Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tortugas Ninja, volumen 1

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Mirage Studios 1984) #1-3

by Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird, Tomás Krenn (traducción)

Recopilatorio con las primeras historietas de las Tortugas Ninja.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Fiction, Superheroes, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book

128 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1984

About the author

Kevin B. Eastman is an American comic book artist, co-creator of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Reviews

[Sud666 · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was a young child, my choices of comics were relegated to a choice between DC and Marvel. In 1984 something completely new came out. Two guys, Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, decided that they would make a comic series. It was supposed to be a one issue parody of Marvel's popular "Daredevil" title.
Starting with the concept of a turtle with a nunchaku, primarily as a joke due to the "speed" inherent to a turtle, this became a comic which became a franchise encompassing animated series, movies, video games, toys, and merchandising that is still haunting us to this day. I speak of the infamous Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

This Deluxe Edition collects the first three issues of this seminal work. I call it seminal because not only was it a breath of fresh air for readers, but it served to heighten the popularity of comic books in general with the mass market.

The First Issue is truly amazing. far more violent than what was common at the time in other Comics. It's also, something I see now with age, a great parody of Daredevil. What do I mean? The accident that created the Turtles is the same accident that created Daredevil. The Ninja-Master rat, Splinter, is a parody of Daredevil's Ninja-Sensi-Stick. Daredevil's nemesis is the ninja-assassins of the Hand, where the Turtles fight the Foot.

This Deluxe Edition has those original stories in full color. The first story tells their origin and introduces Shredder. The Second and Third stories revolve around the Mouser robots and how April was introduced to the team.

A very cool blast from the past which ended up being far better than I thought it would be. I notice that, since this is a colorized version of the B&W original, all the Turtles wear red bandannas. You can only tell them apart by personality and weapons. The different colored bandannas must have come later on.

If you are a TMNT fan or would like to read about four Turtle's trained in the art of Ninjitsu, then this Deluxe Version is for you. Eastman and Laird's zany world in all its colorized glory. Well worth adding to your comic collection simply for the sheer impact it's had on the industry as a whole. Hence 5 stars.

[Eddie B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reeks of Richard Corben, Frank Miller & 80s. What else can one want for $2.85?

[Moria · Rating 5 out of 5]

وقت قرايتها كان وقت ممتع جدا
عجبني الرسم جدا...و خصوصا اللوحات اللي كانت بتاخد صفحتين كاملين مع بعض...من غير كلام
فيه طفلة سعيدة انها حظيت على متعة قراية الكوميك دي 😊

[Jesse Whitehead · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book that started it all.

In the early nineties I picked up the four Ninja Turtles books at a MacFrugals for $0.50 each. I read them so many times I can’t even count. I since have lost all contact with those volumes so I acquired some new ones through the miracle that is Amazon.com used book sales. I paid considerably more for them this time (though I think the most expensive one was on the order of five or six dollars).

The Ninja Turtles were intended as a satire for some of the comics that were popular in the mid eighties. In 1986 they were something new that quickly went from independent parody to mainstream media. By the mid nineties they had a television show and action figure line along with several movies, kids books, storybooks, cake pans and anything else you can imagine.

The beginning of the series is somewhat more humble, and decidedly less kid oriented. Splinter, the mutant rat and the Turtle’s master, has trained the Turtles for one purpose – revenge on the man who killed Splinter’s master. It doesn’t matter that he is a vicious killer and leader of a crime syndicate. It doesn’t matter that The Shredder dresses like a man who has been crossbred with a blender. The Turtles are seeking vengeance and they will stop at nothing.

They are brutal warriors and tremendously skilled despite their diminutive statures but they haven’t put any thought into what to do next. What to do when all has been avenged, when your life is focused on one purpose, and that purpose involves violence and retribution, what do you do when you get what you’ve wanted all along.

This book doesn’t answer those questions, probably because it isn’t really possible but it does ask them. Then it leads you on a grand adventure as the Turtles struggle to find meaning in a world where they can’t be known and their very origins is a mystery to them.

