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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Collection
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate B&W Collection Vol. 1
Rediscover the underground roots of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, starting with this special edition collection of Mirage Studios'' issues #1-7 along with the Raphael one-shot by creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird! With over 300 pages of mutated-martial arts action, this volume is perfect for fans to relive the glorious days of the Turtles' origins as well as an excellent place for new readers to see where the TMNT phenomena began.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 30, 2007
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1234 people want to read
About the author
Peter Laird
385 books60 followersPeter Alan Laird is an American comic book writer and artist. He is best known for co-creating the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with writer and artist Kevin Eastman.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 265 reviews
December 10, 2015
Hidden deep in the bottom of a cardboard box at the back of my closet was one of the most mortifying secrets of my adolescence. Nope, it wasn’t a stack of Hustler magazines (they were under my bed), a bag full of my neighbors underwear (not really my thing), or a rubber fist (I actually didn’t have one of those until I was in college). It was my collection of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle comics. There, I said it. I was/am a turtle fan. As if being an overweight role-player wasn’t enough to make losing my virginity a near impossible task.
TMNT might have been my first exposure to indie comics and I LOVED it! My turtles didn’t skateboard around ordering Domino’s or shout COWABUNGA every other panel. My turtles were killers. The ninjas they didn’t cleaved with a katana or impaled on a sai got pushed off a roof top. My turtles all wore red masks and the only way you knew who was who was by actually paying attention (or their weapons, of course). A couple of things made the transition to the Hollywood version of the TMNT that continues to enthrall children everywhere. April made the cut. And as much as I enjoy staring at Megan Fox, she loses me as soon as she starts “acting”. Casey Jones made the first movie and some of the cartoons I believe, although the psychotic vigilante factor got toned wwaaayyy down. Vanilla Ice….I’ll just leave it at that. I know there were some other things as well. But that wasn’t my turtles. The comic really went for a more gritty tone, not quite Sin City, but it certainly wasn’t targeting little kids as its audience.
This collection of the first 7 issues of Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s original masterpiece and the Raphael 1 issue micro-series is awesome. Eastman and Laird’s dark and cartoony vision of the turtles still does it for me. The first couple issues and Raph’s micro being the best of the bunch. Of course, Raphael was my favorite of the group, the angry tough guy thing speaks to me. The stories aren’t exceptionally well written and the art is pretty basic by today’s standards and I don’t give a fuck. The original origin tale is a classic. Clearly they were riffing on other popular works of the day, but I can’t get enough. From Shredder, to the Foot Clan, to man-eating Mouser robots, this one’s got it all. I’m not as crazy about some of the sci-fi stuff the guys included towards the end of this one, but it was still fun.
This book (along with a short list of others) was groundbreaking stuff for me. Little did I know that when Eastman and Laird would eventually make their mint and wisely sell their creations in return for what I hope was a butt-ton of money, I would be forced to hide my TMNT collection for fear of being doomed to rely on my right hand for companionship for the rest of my days.
These oversized hardcovers are the only way to truly appreciate these books. Beautifully bound on nice paper with great extras including interviews with the creators and a couple sketches. I was actually lucky enough to stumble upon a “Red Label” edition super cheap that was signed by Eastman and had a kick-ass slip cover, but that stuff isn’t really necessary to enjoy this book. I would imagine that anyone with a fondness for the turtles will appreciate this collection and the beautiful black and white artwork it showcases so well. If you’re not a turtle fan or prefer the more mainstream version of the quartet, you might not appreciate this one as much as I do.
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October 12, 2018
A young boy knocks an old blind man out of the way of a truck and is hit by a canister falling off the truck, striking him blind but amplifying his remaining senses. But the canister didn't stop there, it shattered as it struck a fishbowl containing four turtles and fell into a sewer. Now, fifteen years later, the turtles have returned to the surface as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!
I've been a comic nerd my entire life but somehow I never got around to reading the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics until now.
As you can tell by the intro, I knew Eastman and Laird pinched Daredevil's origin and bolted TMNT's origin on to it. I also knew the general beats from the 1980s cartoon and the movies that came shortly thereafter but was surprised by all the differences but I'll get to that in a minute.
The first thing about the first issue was how murky and overdone the art was. I was actually more impressed with the writing. Secondly, the art style wasn't what I expected either, showing more of a Richard Corben and Robert Crumb influence than anything else. The layouts had some Marvel influence though, showing some dynamic, Kirby-style action. As the series progresses, and the guys get more comfortable, the art improves dramatically.
Quite a bit happens in the eight issues contained in this volume. The turtles emerge from the sewers to confront the Foot Clan and its master, The Shredder. And he dies in the first issue. See what I mean about differences? Not only that, April is a lab assistant to mad scientist Baxter Stockman, who is black in this iteration and not a human fly at this point.
Anyway, there's Baxter Stockman holding the city ransom, Splinter going missing, Raphael having a solo adventure with Casey Jones, and an interstellar saga that reminds me of early Fantastic Four issues. The double page spread on pages 2-3 of issue #6 is spectacular.
The comics are quite a bit different than the cartoons and the movies. The turtles all were red masks. Michelangelo isn't an annoying surfer dude, there is no mention of pizza, and the guys kill quite a few people. It's good shit!
There are notes by Eastman and Laird after each issue, giving extra insight into what went into them and vindicating me when I mentioned Richard Corben being one of their influences. I find it crazy that these guys were making a living putting out four comics a year and that a cultural phenomenon started with a self-published black and white comic.
