Invader Zim Creator’s Never-Before-Seen Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Short Released

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles surprised fans with a cool new cartoon short, just for Comic-Con season. The short, written by Invader Zim creator Jhonen Vasquez, shows Donatello and Raphael square off in an escalating battle of wits, will, and strength.

The six minute cartoon features Don and Raph battle using video games, Jenga, bakeoffs, hot dog eating competitions and even a fast paced jump rope competition. Shredder and the Foot Clan even make a cameo, holding off an ambush to watch what Shredder describes as the “stupidest thing” he’s ever seen.

Vasquez is best known for creating the popular Nickelodeon series Invader Zim, but got his start in comics creating the cult classic Johnny the Homicidal Maniac. Interestingly, Vasquez credits the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics for getting him interested in the comics medium.

The cartoon isn’t tied to any particular version of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, as it blends elements from the recent computer animated Nickelodeon series and movies. Nickelodeon plans to release two other animated shorts by TMNT creator Kevin Eastman, Paul Jenkins, and TMNT head writer Brandon Auman prior to their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles panel on Saturday.