This is a grand start.

[Nicholas West · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars + one (invisible) for nostalgia's sake. Or maybe I should say 2.4?

As a reviewer, when revisiting a work that had a profound effect on your childhood, it’s hard not to revert to timeline-comparison-mode. “When I first cracked this baby open, my little fifth-grade mind was blown. Reading it now, I find it to be…” etc..

Not to say that "nostalgia-versus-now" isn’t a valid form of essay. But to talk about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which was such an indelible franchise of the early 90s, one has to consider this route.



Or, I could just reread the book and straight up review the sucker like I see it with today’s eyes. And that too is valid. However, there may be a missing piece in that sort of commentary if someone is looking to revisit these comics as I did.

What we can do, and feel like we’re getting our money's worth, is that we can say what the book was — and we can say what the book is .

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was punk rock. It was DIY, independent, and a new voice. It was junky, pulp with a lot of heart. It was made by a couple of guys who didn’t have the relatively easy road that we call self-publishing these days. It was schlocky, tongue-in-cheek, and fun. It was also a little more hardcore than what later became a Saturday morning cartoon. Watch for the first meeting with the Foot Soldiers. Those boys get chopped up (see: killed) by our turtles. Then our heroes KILL Shredder the first time they meet him.



Now, this book hasn’t exactly aged well. It is juvenile and amateurish — albeit lovable and charming with a healthy dose of cool. The storytelling techniques are grasping at adulthood but stuck in the angsty realm in which they were devised. The pacing is clunky. The origin story is either really lame, or a funny parody of Marvel’s Daredevil. See also: Daredevil battling The Hand; while the Turtles do combat with The Foot. (You guys all knew this right?) Despite being self-aware, you still need solid storytelling understanding to fall back on. (Unless you get really lucky.) Now monetarily, Eastman and Laird did hit the jackpot eventually. But for this book, the nostalgia doesn’t equal the reality.



All my props to Eastman and Laird for a unique vision, a new universe, and the tenacity to create something super cool that cut through the clutter in the midst of a ninja-loving decade. I wanted to enjoy my revisit to this world but the world has moved on. 80s flavor doesn’t save everything.

If you didn’t know that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles started as a gritty, adult 'zine — then this book may be revelatory to a new reader. Whether or not you cash in on the nostalgia is up to you. For some it will be a blast. For those looking at a deeper experience in their literature, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Book I may be found lacking — and you could be found wanting.

Hell, who knows? If you caught me in the right mood I might revisit this and see it with a lighter heart. Could I just be a big kid, turn my brain off, and enjoy this thing? Maybe next time...

[William Clemens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe I waited so many years to read this. I was afraid that having memorized the movie and watched the cartoons I wouldn't appreciate the comic book versions, happily, I was wrong.

I was surprised at how faithful the movies/cartoons actually were, even in this early stage we see Raphael brooding and Donatello working on electronics. The small changes didn't affect my enjoyment at all.

I think what I enjoyed most of all was that they were still funny. The dialogue not only of the turtles, but the man on the street characters. Everything's a bit darker, but the art is great in its simplicity and small details (Leonardo reading Dune)

I am highly pleased and can't wait to get the next volume.

[A.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I were to ever teach a course on "Comic Book History and Appreciation" this would be required reading. It's the story-line that many have said kick-started the 1980's indie-comic industry, and in a large way, contributed to the growth of the mainstream comic industry in the 80's and early 90's.

I've read this book multiple times. With each reading I enjoy it more than the last time I picked it up. It's raw, funny, unique, and filled with action. The quirky premise and gritty art effectively create an aura that you can't be pulled from while you read.

It's interesting to read this book through the rear-view mirror. Because I know the cartoon, toy, and movie-actor versions of these characters so well, I think my reading experience of their original appearances was surely enriched. All the core elements for the TMNT story are here: Raphael is impulsive, Leonardo is the take-charge leader, April is a fast-friend and ally in the human world, etc, etc.