By the end, I was hooked. It was great seeing the characters develop but I think I enjoyed watching Eastman and Laird getting more confident as artists even more. I'm in for another volume at least. Four out of five stars.
I've been a comic nerd my entire life but somehow I never got around to reading the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics until now.
As you can tell by the intro, I knew Eastman and Laird pinched Daredevil's origin and bolted TMNT's origin on to it. I also knew the general beats from the 1980s cartoon and the movies that came shortly thereafter but was surprised by all the differences but I'll get to that in a minute.
The first thing about the first issue was how murky and overdone the art was. I was actually more impressed with the writing. Secondly, the art style wasn't what I expected either, showing more of a Richard Corben and Robert Crumb influence than anything else. The layouts had some Marvel influence though, showing some dynamic, Kirby-style action. As the series progresses, and the guys get more comfortable, the art improves dramatically.
Quite a bit happens in the eight issues contained in this volume. The turtles emerge from the sewers to confront the Foot Clan and its master, The Shredder. And he dies in the first issue. See what I mean about differences? Not only that, April is a lab assistant to mad scientist Baxter Stockman, who is black in this iteration and not a human fly at this point.
Anyway, there's Baxter Stockman holding the city ransom, Splinter going missing, Raphael having a solo adventure with Casey Jones, and an interstellar saga that reminds me of early Fantastic Four issues. The double page spread on pages 2-3 of issue #6 is spectacular.
The comics are quite a bit different than the cartoons and the movies. The turtles all were red masks. Michelangelo isn't an annoying surfer dude, there is no mention of pizza, and the guys kill quite a few people. It's good shit!
There are notes by Eastman and Laird after each issue, giving extra insight into what went into them and vindicating me when I mentioned Richard Corben being one of their influences. I find it crazy that these guys were making a living putting out four comics a year and that a cultural phenomenon started with a self-published black and white comic.
By the end, I was hooked. It was great seeing the characters develop but I think I enjoyed watching Eastman and Laird getting more confident as artists even more. I'm in for another volume at least. Four out of five stars.
August 15, 2021
This collection of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series was great. I loved the annotations for each issue by Eastman and Laird. It's something of a lesson in self-publishing and how much work it was. The idea behind Shredder came from when they were washing dishes one night and Kevin put a cheese grater over his hand and commented how armor that looked like that would be. He suggested calling him Grateman while Peter thankfully came up with Shredder. All of the issues are around 40 pages which is crazy large, although it would take them 3 or 4 months to do an issue. The first 4 issues were all two color covers. By issue 5 they'd made enough money to afford full color covers.
The oversized pages allow you to zero in on the art which looks so different from anything they've done separately. They explained that Kevin typically did layouts and then both of them would draw some pages and the other one would ink them, merging their styles. You can see a lot of Jack Kirby and Frank Miller influences in the art. The action sequences have great flow from panel to panel giving each page a sense of motion.
I love how they bolt the Turtles's origins onto Daredevil's. They were being brought home from the pet store when they were dropped in the toxic waste that also created Daredevil when a young Matt Murdock rescued a blind man from a speeding truck. Obviously, Daredevil is a huge influence on the two creators as Shredder's clan is called The Foot, an clear ode to The Hand. Surprisingly, Shredder is only in the first issue but all the major Turtle elements are there. Shredder and the Foot in issue 1. April O'Neil, and Baxter Stockman in the second issue. The Utroms show up at the end of issue 3 (although no Krang yet). Casey Jones in the Rafael micro series. I really enjoyed the ode to Star Wars in the 5th issue when they head to the Mos Eisley cantina. There's an easter egg of Dave Sim's Cerebus in the cantina scene too. I can't wait to tackle the next collection and see where this goes.
The oversized pages allow you to zero in on the art which looks so different from anything they've done separately. They explained that Kevin typically did layouts and then both of them would draw some pages and the other one would ink them, merging their styles. You can see a lot of Jack Kirby and Frank Miller influences in the art. The action sequences have great flow from panel to panel giving each page a sense of motion.
I love how they bolt the Turtles's origins onto Daredevil's. They were being brought home from the pet store when they were dropped in the toxic waste that also created Daredevil when a young Matt Murdock rescued a blind man from a speeding truck. Obviously, Daredevil is a huge influence on the two creators as Shredder's clan is called The Foot, an clear ode to The Hand. Surprisingly, Shredder is only in the first issue but all the major Turtle elements are there. Shredder and the Foot in issue 1. April O'Neil, and Baxter Stockman in the second issue. The Utroms show up at the end of issue 3 (although no Krang yet). Casey Jones in the Rafael micro series. I really enjoyed the ode to Star Wars in the 5th issue when they head to the Mos Eisley cantina. There's an easter egg of Dave Sim's Cerebus in the cantina scene too. I can't wait to tackle the next collection and see where this goes.
September 6, 2023
I remember these comics from way back in the early 80s when I was just graduated from high school, and they are collected here in a tremendous compilation of the first 7 issues, with a Raphael, solo, introductory one-shot issue. These are rather primitive, black and white comics with two-color comic book covers, distinct from the more common four-color covers.
The co-creators, Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman, had to independently create their own comics company (Mirage) complete with printing and distribution in order to see their dreams realized. The concept itself is revolutionary as it parodies all the successful heroic tropes found in comics at that time. Superhero teams were mostly in their teens. The top selling book was Uncanny X-Men, and superheroes were either animal based, or martial artists.
