The IDW TMNT continuity timeline

Ever since completing my Mirage TMNT reading order and Archie TMNT Adventures reading order, some folks asked that I do the same for the IDW TMNT series, which has been growing increasingly more complicated.  So what they hey.

For reference's sake, IDW has been releasing their own line of chronological hard cover collections called "TMNT: The IDW Collection".  I'll try to align with that reading order if the collections ever end up contradicting my order, but so far that hasn't been a problem.

CHANGE IS CONSTANT and A LOT TO LEARN

TMNT #1 (review)

TMNT #2 (review)

TMNT #3 (review)

TMNT #4 (review)
TMNT 30th Anniversary Special - "A Lot to Learn" (review)

ENEMIES OLD, ENEMIES NEW, HEROES MICRO (partial) and INFESTATION 2

TMNT #5 (review)

Micro-Series #1: Raphael (review)

Micro-Series #2: Michelangelo (review)

TMNT #6 (review)

Micro-Series #3: Donatello (review)

Infestation 2: TMNT #1 (review)

Infestation 2: TMNT #2 (review)

TMNT #7 (review)

TMNT #8 (review)

SHADOWS OF THE PAST and HEROES MICRO (partial)

Micro-Series #4: Leonardo (review)

TMNT #9 (review)

TMNT #10 (review)

Micro-Series #5: Splinter (review)

TMNT #11 (review)

TMNT #12 (review)

SINS OF THE FATHERS, HEROES MICRO (partial), ANNUAL 2012 and BLOOD BROTHERS

Micro-Series #6: Casey Jones (review)

TMNT #13 (review)

TMNT #14 (review)

TMNT Annual 2012 (review)
Micro-Series #7: April (review)

TMNT #15 (review)

TMNT #16 (review)

KRANG WAR, HEROES MICRO (partial) and VILLAINS MICRO (partial)

Micro-Series #8: Fugitoid (review)

TMNT #17 (review)

TMNT #18 (review)

TMNT #19 (review)

TMNT #20 (review)
Villains Micro-Series #1: Krang (review)
Villains Micro-Series #2: Baxter (review)

THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE FOOT CLAN

The Secret History of the Foot Clan #1 (review)

The Secret History of the Foot Clan #2 (review)

The Secret History of the Foot Clan #3 (review)

The Secret History of the Foot Clan #4 (review)

CITY FALL and VILLAINS MICRO (partial)

TMNT #21 (review)

TMNT #22 (review)
Villains Micro-Series #3: Old Hob (review)

TMNT #23 (review)

TMNT #24 (review)
Villains Micro-Series #4: Alopex (review)
Villains Micro-Series #5: Karai (review)
TMNT #25 (review)
Villains Micro-Series #6: Hun (review)
TMNT #26 (review)
Villains Micro-Series #7: Bebop and Rocksteady (review)
TMNT #27 (review)
TMNT #28 (review)
Villains Micro-Series #8: Shredder (review)


NORTHAMPTON and UTROM EMPIRE

Note: For best reading order, read "Utrom Empire" all together after "Northampton".

TMNT #29 (review)
Utrom Empire #1 (review)
TMNT #30 (review)
Utrom Empire #2 (review)
TMNT #31 (review)
TMNT #32 (review)
Utrom Empire #3 (review)

ANNUAL 2014 and MONSTERS, MISFITS AND MADMEN

TMNT Annual 2014 (review)
TMNT #33 (review)
TMNT #34 (review)
TMNT #35 (review)
TMNT #36 (review)


NEW MUTANT ORDER and TURTLES IN TIME

Note: #37 and Turtles in Time take place concurrently so it doesn't matter which you read first.

TMNT #37 (review)
Turtles in Time #1 (review)
Turtles in Time #2 (review)
Turtles in Time #3 (review)
Turtles in Time #4 (review)
TMNT #38 (review)
TMNT #39 (review)
TMNT #40 (review)


TMNT/GHOSTBUSTERS

TMNT/Ghostbusters #1 (review)
TMNT/Ghostbusters #2 (review)
TMNT/Ghostbusters #3 (review)
TMNT/Ghostbusters #4 (review)


ATTACK ON TECHNODROME and MUTANIMALS

Note: For best reading order, read "Mutanimals" all together after "Attack on Technodrome".

