After over 40 years of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles stories it always surprises me comic creators can come up with adventures for the Heroes in a Half-Shell that are new and interesting. Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Coastal Chaos by writer Andrew Joustra and artist Louie Joyce bucks that thought with frightful tale on the coast of the Jersey Shore.
Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water…Tales of the TMNT is back! The Turtles once again head down somewhere grimy, smelly, and wet — the Jersey Shore. (Sorry, New Jerseyans!) What starts as a fun family vacation turns into coastal chaos when Mikey almost gets attacked by something with big teeth, a big dorsal fin, and big… arms?! We’re gonna need a bigger shell…
I mean it makes sense the Turtles would eventually end up on the Jersey Shore, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t surprised. What starts as a fun adventure to the beach turns into the frightful fight against a mutant shark. This TMNT story is a blend of Ninja Turtles and Jaws, even including a few references to the the timeless classic that are perfectly placed.
Continuing the Turtles stories spun out of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem film is genius. Taking the fresh and unique TMNT lore and crafting stories that will relate to the next generation of Turtles fans without having to know years of history allows for easy connection to the material. Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Coastal Chaos feels like the fresh, new TMNT vibe, but with a nod to the classic stories and original tales that made them so special.
Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Coastal Chaos is fun, playful, action-packed, and a bit chaotic (in a good way). Exploring a new location with the brothers and a new antagonist made for a fresh new experience that had me giddy as well as a bit intrigued. There is even a bit of fear with mixing in the mutant shark and being frightened to enter the water.
In addition to a story that itself feels like it spun out of the animated film, the artwork by Joyce is a seamless transition for fans of the movie. A way for those new TMNT fans to continue their love for the feature film with a new and fresh comic book tale. The illustrations are a mix of chaotic lines and vivid colors and had me glued to each and every panel.
Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Coastal Chaos is an absolute blast from start to finish. Writer Andrew Joustra and artist Louie Joyce captures the vibe of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem film and what has made TMNT so enduring over the years. Coastal Chaos is a fresh adventure that proves the TMNT franchise still has fight left in it after over 40 years.
Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Coastal Chaos #1 hits local comic shops on September 9, 2026 from IDW Publishing (FOC: August 3).
Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Coastal Chaos #1 Preview
