Warning! Spoilers for IDW’sTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles#7 ahead!
Master Splinter is making a major comeback at a pivotal moment in IDW Publishing’s newTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesongoing series –having been dead for years now, the brothers' beloved mentor has just returned from beyond the grave in a shocking new form, as thenew era ofTurtlescanoncontinues to throw unexpected curveballs at longtime fans of the franchise.
As first revealed by IGN on X,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles#7 – written by Jason Aaron, with art by Juan Ferreyra – will include a moment in which all four Turtles, currently operating separately from one another, will be counseled by the spirit of their former teacher and adoptive father.
Notably, the early issues of therelaunchedNinja Turtlesseries have featured Donatello teasing Splinter’s return, but now fans have official confirmation that the character is back, albeit in ghostly, rather than earthly form.
Gone, But Not Forgotten: Splinter’s Memory Lives On As He Appears To The Turtles In Spirit Form
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles#7 – Written By Jason Aaron; Art By Juan Ferreyra; Lettering By Shawn Lee; Available Now From IDW Publishing
Master Splinter hasdied in more than oneNinja Turtlesstory, across different mediums, but his death in IDW’s milestoneTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles#100 hit different, offering up the most definitive and heartbreaking account of the character’s demise. Further, IDW has stuck by its decision to kill off Splinter – even now,as the character makes a postmortem appearance inNinja Turtles#7, as essentially the franchise’s very own version of a “Force Ghost,“coming to his sons to offer wisdom and support when they need it most.
Splinter’s appearance inTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlessuggests a turning point in the franchise’s the latest arc, teasing the eventual reunification of the classic Ninja Turtles line-up.
The start of thelatest volume ofNinja Turtleshas been lauded across the board, from its creative direction to its artistic style, starting with the decision to split up the brothers and send them on their own distinct journeys at the start of the comic’s inaugural arc. A reunion is the inevitable payoff to this creative decision, but the story has been a slow burn so far. Splinter’s appearance inTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlessuggests a turning point in the franchise’s the latest arc, teasing the eventual reunification of the classic Ninja Turtles line-up.
Master Splinter’s Comeback Isn’t A Comic Book Resurrection – It’s Something More Meaningful
The Ninja Turtles Spiritual Advisor
Fans of any longrunning comic book series know that the temptation to kill off major characters for dramatic effect always looms large – yet it is nothing compared to the subsequent desire to bring those characters back for an equally impactful resurrection moment. While most readers would realistically admit theyexpect Splinter to made a full-bodied return toNinja Turtlescanonat some point, the appearance of ghost-Splinter is a solid alternative, which will allow the character to have an influence in the story without fully undoing his stand-out death.
Sorry to Ruin Your Childhood, But the OG Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Were Darker Than You Realize
Those who grew up with the TMNT will be shocked to learn that the turtles were hardened assassins with an affinity for violence in the classic comics.
In a sense, Splinter’s role as a spiritual advisor to the Turtles is a natural evolution of his character, one that honors his classic role in the franchise while acknowledging that to have him guiding the Turtles' actions in perpetuity was a form of narrative stasis the story couldn’t afford. Instead, Jason Aaron’sTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesrelaunch hastaken the idea of the Splinter-less Turtles, adrift without his guidance, to its logical conclusion – and brought him back into the story in a new form at exactly the right time.