Here, you get all those tropes rolled into one. Each issue collected is 40 pages of well-written, lovingly illustrated, sequential art that purposefully homages the Jack Kirby style while simultaneously emulates the cinema. Camera angles are chosen for dramatic effect that along with panel design create breath-taking fight scenes.
These stories are special for so many reasons involving the innovation of the art form, but it is doubly impressive that they even included in every comic's last two pages, story-behind-the-story information for those geeks (of which I am one) that just need a little more Geek in our comics.
The co-creators, Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman, had to independently create their own comics company (Mirage) complete with printing and distribution in order to see their dreams realized. The concept itself is revolutionary as it parodies all the successful heroic tropes found in comics at that time. Superhero teams were mostly in their teens. The top selling book was Uncanny X-Men, and superheroes were either animal based, or martial artists.
Here, you get all those tropes rolled into one. Each issue collected is 40 pages of well-written, lovingly illustrated, sequential art that purposefully homages the Jack Kirby style while simultaneously emulates the cinema. Camera angles are chosen for dramatic effect that along with panel design create breath-taking fight scenes.
These stories are special for so many reasons involving the innovation of the art form, but it is doubly impressive that they even included in every comic's last two pages, story-behind-the-story information for those geeks (of which I am one) that just need a little more Geek in our comics.
January 30, 2024
8.2/10
I grew up liking the TMNT, but the reason was the movies, the animated series and two toy figures of Michelangelo and Raphael, that i absolutely loved and spend a long time playing with.
This is however, the first time i actually read the original comic books, and i wasn't disappointed. This is exactly what one could hope for. It's an action packed, crazy and humourous adventure. You can also feel the love for comics that Eastman and Laird had.
When it comes to the art, the standout for me is the environment. Not that the turtles or the people are not good. It's just that the environment is a character of its own. Fantastic job there.
I can see why this took off back in the day.
I grew up liking the TMNT, but the reason was the movies, the animated series and two toy figures of Michelangelo and Raphael, that i absolutely loved and spend a long time playing with.
This is however, the first time i actually read the original comic books, and i wasn't disappointed. This is exactly what one could hope for. It's an action packed, crazy and humourous adventure. You can also feel the love for comics that Eastman and Laird had.
When it comes to the art, the standout for me is the environment. Not that the turtles or the people are not good. It's just that the environment is a character of its own. Fantastic job there.
I can see why this took off back in the day.
May 13, 2022
Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s original TMNT run has been collected in 6 oversized hardcovers, with this volume being the first, collecting the first seven issues of Mirage’s TMNT run as well as the Raphael micro-series one-shot, all annotated by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. I should say mainly Kevin Eastman though, as Laird sadly doesn’t have too much to say in this first volume. Even with that slight hiccup, this is a book well worth any TMNT fan’s time.
I know everyone grew up on a different generation of TMNT, and mine was the 4Kids show that started back in 2003. And I was damn surprised to learn that this Mirage run inspired that series heavily, with the first couple of episodes ripping dialogue and plot points straight from these first couple of issues. It’s kinda crazy and makes me wish I jumped on these books earlier. And the show adapted most of Laird’s and Eastman’s run too, with both Return to New York and City at War, their two biggest storylines, being done by the time the show was halfway through the second season. Just very cool and it makes this run a lot better in hindsight since I grew up watching what was a kid-friendly version of this run.
The main draw for me to these books is the fact all the hardcovers are oversized in a Library Edition, allowing the art to pop on each page. It can be kinda hard to find them nowadays, but I’d recommend the 6 hardcovers over the paperbacks. They are so much better and add a lot to the reading experience, and I’m happy mine are all still in decent condition after so long. Each issue here is also very long, with most of them coming out to over 40 pages. This would eventually be towed back in the later issues, but since this was mainly a comic Eastman & Laird were making for themselves, they just did whatever they felt worked best. I mean they both wrote, drew, and inked the whole thing together, with both of them just passing pages back and forth between each other in their living room. It’s just really cool how this absurd Daredevil parody that was supposed to be just a one-shot has led to all these different adaptations over the years.
I’d recommend these Ultimate Collections to any TMNT fan looking to get into the comics, as this is by far the most enjoyable way to read this run.
I know everyone grew up on a different generation of TMNT, and mine was the 4Kids show that started back in 2003. And I was damn surprised to learn that this Mirage run inspired that series heavily, with the first couple of episodes ripping dialogue and plot points straight from these first couple of issues. It’s kinda crazy and makes me wish I jumped on these books earlier. And the show adapted most of Laird’s and Eastman’s run too, with both Return to New York and City at War, their two biggest storylines, being done by the time the show was halfway through the second season. Just very cool and it makes this run a lot better in hindsight since I grew up watching what was a kid-friendly version of this run.
The main draw for me to these books is the fact all the hardcovers are oversized in a Library Edition, allowing the art to pop on each page. It can be kinda hard to find them nowadays, but I’d recommend the 6 hardcovers over the paperbacks. They are so much better and add a lot to the reading experience, and I’m happy mine are all still in decent condition after so long. Each issue here is also very long, with most of them coming out to over 40 pages. This would eventually be towed back in the later issues, but since this was mainly a comic Eastman & Laird were making for themselves, they just did whatever they felt worked best. I mean they both wrote, drew, and inked the whole thing together, with both of them just passing pages back and forth between each other in their living room. It’s just really cool how this absurd Daredevil parody that was supposed to be just a one-shot has led to all these different adaptations over the years.