TMNT #41 (review)
TMNT #42 (review)
TMNT #43 (review)
Mutanimals #1 (review)
TMNT #44 (review)
Mutanimals #2 (review)
Mutanimals #3 (review)
Mutanimals #4 (review)


VENGEANCE and CASEY & APRIL

Note: For best reading order, read "Casey & April" all together after "Vengeance".

TMNT #45 (review)
TMNT #46 (review)
Free Comic Book Day 2015 (review)
TMNT #47 (review)
Casey & April #1 (review)
TMNT #48 (review)
TMNT #49 (review)
TMNT #50 (review)
Casey & April #2 (review)
Casey & April #3 (review)
Casey & April #4 (review)


ORDER FROM CHAOS

TMNT #51 (review)
TMNT #52 (review)
TMNT #53 (review)
TMNT #54 (review)
TMNT #55 (review)


LEATHERHEAD and FOX HUNT

TMNT #56 (review)
TMNT #57 (review)
TMNT #58 (review)
TMNT #59 (review)
TMNT #60 (review)


CHASING PHANTOMS

TMNT #61 (review)
TMNT #62 (review)
TMNT #63 (review)
TMNT #64 (review)


BEBOP & ROCKSTEADY DESTROY EVERYTHING!

Bebop & Rocksteady Destroy Everything! #1 (review)
Bebop & Rocksteady Destroy Everything! #2 (review)
Bebop & Rocksteady Destroy Everything! #3 (review)
Bebop & Rocksteady Destroy Everything! #4 (review)
Bebop & Rocksteady Destroy Everything! #5 (review)


THE WAR TO COME and INSIDE OUT (back-up)

Note: For best reading order, read all of "The War to Come" (the main story) before "Inside Out" (the back-up).

TMNT Universe #1 main story (review)
TMNT Universe #2 main story (review)
TMNT Universe #3 main story (review)
TMNT Universe #4 main story (review)
TMNT Universe #1 back-up (review)
TMNT Universe #2 back-up (review)
TMNT Universe #3 back-up (review)
TMNT Universe #4 back-up (review)
TMNT Universe #5 back-up (review)


CHRISTMAS SPECIAL, URBAN LEGENDS, THE ROT IN THE SHELL, DESPERATE MEASURES-PROLOGUE, TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA PEPPERONI (back-up), and WHAT IS NINJA? (back-up)

TMNT #65 (review)
TMNT Universe #5 main story (review)
TMNT Universe #6 main story (review)
TMNT #66 (review)
TMNT Universe #10 back-up (review)
TMNT Universe #6 back-up (review)
TMNT Universe #7 back-up (review)
TMNT Universe #8 back-up (review)
TMNT Universe #9 back-up (review)


METALHEAD 2.0 and DESPERATE MEASURES

TMNT Universe #7 main story (review)
TMNT Universe #8 main story (review)
TMNT #67 (review)
TMNT #68 (review)
TMNT #69 (review)
TMNT #70 (review)


TOAD BARON'S BALL,  PANTHEON FAMILY REUNION and NAMAZU

TMNT Universe #9 main story (review)
TMNT Universe #10 main story (review)
TMNT #71 (review)
TMNT #72 (review)
TMNT/Usagi Yojimbo #1 (review)


THE JERSEY DEVIL, KARAI'S PATH, PREY (back-up), SERVICE ANIMALS and THROUGH RED EYES (back-up)

TMNT Universe #11 main story (review)
TMNT Universe #12 main story (review)
TMNT Universe #13 main story (review)
TMNT Universe #14 main story (review)
TMNT Universe #15 main story (review)
TMNT Universe #12 back-up (review)
TMNT Universe #13 back-up (review)
TMNT Universe #14 back-up (review)
TMNT Universe #15 back-up (review)
TMNT Universe #19 main story (review)
TMNT Universe #20 main story (review)
TMNT Universe #20 back-up (review)


TRIAL OF KRANG and DIMENSION X

Free Comic Book Day 2017 (review)
TMNT #73 (review)
TMNT: Dimension X #1 (review)
TMNT: Dimension X #2 (review)
TMNT: Dimension X #3 (review)
TMNT: Dimension X #4 (review)
TMNT: Dimension X #5 (review)
TMNT #74 (review)
TMNT #75 (review)


