Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 5 is written by Andrew Joustra and published by IDW Publishing. Artwork by Louie Joyce. Colours by Valentina Pinto. Main cover art (left) is by Louie Joyce.
Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 5 is available from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.
Synopsis
New tales of the TMNT based on the newest Ninja Turtles animated series!
Fugitoid and the Turtles get a surprise visitor when Agent Lonae shows up on their doorstep. The E.P.F., Agent Blanque, Bishop, and Zog are closing in on our heroes. Will the boys hunker down to defend their home and their new robot friend or take the fight to the enemy? Find out in this issue featuring new original takes and designs on classic legacy Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters.
By debut comics writer Andrew Joustra (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Chrome Alone 2 – Lost in New Jersey) and neon-punk comics artist Louie Joyce (Godzilla: Skate or Die, Haphaven, Past the Last Mountain).
Review
Andrew Joustra’s debut run continues to deliver an exhilarating ride, further proving his value to the franchise and his firm grasp on everyone’s favourite heroes in a half-shell. He balances wit and humour with thrilling action while still carving out space for deep, introspective beats—no easy task—and he pulls it off with confidence.
Joustra clearly has a blast writing Tales of the TMNT. Every panel carries an earnest energy that radiates his enthusiasm for these characters and their world. After successfully introducing an updated Fugitoid (Honeycutt) in the previous issue, he keeps the momentum rolling by bringing another icon into the fold: Zog. The playful way the Turtles try to identify him cleverly nods to the character’s tangled history, referencing everything from his alien origins to genetic experiments involving mutated Triceratops DNA.
As the stakes escalate in Issue #5, the tension never overwhelms the character work. The Turtles and Honeycutt race to destroy the Meta-Wave Helmet before Agent Blanque and Bishop unleash it, but the story still finds room to breathe.
Despite Zog’s arrival, Honeycutt remains the emotional core. The narrative slows just enough to explore his existential crisis about his new robotic identity, culminating in a particularly touching moment with Splinter. It also gives him space to confront Lonae as they grapple with the betrayal revealed in the previous issue.
I always appreciate writers who know when to let the art do the heavy lifting. With Louie Joyce’s art and Valentina Pinto’s colours, Joustra wisely trusts the visuals to carry the emotional weight. Too often, comics crowd action scenes with quips or overload quiet moments with internal monologues, but that never happens here.
One scene with Fugitoid could easily have been bogged down in text, yet the art alone conveys urgency, regret, and uncertainty without unnecessary signposting. It’s a refreshing approach that makes me even more excited to see what this team does next.
Balancing goofy antics with high-stakes drama without letting the tone feel uneven is no small feat. Tales of the TMNT continues to walk that fine line, staying accessible for younger readers while remaining deeply engaging for more mature audiences. Joustra and the entire creative team deliver another spectacular issue.
Verdict
Tales of the TMNT #05 is a strong issue that proves the Joustra/Joyce team is a perfect match for the Turtles.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
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