I’d recommend these Ultimate Collections to any TMNT fan looking to get into the comics, as this is by far the most enjoyable way to read this run.
September 17, 2018
I got into the Ninja Turtles around the time of the original cartoon, so they had already been rebranded as a family-friendly property. Going back to read the original comics was a real treat!
Nothing is too over the top here, but it is certainly not something I would give to a kid. We have some mild cursing, sexual innuendo, nipples poking through clothes, etc. But the real interesting thing here is the violence. The Ninja Turtles have no problem gutting their enemies and chopping them to bits. They also get as much as they give, and frequently get slashed and beat bloody.
It is also fun to see how different the common Ninja Turtle tropes are. Shredder is just a minor player here, and he wears business suits and regular clothes more than he does his more famous costume (although that's here, too). April is not a reporter, but instead is some kind of lab technician. The turtles don't eat pizza, don't say cowabunga, and all have red masks (at least in anything they are in with color). There isn't just one Krang, but a whole bunch of them, and they may or may not be evil (you will have to read to find out!).
I absolutely loved the art in this. It is black and white, and yet there is a lot going on and a lot of detail put into the panels.
The plot gets a bit convoluted with space travel, aliens, and robots all thrown into the mix. I can't take stars away for that, however, because the Ninja Turtles are supposed to be a bit gonzo.
Nothing is too over the top here, but it is certainly not something I would give to a kid. We have some mild cursing, sexual innuendo, nipples poking through clothes, etc. But the real interesting thing here is the violence. The Ninja Turtles have no problem gutting their enemies and chopping them to bits. They also get as much as they give, and frequently get slashed and beat bloody.
It is also fun to see how different the common Ninja Turtle tropes are. Shredder is just a minor player here, and he wears business suits and regular clothes more than he does his more famous costume (although that's here, too). April is not a reporter, but instead is some kind of lab technician. The turtles don't eat pizza, don't say cowabunga, and all have red masks (at least in anything they are in with color). There isn't just one Krang, but a whole bunch of them, and they may or may not be evil (you will have to read to find out!).
I absolutely loved the art in this. It is black and white, and yet there is a lot going on and a lot of detail put into the panels.
The plot gets a bit convoluted with space travel, aliens, and robots all thrown into the mix. I can't take stars away for that, however, because the Ninja Turtles are supposed to be a bit gonzo.
March 28, 2025
I used to sneak into my older brother’s room to read his TMNT comics. I loved them. I mostly focused on the grittier ones. I’m sure I read some of these early ones as well but they didn’t stay with me. I was excited to find this collection in the bookstore so I could return to the beginning of the Turtles. Getting to see the original origin story is great. I loved meeting April and Casey again. The last few comics are more science fiction and out of this world. The alien story is funny. Doesn’t seem like it fits in their world but Eastman and Laird made it work. I loved returning to this world and seeing the beginnings of the world-building. It’s fun and brings a sense of childhood back.
July 31, 2016
Side note: I love the old and new equally :)
(If you don't agree that's fine.. respect my opinion and I'll respect yours:) )
---
I don't remember the original cartoon all that well (I was a little kid) but I do remember falling in love with the first two movies (the Japan one, not so much). I would watch them over and over on my VHS tapes (April getting attacked scared me when I first watched it) and try to copy some of their kicks :).
Raphael was always my favorite, not entirely sure why still... Jessie would say its because we both have an "attitude problem" hehe. My favorite weapon though I remember being Leonardo's Swords but if I were a part of their universe, I bet Don's Bo would be my weapon... just a gut feeling.
I wasn't a comic book/graphic novel girl so I put off trying these for a long time but decided "what the hell" and requested it from the library.
The results? very pleasing for the most part... I loved the artwork once I got used to it and seeing the original storylines the creators had come up with. Bits and pieces from the movies playing in my head as I read along :).
Raphael's solo "adventure" was my favorite of the bunch, wish it had been a bit longer though *pouts*
The four star rating: only because of the issues with the Turtles in Space... while the plots were somewhat intriguing, they had trouble keeping my attention and my eyes glazed over a few times. I did speed read some to get back to #7 (sorrynotsorry)... the last story was okay, better than the last two and the final scene was hilarious :-D.
It'll be intriguing to see how April develops into the reporter we know now (not looking ahead, want as little spoilers as possible haha) and to see more of Casey Jones eventually.
The little notes at the end of each issue were fun to read, getting some insight and history into the process of TMNT. The little panels at the end were a nice bonus as well.
All in all, would recommend if you are curious about the beginnings of our boys, happy reading!
May 1, 2023
I finally got the chance to read the original few issues of TMNT! I was a huge fan as a kid watching the animated series and the live action movies but really haven't seen or read anything about them since.
The artwork is pretty great, it's all a tad dated but its some outrageous fun comics. I can see why this became a hit - plus that title Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is perhaps the greatest title in all of comics.
The artwork is pretty great, it's all a tad dated but its some outrageous fun comics. I can see why this became a hit - plus that title Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is perhaps the greatest title in all of comics.