TMNT/GHOSTBUSTERS 2

TMNT/Ghostbusters 2 #1 (review)
TMNT/Ghostbusters 2 #2 (review)
TMNT/Ghostbusters 2 #3 (review)
TMNT/Ghostbusters 2 #4 (review)
TMNT/Ghostbusters 2 #5 (review)


FROM THE HEART, FOR THE HERD, TRICERATOTS! (back-up), INVASION OF THE TRICERATONS,  MONSTER HUNT, MUTAGEN MAINTENANCE (back-up), HOW WOODY SPENT HIS TRICERATON INVASION (back-up), and LOST CAUSES

Note: "From the Heart, for the Herd" and "Triceratots!" take place in the distant past, but their narratives are a necessary companion for the "Invasion of the Triceratons" storyline.

TMNT Universe #16 main story (review)
TMNT Universe #17 main story (review)
TMNT Universe #16 back-up (review)
TMNT Universe #17 back-up (review)
TMNT #76 (review)
TMNT #77 (review)
TMNT Universe #18 main story (review)
TMNT Universe #18 back-up (review)
TMNT #78 (review)
TMNT Universe #21 back-up (review)
TMNT #79 (review)
TMNT #80 (review)
TMNT Universe #21 main story (review)
TMNT Universe #22 main story (review)

DANGEROUS WATERS (back-up), NOBODY CARES (back-p), KINGDOM OF RATS, and DONATELLO MACRO-SERIES

TMNT Universe #22 back-up (review)

TMNT Universe #23 back-up (review)

TMNT Universe #19 back-up (review)
TMNT #81 (review)
TMNT #82 (review)
TMNT #83 (review)
TMNT #84 (review)

TMNT Macro-Series: Donatello (review)

...AND OUT CAME THE REPTILES, LIFE AT SEA (back-up), MICHELANGELO MACRO-SERIES, and SPIRIT WALK

TMNT Universe #23 main story (review)
TMNT Universe #24 main story (review)
TMNT Universe #24 back-up (review)

TMNT Macro-Series: Michelangelo (review)

TMNT #85 (review)
TMNT Universe #25 main story (review)


BEBOP & ROCKSTEADY HIT THE ROAD, BATTLE LINES, LEONARDO MACRO-SERIES, and RAPHEL MACRO-SERIES

Bebop & Rocksteady Hit the Road #1 (review)

Bebop & Rocksteady Hit the Road #2 (review)

Bebop & Rocksteady Hit the Road #3 (review)

Bebop & Rocksteady Hit the Road #4 (review)

Bebop & Rocksteady Hit the Road #5 (review)

TMNT #86 (review)
TMNT #87 (review)
TMNT #88 (review)

TMNT Macro-Series: Leonardo (review)

TMNT Macro-Series: Raphael (review)

TMNT #89 (review)


CITY AT WAR, SHREDDER IN HELL, and TMNT 20/20

TMNT #90 (review)
TMNT #91 (review)
TMNT #92 (review)
TMNT #93 (review)

Free Comic Book Day 2019 (review)
TMNT #94 (review)
TMNT #95 (review)

Shredder in Hell #1 (review)

Shredder in Hell #2 (review)

Shredder in Hell #3 (review)

Shredder in Hell #4 (review)

Shredder in Hell #5 (review)
TMNT #96 (review)
TMNT #97 (review)
TMNT #98 (review)
TMNT #99 (review)
TMNT #100 (review)

TMNT 20/20 (review)

REBORN ERA

ANNUAL 2020, MUTANT TOWN, and JENNIKA

TMNT Annual 2020 (review)

TMNT #101 (review)

TMNT #102 (review)

TMNT #103 (review)

TMNT #104 (review)

TMNT #105 (review)

Jennika #1 (review)

Jennika #2 (review)

Jennika #3 (review)

Notations:

The placement of issues outside the ongoing series is fairly intuitive and many of the issues come with notes on the interior cover telling you where the story goes.  Still, a few of them can be a little confusing, so as always, click “review” and scroll down to “Turtle Tips” for a full reasoning of placement.  For this article, though, I’ll summarize a few of the oddities:

TMNT MICRO-SERIES: Most of these one-shots came with notes on the inside cover from editor Bobby Curnow explaining where they slot-in in regards to the ongoing series.  In the case of TMNT Micro-Series #7: April, the note on the inside cover places it between TMNT #12 and TMNT #13.  Curnow later explained that between TMNT #14 and TMNT #15 was a better placement.

