With the next Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x naruto crossover, Heroes in a Half Shell continues its tradition as masters of the multiverse, this time sporting a new look that brings together the iconic styles of two legendary ninja franchises in what is sure to be one of the year’s must-read titles.
As announced earlier this year, the four-issue collaboration between IDW Publishing and VIZ media will see the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles team up with teenagers Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruni and their teacher Kakashi Hatake as they investigate why the sinister Foot Clan of Shredder suddenly became interested in Konoha’s hidden ninja village. Now, fans can see how the series is redesigning the Turtles, with and without Anbu masks.
Since its announcement, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto crossover sparked intense interest among fans of both franchises. A burning question within the fandom is whether the creators will be able to successfully merge the distinct elements of the Turtles and Team 7. Judging by the recently revealed cover art, fans can rest assured that the series is in good hands.
Perhaps the most striking influence of Naruto is Prasetya’s use of Anbu masks, a trademark of the elite “ninja’s ninja” in the Naruto universe. To maintain their distinct personalities, Prasetya expertly customizes each mask, reflecting the Turtles’ unique features through expressive eye designs and painted mouth details.
THE Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Debut your official naruto Redesigns
Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo form an incredible Shinobi unit
While fans of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles we’re used to seeing various interpretations of the pizza-loving, kick-ass quartet, the same can’t be said for naruto. Since its debut in 1999, the series has been illustrated exclusively by its creator, Masashi Kishimoto, and his successor, Mikio Ikemoto. This consistency gave naruto a distinct and iconic visual style that fans are particularly attached to. Fortunately – although neither Kishimoto nor Ikemoto are involved in illustrating the collaboration – new covers capture the iconic naruto style.
While naruto deviates from the traditional representation of a ninja, it has established a unique aesthetic over the years. This includes a fusion of traditional Japanese clothing and modern practicality such as military-inspired attire, comfortable footwear and functional accessories such as bandages and sports sleeves. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto incorporated these characteristics perfectly into the Turtles’ designs for the series, with art by Jorge Jiménez, Hendry Prasetya, Dan Duncan, Andres Moncayo, and Vincenzo Federici showing off their new ninja costume.
The turtles now sports classic narutoshinobi-style vests, hip pouches tied to one leg with duct tape, and fingerless gloves, matching the naruto aesthetics of the universe with the unique personalities of the Turtles. In Jiménez’s cover illustration, the narutoThe Turtle-inspired elements are even more pronounced. Alongside the shinobi vests, gloves, and tool bags, the normally barefoot turtles are shown wearing the signature narutosandal-boot style. They also wear the iconic engraved headbands worn by shinobi of the Five Hidden Villages during missions.
Perhaps the most striking naruto influence is Prasetya’s use of Anbu masks (above), a trademark of the elite “ninja ninja” in the Naruto universe. This choice aligns perfectly with the Turtles’ focus on stealth and covert operations. However, to maintain their distinct personalities, Prasetya expertly customizes each mask, reflecting the Turtles’ unique features through expressive eye designs and painted mouth details. This thoughtful touch not only honors the naruto aesthetic, but also pays homage to Kishimoto and Ikemoto’s characteristic emphasis on facial expressions in their artwork.
From Power Rangers to He-Man, the turtles are always ready to change their clothes
Although this marks the naruto the franchise’s first major crossover comic/manga series, it’s far from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles‘first venture into collaborative storytelling. The Turtles are the “poster children” of the multiverse crossover. Over the years, the Turtles have teamed up with a wide range of heroes from across pop culture, including Batman, Archie Comics, Power Rangers, and the Masters of the Universe. One of the most interesting aspects of these crossovers was the Turtles’ flexible costumes, which often adapt to reflect their collaborators’ aesthetics.
For example, at the intersection of 2019 and the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangersthe Turtles donned their own Ranger X battle suits, complete with custom helmets in classic Power Ranger style. More recently, at this year’s intersection with He-manthe Turtles adopted battle armor and weapons that gave them a distinct Masters of the Universe aesthetic while maintaining their iconic Turtle personalities.
However, as the art of visualization of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto The crossover reveals that the shared shinobi ethos between the two teams has led to perhaps the most seamless transformation yet. The “naruto-fication” of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles may be the best example of integrating the essence of two iconic franchises.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto will be available for purchase on November 20, 2024.