February 24, 2014
Okay seriously probably the best thing I've ever read. It was better than the 1980's cartoons or the live action movies. I'm a TMNT fan for life and these story lines are the best turtle stories, even with the funny Star Wars references and the guy's asking for beers. My absolute favorite thing was the origin story told in this book versus what I've already seen. TCRI versus TGRI, and Krang type aliens being responsible for the ooze (or mutagen depends on who you talk to). I really did have the best time reading this and comparing. What this book did best of all is introduce Shredder, it makes so much more sense that Hamato Yoshi killed Oruku Saki's brother and that's why he was so bent on revenge. I also loved all the insight by Eastman and Laird between each comic, it was so lovely learning about the beginnings of my all time favorite guys. There's nothing that will stop me from continue reading it's too good.
September 9, 2022
I was never a huge TMNT fan, but this trade was asking me to give it a read on the library GN shelf so I checked it out and really enjoyed this b & w origin and early issue set of the turtles with my favorite being the katana wielding leader Leonardo. It was informative to read the creative teams annotations after each story to get their perspective. And I forgot how their origin was tied into Daredevil’s origin over at Marvel comics with the radioactive cannister. The Star Wars love is abundant as well. The downside was the muddy at times inking but very enjoyable.
May 13, 2016
Crazy science fiction actions abounds as four young mutants quickly dispose of some guy called "Shredder" before tackling crazed robots and adventures across space!
Wait. What?
I was eight just as the TMNT hit America, and lucky enough to have a really good comic store in the vicinity. It was just the right time to be into the new wave of merchandise while being able to grab reasonably priced back issues of the original black and white series.
Believe me, no one on the playground believed when I told them that the Turtles killed Shredder off in the very first issue.
I loved those weird, transgressive stories, and they are just as fun in this amazing reprint.
First of all, the book is amazing quality. It's oversized, so the crisp black and white art can be seen for all the crazy detail. There's fun annotations after every issue where the Turtles' creators breakdown the creation and influences in every issue.
And, holy crap, I can't believe I never saw the Jack Kirby.
Going back in, I assumed I was going to be bathing in Frank Miller love. After all, the whole TMNT saga started as a Daredevil quality. From the beginning, Eastman and Laird point out how the frenetic action and page layout are tributes to comic master Jack Kirby, even pointing out which sequences are influenced by which of Kirby's work. From the in media res openings to the detailed alien technology, I can finally see the Kirby.
Aliens? Oh, yeah. The boys spend more time encountering aliens and being warped across the galaxy than they do fighting ninjas, and it was wonderful. The great appeal of the Mirage Studio books is the anything-goes nature of the stories, where you can never foresee what's coming up next.
And yet it works. Despite that fact that issue #1 was writing by two guys who never believed there'd be an issue #2, the eight issues reprinted here create a full, satisfying storyline that wraps itself up in the end.
These early TMNT days are fun comics, a bolt of creativity from two guys who loved what they did and couldn't believe that they were making money off of it. It takes two or three issues for the different personalities of the turtles to come out, probably because Eastman and Laird suddenly realized they could keep making issues and said, "Holy crap, we need to differentiate these guys!" I didn't care. It was fun from the beginning, and great once they hit their stride. I can sit and stare at some of the art for minutes on end, and the joy of creation is transparent in every annotation.
This is what fun comics should be. Now I have to find an uncut reprint of Tales of the TMNT . . .
PS. The wraparound cover of TMNT #7 is one of the greatest comic covers of all time. Come at me.
Wait. What?
I was eight just as the TMNT hit America, and lucky enough to have a really good comic store in the vicinity. It was just the right time to be into the new wave of merchandise while being able to grab reasonably priced back issues of the original black and white series.
Believe me, no one on the playground believed when I told them that the Turtles killed Shredder off in the very first issue.
I loved those weird, transgressive stories, and they are just as fun in this amazing reprint.
First of all, the book is amazing quality. It's oversized, so the crisp black and white art can be seen for all the crazy detail. There's fun annotations after every issue where the Turtles' creators breakdown the creation and influences in every issue.
And, holy crap, I can't believe I never saw the Jack Kirby.
Going back in, I assumed I was going to be bathing in Frank Miller love. After all, the whole TMNT saga started as a Daredevil quality. From the beginning, Eastman and Laird point out how the frenetic action and page layout are tributes to comic master Jack Kirby, even pointing out which sequences are influenced by which of Kirby's work. From the in media res openings to the detailed alien technology, I can finally see the Kirby.
Aliens? Oh, yeah. The boys spend more time encountering aliens and being warped across the galaxy than they do fighting ninjas, and it was wonderful. The great appeal of the Mirage Studio books is the anything-goes nature of the stories, where you can never foresee what's coming up next.
And yet it works. Despite that fact that issue #1 was writing by two guys who never believed there'd be an issue #2, the eight issues reprinted here create a full, satisfying storyline that wraps itself up in the end.
These early TMNT days are fun comics, a bolt of creativity from two guys who loved what they did and couldn't believe that they were making money off of it. It takes two or three issues for the different personalities of the turtles to come out, probably because Eastman and Laird suddenly realized they could keep making issues and said, "Holy crap, we need to differentiate these guys!" I didn't care. It was fun from the beginning, and great once they hit their stride. I can sit and stare at some of the art for minutes on end, and the joy of creation is transparent in every annotation.
This is what fun comics should be. Now I have to find an uncut reprint of Tales of the TMNT . . .
PS. The wraparound cover of TMNT #7 is one of the greatest comic covers of all time. Come at me.
