *
"Breath deep. Rage clears my mind. Anger makes me calm."
In recent memory, there have been very few surprise announcements that have lit the comic book fandom on fire quite like Jason Aaron would be taking over the ongoing IDW Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ongoing series. Not only that, but we now live in a world where Daniel Warren Johnson is headlining the critically acclaimed Skybound Transformers series (now Eisner-nominated), Oni Press recently announced a new Biker Mice from Mars series from Melissa Flores, and Dynamite has Declan Shalvey writing a Thundercats series slash most-underrated-writer-ever champion Kelly Thompson writing a *checks notes* Powerpuff Girls ongoing(?). Is this real life?
As mentioned, Mr. Mighty Thor himself taking over TMNT has been headlining online news outlets since it was announced at the beginning of 2024. After a historic run 50+ issue run by Sophie Campbell, Jason Aaron plants the seeds of his run with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Alpha #1 releasing June 5th, with the first issue (featuring interiors from the one and only Joëlle Jones) hitting shelves on July 24th. We got an early look at that first issue, and we are here to say: damn Raph, why u so mad bro?
I hope It's not a spoiler at this point that the first four issues of this new ongoing will be from the perspective of each brother, showcasing not only what each one has been up to since the events of Campbell's finale with issue #150, but also hinting at what has driven them apart. Throughout this inaugural issue, we experience everything from Raphael's caustic inner monologue as he finds himself in prison for ✨ reasons ✨. Here, Jason Aaron showcases what he does best in the world of comics: earning our whole-hearted investment/affection for his irritable, yet lovable central antagonist (also see Earl Tubbs and King Thor).
Jason said while on our show back in April:
You know, they are still the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but they're a little more grown-up. They're not 13 years old, right? They've been through a lot, especially for teens. When you get to 18 [years old], those are, I think for everybody, those are challenging years, years where you have to make huge decisions that can shape the rest of your life. So, I'm trying to channel some of that. These brothers are at a point in their life where they've, for whatever reason that we'll get to, they find themselves in sort of different spots.
It feels silly even typing this sentence out, but for the sake of SEO and the one guy that will definitely ask, "wHaT aBoUt tHe aRt?!", Joëlle Jones absolutely knocks this issue out of the park. That's unsurprising for most, but what deserves a very specific shoutout is the third act and the extended action sequence that plays out in the back half of this issue. It is truly something only a few in the medium can accomplish, and even fewer can do it quite like Jones. Rafael Albuquerque, you are officially on deck! SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT.
Whether you are a kid of the 80s or started with Mutant Mayhem, this new series by Jason Aaron hints at new terrain for our mutant brothers, while fully comprehending and admiring what makes the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles special. Fans of Raph (that's me!) will adore this issue and will pray that Joelle Jones shows back up for more down the road. Easy recommend, dude!
