Published Jun 21, 2026, 3:00 PM EDT
TJ Mills is an editor on ScreenRant's Comic team, where she combines her lifelong passion for DC with her analytical background as a former Intelligence Analyst. Since joining ScreenRant in 2023, she has specialized in covering major DC storylines, character evolutions, and industry developments.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a wild blend of genres, combining superhero, science fiction, action-adventure, and comedy to create one of the most iconic and enduring franchises in pop culture. Now, the TMNT are preparing to try their hand at horror as the franchise releases a brand-new official image of Raphael going full zombie mode.
IDW Publishing will soon be celebrating the two-year anniversary of the company's IDW Dark imprint, a horror-focused comic book imprint dedicated to producing both legacy comic sequels and official adaptations of major film and television franchises, such as Smile and A Quiet Place, as well as original stories like Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees.
As part of IDW Dark's two-year anniversary celebration, the comic publisher will release a line of variant covers that will give several franchises (even those that don't typically dabble in horror) a dark-genre reimagining this October. Among them will be the publisher's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IP, which is joining the spooky fun with a newly revealed variant cover by Damien Worm for the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #23.
TMNT's Raphael Is Going Full Zombie Mode in New IDW Dark Variant Cover Series
IDW Dark Variant Cover by Damien Worm for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #23 (2026)
Worm's cover art for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #23 is nothing short of masterful, delivering the horror vibes as it depicts a zombified Raphael clawing his way out of a grave on a stormy night. What truly elevates this dark reimagining of Raphael is how it transforms the turtle's typically cartoonish design into something far more realistic, giving him an appearance much closer to that of an actual turtle.
While still retaining his bipedal form and imposing size, Raphael is reimagined with a facial structure that more closely resembles a real turtle, further dehumanizing the character and making him all the more horrifying. However, that isn't to say Worm doesn't take a few creative liberties to make this dark reimagining of Raphael even more disturbing.
In addition to the more reptilian look, Worm lines Raphael's mouth with razor-sharp teeth. As resident herpetologists know, turtle beaks don't actually contain teeth, making this a creative liberty on Worm's part that further enhances Raphael's zombie transformation. The teeth are also depicted as bloodied and packed with chunks of flesh, making this easily the turtle's most disturbing design to date.
Worm's design for Raphael's hands also adds to the horror aesthetic. While turtles typically have four or five digits, Worm stays true to the character's iconic three-finger design. However, he transforms those typically blunt fingers into razor-sharp claws, further amplifying the grotesque reimagining of the character and enhancing the unsettling image of Raphael clawing his way out of his grave.
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As a reminder, fans can get their hands on this epic horror reimagining of Raphael in Eisner Award-winning comic book writer Gene Luen Yang's ongoing TMNT run, specifically Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #23. While the issue is confirmed to arrive this October, an exact release date has yet to be revealed. However, based on the release dates of previous issues, fans will likely see Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #23 arrive on October 14 or October 21.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #23 from IDW Publishing will be available to read in October!
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