Jason Aaron Shares Details on His Big Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Finale (Exclusive)

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The announcement of Jason Aaron as the writer for the rebooted Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book series by IDW Publishing left the community buzzing with excitement and surprise. Fresh from his successful stint at Marvel, Aaron found time in his busy schedule to work on additional projects. Fans didn’t expect him to join the Ninja Turtles crew, but they’ve been nothing but pleased with the development. As we approach Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles issue #12, we know we’ll soon have to bid farewell to Aaron and his collaborator, artist Juan Ferreyra. However, before that moment arrives, Aaron is set to give the turtles even more thrilling adventures.

In an interview with ComicBook prior to the unveiling of Gene Luen Yang and Freddie E. Williams II as the new creative duo on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, Jason Aaron discussed his upcoming final issues, sharing insights about the run’s scope, his numerous artistic partners, the confrontation between the Turtles and the corrupt district attorney Hale, the deterioration of their bonds, the enigma surrounding their late father, Splinter, the Trial of the Turtles, and many other aspects.

CasualChat: A year into your Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) series, how does it feel as you’re almost reaching the end?

Jason Aaron: Yeah, I must say it’s satisfying. It’s been quite a journey, haven’t we? I committed to this project a while back, and going through the proposal stage and witnessing everything fall into place has been truly rewarding. What makes it even more significant is that numerous artists have contributed to this book, making it seem almost epic, spanning beyond just 12 issues.

By the close of the day, once you’ve tackled those 12 tasks and reflect upon them, you’ll realize what an extraordinary assemblage of artists IDW managed to gather. I expressed my feelings when that initial story arc was released, it felt like Scrooge McDuck swimming in a vault brimming with wealth. The opportunity to collaborate with Jöelle Jones, Cliff Chiang, and everyone else involved in the first six issues was truly a treasure.

After that, Juan Ferreyra joined in, who managed to surpass expectations, even though he had an extremely challenging task following such exceptional artists. In fact, he raised the bar even higher and effectively reinforced the mood and themes of the book. Moreover, he has delivered some of the most astonishing action sequences I’ve encountered in any comic I’ve worked on throughout my 25-year career.

Did you discover that you needed to make numerous adjustments as the comic progressed, since the story often evolved differently than initially planned?

The final draft closely followed the initial blueprint I had created, which elaborated on the first six issues extensively. The subsequent parts were less structured, but they primarily focused on reuniting the band, exploring the diverse paths each Turtle had taken, bringing them back together, introducing a new antagonist who is now the Manhattan District Attorney, having the Turtles re-enter New York City, and then depicting their ongoing fragmentation as they face four separate battles. This constant struggle keeps them divided and forces them to navigate through the city’s chaos.

After that, it was all leading up to the Turtles’ Trial, where we currently stand. Indeed, that had been the plan from the start. The initial six issues have just been released as a trade and hardcover, and I believe my original outline for those first six issues is included in the backmatter of both versions, particularly in the hardcover edition. One significant modification I made was to Donatello’s issue, which was initially intended to be a circus-like freak show but evolved into an illegal caged safari as seen in the preview and issue four.

Instead, I adjusted it on my own as the plot unfolded, and I found this version more appealing than my initial concept.

It’s great that we discussed D.A. Hale as I found his introduction intriguing. The story revolves around four ninja brothers, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, who battle against the Foot Clan. Initially, one might expect their main adversary to be a physical opponent, but surprisingly, it’s not the case here. Instead, we have a character – either a politician or someone recently elected into office – who manages to turn the entire city against the Turtles. I’m curious about the process behind creating this character and how the decision was made to make him the main antagonist in your storyline.

I enjoyed the concept of going back to the origins of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles during their 40th anniversary. For me, this meant revisiting the original Mirage Studios book, a favorite from my childhood. To my mind, these were the Turtles before all the developments since then. It was that initial, dark and gritty black-and-white series, filled with ’80s action movie influences and reminiscent of Frank Miller comics. I found it captivating.

In my previous journey, I yearned to revisit the place, specifically New York, which held a multitude of interpretations throughout the narrative. It was fascinating to observe the Turtles maturing slightly and drifting apart in certain aspects, as well as noting how the city had evolved, along with them and their bond with it. To introduce an element of conflict, I desired a character who could manipulate New York against the Turtles. The idea of this character being a district attorney with ties to the Foot Clan, utilizing the Foot Clan as his henchmen, seemed appealing.

However, the Turtles are engaged in a battle unfamiliar to them; they’re safeguarding a city that appears to disdain them or face criticism. The narrative now centers around a new character, who abandoned Karai, the true ruler of the Foot Clan, to handle other matters. She has been secretly working on something, and hints have been dropped along the way. Another clue will surface in the next issue, while issue 12 promises to unveil what she’s been up to all this time.

As a passionate movie enthusiast, let me share my thoughts on the intriguing enigma surrounding the dead rat and its possible link to Splinter. Initially, the Turtles were skeptics, but as the plot unfolds, Donatello is the first to question, followed by the rest of the team. The idea that this could be their late father stirs curiosity among them. I’m eager to delve into the process of establishing this mystery and where it might lead us in the story.

A significant aspect of the initial six issues revolved around examining the condition Donatello found himself in, which was quite gloomy following the ordeals he experienced during Tom Waltz and Sophie Campbell’s tenure on the previous series.

