A Missing Character Finally Returns In The Shocking TMNT #12

1 day ago 2

John Dodge is an MTV Writer for CBR who specializes in movies, television, comics, and pop culture. He has a deep knowledge of franchises like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Marvel, and DC Comics, along with a passion for indie and horror titles. An expert on obscure productions from the ’80s and ’90s, John is known for his encyclopedic recall of cult classics like Beetleborgs.

The most important ally the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have ever known is finally back, and the Heroes in a Half Shell have no idea.

After finally bringing and end to the threat posed by a rampaging Hieronymous Hale, the corrupt former District Attorney turned ever-shifting mutant chimera, the titular heroes of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #12 (by Jason Aaron, Juan Ferreyra, and Shawn Lee) are finally able to settle down for a moment and come to terms with everything that has happened to them over the past year. In particular, that means coming to terms with both Splinter's passing and the fact that they cannot bring him back. Of course, that doesn't mean resurrecting Splinter is entirely out of the question, at least not where Karai is concerned, though why exactly she would want to bring her old adversary back to life remains to be seen.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #12

Written by JASON AARON
Art by JUAN FERREYRA
Letters by SHAWN LEE
Main cover art by JORGE FORNÉS
Variant covers by KEVIN EASTMAN; JUAN FERREYRA; JONBOY MEYERS; DAVID LAFUENTE; JACOB EDGAR; IVAN TALAVERA; and CEDRIC POULAT

The adoptive or reincarnated father of the Heroes in a Half Shell, depending on the timeline in question, the mutant rat known as Splinter was once Hamato Yoshi. In his past life, as laid out in the ongoing version of the story from IDW Publishing, Yoshi was a close friend of Oroku Saki, who turned on him and his sons after the future Shredder's increasing malevolence was openly questioned. When Yoshi and his sons were reincarnated in the modern day as test subjects in StockGen, it wasn't long before they were mutated into the forms that fans know best today.

While Splinter served as a key part of IDW Publishing's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles saga for years, his prominence took a nosedive after the character heroically sacrificed his own life to defeat the immortal Dragon set to invade New York. Although Splinter has been seen in the form of a spirit since his demise, his death still cast a dark shadow over the rest of the Splinter Clan. Donatello, in particular, has spent recent months obsessing over a dead rat that he was convinced was his deceased father, much to the concern of the rest of the Splinter Clan.

Not only does Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #12 mark the return of Splinter, it marks the end of Jason Aaron's fan-favorite run on the series. Stepping into helm Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles going forward is critically acclaimed writer Gene Luen Yang, who said the opportunity was "an honor." Speaking to CBR, Yang stated, "It’s amazing just to get to play in this sandbox. I have childhood memories of watching the old ’80s cartoon with my brother and reading the Mirage Studios comics at a friend’s house. Then, when I was in my 20s, I got my start as a comics self-publisher with a grant from the Xeric Foundation, a non-profit founded by Peter Laird." Yang added, "I owe so much to the Turtles."

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #12 is on sale now from IDW Publishing.