Discover the Hidden Fifth Member of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles You Never Noticed

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles enthusiasts faced an emotional blow with the unexpected cancellation of Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 2020, leaving numerous plotlines unresolved. However, a significant mystery surrounding the series has finally been addressed in a comic epilogue released in 2024, providing closure to both the turtles and their dedicated fans.

In the poignant comic titled “Farewell,” featured in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: 40th Anniversary Comics Celebration #1, co-showrunner Andy Suriano takes readers on a journey with a future version of Leonardo. He travels through time to relive the heartbreaking moment of Splinter’s demise, witnessing it alongside his younger self.

TMNT Splinter tells the turtles they have another brother and sister as he dies

As Splinter prepares to depart, he shares a shocking revelation: “By the way…you have another brother and sister.” This surprising twist about the turtles having secret siblings was hinted at prior to the series’ abrupt ending and is fully uncovered in this comic, including the identity of the fifth turtle.

Uncovering the TMNT’s Sister: A Long-Awaited Revelation

Revealing Big Mama’s Assistant

TMNT Leonardo travels through time and watches Big Mama's Assistant unmask herself as a fifth turtle

During his temporal explorations, Future Leonardo encounters various pivotal moments, one of which showcases his brothers confronting a fifth turtle who has just revealed her true identity. Her unmasking marks an extraordinary moment for the characters as they react with surprise and intrigue. This fifth turtle, formerly known as Big Mama’s assistant, ultimately ties into the storyline of the turtles. Hints about her familial connection were dropped by the show’s creators even after the series concluded, and her character is now officially woven into the TMNT narrative.

Currently, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is available for streaming on Paramount+ and fans can revisit the adventures leading to this significant closure. The series had two seasons, but its abrupt halt left many storylines unfinished. Following the series’ pause, writer Ron Corcillo shared insights about the enigmatic fifth turtle on social media, suggesting that her name might be Frida Kahlo, further enriching the TMNT lore. This addition to the family tree effectively connects her with the legacy of turtle sisters throughout the franchise.

Introducing the Latest Female Turtle to the TMNT Universe

The Legacy of Sister Turtles: A New Addition

The character “Frida Kahlo,”or Big Mama’s assistant, is positioned as the latest addition to the growing roster of female turtles within TMNT lore. She isn’t the first female turtle, as Venus De Milo made her debut in 1997 during Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation. Despite the initial backlash regarding her character, Venus has made a return in IDW Publishing’s narratives, though not as a sister but rather as a human transformed into a turtle mutant.

Another notable addition is Jennika, a human-turned-mutant introduced in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #51. Initially a member of the Foot Clan, her journey takes a transformative turn through a blood transfusion from Leonardo, leading her to fight alongside the turtles as a brave protector of the mutant community. Even though the latest sister turtle may not play as pivotal a role as those before her, she embodies the evolving legacy of the TMNT female characters.

A Fitting Conclusory Epilogue for TMNT’s Fans

Addressing Unanswered Questions in Rise of the TMNT

TMNT Future Leonardo leaves with his brothers to return to their time now that he has closure

While the cancellation left fans with a sense of loss, the release of Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie in 2022 offered some degree of continuation. However, the new comic serves as a heartfelt finale. From Splinter’s emotional farewell to the turtles reuniting with their sister, the narrative ties together lingering storylines effectively. The comic concludes with a sense of “hard pause,”reinforcing its status as the definitive ending of the series.

As it resolves the mystery of the fifth turtle, the epilogue also leaves one plotline unresolved. While Big Mama’s assistant is confirmed as a long-lost sister, the identity of the brother mentioned by Splinter remains shrouded in enigma. With this closure, fans may interpret the ending as final, allowing them to move forward, just as Future Leonardo does in the epilogue.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: 40th Anniversary Comics Celebration #1 is now available through IDW Publishing, further enriching the TMNT saga.

Source: X

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