Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesfans were devastated by the abrupt cancelation of theRise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesseries in 2020 since it left so many questions unanswered. However, one question was actually addressed in the series' true ending. A comic epilogue was released in 2024 that solves one of the show’s biggest mysteries at long last, granting both the ninja turtles and their audience alike the closure they’ve yearned for.
In the aptly titled “Farewell” fromTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: 40th Anniversary Comics Celebration#1, written and drawn byRise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesco-showrunner Andy Suriano, a future version of Leonardo decides to travel through time to revisitSplinter’s deathand witness it vicariously through his younger self.
Just as Splinter is preparing to die, he says,“By the way…you have another brother and sister.“The reveal that the ninja turtles have secret siblings may come as a surprise, but this twist was set up in the show prior to its ending. In fact, this comic even shows who the fifth turtle is!
DuringFuture Leonardo’s travels through time, he passes through various instances from the past. At one point, he catches a glimpse of his brothers standing face-to-face with another turtle who has unmasked herself. Judging by the turtles' expressions, she is sharing shocking news, which indicates that this is the first time she has unmasked herself.This fifth ninja turtle is the assistant to Big Mama, one of the series' villains, and she appears in the show as a background character. Her identity as the turtles' sister was teased by the show’s crew following its cancelation, and she has finally been integrated into the series proper.
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesis streaming now on Paramount+
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesspannedtwo seasons, and the second was cut short when the show was “paused” indefinitely. In the wake of this unexpected ending, series writer Ron Corcillo opened up about the fifth turtle that failed to make it to screens onX. In his post, he explained the truth about Big Mama’s assistant, as well as the name she might have gone by: Frida Kahlo.Although she isn’t formally named within continuity, this new turtle has joined the ranks of the turtle sisters who have been featured throughout the TMNT franchise.
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“Frida Kahlo”, or Big Mama’s assistant, isn’t the first turtle sister to make an appearance in a TMNT story.Venus De Milomade history in 1997 as the original female turtle, debuting inNinja Turtles: The Next Mutation.Unfortunately, her inclusion in the roster was poorly received and resulted in her becoming a controversial character among fans. Eventually, Venus returned to the franchise as part of IDW Publishing’s continuity. Rather than being a sibling of the ninja turtles in this iteration, she is a human who undergoes a procedure that turns her into a patchwork turtle mutant.
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Jennikais another human-turned-mutant who is regarded as a “fifth turtle”. Introduced inTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles#51 by Tom Waltz and Ken Garing, she is a Foot Clan assassin who later forges a bond with Splinter. Then, when she’s fatally injured, Leonardo saves her with a blood transfusion that causes her to become a turtle. Having accepted her fate, Jennika now protects mutants as thevigilante Nightwatcher, fighting as bravely as her newfound brothers.Big Mama’s assistant may not have played as vital of a role as her predecessors, yet she’s part of Venus and Jennika’s legacy nonetheless.
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After the original show came to a sudden halt, 2022’sRise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Moviehelped fill the void it left behind, but this comic serves as a more sufficient send-off. From Splinter’s passing to the turtles' reunion with their sister, the series' loose ends are all tied together. The story ends with a “hard pause”, alluding to the term used to describe the cartoon’s initial “pause” and suggesting that this marks the true ending. If so, “Farewell” concludesRise of the TMNTin the perfect way by resolving the mystery of the fifth ninja turtle, though there’s one thread that’s left unexplored.
“Farewell” concludesRise of the TMNTin the perfect way by resolving the mystery of the fifth ninja turtle.
Big Mama’s assistant is confirmed to be the sister Splinter refers to in his dying moments, but the brother he mentions never makes himself known in the series' continuity. Judging by the finality of this conclusion, there likely won’t be a follow-up on that plot, ending the series on a bittersweet note. It seems that the identity of theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' brother will remain a mystery for the foreseeable future, but the long-awaited reveal of the fifth turtle is enough to satisfy fans and allow them to move on just as Future Leonardo does.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: 40th Anniversary Comics Celebration#1is available now from IDW Publishing.
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
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Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an animated action series that reimagines the origins of the titular turtle heroes. The show tells the story of four brothers who have inexplicable ninja abilities and are taken in by an anthropomorphic rat named Splinter, who helps them harness their powers. Joined by new friend April O’Neil, the turtles will fight to save New York from various new foes, including an alchemist known as Baron Draxum.