Stanley Wiater also adds a worthwhile foreword to this edition, giving readers a glimpse into the lives of the creators Kevin Eastman, and Peter Laird. The back of this book also includes author photos and bios. When I read an indie-comic that I know was produced in somebody's living room I can't help but wonder about that somebody. These two elements were nice additions.

So, highly recommended for comics and graphic novel fans of all ages. This is a classic publication that really did affect the course of the comic book industry. If you take the medium seriously at all then you have to experience one of its most important "game-changers". (If you don't, that would be like becoming an authority on movies without ever watching Citizen Kane...)

Also recommended for people who may not be "comic buffs" but are just looking for something good to read. This comic is action-packed, short and self-contained, and reeks of the 1980's (in a good way!).

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh what to say about the TMNT? Reading this brought back so many childhood memories of Saturday morning cartoons, great live movies, and action figures. That being said I have never before read the original comics that started the Turtle craze of the late 80's that has carried through to the present.

It was a real treat to go back and read the beginning of Eastman & Laird's creation collected in these first three issues. I truly enjoyed the story, the art, and the memories as I read what true Turtle Power was.

This is definitely a little more adult than the cartoons. In the first three issues, a pizza is never mentioned (maybe they haven't discovered that yet) but one Turtle did ask April for a beer; and a lot of people die. There is not graphic violence, but there is definitely a few blood spatters, bloodied fists, and deaths.

What a great read. Anyone who has ever enjoyed a TMNT cartoon, movie or whatever should check this out and see how it all started. Not really for kids though, probably late single digits and up.

[Beau Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles before they were an animated, half hour advertisement for expensive action figures.

This is where it all began. Raphael was an angry, young mutant. Michelangelo was less serious than his brothers, but not the childish clown of the animated series. They all wore red headbands, and none of them had little belt-buckles.

And talk about violent. Exactly what the TMNT should be. People and mutant alike get stabbed, slashed and bludgeoned.

If you haven't read this book, you only think you know the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

[Ryan Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

It sure doesn't hold up all that well over time and I am far more impressed by the current IDW title. However, the nostalgia is great. It's absolutely worth picking up if you're a Turtles fan but may not give you many re-reads.

[Kirk]

This was great. I grew up on the turtles, so this comic was a nice treat. I had heard of it, but never sat down to read it.

Boy, it escalates quickly, starting with a few mutant turtles and ending with intergalactic travel. But it was easy to suspend disbelief. Probably because I had come to expect a lot of strange happenings from the cartoon as a kid.

Loving it so far. Bought Vol. II as soon as I finished Vol. I.

[RandomReader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though it's the first TMNT comic book ever that was written by the creators, I didn't like it. The writing is kind of shallow, though it had some good ideas, but in my opinion it got better & better over the years, to top it in the 2012 series. I also prefer the newer origin stories.
I liked the drawings & the bright colors though.

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

And here is where it all began. We get the start of something different in mainstream comics. Recommended

[Ethan White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nostalgic and a fun read

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes it's a lot of fun to see where a pop culture phenomenon started. And if you, like me, lived through the 80s, you were witness to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle craze in some way, shape, or form.

This graphic novel is the start of it all. Basically, the turtles were a black and white, independent produced and distributed series of comic books that were hugely popular. Four turtles that had radioactive ooze poured over them and they grew to human proportions and were trained in the art of ninjitsu by a rat who also grew to human size. They're snarky and funny and kick some serious ass.

The only thing I didn't like was that this collection had a couple of brief stories tacked on the end that didn't seem to make much sense. When I read a graphic novel, I expect everything contained therein to be related to the central story. This was just oddly abrupt and I didn't quite care for it. The rest of it, though? Cool.

[Lani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd never read any of the TMNT comics, but of course grew up with the cartoon and the movies.

I'm sure there are plenty of differences that a purist would take issue with, but the characters seemed reasonably familiar to me, and the background that I remembered from the cartoon seemed similar. The most striking difference is just the violence in the comics vs. the cartoon, clearly a somewhat different audience.