July 24, 2020
Way, way back in the 1980s, like many kids, I was obsessed with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I couldn’t tell you just how many toys I had or how many times I watched the cartoon show and when the live-action movie hit theatres in 1990, my fandom rose to a whole other level. Its sequel, The Secret of the Ooze, had been watched so many times in our household by my brother and me, I think we wore off the printing on the VHS. But even with my obsessive love for the heroes in a half-shell, there had always been a blind spot when it came to the original comics. Luckily for me, it seems that the majority of the original black & white collections seem to be on sale through Comixology (can I briefly say how much I love reading comics on my tablet with their guided-view technology? I almost prefer it to physical copies at this point). So, I declare this the summer of TMNT!
I was familiar with the turtle’s origins (the theme song for the cartoon basically lays it out for you) and with the original movie leaning more on the comics, I had a certain expectation for what I would read. What I didn’t expect was the level of violence! I don’t want you to think that these are blood-soaked pages of brutality, but to see any blood whatsoever in the world of TMNT is shocking to say the least.
I was actually surprised at just how much was introduced in the first seven issues (and the stand-alone Raphael one-shot). You have the arrival and subsequent killing of The Shredder, mad scientist Baxter Stockman shows up, vigilante Casey Jones bursts onto the scene and the introduction of April, the gang’s best human friend. Even the species that shares the origins of future super-villain Krang makes an appearance!
With that said, I wasn’t too crazy about the outer space stuff, but I knew it made up a big chunk of their origins, so I can’t say I was that put off by it. I really liked the art here, but without the trademark colors of each respective turtles bandanas, it was hard to tell who was who unless specifically mentioned in dialogue as all the turtles were identically drawn aside from their weapons.
Honestly, I tried to temper my expectations given how revered this series is. I was very much raised on the cartoon and the movies, so I wanted to keep an open mind. I did enjoy this though for the most part. So, I’m off to volume two!
I was familiar with the turtle’s origins (the theme song for the cartoon basically lays it out for you) and with the original movie leaning more on the comics, I had a certain expectation for what I would read. What I didn’t expect was the level of violence! I don’t want you to think that these are blood-soaked pages of brutality, but to see any blood whatsoever in the world of TMNT is shocking to say the least.
I was actually surprised at just how much was introduced in the first seven issues (and the stand-alone Raphael one-shot). You have the arrival and subsequent killing of The Shredder, mad scientist Baxter Stockman shows up, vigilante Casey Jones bursts onto the scene and the introduction of April, the gang’s best human friend. Even the species that shares the origins of future super-villain Krang makes an appearance!
With that said, I wasn’t too crazy about the outer space stuff, but I knew it made up a big chunk of their origins, so I can’t say I was that put off by it. I really liked the art here, but without the trademark colors of each respective turtles bandanas, it was hard to tell who was who unless specifically mentioned in dialogue as all the turtles were identically drawn aside from their weapons.
Honestly, I tried to temper my expectations given how revered this series is. I was very much raised on the cartoon and the movies, so I wanted to keep an open mind. I did enjoy this though for the most part. So, I’m off to volume two!
January 15, 2022
Growing up a fan of TMNT I had watched the cartoon, played the games, and watched the movies of course but never read the comics. I was blown away at how good this was and how gritty it turned out to be. It was interesting seeing how it all began and definitely recommend it to any fan of TMNT.
December 5, 2022
I grew up in the 80s, so I was a big fan of the TMNT: the cartoon, the toys, the feature films, the video games, the other products (t-shirts, sheets, lunch boxes--I had it all). I never read the original comics by Eastman and Laird that inspired all of this. So, I'm glad I finally got around to reading a few of these. This collection features the first seven comic issues, the six chronological stories and one Raphael-focused issue. I really enjoyed the art. The style is really unique, grungy and authentic. The plots are so bizarre and intriguing: ninja clans, interdimensional aliens, killer robots, really phantasmagoric stuff, weirdness to 11. Despite the levity of it all, it doesn't become ridiculous. Why? I don't know. But this delicate balance lets the writers/artist incorporate a few brush strokes of seriousness: the familial bond between the turtles and splinter, issues of xenophobia and humanity's propensity toward violence against the unknown, one's capacity for pious anger, and more. Some cool stuff.
October 30, 2022
I will always love that this weird little comic became such a big deal.
March 5, 2014
I'm one of the millions of kids who grew up in the '80s and '90s being obsessed with the Ninja Turtles via the Saturday morning cartoon and the live action movies. Now in my early thirties I'm taking the time to catch up on the comic that started it all. This collection was much more similar to what I remember than I expected. I always heard that the comic was "dark" and "mature," but that must only be because more baddies get killed.
The annotations by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird in this recent Ultimate collection were the biggest disappointment for me. The comics themselves are very fun and competent at what they're trying to do, but Kevin's commentary in 2011 makes him sound like he hasn't matured as a writer since the '80s whatsoever. 75% of his banal thoughts end in exclamation marks. I felt like I was watching a PSA or "Behind the Scenes" special hosted by the cartoon's Michaelangelo [sic] rather than gaining insight from a successful comic creator.
I do really respect the two creators for their working and publishing methods (co-writing, co-drawing, co-inking virtually every single page). I just don't know if I can keep reading the rest of these Ultimate collections unless the storylines really grab me and show the series to be something truly special rather than just a mimicry of Jack Kirby and Frank Miller (the creators' biggest stated influences).
