We’re Living In The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Renaissance And It’s About Time
For children of the ’80s and ’90s, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was an inescapable pop culture monolith with comics, shows, movies, and video games that took the world by storm. However, the franchise’s popularity diminished with time, and while Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles never disappeared from the cultural zeitgeist, the 2000s and 2010s were a low period for the turtles. But it seems like the 2020s may be the era of the turtle renaissance.
From Humble Beginnings
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles come from humble beginnings as an indie comic series by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, poking fun at the popular comic trends of the 80s. The self-funded comic became a surprise hit in the comics world and, within a few years, was spreading into mainstream success on the back of toy sales, an animated series, and a popular arcade game. That popularity only expanded in the 90s with a successful live-action movie propelling the already-hit property into a pop-culture monolith for the decade.
The Last Ronin
The first signs of a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles resurgence came back in 2020 with the release of IDW’s The Last Ronin by Tom Waltz, Ben Bishop, Esau Escorza, and Issac Escorza, which is based on an unfinished project from series creators Eastman and Peter Laird. The Last Ronin presents a dark future in which only one of the Turtles has survived a massacre to become an aged vigilante. The comic has been immensely successful, being the best-selling comic collection of 2023, with multiple sequels and a video game adaptation in the works.
A Hit Video Game
Following the return of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles dominating the world of comics, they also had a nostalgic, triumphant return to the world of video games in 2022. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredders Revenge is a beat-em-up that draws inspiration from the arcade and console games of the 80s and 90s. The game was a smash hit, garnering critical praise and being nominated for a slew of awards.
Back In Theaters
Perhaps the strongest evidence that we’re living in the renaissance of the heroes on a half-shell is the success of last year’s blockbuster hit Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. The film earned over $180 million over a $70 million budget and drew near-universal critical paise with a 95 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and there’s already talk of a sequel. The animated film was ushered in by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg and managed to feel fresh and new while paying homage to the beloved franchise.
A Brand New Comic Is Coming
The future also looks bright for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, particularly with the relaunch of IDW’s ongoing comic. The comic will bring in all-star talent like writer Jason Aaron and an incredible art team including Joëlle Jones, Rafael Albuquerque, Cliff Chiang, and Chris Burnham. Following the smash success of The Last Ronin, the ongoing series will give fans a steady stream of comics to enjoy starting in July 2024.
The Best Time To Be A Fan
With so many successes across so many different mediums, there’s no denying that it’s a great time to be a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fan for the first time in a long time. Whether you’re a comic reader, movie fan, or gamer, there’s a great version of the Turtles out there for you, with more coming down the line.
