NYCC 2026: Matthew Rosenberg teases all-out war in ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ #25
 

https://aiptcomics.com/2026/10/08/ny...osenberg-tmnt/

Rosenberg first discussed how his first exposure to the TMNT universe was the original Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird run. Rosenberg went on to describe how that shaped his perspective on the characters, which bumped up against his schoolmates’ opinions, who only watched the cartoon. Despite that relationship with the original text, he doesn’t view his upcoming stewardship as any more valid than past or future runs. He reveres what came before so much that the “first two issues” will not feature any new villains.

Speaking of villains, Rosenberg claimed the one “mistake” Eastman and Laird made was underestimating Shredder’s character. He compared Shredder to Darth Vader, saying his army and physical prowess make him the most dangerous TMNT character.

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Rosenberg compared the opening arc’s conflict to movies such as Escape from New York and Friday the 13th. His first issue is TMNT #25, and he said he’s plotted through issue #33, meaning the Turtles have many more hardships ahead that will require them to work together.

I can see Shredder going at the Christmas special and pulling up a "I declare the fourth great ninja war!", oops sorry wrong manga, I mean comics.

But how is this going to be different than the 100 other wars IDW has had since the first issue in 2011? This is just the same thing they always do.

I like the guy already. But he's still going to run head-on into Nickelodeon sticky notes. Probably.

IDW Shredder has already got too many favor in the story. Wouldn't it be better to give Stockman more spotlight, or turn Karai into a real big bad?

The way they sold the plot, I imagine the Turtles fighting absolutely everyone lol : Shredder's EPF, Karai's Foot Clan, Hun's Purple Dragons, maybe even Papa Beng's Ghost boys, Stockman and Old Hob LMAO. All in one night

Well, another writer and yet another chance for me to give the book a try. Seems somewhat promising.

The artist has me hesitant. Talented but I just have a hard time getting into a slick digital style like that. To me it comes across a bit sterile. Especially for a TMNT book, which I like to have some texture. That said, the artist can win me over if they’re a great storyteller and knows how to frame a story.

Look like Rat King is "back", not sure if this is the same one but use classic look, or is it a different person?

The Hunchback of Notre-Rat

Well, I guess it could be the hospital patient the character started out as or the Bishop clone or something. Anyway these pantheon guys don't really remain dead regardless and I assume we're getting something like we did in Shredder #6, where it is and isn't him.

Could be a resurrected version of the character who succeeded where Kitsune failed.
I wonder if they'll tie him to some loose ends plot points of Jason Aaron's run (like the rats helping the Turtles and the mystery homeless character who talked to Michelangelo).

He could also be a "new" character why not

I would be interested if we have a more "normal" Rat King like we're used to as opposed to the Patheon/God version. Maybe he either reincarnates as a normal guy, or his essence embodies a regular human, or something like that.

I doubt whether they really want to solve these problems. Maybe the new writer just want to write some kind of a Mickey's House of Villains or The Evil League of Mutants-like story, in the each issue, the turtles fight one of these villains, and are almost always on the defensive, the difference being that these villains don't sing disney villain song.

I like when Rosenberg says about what makes the TMNT cool characters. How you get the sense that they’re fighting for their lives. Obviously they have plot armor, but they’re just 4 mortals taking on an army and they get their asses kicked a little along the way. Cuts, bruises, broken weapons. All their victories feel earned.

Veering off topic, but this is exactly what I hate about IDW’s Shredder series. He just waltzes through the story in god mode and all the side characters just bask in his awesomeness. It’s boring.

For other ninja turtle, but IDW turtles? This is their biggest revenge against Bebop and Rocksteady so far. haha.


Of course, perhaps one day a writer will realize this problem and make them truly edge and violence, so that even if killing is still not allowed, they can at least beat these villains black and blue just like Powerpuff Girls.

I meant Mirage. That’s what Rosenberg was saying he liked when he first read the early Eastman and Laird stuff.