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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IDW Reading Order


Originally published by Mirage Studios in 1984, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was a black-and-white, self-published comic created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird that quickly gained traction, helping to ignite the independent comics boom of the 1980s.

Unlike many of its contemporaries, which faded into obscurity, TMNT evolved into a long-lasting franchise. The original comics follow four mutated turtles—Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo—who are trained in ninjutsu by their rat sensei, Splinter. Living in the sewers of New York City, they battle crime, alien threats, and supernatural forces, expanding their adventures across multiple dimensions in comics, television, and film.

While the original Mirage series ended in 1995, TMNT publications continued in various forms. The property moved to Image Comics in 1996, returned to Mirage in the early 2000s, and was later acquired by Nickelodeon in 2009. Since 2011, IDW Publishing (Transformers, G.I. Joe) has produced an ongoing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic series, spearheaded by TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman, writer Tom Waltz, and artist Dan Duncan. This iteration introduced a revised origin story and an expanded mythology, ensuring that the heroes in a half shell continue their legacy in fresh and ambitious ways.

After 150 issues, IDW decided to relaunch the main Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic series and announced Volume 2. A new era of the Turtles began.

Navigating  the world of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IDW Comics

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics published by IDW are now divided into two volumes following the 2024 relaunch, but there’s more with reprints in a deluxe collection, out-of-continuity stories, and the popular continuation of the Saturday Morning Adventures.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IDW Reading Order

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IDW Comics – Volume I (2011-2024)

In 2011, IDW Publishing launched a new take on the franchise, blending elements from past incarnations with fresh ideas to create a definitive modern interpretation. This ongoing TMNT comic series, spearheaded by writer Tom Waltz, artist Dan Duncan, and TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman, reimagined the turtles’ origins, introduced an expanded mythology, and offered a compelling mix of action, drama, and character-driven storytelling.

This Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book series introduced a new sci-fi twist to the turtles’ backstory, incorporating reincarnation, feudal Japan, and a deeper connection between Splinter and his archenemy, the Shredder.

 

🐢 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ongoing Compendiums

Before going into the reading order featuring the Trade Paperback collection, which includes spin-off miniseries, here is the three-volume compendium collection that collects the 150 issues of this Volume 1 of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IDW comics.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles / Ghostbusters
Collects Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles / Ghostbusters #1–4. For those who read the Ghostbusters, this takes place after Ghostbusters (Vol. 2) #20.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles / Ghostbusters Vol. 02
Collects Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles / Ghostbusters II #1–5. For those who read the Ghostbusters, this story takes place after Ghostbusters 101 #6.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Rebirth

Starting with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #101, series writer and artist Sophie Campbell took over as the sole lead writer for the book.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IDW Comics – Volume II (2024-present)

In July 2024, IDW Publishing relaunched the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic series with Volume II. Jason Aaron took the helm as the head writer. Different artists drew the first five issues, then artist Juan Ferreyra became the series artist. But there’s more as the world of the TMNT is ever expanding!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IDW Reading Order - DonatelloThe first 12 issues by writer Jason Aaron and artists including Joëlle Jones, Rafael Albuquerque, Cliff Chiang, Chris Burnham, Darick Robertson, and Juan Ferreyra are now collected in one Deluxe edition.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IDW Reading Order - Michelangelo

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The IDW Deluxe Hardcover Collections

If you have a bigger budget and/or are a collector, you’ll maybe prefer the beautiful Deluxe Hardcover Collection. It’s quite easier to follow, you buy them in order…

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Comics: Not part of the IDW continuity

Those miniseries were published by IDW, but are not taking place in the same continuity as the main series. They offer crossover self-contained stories with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, of course.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Amazing Adventures

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Booyakasha Books are comics based on the 2012 Nickelodeon TMNT animated series, originally produced by Panini in 59 issues of its Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles magazine. The majority of these are short 6- to-12-page stories.

Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are new adventures from the world of the hit Netflix series Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles featuring all-new stories based on the show!

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtle Power Pack” is not a new TMNT comic series. It is an IDW-published anthology collection, aimed primarily at younger readers, gathering selected short stories from various TMNT comics that are themselves based on the animated series.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin

Written by TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman, along with Tom Waltz, and drawn by Esau and Isaac Escorza, Ben Bishop, and Eastman, The Last Ronin is based on an unused concept originally created by Eastman and Peter Laird in the late 1980s, making it one of the few TMNT projects to feature input from both original creators since Mirage Studios sold the rights to Nickelodeon.

Set in an alternate dystopian future, The Last Ronin follows the last surviving Ninja Turtle on a mission to avenge his fallen family. The story reveals that New York City has been taken over by the Foot Clan, now led by Hiroto Oroku, the grandson of the Shredder. Armed with the weapons of his deceased brothers, the lone turtle fights against overwhelming odds to bring down the oppressive regime.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures

Written by Erik Burnham and initially illustrated by Tim Patrick Lattie and Dan Schoening, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures is a comic-book continuation of the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series. Launched in 2022 with a miniseries that takes place after the events of season 7 and before the events of season 8, to avoid conflicting with the major changes introduced in that latter season.

Following the conclusion of the miniseries, Saturday Morning Adventures was relaunched as an ongoing series in 2023. Erik Burnham continued as writer, while the art was subsequently handled by artists including Tim Lattie, Jack Lawrence, Dan Schoening, and Sarah Myer. The series ended in September 2026 after 41 issues.