Neat to see some of my favorite cartoon characters in their original form. The book has a couple of random stories at the end without any real explanation, but the first storyline was good background with some character introductions.

I love the Turtles and their wise-cracking pizza-loving antics, so I was happy to read this for nostalgia purposes. I'm not sure its a comic that would have grabbed my attention without the nostalgia aspect of it, but even now it seems like a pretty unique premise.

[Dominic Rego · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles must be one of the most absurd concepts for a team of hero's ever. These turtles somehow became one of the most recognizable comic book characters of all time, and have transcended their original medium and are now in movies, cartoons, toys, you name it. If you have never seen the origin of them though, it's well worth the ride.

The original turtles were much grittier than you might remember from the cartoon show. They drank, swore, killed people, and fought for vengeance. The first issue has them fatally wound someone, and then hand him a sword in order for him to commit seppuku with. If you hadn't realized until that point, the turtles are badass. It's amazing how they were able to create absurd characters and make you care about them. Definitely worth picking up if you were ever interested in the turtles, and even if you never were before.

[Diana Ault · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it! The art is not my style; too heavy and crowded, but there was a good feeling to the story, which granted may be somewhat from nostalgia. Even though these original turtles aren't like the goofy, fun-loving ones from the 80s cartoon and other iterations, they had personality that emerged more as the reader got more time with them. It's hard to explain, but I can see why it had such a good reception when it was first published. It's a silly idea–anthropomorphic turtles that fight crime with martial arts skills–and it pokes fun at comic and pop culture tropes, but something about the heart of it simply works. It's the brother/family aspect that does it, I think. In all versions of TMNT. And this is where it started.

[Guido · Rating 3 out of 5]

Primer tomo de los tres que se publicarían acá de la primera continuidad de las Tortugas Ninja. Siguen pendiente de catalogar algunos personajes.

[Mjhancock · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ninja turtles make their debut, fighting Shredder, defeating mousers, and going on a van chase in short order.
It's fascinating to read this series decades after first seeing the Turtles cartoons as a kid and being obsessed with them. I had always thought that this series was the satirical, gritty take on the four. And it is, kind of. It's definitely darker, with the Turtles actually killing their foes. But the violence is not particularly overly graphic. The art has a jagged, sloppy kind of sense that earns it an indie feel. And it's not really satirical, other than the premise itself; everything is played pretty straight. We see some of the early personality traits already in place: Leonardo asserts himself as leader, Raphael makes brash, individual decisions, and Michelangelo is a bit more of a loveable screwup. (Donatello was kind of just there.) It's jarring to see them kill the Shredder in his appearance, and while I knew the original Baxter Stockman was black, I didn't know that his programmer assistant was April. Still in the weird jumpsuit, but not a reporter. The van chase sequence is... odd, though I do like the series' loose continuity. It's not an amazing read, but it moves quickly and doesn't overstay its welcome.

[Jessica Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the TMNT and have for as far back as I can remember so my rating should be taken with a grain of salt but I thought this first volume of the original run was pretty good. There are some issues with pacing and the art is nothing that special (especially not helped by the bland retroactive color job done in my edition over the original b&w art). However the characters were immediately recognizable as themselves (Raph is a hothead, Donnie's the smart one, etc.) and there were some fun little things that make this work for me. Two odd things stuck out though. One, April started out as a computer programmer that worked for bad guy Baxter Stockman so it's weird that she was locked in later as a reporter. She also may have changed race between the first issue and the next but with the art it's hard to tell. Two, she almost gives the turtles beer at one point, which just made me laugh because they're fifteen at the most. Not cool, April. Splinter shouldn't let them hang out with you.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like many readers my age, I grew up on the TMNT cartoon and toys, so it’s interesting to go back to the source material to see how it’s the same — and different! What’s interesting is how much of the foundation for what would become the sanitized cartoon series is present in these early issues. The Turtles are already starting to establish their personalities, and the designs for Shredder and the Mouser robots are exactly as they would appear in later works.

