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Teenage Mutante Ninja Turtles Adventures Compendium #1
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures Compendium, Vol. 1
Relive the animated adventures of the TMNT in these classic stories from the Archie Comics series presented in this oversized hardcover!
The original animated TMNT series debuted in December 1987 and began airing full-time in October 1988 by which time the comic series had already been on sale for two months. The first three-issue series proved so popular that it turned into an ongoing series that would run for 72 issues, multiple specials, and various mini-series. This omnibus aims to collect all of the issues in recommended reading order giving fans of the series a reading experience like never before!
Volume 1 collects the original three-issue mini-series, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures issues #1–17, plus the short stories “Zen Million Year to Birth,” “The Night of Monsterex,” “Metamorphosis,” “A Forgotten TMNT Adventure,” “Yo-Ho-Ho! And a Bottle of Mutagen!,” and “Doomsday Hassle in Banshee Castle.”
The original animated TMNT series debuted in December 1987 and began airing full-time in October 1988 by which time the comic series had already been on sale for two months. The first three-issue series proved so popular that it turned into an ongoing series that would run for 72 issues, multiple specials, and various mini-series. This omnibus aims to collect all of the issues in recommended reading order giving fans of the series a reading experience like never before!
Volume 1 collects the original three-issue mini-series, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures issues #1–17, plus the short stories “Zen Million Year to Birth,” “The Night of Monsterex,” “Metamorphosis,” “A Forgotten TMNT Adventure,” “Yo-Ho-Ho! And a Bottle of Mutagen!,” and “Doomsday Hassle in Banshee Castle.”
- GenresComicsGraphic Novels
784 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 10, 2026
Like many kids in the early 90s I was complete unaware at the time that Archie's Ninja Turtles Adventures was not THE Ninja Turtles comic. (That of course was Eastman and Laird's Mirage Comics Ninja Turtles.) This was merely a more kid friendly alternative meant to capitalize on the success of the TV show.
This is pretty obvious when it starts out. The mini series this collection begins with, at least to my recollection, is relatively similar to the beginning of the cartoon series. Never fear, however, this is not merely cartoon episodes turned into comics. This becomes evident pretty quickly. When Leatherhead is introduced is is VERY different than the cartoon series.
This is all to the comics benefit. Though the tone of silly, bright, goofy action fun is in line with the cartoon it is very much it's own thing. In fact, some of it is quite crazy, and is among some of the crazier turtles stuff I've read at times. Though the familiar Shredder/Krang/Bebobop/Rocksteady are featured heavily at first, they quickly move to the sideline for more unique stuff.
That being said. This is a kids comic. It's not wildly deep, but it is fun. Towards the end of this collection they are pushing a very strong environmental message. Back in the day when we could still save the environment if we wanted to... aw, nostalgia.
The art is a very mixed bag. It seems like there are different artists frequently, some are better than others, some are more stylized than others. All of them do bright, kid friendly, but you will probably find yourself liking issues you think look much better than others. The reproduction of the art in this collection honestly could be better but it makes up for it sheer quantity.
This is among the heftiest comic collections I own. Almost 800 pages. I am glad these comics are being preserved, I hope people like me who have nostalgia for it can get back into it. I know back in the day I had no access to be able to get comics consistently so I think all in all I had between 6-10 issues, most non consecutive. The child in me is THRILLED that this collection is available. I hope too that new generations can find fun in this series. It's definitely a product of its time, unapologetically so.
If you have the money to SHELL out for this collection, or definitely if you find a nice copy on a decent sale, I say go for it.
This is pretty obvious when it starts out. The mini series this collection begins with, at least to my recollection, is relatively similar to the beginning of the cartoon series. Never fear, however, this is not merely cartoon episodes turned into comics. This becomes evident pretty quickly. When Leatherhead is introduced is is VERY different than the cartoon series.
This is all to the comics benefit. Though the tone of silly, bright, goofy action fun is in line with the cartoon it is very much it's own thing. In fact, some of it is quite crazy, and is among some of the crazier turtles stuff I've read at times. Though the familiar Shredder/Krang/Bebobop/Rocksteady are featured heavily at first, they quickly move to the sideline for more unique stuff.
That being said. This is a kids comic. It's not wildly deep, but it is fun. Towards the end of this collection they are pushing a very strong environmental message. Back in the day when we could still save the environment if we wanted to... aw, nostalgia.
The art is a very mixed bag. It seems like there are different artists frequently, some are better than others, some are more stylized than others. All of them do bright, kid friendly, but you will probably find yourself liking issues you think look much better than others. The reproduction of the art in this collection honestly could be better but it makes up for it sheer quantity.
This is among the heftiest comic collections I own. Almost 800 pages. I am glad these comics are being preserved, I hope people like me who have nostalgia for it can get back into it. I know back in the day I had no access to be able to get comics consistently so I think all in all I had between 6-10 issues, most non consecutive. The child in me is THRILLED that this collection is available. I hope too that new generations can find fun in this series. It's definitely a product of its time, unapologetically so.
If you have the money to SHELL out for this collection, or definitely if you find a nice copy on a decent sale, I say go for it.
October 28, 2025
I thought this series had a bit of a rocky start with the first few issues, but as it went on it really picked up pace.
This isn't the best TMNT series, but it was fun and creative, and good for all ages.
This isn't the best TMNT series, but it was fun and creative, and good for all ages.
April 30, 2026
Going into this I knew to not expect too much and just have a good cartoony turtles time. And that's exactly what I did.