If you want to discover the series at a smaller size and cost, IDW started reprinting it in its “On The Go” collection, the pocket-sized (6 x 9) and economical edition from IDW.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IDW Reading Order - Leonardo

The Classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics before IDW, reprinted by IDW!

Long before IDW took over the license and developed the TMNT world into a new ambitious direction, the turtles had plenty of adventures and a complicated publication history. Some of those comics have been hard to find (others still are), but IDW actively reprints a lot of old material for fans to enjoy! 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Mirage Years

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was originally an independent comic created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird and published by their company, Mirage Studios. Later designated Volume 1, the first series ran for 62 issues between 1984 and 1993 and established a darker, more mature continuity than the subsequent television adaptations. 

  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Collection (Black & White)
    • Volume 1, collects Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vol. 1 issues #1–7 and Raphael #1.
    • Volume 2, collects Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vol. 1 issues #8–11 and the Michaelangelo, Leonardo, and Donatello “micro-series” one-shots.
    • Volume 3, collects Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vol. 1 issues #12, 14, 15, 17, and 19–21.
    • Volume 4, collects Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vol. 1 issues #48–55.
    • Volume 5, collects Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vol. 1 issues #56–62.
    • Volume 6, collects short stories/one-shots published between 1985 and 1989.
    • Volume 7, details coming soon.
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Classics (colorized versions)
    • Volume 1, collects Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vol. 1 issue #13 along with a collection of stories from the Shell Shock TP.
    • Volume 2, collects Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vol. 1 issues #16, 22, and 23.
    • Volume 3, collects Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vol. 1 issues #27-29.
    • Volume 4, collects Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vol. 1 issues #32, 33, and 37 along with “The Ring”.
    • Volume 5, collects Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vol. 1 issues #34 and #38-40.
    • Volume 6, collects Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vol. 1 issues #42-44.
    • Volume 7, collects Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vol. 1 issues #45-47 and six short stories.
    • Volume 8, collects Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vol. 2 issues #1-5.
    • Volume 9, collects Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vol. 2 issues #6-9.
    • Volume 10, collects Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vol. 2 issues #10-13.
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Compendium Edition
    • Volume 1, collects Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vol. 1 issues #1-7, 9-14; the Raphael, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Leonardo Micro-Series one-shots; Fugitoid #1; and Tales of TMNT #1-5.
    • Volume 2, collects Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vol. 1 issues #15-23, #27-29, and #31-37 of the ongoing series plus Tales of the TMNT #6 and 7, and the short story “The Ring.”
    • Volume 3, collects “Shades of Gray” and the 13-part epic “City at War” that concludes the series by co-creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird with Jim Lawson.
  • IDW Classic Collections (New Paperback reprints in a 6 x 9 format)

Starting in 1987, Mirage also published Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, an anthology series that expanded the same continuity.

After the original 62-issue run of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Mirage continued the series with a new #1 in 1993, and it ran for 13 issues in total. This 13-issue run by TMNT veteran Jim Lawson is now known as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Vol. 2, picking up after the events of “City At War.” (Previously in the last 3 volumes of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Classics colorized versions edition)

Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Volume 3 – The Image Years

In 1996, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles moved to Image Comics for its third volume, written by Gary Carlson and illustrated by Frank Fosco. The Image series continued from the Mirage continuity but introduced substantial changes to the characters. The series ran for 23 issues before ending in 1999. In 2018, IDW began reprinting the series in full color as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Urban Legends, and commissioned Carlson and Fusco to create three additional issues to tie up the unfinished story.

Previously available in two trade paperbacks: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Urban Legends Vol. 1 (issues #1-13) & Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Urban Legends Vol. 2 (issues #14-26).

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Volume 4 – Back to Mirage

In 2001, Peter Laird returned to the characters with a fourth volume of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, effectively continuing the original Mirage continuity while disregarding the Image series. Written primarily by Laird and illustrated by Jim Lawson, the series ran for 32 issues until 2014. Mirage also launched a second volume of Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 2004, which ran for 70-plus issues and further expanded the universe (see Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles two sections ago).

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Archie Comics Years

The success of the 1987 animated series led to several comics aimed at its younger audience. Archie Comics published Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures beginning in 1988. The series initially adapted episodes of the animated show but gradually developed its own continuity and introduced original characters and storylines. It ran for 72 issues through 1995, alongside annuals, specials, miniseries, and the spin-off Mighty Mutanimals.

  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures Compendium Vol. 1
    Collects the original three-issue miniseries, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures #1-17, plus the short stories “Zen Million Year to Birth,” “The Night of Monsterex,” “Metamorphosis,” “A Forgotten TMNT Adventure,” “Yo-Ho-Ho! And a Bottle of Mutagen!,” and “Doomsday Hassle in Banshee Castle.”
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures Compendium Vol. 2 [2026]
    Collects Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures issues #18-26, Mighty Mutanimals (1991) #1-3, stories from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures Special #3-8, TMNT Presents April O’Neil: The May East Saga #1-3
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures Compendium Vol. 3 [2026]
    Collects Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures issues #27-35, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures Special #1-2, TMNT Presents April O’Neil #1, and more short stories.
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures Compendium Vol. 4 [2027]
    Collects Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures issues #36-45, Mighty Mutanimals (1992) #1-9, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 30th Anniversary Special #1, and “The Return of…Monsterex!” from TMNT Adventures Special #7

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3 thoughts on “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IDW Reading Order”

  1. Jason
    Reply

    Growing up I enjoyed watching the original TMNT cartoon. I didn’t get into comic books until the early 90s, but I’ve always desired going back and reading the original (and current) TMNT comics. Thank you for putting this list together. It will serve as an excellent guide.

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