On the other hand, Eastman and Laird aren’t afraid to sprinkle in bursts of bloody violence or even have one of the Turtles ask for a beer (aren’t they supposed to be, like, 15 years old?) — things that would have been unthinkable in the cartoon. In this way, the graphic novel comes off as feeling that it might have come from a universe right next to ours. Thats to say that it’s just as fun and weird as it was when it was first published 40 years ago.

[Ahdom · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first graphic novel of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an essential read for fans old and new. It delves deep into the origins of these iconic characters, providing a thrilling and often humorous introduction to the world of the Turtles.

Discovering the backstory of Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Donatello is a treat in itself, and this graphic novel serves as an excellent foundation for anyone looking to dive into their adventures. The blend of action, humor, and camaraderie between the Turtles is as engaging as ever, making it clear why these characters have stood the test of time.

Whether you're a long-time fan or a newcomer excited for Mutant Mayhem, this graphic novel is a must-read that showcases the enduring appeal of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and sets the stage for the exciting adventures that lie ahead.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, a little bit of history... In our basement cleanup, three of these got pulled out an left on my desk this morning. (Darn it! Why don't I have Vol 3?!) It was kinda neat to re-read these, my first (and only) comic joy at the time. Funny the things that jump out at me now... April, the assistant who programmed the rat munching robots. Her boss Dr. Stockman, is black. (Yes, he's a bad guy, but he's a PhD smart bad guy.) He also holds one of the World Trade Center towers hostage for 20 million dollars. Oh, and the fighting & violence is really PG. Are any of these things super important? No, I doubt I paid any attention to such things in 86, but find it interesting that they jump out now in 2018... That's all.

[Thomas Scholtes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very different from the cartoons!

I believe I got these graphic novels by forcing my dad to bid on them on eBay when I first discovered it. I remember reading them then and being blown away about how more violent the turtles were, that they didn't distinguish one another with different colored masks, but how they were still awesome at kicking bad-guy butt.

The first installment dives right into the heart of it, learning the back-story of the turtles, who then fight the Shredder to bring honor to their master. Then we get even crazier, meeting Baxter Stockman and his mousers, and I didn't know April original worked as his computer programmer and assistant.

Just a lot of fun and very interesting seeing how the turtles got their start.

[Luke Milton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is ballsy seminal stuff that jumps from one huge idea to the next. By comparison, future incarnations feel contained and held back. Eastman and Laird created with feverish energy, spewing ideas onto each page like it might be their last. I mean, they unceremoniously killed their main villain in the first issue and was that a setback? No, because within the first ten issues there were alien dinosaurs and space travel, and interdimensional travel and demons, and maybe time travel, and an aardvark. This is the sort of loving, reckless storytelling that Kirby and co were baselining in the sixties. These books turned every wanna be comics maker like my own unrealistic goal-setting self into a BELIEVER. A must have.

[Jeremy Randall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great beginning story. Interesting way of drawing battle scenes and suspense running up to revenge. In the movies it was easy to forget they are 13. In these books, there are moments where you question how they got to be so socially intelligent. Although splinter may have learned a bunch from his master. Released soon after I was born I had grown up with the TMNT dolls and cartoons but, I don't remember ever seeing a comic until now. Love it.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, here it is. The comic that started it all. This graphic novel collects colorized versions of the first three issues of Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s original comics that conquered the world with a merchandising empire that no one saw coming, least of all them.

These comics did include some of the differences I’d always been told to expect from the Turtles I’ve known and loved since the cartoons, movies, and video games of my early childhood, but not as many as I expected! True, it is a bit more violent, with the Turtles being willing to kill some of their adversaries, but by the second issue Leonardo is already telling his more hotheaded brother Raphael that the Turtles kill only as a last resort.

Oh, that’s the other thing. I was primed to expect the Turtles themselves to be nearly interchangeable, but they actually have much more fully-formed personalities than that even in these earliest days of the comics! Leo was always the honorable leader and Raph was always the hotheaded angy boy, all the way back in issue 1! And Donnie has been the tech guy since at least issue 2, when he tries to hack Baxter Stockman’s computers to solve the Mouser problem.

