Frank Miller is officially doing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for the first time.
The legendary creator behind The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City, and his influential Daredevil run has drawn a cover for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #300, marking the first time Miller has ever done TMNT art.
The reveal was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter as IDW gears up to make the milestone issue one of the biggest comic releases of the year.
It also feels overdue. Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird have long acknowledged Miller as a major influence on the original Turtles, especially through his work on Daredevil.
Frank Miller’s Influence On TMNT Comes Full Circle
The connection between Frank Miller and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has always been obvious.
Miller’s Daredevil run featured radioactive origins, a wise sensei, and a war against the ninja clan known as the Hand. Eastman and Laird famously echoed those ideas when they created four mutated turtles trained by Splinter to battle the Foot Clan in New York City.
That is what makes this cover such a big deal. Miller is finally putting his own stamp directly on the property that was partly born as a tribute to his work.
In a statement, Miller said, “It was fun to jump into the playground with the Ninjas for this cover and reminisce that they were born by Peter and Kevin as homage to my Daredevil run. This one is for the fans.”
IDW Goes Big For Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #300
IDW is treating TMNT #300 like a major event.
The publisher confirmed the issue will hit comic shops on July 22 and will launch a new storyline titled The City That Never Dies from writer Gene Luen Yang and artist Freddie E. Williams II. According to IDW, the story picks up with Splinter having returned from the dead, setting up what is being described as an action-packed and emotional chapter that will have a major impact on the future of the TMNT Universe.
The issue also includes a backup story from Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz, along with classic TMNT artists celebrating different eras of the franchise.
On top of that, IDW is rolling out a blind bag program for the issue, which includes multiple collectible covers.
Eastman And Laird Also Deliver A New Cover
Frank Miller is not the only draw.
IDW also revealed a never-before-seen cover from TMNT co-creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. That alone gives issue #300 even more collector appeal, especially with both creators tied to the celebration of the franchise’s comic book legacy going back more than 40 years.
Other covers for the milestone issue include work from J. Scott Campbell and Juan Ferreyra, with more variants expected as the release gets closer.
IDW director of sales Ryan Balkam said the company is going all out, calling TMNT #300 “the ultimate reading and collecting experience for TMNT fans this year.”
The Last Ronin Also Returns
IDW is not stopping with TMNT #300.
The publisher also announced Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin – Training Day, an oversized one-shot arriving in July. The issue brings back Michelangelo as the Last Ronin and follows him as he trains Casey Marie Jones, the daughter of April O’Neil and Casey Jones, to carry on the fight against the Foot Clan and eventually lead the next generation of Turtles.
That means July is shaping up to be a huge month for TMNT comics, with both the milestone #300 issue and a new Last Ronin story hitting shelves.