INFESTATION 2: Infestation 2 was an event that affected multiple IDW titles without actually requiring any crossovers.  The event began in Infestation 2 #1, ran through the title-based Infestation 2 miniseries, then ended in Infestation 2 #2.  The Turtles do not appear in the main Infestation 2 miniseries beyond the covers and a brief appearance in a montage, so as such I felt no need to include those issues in this timeline.  The events of the Infestation 2: TMNT storyline are self-contained and thus far have not been referenced in any other issues.  The issues were also excluded from the TMNT: The IDW Collection Vol. 1 hard cover, making fans question their canonicity.

HERO COMICS 2012: “Ready Set Go!” was a short comic by Kevin Eastman published in IDW’s charity book Hero Comics 2012 #1.  It was reprinted in the TMNT 30th Anniversary Special where it was designated as being a part of the Mirage universe, rather than the IDW universe.

ANNUAL 2012: An official IDW reading guide places the 2012 Annual where I have (between #14 and #15).  However, the TMNT: IDW Collection Vol. 3 hardcover (a series that collects the ongoing and minis in a chronological reading order) places it between #20 and #21.  Presumably, the reason for this is because there wasn't enough room in Vol. 2 for the 2012 Annual, so it was shifted to Vol. 3 and placed where it works best (as a prelude to "City Fall").  Regardless, the Annual is a self-contained story and reads fine in either placement.

UTROM EMPIRE and NORTHAMPTON: The events of the Utrom Empire and Northampton arcs occur concurrently with one another.  The Turtles play a minor part in Utrom Empire, with their scenes taking place at different times throughout the Northampton storyline.  Their scenes in Utrom Empire #3 actually take place before and after TMNT #32.  Personally, I'd recommend reading all of Utrom Empire AFTER Northampton, just because the storylines would flow better that way.

X-FILES CONSPIRACY: For those wondering why that issue is not included in my timeline, the events of the X-Files: Conspiracy event were rendered non-canon by the last issue of the miniseries, essentially relegating the chapters to an alternate universe.  As a result, the X-Files/TMNT: Conspiracy comic is retroactively non-canon (which may be for the best, as the issue contained several irreconcilable errors in continuity).

TURTLES IN TIME: According to Curnow, the 2014 TMNT Annual takes place between issues #32 and #33, while the Turtles in Time miniseries takes place concurrently with #37.  It can be read either before or after that one-shot issue of the ongoing, as that story doesn't feature the Turtles in it at all.

MUTANIMALS: The events of the Mutanimals miniseries spin directly out of TMNT #43 and then proceed to go in their own direction separate from the storyline of Attack on Technodrome.  For reading purposes, as with Utrom Empire and Northampton, I'd recommend reading Mutanimals after finishing Attack on Technodrome.

VENGEANCE: According to Curnow, the Free Comic Book Day special, "Prelude to Vengeance" is intended to be read before TMNT #46 but occurs concurrently with that issue (so despite being titled "prelude" it actually takes place between chapters 1 and 2 of that arc).

CASEY & APRIL: This miniseries spins out of TMNT #47 with a prologue in the first issue that takes place on the same night.  The rest of issue #1 and all of #2-4 take place several days after TMNT #50.  As always, I'd recommend reading it altogether AFTER "Vengeance" instead of disrupting that arc's narrative flow.

BATMAN/TMNT: According to editor Bobby Curnow, the Batman/TMNT crossover miniseries published by DC Comics in 2015/2016 is not a part of the IDW continuity.  The Turtle side of it is "inspired" by the IDW characterization and setting, but is otherwise unrelated to their universe.

TMNT UNIVERSE: TMNT Universe is an ongoing anthology series featuring arcs of varying length that don't lead into one another, but tell different stories about the Turtles and the other characters from their book.  Basically, it replaces the scattered miniseries by collecting them under an ongoing umbrella banner.  The series also features back-up strips that run at a different pace from the main features.

REBORN ERA: Beginning with TMNT #101, the trade paperback collections reset their volume numbers, designating this run of issues as the "Reborn" era.