The latest iteration of the Batman and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crossover franchise continues to resonate with comic book fans, with the release of Absolute Batman #17, which features artwork related to the ongoing storyline. The comic’s appearance in lists of the best comics of the week, alongside titles like End of Life #1 and Fantastic Four #8, signals continued interest in the intercompany collaboration that began with a six-issue miniseries published by DC Comics and IDW Publishing in 2015-2016.
That initial miniseries, written by James Tynion IV and illustrated by Freddie E. Williams II, saw the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and their nemesis, Shredder, transported to Gotham City by Krang. There, they encountered Batman and several members of his rogues gallery while attempting to return home. The collaboration was first announced at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con, with variant covers also contributed by TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman.
The crossover’s popularity led to a film adaptation, Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, released in March 2019. The film featured appearances from a wide array of Batman characters, including Alfred Pennyworth, Barbara Gordon, James Gordon, Damian Wayne, Ra’s al Ghul, the Joker, Bane, and Harley Quinn, alongside characters from the TMNT universe. The plot centered on the Foot Clan collaborating with the League of Assassins and the Joker to cause mutation within Gotham City.
The 2019 film was directed by Jake Castorena and produced by Ben Jones, with a screenplay by Marly Halpern-Graser. The film utilized settings central to the Batman mythos, including Gotham City, Ace Chemical Processing Plant, Arkham Asylum, Wayne Manor, the Batcave, and Nanda Parbat. Iconic Batman equipment, such as the Batarang, Batmobile, and Batsuit, were featured alongside TMNT weaponry and technology.
The ongoing presence of Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles material in current comic book releases, as evidenced by Absolute Batman #17, suggests a sustained audience for these intercompany crossovers. The original comic series, and subsequent adaptations, have proven popular enough to warrant continued development and publication. No further collaborative projects between DC Comics and IDW Publishing have been publicly announced as of February 20, 2026.
