TheTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesare welcoming an acclaimed new creative team to their flagship comic, one that is already citingone of the MCU’s most underrated movies as inspirationfor the latest take on these iconic “heroes in a half shell.”
Marvel’s ties to the Turtles have existed from the very start, with creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird inspired by the influential works of Frank Miller, specifically hisdark and gritty take onDaredevil(and DC’sRonin).
In an exclusive Screen Rant interview given at San Diego Comic Con,TMNT’s next scribe, Eisner-winning writer Gene Luen Yang, explains howthe martial arts MCU masterpieceShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringswill impact the next era of TMNTin ways fans won’t see coming.
How The MCU’s Shang-Chi Inspired The Next Era of TMNT Comics
Gene Luen Yang and fan-favorite artist Freddie E. Williams II will take over creative duties fromcurrentTMNTwriter Jason Aaronand artist Juan Ferreyra whenTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #13hits comic store shelves this December.
When asked about the challenge of “martial arts storytelling as a mix of action and philosophy,” Yang tells ScreenRant about a major inspiration drawn from working withAmerican Born ChineseandShang-Chistunt/fight coordinator Peng Zhang:
“Yeah, yeah. This is actually something that I got from a guy named Peng, who I had the honor of working with on American Born Chinese, the television show for Disney+. There are a lot of kung fu fights in that, and I got to know the fight coordinator who also worked on Shang-Chi. He says,“When you have a fight, it’s not just about the action.You also have to understand the character’s motivation. One thing you’ve got to know is: are they trying to kill each other, or are they just trying to stop each other? Do they actually love each other and they don’t know it?”
“All of these questions you have to answer. My hope is that in our run of the Turtles, you’ll be able to feel that. Even if you, as a reader, aren’t conscious of it, you’ll be able to feel, “Oh, Raph is mad at Leo, but he still loves him.”
TMNT’s New Comics Will Highlight Character Motivations in Battle
The Emphasis Was A Success With Shang-Chi’s Movie Fights Already
Faring well in theaters with critics and fans alike, the action was a strength ofShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Impressively choreographed and emotionally intense fight scenes stemmed from Shang-Chi’s familial revelations, making them perfect blueprints for Yang and Williams’TMNTrun.
Well-known for their impeccable ninja skills and mastery over their respective weapons, Leo, Donnie, Raph, and Mikey have always fought with a lot of heart, so it makes perfect sense forYang to prioritize each brother’s motivations during battle, building on their already lively dynamic.
TMNT fans have a lot to look forward to post-SDCC, withthe Turtles' much-anticipated Godzilla crossover, their ongoingSaturday Morning Adventuresbook, and the upcomingTMNT: Battle Nexusseries, so there’s no shortage of opportunities for new creators to do these mutant brothers justice.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #13will be available on June 06, 2025 from IDW Publishing.
