Spider-Man’s Brand New Day Villains & Their Wild Ninja Turtles Connection, Explained
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) is finally bringing The Hand back to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it's been long overdue. After the Netflix Marvel shows inadvertently buried them (literally), it's been a long wait to return to the more comic-accurate roots of the ninja clan.
However, many may not know that getting them back to basics also reminds longtime fans of a connection they have to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Among many other details tied to Daredevil's history, we wouldn't have the heroes in a half-shell or their cultural impact if it weren't for the Man Without Fear.
How Does Daredevil's World Connect to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?
The Foot Clan has always felt like a distinct entity in the world of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but few realize just how close the connection is between that world and Daredevil's. For starters, one of the most important connections was that TMNT creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird loved Frank Miller's Daredevil run.
As a result, they made it so the chemicals that blinded Matt Murdock also mutated the turtles. The Turtles' mentor, Splinter, was also an homage to Daredevil's mentor, Stick. Granted, Splinter has since become a far more loving father figure than Stick ever was, but the most obvious comparison was between the Hand and the Foot.
Not only are they both named after very specific body parts, they initially operated as a shadowy threat to the heroes of both stories. During Frank Miller's Daredevil run, the Hand was introduced and quickly became one of the biggest threats in the series alongside the Kingpin. In fact, it could be argued that the reason the Foot are still so important is because of how well received the Hand was during that time.
Where Can You See the Hand and the Foot in Media?
One of the best things about Marvel and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles being such hits in pop culture for as long as they have is that we've been treated to many iterations of these villains. As a result, if you find the comic books to be a bit too intimidating, there are ways to still get a clear picture of how they should, or shouldn't, be represented.
For the Hand, the most prominent way to learn more about them would be through Netflix's Daredevil (2015-2018) series. Season 1 featured a battle between one of its ninjas, and Season 2's second half featured them as the primary antagonists. While interesting, the organization lost its identity with Iron Fist (2017-2018) Season 1 and The Defenders (2017). They were no longer a primarily Japanese undead ninja clan and simply ran around in black clothes, fighting the heroes without swords or any elements that worked in Daredevil.
As for the TMNT's Foot ninja, you can find them in literally every cartoon that has come out, as they were some of the original enemies the team fought in the comics. The most popular example in film, however, was in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990), where they not only looked perfect but added to the Shredder's menace. Aside from that, however, the animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003-2009) is another fun but mature show that still holds up.
The Hand and the Foot Are Just Similar Enough to Feel Like Distant Cousins
The Hand and the Foot Clan are both very distinct in how they operate, and to understand how they are similar, the differences are just as important. When it comes to the Hand, the biggest draw is that they are a clan that worships a demonic entity, and their magic practices make all their ninja undead.
Where the Hand is constantly trying to take over using their magic and dark practices, while still being ninja, the Foot are more practical. They operate to serve the Shredder and, over the years, have evolved with robotic Foot ninja as well. As Shredder teamed up with powerful enemies, the Foot Clan remained the perfect ninja fodder for the Turtles to face.
That said, what makes them similar is enough to see why they are distant cousins. The Turtles, like Daredevil, have only grown in strength and skill over time, and while the ninjas they face aren't as threatening to them anymore, they are still dangerous. Both versions are treated as a shadowy force that can ambush and display exceptional fighting skill.
Their names aren't the only similarities either, as their attire matches, with the Foot being in black and the Hand in red. They may not be 1:1, but their connection forever makes Daredevil and the Turtle two worlds that remain connected.
