The long-awaited Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #50 is releasing on October 7th. Within these 50 issues, there has been a variety of talented artists showcasing a range of artistic styles and techniques. I wanted to take this opportunity to recognize some of the top covers that have helped make the IDW run so exciting:

#5 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #33A by Mateus Santolouco

I wanted to include this cover because I believe it accurately depicts the true essence of the IDW Turtles. The Turtles are, once again, dark, gritty, and up for a challenge. The are quick, strong, and lurk in the shadows. I thought about including the A, B, C, and D covers from issue #1, but this is one of my all-time favorite group shots of the Turtles.

#4 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #29A by Sophie Campbell

To be honest, I jumped on the IDW arc a little late, but this was actually the issue that really attracted me to the series. After seeing it on the shelf, it honestly blew my mine. The colors were so vibrant and I could not stop thinking “what could possible be going on in this issue for this scene to occur…”why is Leo not wearing is his mask?”. I actually bought this issue immediately solely because I liked the cover so much. I think anyone would agree, this cover is an absolute beauty.

#2 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #42A by Cory Smith

This is one of my personal favorites. Here, we see a chilling group shot featuring the major villains from the IDW line. Smith draws a dastardly Bebop and Rocksteady, and the addition of Koya and Bludgeon, as well as the other villains, really make this piece a necessity for any Turtles collector.

#2 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #30A by Sophie Campbell

For me, this cover says a thousand words. The Northampton arc has always been a favorite of mine. At this point in the IDW series, we have just brought back the brainwashed Leonardo from Shredder’s grasp in the City Fall arc. The Turtles are hurt, broken, and need to redefine themselves. This is a really unique and fun issue because it is written as a letter through the perspective of Michelangelo. Campbell’s use of null space in this cover was a great decision, as it shows that the Turtles have much to discover for themselves during this arc.

#1 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #45-50 by Mateus Santolouco

Alright, this one may be cheating, because it isn’t technically “one” cover. However, this impressive montage is the culmination of six side-by-side covers. All drawn by Mateus Santolouco, this image honestly has everything. Every major character, villain, and friend is drawn wonderfully into one full image. One of the most impressive attributes to this piece is the use of drawing in the red bars. The Red bars are here to help separate different scenes, but Santolouco’s artwork allows this piece to have the scene broken into layers.