Rare TMNT Comics by Peter Laird to Be Revived by IDW!

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Many longtime fans of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are familiar with the tale of Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird self-publishing the initial Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics through their Mirage Studios back in the 1980s, then passing the series to longtime Mirage artist Jim Lawson for a run in the 1990s. However, fewer are aware that Laird revisited the Turtles in the 2000s, initiating a new TMNT series through Mirage Studios once more, this time teaming up with Lawson to continue where the previous Mirage series ended. This is due to the fact that these later TMNT comics have been out of print and never compiled. However, this is about to change as IDW Publishing is launching TMNT: Journeys, a new monthly series. This series will initially reprint every issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Vol. 4), commonly referred to as TMNT due to its cover title, and the late-Mirage Laird/Lawson comics for the first time in both single issues and collections. Additionally, TMNT: Journeys will also include Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Vol. 4) #31, which has only been previously available online, making this its debut in print.

IDW Publishing is offering a reprint of the first issue of the TMNT: Journeys series by Laird and Lawson, available for sale starting August 20th. The pre-order deadline is July 14th. Notably, this volume of TMNT will feature artwork from Kevin Eastman for the first time. Additionally, a unique variant cover for TMNT: Journeys #1 will be created by Eastman. The regular cover art for this issue will resemble Michael Dooney’s original, renowned TMNT #1 cover design.

In the early days of IDW Publishing’s run on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics, Eastman was there from the beginning. Volume 4, however, marked Laird’s last direct work on a TMNT comic (though they collaborated on IDW Publishing’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin). Now, IDW Publishing views TMNT: Journeys as a chance to honor Laird’s role as the creator and long-term guardian of the Ninja Turtles.

Ryan Balkam, IDW’s Specialty Sales Manager, has been eagerly anticipating the release of Mirage volume four of the TMNT series for the past two years. Upon learning that it would be published, he couldn’t contain his excitement and leaped out of his seat. It’s a tremendous privilege to have the opportunity to pay tribute to the last TMNT series that Peter Laird, one of its co-creators, was involved in.

He goes on to say, “Fans and stores who persistently back our comics have been fantastic. I’m thrilled for them to rediscover or embark on these stories for the first time. They’re about to go on a thrilling adventure.



Here’s the official solicitation synopsis for TMNT: Journeys #1:

A LOST PIECE OF TMNT HISTORY BROUGHT BACK TO LIGHT!

24 years ago, the co-creator of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Peter Laird, teamed up with Jim Lawson and the gifted artists at Mirage Studios to carry on the thrilling adventures of the Ninja Turtles in the fourth installment of their ongoing saga. For the first time ever, TMNT: Journeys collects this epic series! The Ninja Turtles are maturing and confronting fresh, terrifying threats that could shatter the bond between the four brothers and transform New York City forever. While April and Casey Jones prepare for a major life change as they anticipate becoming parents, Master Splinter trains with Shadow Jones to combat the evil forces looming over their family. This new edition features a variant cover by TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman – it’s a must-read for all TMNT enthusiasts!

A Piece of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Mirage Comics History Restored

In 1984, Eastman and Laird introduced the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in issue #1 of the comic. This series was published through Mirage Studios and ran until Eastman and Laird concluded it with the “City at War” saga in 1993. Later, Lawson took over as writer and artist for another Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, which restarted with issue #1 in 1993 but was canceled in 1995 following a flood at Mirage Studios. Image Comics then stepped in as the publisher, launching the third ongoing series of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 1996. Although initially planned as a continuation of the Mirage era, this series ended prematurely in 1999 and has since been deemed non-canonical by Laird’s TMNT Vol. 4. IDW later reprinted and concluded the Image era through its Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Urban Legends series.

In 2001, Laird and Lawson debuted Volume 4 of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” disregarding the Image period and resuming the narrative from where the Mirage era concluded. The series continued to be published regularly until 2006, when Laird began working on the upcoming “TMNT” film. He returned to comic book writing in 2008, releasing a few more issues in small print runs and online. In 2009, he sold the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise to Nickelodeon.

If you’re eager to follow the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles story from their beginnings before the launch of TMNT: Journeys, IDW Publishing has compiled Eastman and Laird’s original Mirage Comics TMNT series into the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ultimate Collection. More recently, they have also released larger hardcover Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Compendium volumes that gather not only the original stories but also those by guest writers and artists from that era. Earlier this year, IDW published a single hardcover titled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Mirage Years (1993–1995), which collects Lawson’s complete run of the TMNT comics.

Start selling the first issue of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Journeys” on August 20th! Keep an eye out for updates regarding a fresh Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book series from IDW Publishing, arriving soon.

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2025-05-14 22:16