The annotations by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird in this recent Ultimate collection were the biggest disappointment for me. The comics themselves are very fun and competent at what they're trying to do, but Kevin's commentary in 2011 makes him sound like he hasn't matured as a writer since the '80s whatsoever. 75% of his banal thoughts end in exclamation marks. I felt like I was watching a PSA or "Behind the Scenes" special hosted by the cartoon's Michaelangelo [sic] rather than gaining insight from a successful comic creator.
I do really respect the two creators for their working and publishing methods (co-writing, co-drawing, co-inking virtually every single page). I just don't know if I can keep reading the rest of these Ultimate collections unless the storylines really grab me and show the series to be something truly special rather than just a mimicry of Jack Kirby and Frank Miller (the creators' biggest stated influences).
December 16, 2020
Wanna start the new IDW TMNT series that's currently ongoing and I purchased a bundle over at Comixology sometime ago when it was on sale, bunch of volumes, and I also had this one sitting on my library for years.. remember starting it at some point but never finished.
So I thought I'll read this one and then jump onto the new title.. thinking this will probably be outdated and/or feel weird cuz all these years gone by or something. Boy was I wrong?!
Great artwork, especially most of the whole pages in it are eye candy and then the damn story is so good. So interesting to see how it all started, with each arc with things happening simultaneously while there's a main thing going on.
Great read, especially if you're a fan from the 90s, if not, you will be a fan after reading this one!
So I thought I'll read this one and then jump onto the new title.. thinking this will probably be outdated and/or feel weird cuz all these years gone by or something. Boy was I wrong?!
Great artwork, especially most of the whole pages in it are eye candy and then the damn story is so good. So interesting to see how it all started, with each arc with things happening simultaneously while there's a main thing going on.
Great read, especially if you're a fan from the 90s, if not, you will be a fan after reading this one!
June 26, 2017
So much fun, collaborative, sky's-the-limit energy here.
August 12, 2024
Una idea delirante con un costado oscuro onda Frank Miller. El dibujo me encanta y los guiones, aun con ciertos problemas, también. A ver como sigue.
March 13, 2023
I have to say I am surprised by how much I liked this. I generally do NOT like comics or graphic novels and I avoid reading them- unless there is something so intriguing on the cover that I am compelled to read the synopsis.
TMNT was not that.
My spouse checked this out from the library on a whim because I picked up The Last Ronin, about the possible end of the TMNT, and liked it.
From the first page, I was just enthralled by the art work and immediately commented that I can see how this series became an instant classic and how multiple generations could fall in love with the same series. How this holds up over time, even now at almost 40 years old. This presentation as well as the story itself is so different from what I have come to dislike about comics.
As someone who grew up watching the movies, I delighted in getting what felt like an inside scoop. It was a wild ride. None of the movies I have seen do justice to this franchise, but they also don't take away from my reading enjoyment.
I might even read the other 6 volumes. Maybe.
TMNT was not that.
My spouse checked this out from the library on a whim because I picked up The Last Ronin, about the possible end of the TMNT, and liked it.
From the first page, I was just enthralled by the art work and immediately commented that I can see how this series became an instant classic and how multiple generations could fall in love with the same series. How this holds up over time, even now at almost 40 years old. This presentation as well as the story itself is so different from what I have come to dislike about comics.
As someone who grew up watching the movies, I delighted in getting what felt like an inside scoop. It was a wild ride. None of the movies I have seen do justice to this franchise, but they also don't take away from my reading enjoyment.
I might even read the other 6 volumes. Maybe.
January 5, 2020
I am astounded at how much I liked this. I got it from the library thinking "This will be stupid haha fuckin' turtles," but it is legitimately one of the best comics I've ever read. It's of course ridiculous with the ooze and the aliens and the turtles, but it's also boldly drawn, well-plotted, and strangely earnest in its premise.
I think I might actually be, like... into the Ninja Turtles now.
I think I might actually be, like... into the Ninja Turtles now.
March 20, 2024
It’s the fweakin’ ninja turtles. Las tortugas ninja. Of course it’s five stars.
August 10, 2021
Ridiculously underrated artwork in these issues.
October 1, 2020
Desde pequeña he sido fan de las Tortugas Ninja al haberme criado con la serie y las películas de los 80/90. Más mayor me hice fan de las de Nickelodeon de 2012 y es por ello que siempre he tenido mucha curiosidad por leer el cómic original que dio pie a todo.
¡Me ha encantado la experiencia! Si bien es cierto que el dibujo no es santo de mi devoción, al ser un poco sucio y los humanos no estar muy bien dibujados, las criaturas antropomórficas sí me gustan y creo que les da mucha expresividad, especialmente a los cuatro protagonistas.
La historia es muy dinámica y en ningún momento dejan de pasar cosas. Pasamos de una trama a otra a ritmo vertiginoso, sin descanso. Además me ha encantado reencontrarme con tramas y villanos de la historia de siempre e incluso me he sorprendido de lo rápido que salían en los cómics. ¡No esperaba que los Triceratons salieran en el primer tomo! El final se queda abierto dejando intriga para el tomo siguiente.
Si eres fan de las Tortugas Ninja no te puedes perder esta historia.
¡Me ha encantado la experiencia! Si bien es cierto que el dibujo no es santo de mi devoción, al ser un poco sucio y los humanos no estar muy bien dibujados, las criaturas antropomórficas sí me gustan y creo que les da mucha expresividad, especialmente a los cuatro protagonistas.
