Shredder, the arch-villain of theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesfranchise, is getting his own solo series, courtesy of IDW Publishing, in a move that fans of the franchise are calling long-overdue. ThisShredderseries is exactly the badass expansion ofTMNTlore in exciting new directions that readers have been craving.
CBR has shared a previewforTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder#1, written by Dan Watters, with art by Michele Bandini, will follow the villain as he seeks to return to power.
“One of the most terrifying villains in the history of comics is back,” the official synopsis reads, “and more deadly than ever!”
Shredder Is Back With A New Solo Series, In An Exciting Expansion Of TMNT Lore
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder#1, Written By Dan Watters; Art By Michele Bandini; Available August 2025 From IDW Publishing
Shredder is the progenitalTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesenemy, their first and arguably greatest foe; the villaindebuted alongside the Turtles in the very first issueof their comic, and he maintains a consistent presence in everyera and incarnation ofTMNT, in every medium, from comics, to film and TV, to video games.
The character has been the focus of stories before, butIDW’s new solo series promises to explore his role inTMNTlore in thrilling new ways.The official synopsis forShredder#1 still leaves fans with more questions than answers, but it does shed some light on what to expect when the issue releases in August.
The synopsis reads:
As a dark new power rises from the shadows of New York, so does a much darker power return to the city’s streets… for revenge. One of the most terrifying villains in the history of comics is back — and more deadly than ever!
Returned forever changed by a maddening ordeal beyond imagining, the Shredder is a man out of time, betrayed by all around him, without the Foot Clan, and quite possibly insane. When one of his former Foot prodigies forms their own rival clan with infernal designs on New York, a recovering Shredder must quest deep into the criminal underworld, where enemies both old and new will discover what defiance will bring them at the end of the Shredder’s blades.
In other words, the series will frame Shredder as its protagonist by pitting him against other villains, including some who used to do his bidding. Yet what that means for Shredder’s overallplace in IDW’sTurtlescanonremains TBD, for the series to reveal as it plays out.
“Shredder” Makes The Villain The Protagonist, But Whether He Becomes A Hero Is An Open Question
IDW’sTMNTcomics have dabbled with the idea of a less-villainous Shredder, particularly out-of-costume, in the form of his alter-ego Oroku Saki. So, the question at the top of many fans' minds iswhether the character’s upcoming solo adventure will find him reclaiming his status as the franchise’s top villain, or continuing on a redemption arc of sorts.
Author Dan Watters has experience writing both villains and heroes, andTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesreaders should anticipate the newShredderseries will be a daring mix of both.
There is merit to both possibilities.TMNT’smore complex portrayal of Shredder has garnered a positive reception, but at the same time, Shredder is regarded as one of the most iconic villains in comic book history. So, it is hard to imagine the character never returning to his roots, and threatening the Turtles once more.
Whatever its endgame might be, though, it seems the series will give fans a version of Shredder they can root for, at least a first.Author Dan Watters has experience writing both villains and heroes, andTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesreaders should anticipate the newShredderseries will be a daring mix of both.
Source:CBR
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder#1will be available July 27, 2025 from IDW Publishing.
