A 6th turtle is poised to join the Hamatao Clan, or re-join in a sense, in IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT).
The TMNT have always been known for the four brothers, Michaelangelo, Raphael, Donatello, and Leonardo. All the movies star them, and most of the series. Even all of the comic books. That is, until a fifth turtle was added in 1997 in Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation. Her name was Venus de Milo. She was a magical addition to the Hamato Clan, who unfortunately was maligned with a very botched effort at a TMNT series. Fast forward 24 years later and the mystical terrapin is poised to join the Hamato Clan once again.
Venus de Milo is Returning to the TMNT
IDW’s TMNT run has been nothing short of phenomenal. It is, in my opinion, the best ongoing mainstream series. It doesn’t suffer from retcons, elaborate events outside of their comics that shift things and it also has an impeccable timeline that ties it and its crossovers together. The most impressive part of the series, it ties in all aspects of TMNT lore from the comics and cartoons. Everything TMNT prior to 2011 has been included/homaged/retrofitted. That is except for Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation.
RELATED: The Last Ronin NECA Figures Unveiled at Toy Fair 2022
Yesterday, io9 announced that the comic’s current arc- from writer Sophie Campbell, artist Pablo Tunica, colorist Ronda Pattison, and letterer Shawn lee- will culminate in IDW’s introduction of Venus. The true first female member of the TMNT. Readers of the comics likely noticed her tease in Issue 117 (pictured below). There’s also a tease of one more turtle to be added, whose focus appears to be archery. But sadly, no additional information has been released since.
But back to the reintroduction of Venus in IDW’s TMNT. Venus will make her official debut next month in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #127 by Campbell, Tunica, Pattison, and Lee. As the Turtles are struggling to keep the peace in Mutant Town, they begin investigating a mysterious surgeon named Dr. Jasper Barlow, a mutant doctor who has been offering human skin grafts onto willing mutant residents. And from the look of things, Barlow is doing a lot more than that.
It goes without saying, the lost turtle who drifted from the other four bought at the pet shop origin is not happening this time around. Venus looks to be the product of some horrible science and magic. Her meditating next to Bludgeon in her original tease does hint toward her mystical original incarnation, but Pablo Tunica’s cover for TMNT #128 above and Sophi Campbell’s official design below point to a very different origin. As terrifying as her story appears to be, she has one of the coolest and most unique Turtle designs ever.
“I’d been trying to make a Venus comeback happen for a while. I almost can’t believe it’s finally happening!”
Sophie Campbell, in press release to io9
“It’s been amazing to watch Sophie Campbell continue our long-running TMNT series with such careful consideration and commitment to the kind of character-driven storylines that have always been the foundation for what makes all things Turtles so beloved and eterna. And now she’s crafted a clever plan to introduce a character from the past that many thought would never see the light of day again. She’s doing it in fine fashion, continuing the IDW tradition of making the old feel both familiar and refreshing all at once… just in time for our big Armageddon Game event, no less!”
Tom Waltz, same io9 press release
The current arc will end with Issue #130, but Venus’s story will continue in IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Free Comic Book Day issue, set to release on May 7, 2022. That issue will also set up the next event for the ongoing series, Armageddon Game, set to begin later this year. Be sure to pick up the official debut of Venus in TMNT #127 at your local comic shop when it releases next month. And check out Sophie Campbell’s full cover artwork for the FCBD issue below.
Excited to be reintroduced to Venus? How dark do you think her new origin will be? Will all the Venus haters ever get over it? Let us know what you think in the comments below and be sure to share all your theories with us on Twitter.
Source: io9 (Plus all Venus images)
KEEP READING: Exclusive Interview: TMNT’s Ernie Reyes Jr. Paves Way for Filipino Americans In Hollywood
