IDW Announces The New, Ongoing ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe’ Series

Ever since it first launched, IDW's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series has been too big for a single ongoing title. In what has to be one of the most impressive editorial feats of the past few years, the massive story that was being told over the course of the series was spread throughout multiple titles, weaving through the main title and then splitting off to books like the one-shot Micro-Series or minis like Casey and April -- and as astounding as it was that it all held together, I'll admit that as a reader, it was a little bit of a pain to flip back and forth through at least two collections while trying to figure out a reading order.

According to IGN, it seems like they're going ahead and putting everything into one official second ongoing series: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe, which kicks off in August with an issue that features Kevin Eastman and Bill Sienkiewicz teaming up for a brand-new backup story.

The lead story will come courtesy of Paul Allor and Damian Couceiro. Here's the official solicitation:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe #1

Paul Allor, Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz (w) • Damian Couceiro, Kevin Eastman, Bill Sienkiewicz (a) • Freddie Williams (c)
Introducing a new era in TMNT! This series will explore characters and story-lines that are pivotal to the IDW TMNT universe! When a mysterious new mutant targets Baxter Stockman, it will be up to the TMNT to reluctantly save him. Little does everyone know that a larger trap is being laid by a new arch-foe! Plus a back-up story from TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman and comics legend Bill Sienkiewicz!

FC • 40 pages • $4.99

While the existence of Universe will no doubt streamline things, I can't imagine that it'll fully replace the miniseries and one-shots that spin off from the main title -- we have Bebop and Rocksteady Destroy Everything coming up soon to look forward to, after all. But still, I hope that now, figuring out a reading order will be a little easier, even if "oh, just read it all" is still the best approach to one of the best books going.