Issue 1 of the comics does a lot, opening in media res with the turtles fighting the street gang the Purple Dragons. When they soundly defeat them, Master Splinter decides they’re “ready” and tells them the story of their origin as well as the origin of the Shredder. The broad strokes of this origin story will be very familiar to those who have consumed much Turtle media, but there are a few details that change from version to version and I’m not really sure there’s any single version that gets every detail right?

The main areas of divergence are often the exact origin of Splinter and the identity of Shredder. In some versions, Splinter was a pet rat who mimicked his owner’s martial arts movements in his cage and then got transformed into an anthro rat; in other versions, he was himself the martial arts master and got transformed. In the comics, perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s the sillier of the two explanations–the pet rat who learned martial arts by mimicking his master’s movements from his cage.

The other area of divergence is the exact identity of Shredder and the fate of Splinter’s owner, Hamato Yoshi. In the original version in the comics, it is not Oroku Saki (Shredder) who is rivals with Hamato Yoshi. Rather, it is his brother, Oroku Nagi. He is jealous over Yoshi’s greater advancement in the clan they’re both a part of, and also his romance with a woman named Tang Shen. One or both of these conflicts with Yoshi is often transferred to Oroku Saki in later versions, skipping the middleman as it were. In the comic, Nagi tries to kill Yoshi and Shen, but Yoshi kills him in self-defense and flees Japan with his love. It is then that Oroku Saki enters the picture, vowing revenge for his brother’s death and killing Yoshi and Shen in retribution.

The Shredder is presented as a genuinely threatening big bad, but the Turtles face him in a fight to the death in just the first issue of the comics! And that fight to the death does end in a promised death–Shredder’s! “When the evil Shredder attacks, these turtle boys don’t cut him no slack” indeed!

The second issue, as many future iterations will do as well, introduces Baxter Stockman and his Mouser robots as the next villain the Turtles face. It also introduces April O’Neil, but not as a television reporter as you might expect! Instead, she’s Stockman’s lab assistant, but ends up taking issue with his methods and he decides to have her eliminated by his robot army. That’s when she meets the Turtles and, as she usually does in later versions as well, faints. A lot of later versions also use this as an excuse to tell the Turtles’ origin story rather than just having Splinter decide “okay it’s time to do that now” after having apparently not told them anything about where they come from in all the years of raising them like he does in issue 1.

In the third issue, Splinter is missing! This is another classic plot that gets reused in a lot of versions of the story. It’s also necessary for the Turtles to abandon their sewer lair in this story, which is something some other versions retain. They don’t actually find Splinter in this issue, as they spend the whole issue evading the cops before making it to April’s apartment and collapsing in four turtle heaps on her furniture and floor for some much-needed rest.

Speaking of the police, back in the first issue when the cops show up to mop up after their confrontation with the Purple Dragons, Leo narrates, “We do not like to run from those who would be our allies, but they would not understand us.” And I just gotta say, I’m pretty sure that should be your sign that the cops would not be great allies. The fact that you feel threatened because you’re different and you don’t think they would react to that well should tell you just about everything you need to know about them.

Anyway, yeah! These comics are pretty terrific. They were also a lot more similar to all the things I know and love about my turtle boys than I was expecting based on everything I had heard, so that was pretty awesome.

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Check out my compilation review of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on my blog, 24,000 Miles to the Moon! https://24000milestothemoon.com/2022/...

[Gohansquirtle]

Read the fourth edition reprinting of this, disappointed that that version isn't one of the endless editions occasionally added here. Interesting to read through the backmatter of these original printed (and reprinted) Mirage Comics.

[FreemiumPlayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually amazing! This book was really fun to read and I really liked how it was definitely more mature than what you’d expect from a Ninja Turtles comic. Also, these are my favorite Ninja Turtles designs lmao