He was severely distressed, both mentally and physically, as well as spiritually, in every conceivable way. This distress was compounded by the harrowing ordeal he faced in the Florida safari fight club where he was imprisoned, compelled to fight for survival alongside other mutants on a daily basis. The author found it intriguing to portray this character in such a dismal, downtrodden state, serving as our introduction to the storyline in the initial issue. A significant aspect of his character development involved him conversing with a rat he believed to be Splinter.

The rat serves as a recurring reminder of the protagonist’s identity and acts as a guardian or guide in the narrative. However, the rat dies early on, but continues to appear throughout the story. I also appreciate the visual metaphor of the four brothers emerging from distinct environments, feeling disconnected from one another, and viewing the main character as if he is insane.

He appears as if he’s just come from the depths of despair, and there’s a lifeless rat on his shoulder that he seems to be conversing with. This entire scenario, including the dialogue, really encapsulated the vibe and atmosphere I desired for these 12 issues. By issue six, we discover at its conclusion that the narrative is being told by Splinter, and since then, there have been peculiar incidents involving rats in New York City. The connections between these events remain unclear, but you’ll find answers to those mysteries in issue 12.

Managing numerous storylines can be quite a task, especially when it comes to the Turtles’ reunion, unraveling Splinter’s secret past, delving into Karai and Hale’s situations, and understanding the new power Hale seems to possess. It’s crucial to ensure each plot gets its due attention while also weaving them seamlessly together. How do you strike this balance?

Essentially, when creating a comic book series, it’s essential to have an outline and know the overall direction of the story. Each issue should stand alone as a complete piece of the narrative while also contributing to the larger arc. Aim for each issue to be packed with engaging dialogue, action scenes, visuals, and plot developments that advance the story in a substantial way. This structure has worked well for my 12-issue series.

As soon as I considered joining this project with my pitch, I had a clear vision: I wanted to kick things off by addressing the unique aspects of each Turtle, establishing that broken dynamic. Once that was established, plotting the rest became a natural progression. Issues 10 through 12 may be packed with significant events, but they’re still exciting to work on!

Currently, we’re in the thick of “Turtles on Trial,” a storyline packed with enjoyable elements. It pays homage to the Daredevil-esque origins of the Turtles as they navigate a courtroom setting, with Donnie taking the lead in their defense. So far, things haven’t been going well for them. They find themselves facing off against Hale, who possesses superpowers both inside and outside the courtroom. The odds seem heavily stacked against him. We’ll have to wait until issue 11 to see how this unfolds and how the Turtles might escape this predicament. Afterward, as anticipated, there will be intense battles ahead, but you’ll have to stay tuned to find out who they’ll be facing off against.

In issue 10, it was quite a surprise to see April O’Neill taking up Casey Jones’s identity, donning his mask and brandishing his hockey stick. Given that she has been playing a supporting role but is gradually becoming more central to the story, what might be going through her mind now, considering she’s witnessed the city turning against those she cares about? In other words, how does April feel now, given this turn of events?

As a passionate cinephile, I can’t help but feel that April is yearning for more than just being a bystander in this dramatic tale. She desires to be an integral part of the struggle, aiding her friends in their fight. Her encounter with Casey’s harrowing ordeal at the hands of Hale, leaving him hospitalized, has undoubtedly left a lasting impact on her. After all, she’s trained alongside Casey for years and shares a long history with the Turtles. She’s been through numerous adventures herself. The events unfolding seem to have ignited a fire within April, pushing her to don the mask, grab that hockey stick, and step boldly into the fray, ready to take action in an attempt to bring about resolution.

Over the coming issues, April plays an active role in all that’s happening.

In the final two episodes, the Turtles find themselves in a tough spot with their backs against the wall. Battling the Foot Clan is one challenge, but overcoming negative public opinion and the city’s perception of them presents another hurdle. As we approach the climax, fans can anticipate having some questions answered.

In essence, I believe most of your queries will be addressed, except perhaps one, and I’m not certain if I’ll disclose it. However, let me clarify one major query regarding the narrative: the reasons for the brothers’ estrangement have been a recurring theme throughout these 12 issues. We’ve seen that they often disagree on the events that led to their separation, as each has his own interpretation of what occurred and what caused the rift.

That question appears to have a solution now, or at least, we’ve reached the limit of what can currently be provided as an answer.

Here’s another way to phrase it: “Lastly, I thought it would be great if you could express any thoughts or messages you’d like to share with your appreciative audience who have enjoyed your work up until now.

I’m extremely pleased with the response to this project so far. It’s truly exceptional, as the initial sales have been fantastic. Among my more than two decades in the comic book industry, I believe that this series has received some of the best reviews I’ve ever encountered. The fans seem to genuinely appreciate the tone and atmosphere we’ve created, as well as Juan’s recent work on the issues. As a result, it’s been an incredibly rewarding experience for me.

Switching between various comic book audiences keeps things engaging. After spending a significant amount of time at Marvel, I’m now dabbling in DC projects and venturing into Turtles. There are plenty of readers who solely follow Turtles. When I was announced as the new writer for Turtles, someone commented, “That’s cool and exciting. But what has this person written before?” It’s rewarding to reach a segment of the audience unfamiliar with my work. I’m quite proud of the efforts put into this comic book by everyone involved.

Let’s revisit Jöelle Jones, Cliff Chiang, Chris Burnham, Rafael Albuquerque, Darick Robertson, and everyone else involved in the first five issues. As previously mentioned, Juan Ferreyra has been truly remarkable with his contributions. Here’s to a successful conclusion where people can reflect on the story’s true essence once it ends, appreciating our efforts to portray these characters effectively.

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2025-07-29 23:45