Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #13 Review

TMNT #13 pulls up like the Turtles just kicked in the sewer grate and said, “WE BACK, BABY!” and honestly, this whole issue feels like somebody hit the franchise with a defibrillator made out of pizza grease, Brooklyn attitude, and pure storytelling voltage. Gene Luen Yang and Freddie E. Williams II walk in like they own the lair, and by page three, you’re nodding like, “Yeah… yeah, these dudes get it.”

The magic starts right where it always should with the brothers talking trash like it’s their love language. Every line snaps. Every joke lands. Every little dig reminds you that these four knuckleheads ain’t just a team they’re a dysfunctional family powered by ninjutsu and emotional support slices. You can smell the authenticity through the ink. Michelangelo’s cracking jokes, Raphael’s low-key offended, Donnie’s explaining something nobody asked about, and Leo’s trying to hold it all together before somebody accidentally breaks a window. Classic Turtle energy. Chef’s kiss.

And then BOOM here comes Ujigami. My dude strolls into the story like he’s been training his whole life just to steal the spotlight. Forget “new character” this feels like a myth walking into the room. He’s sharp, deadly, mysterious, and rocking that ninja aesthetic like he was carved out of shadow by an angry swordsmith. You see one panel of this guy and instantly think, “Oh… oh this is about to get messy.” And then the cliffhanger hits and suddenly you’re gripping the comic like it just insulted your mother. It’s that serious. This ain’t some cameo. This is that “shake the franchise” kind of introduction. Monumental energy.

The whole issue is a visual workout. Freddie E. Williams II doesn’t draw action he detonates it. Punches feel like they echo. Kicks look like they break sound barriers. Mutants, soldiers, weapons, chaos every scene is layered like a New York bodega sandwich. Andrew Dalhouse’s colors keep it grounded, gritty, and textured. No neon shortcuts just depth, mood, and craft. Meanwhile, letterer Shawn Lee is doing his OWN stunt work. Ujigami’s dialogue balloons are rimmed in red like a warning label on a weapon. A “cowabunga!” pops exactly the way God and Eastman intended.

And if you’ve been away from the series for a minute? No stress. TMNT #13 is one of those rare issues that says, “Relax bro, we’ll catch you up without making you feel like homework is involved.” You might not know every gangster, every subplot, every mutant beef but you’re in good hands. The humor hooks you, the action slaps you awake, and Ujigami grabs you by the collar and says, “Keep reading.”

You still get all the TMNT goodies such as pizza, beloved allies, mutant smackdowns, human goons catching hands everything that makes this world feel like a chaotic Saturday night with reptiles who refuse to grow up. But Yang and Williams don’t just play the hits they remix them with style, confidence, and that spark that tells you the next arc is about to be a ride.

By the time you turn the final page, one thought hits you: the future of the Ninja Turtles ain’t just promising it’s crackling with electricity. TMNT #13 feels like the start of a whole new era, and Ujigami? Yeah… that ninja is about to change everything. Grab a slice and get ready, because this run is about to go wild.

SCORE:
3.5/5

Writer: Gene Luen Yang
Artist: Freddie E. Williams II
Publisher: IDW Publishing

Author Profile

Al Mega

I'm Al Mega the CEO of Comic Crusaders, CEO of the Undercover Capes Podcast Network, CEO of Geekery Magazine & Owner of Splintered Press (coming soon). I'm a fan of comics, cartoons and old school video games. Make sure to check out our podcasts/vidcasts and more!