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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder #1-6
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder, Vol. 1
One of the most terrifying villains in the history of comics is back—and more deadly than ever! Why is he here and what path will he take? Find out as the Shredder gets his own series!
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! Long a nemesis of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Shredder has returned forever changed by a maddening ordeal beyond imagining—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.
Collects issues #1–6 of the comic series by Dan Watters, the celebrated writer of Batman: Dark Patterns and Nightwing, with artist Michele Bandini (Batman Incorporated, Spider-Man: City at War) to tell the rags-to-revenge story of the ultimate ronin.
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! Long a nemesis of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Shredder has returned forever changed by a maddening ordeal beyond imagining—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.
Collects issues #1–6 of the comic series by Dan Watters, the celebrated writer of Batman: Dark Patterns and Nightwing, with artist Michele Bandini (Batman Incorporated, Spider-Man: City at War) to tell the rags-to-revenge story of the ultimate ronin.
- GenresGraphic NovelsComics
160 pages, Paperback
First published August 4, 2026
About the author
Dan Watters
433 books164 followersDan Watters is a UK based comic book writer. His first book, LIMBO, was released through Image Comics in 2016. He has since written THE SHADOW at Dynamite Comics, and ASSASSIN’S CREED and WOLFENSTEIN for Titan Comics.
Currently he is writing the relaunch of LUCIFER for Vertigo’s Sandman Universe, as well as DEEP ROOTS for Vault Comics. Deeply rooted in London Town, and firmly of the Devil's party.
Currently he is writing the relaunch of LUCIFER for Vertigo’s Sandman Universe, as well as DEEP ROOTS for Vault Comics. Deeply rooted in London Town, and firmly of the Devil's party.
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Review of advance copy
I came into this series really wanting to finally "love" Oroku Saki. On paper, his aura is unmatched, and this volume starts with an incredible "Old Man Logan" energy that immediately hooked me. Unfortunately, as the series progressed, the grounded ninja noir I was enjoying got buried under a mountain of supernatural weirdness.
The first half of this volume is stellar. Seeing an aged, grizzled Saki clearing out buildings and assisting law enforcement to hunt his own rogue minions was a fresh direction. There are some genuinely cold moments here—specifically when he rips apart a high-tech exosuit just to keep the manual claws and helmet, declaring that once the tech is gone, all that matters is flesh and blood.
The art remains consistent throughout, with some uniquely framed panels that make Shredder look as imposing as ever. When he’s just being a badass businessman or a lethal martial artist farming aura in police custody, the book is a 4-star experience.
If you aren't caught up on Shredder in Hell or deep TMNT lore like me, be prepared to be confused. This volume has a bizarre obsession with worms that goes from a strange background detail to a full-blown supporting character. By Issue 5, the story starts feeling like a fever dream.
The shift toward the supernatural really killed the momentum for me. While the historical romance arc in the snowy wilderness was a nice touch, the climax involves the villain essentially turning into a Kaguya-style entity. It felt less like a gritty Shredder story and more like a lore-heavy trek that relies too much on prior knowledge I just didn't have.
The cameos (including the Turtles themselves) and the fight with the Foot Mystics in Times Square are highlights, but they aren't enough to save a plot that feels increasingly disjointed.
It’s been a decent episodic distraction, but it hasn't done enough to keep me hooked for the long haul. It’s a beautifully drawn mess that starts as a character study and ends as a supernatural trip I didn't sign up for. Stick to the first few issues if you want the "Old Man Saki" vibes, but feel free to hop off after Vol. 1.
The first half of this volume is stellar. Seeing an aged, grizzled Saki clearing out buildings and assisting law enforcement to hunt his own rogue minions was a fresh direction. There are some genuinely cold moments here—specifically when he rips apart a high-tech exosuit just to keep the manual claws and helmet, declaring that once the tech is gone, all that matters is flesh and blood.
The art remains consistent throughout, with some uniquely framed panels that make Shredder look as imposing as ever. When he’s just being a badass businessman or a lethal martial artist farming aura in police custody, the book is a 4-star experience.
If you aren't caught up on Shredder in Hell or deep TMNT lore like me, be prepared to be confused. This volume has a bizarre obsession with worms that goes from a strange background detail to a full-blown supporting character. By Issue 5, the story starts feeling like a fever dream.
The shift toward the supernatural really killed the momentum for me. While the historical romance arc in the snowy wilderness was a nice touch, the climax involves the villain essentially turning into a Kaguya-style entity. It felt less like a gritty Shredder story and more like a lore-heavy trek that relies too much on prior knowledge I just didn't have.
The cameos (including the Turtles themselves) and the fight with the Foot Mystics in Times Square are highlights, but they aren't enough to save a plot that feels increasingly disjointed.
It’s been a decent episodic distraction, but it hasn't done enough to keep me hooked for the long haul. It’s a beautifully drawn mess that starts as a character study and ends as a supernatural trip I didn't sign up for. Stick to the first few issues if you want the "Old Man Saki" vibes, but feel free to hop off after Vol. 1.
August 9, 2026
Honestly surprised it took this long for Shredder to get his own ongoing. I suppose he's usually poised as the villain for the Turtles, so that doesn't really lend itself to getting into his head a bit, but now that he's been to hell and back, there's a lot more leeway to be had.
Shredder gets recruited by Darkwater to help take down a new splinter faction of the Foot who are building an extradimensional bomb - and of course, the best person to hunt the Foot is the man who made them who they are. These six issues showcase the brutality and the code of honor that make Oroku Saki such an enduring character, and while we don't get too many glimpses under the hood (both physically and literally), the POV Darkwater agent character adds some interesting wrinkles to the proceedings that justify telling the tale from her side instead of his.
The art reminded me a lot of classic Mark Bagley, which, considering half the book is finished by longtime Bagley inker Scott Hanna, makes perfect sense. It's dynamic, clear, and barely ever skimps on the backgrounds - ticks all my boxes.
Shredder gets recruited by Darkwater to help take down a new splinter faction of the Foot who are building an extradimensional bomb - and of course, the best person to hunt the Foot is the man who made them who they are. These six issues showcase the brutality and the code of honor that make Oroku Saki such an enduring character, and while we don't get too many glimpses under the hood (both physically and literally), the POV Darkwater agent character adds some interesting wrinkles to the proceedings that justify telling the tale from her side instead of his.
The art reminded me a lot of classic Mark Bagley, which, considering half the book is finished by longtime Bagley inker Scott Hanna, makes perfect sense. It's dynamic, clear, and barely ever skimps on the backgrounds - ticks all my boxes.
Review of advance copy
(Early rating and review from reading the monthly single issues)
Super Spy Shredder fighting other villains, that's a great concept. And the final conflict at the end of the first story arc? Really, really cool. Fascinating character development that traces all the way back to Oroku Saki's IDW origins...
Not to be missed!
Super Spy Shredder fighting other villains, that's a great concept. And the final conflict at the end of the first story arc? Really, really cool. Fascinating character development that traces all the way back to Oroku Saki's IDW origins...
Not to be missed!
Review of advance copy
How did they manage to make one of the coolest characters in comics this boring. Like, mind numbingly so. It’s not as bad as the cancelled Casey Jones book or Mutant Nation, but jeez. Shredder is supposed to be that guy, not whatever this is
Review of advance copy
This volume starts slow and ends very high. I ranked it in single issues starting at 3 and ending with 5 on #6.
August 12, 2026
Awesome to see Shredder in the new TMNT comic line and his reason for returning is great. Revenge quest is always a good storyline and this character serves it well.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews