Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Casey Jones Solo Series Announced

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Casey Jones - IDW Publishing

IDW is continuing to expand the scope of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles universe. The publisher has announced another new spin-off series set within the current comic book universe. This time, it’s the hockey stick wielding, fan-favorite Casey Jones who will take center stage.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Casey Jones represents the character’s first solo series in nearly 30 years. He first made his debut in 1985 in Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s original series. Ever since, he’s been a mainstay of the TMNT universe. The first issue is set to arrive in September. It follows in the footsteps of the recently announced TMNT: Shredder solo series, which is coming in August. Casey’s solo series will be written by Alex Paknadel (Batman: Urban Legends) with art by Amancay Nahuelpan (Green Arrow). Colorist Luis Antonio Delgado (TMNT: The Last Ronin) is also part of the creative team.

Here is the synopsis for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Casey Jones.

“Now recovered after being shot within the pages of Jason Aaron and Juan Ferreyra’s best-selling TMNT ongoing series, Casey Jones has a second chance at life and he’s going all-out. The vigilante hero’s hitting the streets and doing everything he can to protect the people of New York City, but Raphael and April O’Neil are worried that he’s pushing himself too hard. Things will only get worse as a new strain of mutagen starts changing the landscape of the city and an all-new frightening villain threatens everything Casey believes in.”

IDW rebooted the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles last year with writer Jason Arron. That proved to be a major success. As such, the publisher feels the time is right to capitalize by letting some other characters take the spotlight. Given the success of Aaron’s book and stuff like The Last Ronin, it makes a great deal of sense.

“As a weird British kid who once had the lyrics to ‘Turtle Power’ committed to memory, I feel like life has come full circle,” Paknadel said in a statement. “IDW and a host of talented creators have deepened and enriched Casey’s mythology over many years, but Amancay and I are making our contribution at a uniquely exciting time. We’re going to be taking Casey back to his roots and confronting him with a terrifying, unstoppable villain who preys on the city’s most vulnerable mutants. If this book is half as much fun to read as it is to make, readers are going to have the time of their lives.”

“I’ve been a big fan of Casey Jones since I saw the cartoons and the movie when it first came out,” Nahuelpan added. “Together with Raphael, they’ve always been my favorite TMNT characters and I am a big fan of New York City, so anything related to the Turtles and New York… I’m gonna be more than happy to draw!”

This comes at a time when Ninja Turtles fans have a lot to look forward to. Not only do we have the Mutant Mayhem sequel hitting theaters next year, but Paramount is currently developing an R-rated movie based on The Last Ronin. That best-selling series is also going to be the subject of a new video game. Coupled with these new comics, Donnie, Raph, Leo and Mikey are having quite the moment. Series editor Dave Wielgosz also had the following to say about the new book.

“Casey Jones is one of the best characters in the TMNT universe. He’s loyal, brave, pure of heart, and as we’re going to see in this mini-series… more than a little reckless. Alex and Amancay are going to highlight all the attributes that have made Casey an enduring part of any incarnation of the TMNT he’s been a part of and put him through a challenge the likes of which he’s never been through before. If you love street-level vigilante stories and the world of the TMNT, you’re going to love our book.”