I love TMNT, every non The Next Mutation aspect of it but I feel like I still have some research to do. That's why I bought this Compendium, to find out what all these other mutants were all about.
The Archie turtles start off as just straight up adaptions of episodes which were just okay, and something I kind of needed to be honest. I haven't seen the 80s cartoon in a good bit and have almost exclusively read Mirage, so I needed it to get back into things. Shredder isn't a menacing villain he's a silly guy, you know that kind of stuff.
Then eventually after I was getting real impatient my glorious boy Man Ray/Ray Fillet finally made an appearance and from there more and more toy- I'm sorry I mean characters, got introduced. For a good bit there, every issue had a new marketatble friend, foe or costume. I'll give them credit though, for being advertisements based on a cartoon that's also a glorified advertisement, they could've done much worse. There's a lot of talent and passion behind this I'm sure, more evidenced than by how many guests artists there are making beautiful art that probably nobody over the age of 8 experienced at the time.
Raph's wrestle costume is so fucking funny, I'm sure they did it because with the ink they use the orange of Mike and red of Raph look incredibly similar at times, it's just really silly to see him without mask in black pants in the amazon. You're telling me Donatello can pack 3 bo staff's but Raph couldn't even bring one mask. But you know it's good to differentiate between the turtle's physically, because they sure didn't try to do that with their personalities.
One of my biggest complaints about the 87 series is that the turtles for the most part, especially in the beginning are just ctrl c ctrl v'd , they're the same turtle with different gear, close to 0 individual personality, which in this adaption is also the case. Not the entire time, just like the animated series there is somewhat personality eventually, and here if I'm not mistaken it was somewhat before the 500 page mark, when Leo and Raph had a little argument. Just for a couple panels I went "oh", this followed by Raph finally showing some angst. Eventually right at the end Donny also showed he's slightly more knowledgable than the other turtles, not because he's using a gadget or came up with something, no, he just knows stuff. Weirdest of all these is that at no points do I remember seeing any specific character moment for Mikey, ofcourse he's silly and he cracks jokes, but all of them do. If I wasn't so familiar with turtles media and just read this, I would not be able to describe Michelangelo past "the orange one", which is especially strange considering that he's without a doubt the most famously distinct turtle.
Surprisingly good run, I got what I came here and since Casey hasn't been introduced, I wouldn't mind Man Ray and April getting together maybe idk 👉👈
I love TMNT, every non The Next Mutation aspect of it but I feel like I still have some research to do. That's why I bought this Compendium, to find out what all these other mutants were all about.
The Archie turtles start off as just straight up adaptions of episodes which were just okay, and something I kind of needed to be honest. I haven't seen the 80s cartoon in a good bit and have almost exclusively read Mirage, so I needed it to get back into things. Shredder isn't a menacing villain he's a silly guy, you know that kind of stuff.
Then eventually after I was getting real impatient my glorious boy Man Ray/Ray Fillet finally made an appearance and from there more and more toy- I'm sorry I mean characters, got introduced. For a good bit there, every issue had a new marketatble friend, foe or costume. I'll give them credit though, for being advertisements based on a cartoon that's also a glorified advertisement, they could've done much worse. There's a lot of talent and passion behind this I'm sure, more evidenced than by how many guests artists there are making beautiful art that probably nobody over the age of 8 experienced at the time.
Raph's wrestle costume is so fucking funny, I'm sure they did it because with the ink they use the orange of Mike and red of Raph look incredibly similar at times, it's just really silly to see him without mask in black pants in the amazon. You're telling me Donatello can pack 3 bo staff's but Raph couldn't even bring one mask. But you know it's good to differentiate between the turtle's physically, because they sure didn't try to do that with their personalities.
One of my biggest complaints about the 87 series is that the turtles for the most part, especially in the beginning are just ctrl c ctrl v'd , they're the same turtle with different gear, close to 0 individual personality, which in this adaption is also the case. Not the entire time, just like the animated series there is somewhat personality eventually, and here if I'm not mistaken it was somewhat before the 500 page mark, when Leo and Raph had a little argument. Just for a couple panels I went "oh", this followed by Raph finally showing some angst. Eventually right at the end Donny also showed he's slightly more knowledgable than the other turtles, not because he's using a gadget or came up with something, no, he just knows stuff. Weirdest of all these is that at no points do I remember seeing any specific character moment for Mikey, ofcourse he's silly and he cracks jokes, but all of them do. If I wasn't so familiar with turtles media and just read this, I would not be able to describe Michelangelo past "the orange one", which is especially strange considering that he's without a doubt the most famously distinct turtle.
Surprisingly good run, I got what I came here and since Casey hasn't been introduced, I wouldn't mind Man Ray and April getting together maybe idk 👉👈
June 23, 2026
A big collection of the more cartoon like comics from the late 80s/early 90s. They vary wildly in quality and art style. The ken Mitchroney stuff looks great but the don Simpson issues are embarrassingly terrible with the turtles looking like complete freaks.
The arcs get into aliens and environmental issues but do have a few neat characters making guest appearances (leather head , ray fillet, etc)
Overall these are in no way as good as the Eastman and laird books but still fun.
True story : these were my original exposure to TMNT comics as a kid.
The arcs get into aliens and environmental issues but do have a few neat characters making guest appearances (leather head , ray fillet, etc)
Overall these are in no way as good as the Eastman and laird books but still fun.
True story : these were my original exposure to TMNT comics as a kid.
October 24, 2025
Libro de historietas con ISBN propio. Volumen 1 de la colección Compendium.
January 3, 2026
Pre-nostalgia for when this series really starts to get good
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews