Published May 2017 by IDW Publishing
Funko Toy Variant
Written by Caleb Goellner
Art by Nico Pena
32 pages, full color

THIS IS A COMIC BOOK, NOT A BOXED FUNKO FIGURE.

The comic book cover is made to look like a Funko figure, but if you purchase this you will receive a comic book.

The Funko craze comes to TMNT! Funko-style TMNT get wind of a new Shredder-inspired cereal and go to the source to investigate the bad-guy based breakfast! An absurd and hilarious adventure awaits! Cover price $4.99.

What happens when you combine the addictive cuteness of Funko POP! figurines with a nostalgic fondness for the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon? You get a freaking amazing comic that is tons of fun!

If you like your comic stories to be grim and gritty, high stakes, or with emotionally complex narratives, TMNT Funko Universe #1 is not for you. However, if you have a soul and like fun, lighthearted stories that are truly for “all ages,” then this comic is worth picking up. Writer Caleb Goellner and artist Nico Pena’s one-shot immerses the reader into the world of 1980s and 1990s “Turtlemania” that is as enjoyable as it is self-referential.

First, a tip of the hat is due to Pena, who manages to create bright, expressive, and dynamic visuals while confined to using the likeness of figurines which – despite their popularity – are good for nothing other than sitting on a shelf. Another factor working in his favor is the uniform height of the Funko POP! figurines, which means there is no differentiation between the Turtles, Kraang, Bebop, Rocksteady, and Shredder. Despite these limitations, Pena breathes life into the pages that leans heavily on elements of action and physical comedy. Furthermore, the expressiveness he gives the faces – again despite the limitations of their designs – provides the reader with an emotional hook to connect with these characters.

What ties everything together is the Turtles themselves. Goellner nails their characterizations, from Mikey’s surfer-dude playfulness down to Raphael’s fourth-wall-breaking sarcasm. As for the story itself, it’s silly and low stakes, but it has a lot of heart thanks to Caleb Goellner’s writing. The plan devised by Kraang and Shredder is delightfully goofy. Though I’m not sure they still put physical prizes inside cereal boxes, the idea of using said prizes for mind-control is exactly what I’d expect from these classic cartoon villains. And when the incompetence of the Foot Soldier factory workers leads to a prizeless cereal box (and Mikey’s subsequent disappointment), the adventure begins.

It’s not just the silly story that’s enjoyable, but also the many meta-references that Goellner throws in for Turtle fans. Whether its a reference to the game Turtles in Time, a nod to Fred Wolf, or awareness of “getting dragged into a subplot,” there is a lot of fan service that does not distract from the main story. Though the price tag may be pushing it a bit (really IDW? $4.99? Have you learned nothing from Marvel’s recent struggles?), TMNT Funko Universe is a worthy addition to anyone’s comic collection. Sharply written and beautifully drawn, this is truly a comic for nearly everyone.

‘Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Netflix Movie Moved to 2022

One of four major Nickelodeon movies Netflix acquired a few years ago was Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles which is still in production after all this time. Here’s a guide to everything we know so far about the Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles coming soon to Netflix globally.

The movie was first announced back in February 2019 and is based upon the TV series which began in 2018 giving the classic franchise of the Ninja Turtles an updated 2D look.

Ant Ward and Andy Suriano who are the architects of the series are involved with the movie. Tony Gama-Lobo and Rebecca May are on board to write.

As part of Netflix’s 2021 movie lineup , Netflix revealed the plotline that the movie will follow:

“The Ninja Turtles are faced with their greatest challenge yet when a mysterious stranger arrives from the future with a dire warning. Leo is forced to rise and lead his brothers, Raph, Donnie, and Mikey in a fight to save the world from a terrifying alien species … the Krang!”

Talking to ComicBook, Curiano touched on the movie when asked a question about whether season 2 and the movie will appeal to new or old fans.

“…with the movie, you kind of have to maybe see what comes down the line. But it’s going to be a bit of both, you know? I think, if you’re watching the show and you’re a fan of the show, you’re going to get a really complete experience with the movie. But it’s also going to be a really exciting stand-alone set piece if you’re not directly familiar with the show.”

We also know that Henry Jackman has been bought on board to compose for the new movie. Jackman is perhaps best known for his work on Kingsman: The Secret Service and X-Men: First Class but also composed music for another younger skewed movie in the form of Ralph Breaks the Internet.

Who is voicing in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?
Among the voice cast for the movie includes most of the TV series voice actors returning.

Ben Schwartz as Leo
Omar Benson Miller as Ralph
Brandon Mychal Smith as Mikey
Josh Brener as Donnie
Kat Graham as April
Eric Bauza as Splinter
Haley Joel Osment was also announced early in 2021 to be part of the voice cast although it’s not known what role he’ll play.

When will Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles be on Netflix?
The movie was originally part of 2021’s movie lineup alongside The Loud House Movie (which did release on Netflix in August 2021). This 2021 release window was widely reported including by the official Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles account.