On Monday, July 22nd, IGN received an exclusive look at a long-awaited crossover. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are teaming up with Naruto on a new adventure. VIZ Media and IDW Publishing announced their collaboration three days before announcing it at Comic-Con 2024. What is in store for this historic ninja tale?
What Is TMNT x Naruto About?
In this new alternate timeline of the original Naruto series, the Hidden Leaf’s Hokage, Tsunade has arranged a meeting with New York’s yellow jumpsuit reporter, April O’Neal. Curious, Naruto and Team 7 (Sasuke, Sakura, Kakashi) attempt to eavesdrop on their conversation.
However, April and Tsunade’s meeting has also attracted the dastardly Foot Clan, the ninja army under the command of the TMNT’s archnemesis, The Shredder. They believed their meeting held information on Baxter Stockman’s research on mutation.Soon, April is caught in the crossfire of ninjas as the Foot Clan tries to retrieve her. Whenever she’s in trouble, the TMNT will appear to the rescue.
The Writer
Caleb Goellner will be in charge of the crossover’s story. He writes for IDW Publishing on Sonic The Hedgehog, Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
On an exclusive with IGN, Goellner excitedly responded on what he thinks about this crossover with VIZ Media. “I am honored to work with the coolest talents in manga and comics. It’s going to be a chakra-fueled adventure in the mutant madness.”
Immersing The Turtles Into Naruto Lore
To celebrate the occasion, TMNT x Naruto fully redesigned the Turtles, April O’Neal, and Master Splinter to blend into the world of Naruto. On the Turtles’ wardrobe, they have a headband plate with what appears to be an apple instead of the iconic Hidden Leaf. The apple represents New York City its nickname is The Big Apple.
Their outfits are heavily inspired by Naruto’s ninja ranking system and characters such as Donatella’s green vest show he is a 3rd-rank ninja or Jonin. It could also be referencing Shikamaru when he reached 2nd rank or Chuunin.
But what’s with the strange Anbu masks Splinter and his half-shelled sons have? In Naruto, the Anbu hide their identities using animal-designed masks. In a world of talking sage frogs and snakes, the TMNT should be able to fit in but they are an exception to the rule as they are not summoning beasts.
Splinter lives by a creed that ninjas must always lurk in the shadows since their enemies are mainly scientists who want their bodies for research to create an army of monstrous soldiers. The Anbu also acts as a ninja village secret service which matches the Turtles’ as they are undercover mutant heroes of New York.
The Artists
The wonderful cover art and the Turtles’ Naruto-inspired designs are all done by Hendry Prasetya with colors provided by Raul Angulo.
Hendry is mainly known for his comic art for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He’s also responsible for the US comic adaptation of Kamen Rider Zero-One.
Raul Angulo is known for his various color palettes for Marvel, IDW Publishing, and BOOM Comics. He was chosen to color for the TMNT x Naruto crossover issue dynamic lighting shown in previous TMNT and Power Ranger Comics.
Not Naruto’s First American Crossover
VIZ Media posted on their Twitter (now X) that the comic will be released on November 13th of this year. The series will feature four comic issues to establish the Turtles’ story in the world of Naruto. TMNT is probably the 3rd official American crossover in over two decades.
His first official American crossover can be found in Nickelodeon’s Toon Weekly from the mid-2000s. The magazine featured Naruto and Lisa Simpson hanging out at the beach on the front cover. On the turn page, Naruto gives Lisa Karate lessons while her brother Bart is in his teenage years sharing a Squishee drink with Sakura Haruno. His 2nd American crossover goes to the multi-platform shooter Fortnite Season 8 in 2021 as a playable character.
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