Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #15: Reunited and it Feels So Good

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #15 picks up with the turtles rejoicing after being reunited with their father following a long separation. As they revel in this long-awaited reunion, the issue guides readers through the history of the Ujigami, what happened to Splinter after his death, and what his return truly means. At the same time, the story brings the franchise back to its mystical and magical roots, diverging from the previous creative team’s more grounded direction.

One of the greatest strengths of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise is how multifaceted it is. On one hand, it is a gritty superhero story about four ninjas protecting New York City. On the other hand, it leans heavily into science fiction, explaining the turtles’ origins and launching them into multiversal and cosmic adventures. What ties these elements together in the IDW universe, however, is the series’ long-standing focus on mysticism and magic. This aspect, particularly its exploration of reincarnation and gods, is one of the key reasons this version of the characters stands out.

With Gene Luen Yang taking over the series, it seemed like a no-brainer that he would draw from these IDW roots. In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #15, that vision is fully realized, resulting in an excellent read. Yang has a strong track record of writing fantastical characters rooted in historical folklore, and that strength meshes perfectly with the turtles’ established mythology. The way these elements are explored here feels like a match made in heaven, reintroducing complex concepts in a bite-sized, accessible way that does not require extensive background knowledge.

Even with the care given to expanding the series’ lore, Yang and artist Freddie E. Williams II shine most in their portrayal of the turtles as a family. While some readers may view the turtles’ hesitation to question their father about his absence as a plot contrivance, it actually feels emotionally authentic. After all, they are reconnecting with a parent they never expected to see again. This strong character work grounds the story’s fantastical elements and elevates the issue into top-tier Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles storytelling.