At this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesfranchise just announced its next major crossover event,Battle Nexus, which will feature Shredder waging war across the Multiverse.Resurrecting aniconic part ofTurtleslore,Battle Nexuswill be the ultimate test of the Half-Shell Heroes.
As reported by IGN,TMNT: Battle Nexusis set to be an incredibly ambitious event series; slated for five issues,each installment of the arc will be tackled by a different writer/artist combination, bringing different creative styles and aesthetics together in the same story.
The TMNT Franchise Announces “Battle Nexus,” A Wild Crossover Featuring The Original Shredder That Promises A “Twist” On Franchise Lore
TMNT: Battle Nexus,Written By Paul Allor, Erik Burnham, Sophie Campbell, Caleb Goellner, And Tom Waltz
ForTMNTfans, the biggest news from the announcement ofBattle Nexusis that it will bring back the original Shredder.Beyond that, readers' excitement stems from the fact that the “Battle Nexus” dimension isalso returning toTurtleslore, and beyond that, the idea of so many top-tier creative talents all collaborating on one story arc.
According to one of the series’ writers, Tom Waltz, fans should expect the unexpected when it comes to the Battle Nexus.Waltz promised a “twist” on the concept,stating:
There are many moments and events in TMNT lore that I call ‘touchstones’ – traditional happenings like the family visiting the old farm in Northampton to regroup and regenerate. Well, competing in the Battle Nexus is another of those touchstones, and my fellow TMNT collaborators and I, along with the great editorial team at IDW and Paramount, have come up with a new twist on the Battle Nexus that I believe will blow old and new fan’s minds, and I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of it.
While fans will have to wait to learn more about this change to the Battle Nexus, the high stakes of this storyline are already coming into focus.
In additionto the original Shredder,the Ninja Turtles will also battle the villains Slash, Metalhead, and Ninjara, as part of theBattle Nexusevent, and those are just the foes that have been announcedup front. Overall,Battle Nexusseems poised to be a major milestone, or “touchstone,” in contemporaryTMNTlore.
“Battle Nexus” Writer Promises A “Gonzo” Event Series That Will Blow Away Ninja Turtles Fans
TMNT: Battle Nexus, Art By Ben Bishop, Vitor Cafaggi, Omar Francia, The Escorza Brothers, And Hendry Prasetya
In addition toBattle Nexus, Shredder is also getting his own solo series from IDW,though it appears that these will be two distinct versions of the character, who is widely regarded as one of the best comic book antagonists of all time. It appears as thoughBattle Nexus, in particular, will give him the chance to remind readers why.
As noted, the series will be released weekly, meaningit won’t be a protracted, five-month wait forBattle Nexusto play out, but more like a madcap rush to the climax. As author Erik Burnham described the experience of working on the project:
Some of my fondest memories as a comic reader are of the gonzo weekly events filled with chaotic action, emotional stakes, and unexpected moments… and I’m happy to report that these kinds of books are just as much fun to work on as to read! I was honored to be part of the crew that steered this series, and it was a joy (and a challenge) putting a bow on things with my chapter.
Now, fans eagerly await their turn to find out if the series can effectively channel this energy.
It is a truly prolific era for theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
It has alreadybeen a big few years forTMNT.IDW’s long-runningTurtlescontinuity rebooted, and therelaunched series, written by Jason Aaron, debuted to massive popularity. Now,Turtlesfans are preparing for a new creative team to replace Aaron, andanticipating aGodzillacrossover, and nowBattle Nexus, meaning it is a truly prolific era for theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Source:IGN
TMNT: Battle Nexus#1 (of 5)will be available June 13, 2025 from Marvel Comics.
