Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder #1 is written by Dan Watters and published by IDW Publishing. Artwork is by Michele Bandini, colours by Marco Lesko and letters by Darran Robinson. Main cover art (left) is by Mateus Santolouco.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder #1 is available, from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms. Grab your digital copy from Amazon Comixology UK right here.
Synopsis
As a dark new power rises from the shadows of New York, so does a much darker power return to the city’s streets…for revenge. One of the most terrifying villains in the history of comics is back—and more deadly than ever! Returned forever changed by a maddening ordeal beyond imagining, the Shredder is a man out of time, betrayed by all around him, without the Foot Clan, and quite possibly insane. When one of his former Foot prodigies forms their own rival clan with infernal designs on New York, a recovering Shredder must quest deep into the criminal underworld, where enemies both old and new will discover what defiance will bring them at the end of the Shredder’s blades.
Review
IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe gets a little bigger today with the release of 2025’s first solo spin-off series Shredder. With Casey Jones hot on his heels the Turtle’s legendary adversary is looking to make a bold statement. With writer extraordinaire Dan Watters on board IDW is looking to switch things up by making ol’ Tin Grin a lone wolf searching for his long lost clan.
Returning to the New York City streets after a prolonged trip to… well… hell… Oroku Saki becomes the series fish-out-of-water. Now a man of few words rather than a moustache twirling villain. Saki quickly finds that the Foot Clan he left behind has ceased to exist. When the authorities catch up with him he learns his former pupils are hell bent on a mission of mass destruction. Whilst the police think they can convince Saki to work with them. The legendary Shredder has other plans in mind to recapture his former glory.
Watters approach to storytelling feels inspired by the spaghetti westerns and samurai cinema which influenced Old Man Logan. Actions speak much louder than words as Saki acclimates to his new surroundings. Fight scenes are swift and lethal but almost entirely silent. Even when he’s being interrogated by Agent Avon she does all the talking for most of the scene. The unconventional choices Watters makes are what sells TMNT: Shredder as such a significant story to tell.
This first issue is also notable for the absence of four larger-than-life characters. Watters makes the bold, but entirely necessary choice, to keep the Turtles far away from their old nemesis. It solidifies this as entirely Shredder’s story. Showing that the character is able to stand on his own two-feet. Any fan picking up this book out of curiosity will instantly find themselves hooked on Watters’ captivating insight in to the character’s mind.
Michele Bandini injects real energy in life in to the book. In still moments there’s a gravitas to Saki which feels befitting for a character with his legacy. His 41 years in comic books is palpable on every page, in every line on his worn face. Yet when he swoops in to action, Bandini is able to make Shredder feel the most lethal he has felt in decades. Teamed with colourist Marco Lesko, TMNT: Shredder feels a world away from the main series. The colours are more muted. With just hims of Saki’s classic purple thrown in for good measure. It presents are mature, measured approach to storytelling which fits the overall tone of Watters story.
Verdict
TMNT: Shredder #1 is an audacious debut for the Turtles formidable nemesis. Dan Watters presents Shredder as a weary traveller, he may have little to say. But actions speak louder than words when Oroku Saki quickly proves he’s a razor-sharp and formidable as ever.
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