La historia es muy dinámica y en ningún momento dejan de pasar cosas. Pasamos de una trama a otra a ritmo vertiginoso, sin descanso. Además me ha encantado reencontrarme con tramas y villanos de la historia de siempre e incluso me he sorprendido de lo rápido que salían en los cómics. ¡No esperaba que los Triceratons salieran en el primer tomo! El final se queda abierto dejando intriga para el tomo siguiente.
Si eres fan de las Tortugas Ninja no te puedes perder esta historia.
June 2, 2014
Growing up, my first introduction to the Ninja Turtles was the 1987 cartoon. I was 3 and apparently hooked for life. I had all the action figures and practically every issue of the Archie series of "TMNT Adventures" comics. All that said, I kind of missed out on the original iteration of these four mutant turtles. And for anyone that knows, the Archie and cartoon Turtles are very different from the original comic. The Ultimate Edition collects the original series done by Eastman and Laird into a really beautiful oversized book (issues 1-7 in this volume). It's a great platform for these illustrations – they are absolutely gorgeous. Practically every page could be hung as a work of art. And the stories compliment the artwork well – great pacing and the right balance of "grit" and wit. All in all, I'm so glad I revisited the books that set the stage for my biggest obsession as a kid. They're far too good to go unread!
October 22, 2012
I mean...what's to say? It's about what you'd expect. Probably the most interesting thing is that the artists would draw and ink together, sharing both the drawing and the inking, which is highly unusual. They both seemed to distinctly remember the one page that was completed by only one of them.
June 21, 2025
I love the turtles. Diving into the original comics was a blast!
Read
June 24, 2024How? Saw at the library and thought the kiddo might like it, but he had no interest. I ended up reading it before returning it.
What? It's issues 1-7 of the original Eastman & Laird comic book, from 1984-1986.
Yeah, so? TMNT, for many people my age, is a theme song written by Chuck Lorre; for some of us, it was also a model of how two nerds could start an independent comic and become a success. (That was the subtext if not the text of a library-based "how to make your own comic book" lecture I went to as a kid. The lecturer gave out some comic books to the kids also, which is why I will never forget the Marvel also-ran comic, _Star Brand_.)
And if you're a nerd of a particular bent, you might also know that TMNT was in large part a parody of Daredevil and the 1980s ninja craze: TMNT fight the Foot clan and are taught by Splinter, where Daredevil fought the Hand clan and was taught by Stick.
So it's somewhat interesting to go back and see how pretty straight-laced these comics were: yeah, the concept of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles itself is a great hat-on-a-hat; and yeah, the origin story is likewise intentionally too much: Splinter was the rat pet of a great martial artist, who learned by copying his owner; they all got mutated when a mysterious canister broke a kid's bowl of pet turtles over an open manhole.
But the stories are themselves pretty ordinary for the time: a mad scientist with an army of robots, getting beamed to an alien planet and forced to fight in gladiatorial games, fighting a ninja clan. The drawing and writing are also... well, it's an independent comic of the 80s, it's not going to be glossy or always laid out in a legible fashion.
So what made this such a big hit? This collection includes some reminiscences of how they made this comic, but the wikipedia article lays it out a little more clearly: they advertised. It wasn't an overnight sensation, but by '85 they had an RPG, by '87, they had a tv show (aimed more at kids), and then there were the toys.
But why? What was it in these original stories that really kicked off this cycle? I can't help but think that the mixture of parody and straightforward action really helped sell this, but it makes it a less than compelling read so many years later.
What? It's issues 1-7 of the original Eastman & Laird comic book, from 1984-1986.
Yeah, so? TMNT, for many people my age, is a theme song written by Chuck Lorre; for some of us, it was also a model of how two nerds could start an independent comic and become a success. (That was the subtext if not the text of a library-based "how to make your own comic book" lecture I went to as a kid. The lecturer gave out some comic books to the kids also, which is why I will never forget the Marvel also-ran comic, _Star Brand_.)
And if you're a nerd of a particular bent, you might also know that TMNT was in large part a parody of Daredevil and the 1980s ninja craze: TMNT fight the Foot clan and are taught by Splinter, where Daredevil fought the Hand clan and was taught by Stick.
So it's somewhat interesting to go back and see how pretty straight-laced these comics were: yeah, the concept of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles itself is a great hat-on-a-hat; and yeah, the origin story is likewise intentionally too much: Splinter was the rat pet of a great martial artist, who learned by copying his owner; they all got mutated when a mysterious canister broke a kid's bowl of pet turtles over an open manhole.
But the stories are themselves pretty ordinary for the time: a mad scientist with an army of robots, getting beamed to an alien planet and forced to fight in gladiatorial games, fighting a ninja clan. The drawing and writing are also... well, it's an independent comic of the 80s, it's not going to be glossy or always laid out in a legible fashion.
So what made this such a big hit? This collection includes some reminiscences of how they made this comic, but the wikipedia article lays it out a little more clearly: they advertised. It wasn't an overnight sensation, but by '85 they had an RPG, by '87, they had a tv show (aimed more at kids), and then there were the toys.
But why? What was it in these original stories that really kicked off this cycle? I can't help but think that the mixture of parody and straightforward action really helped sell this, but it makes it a less than compelling read so many years later.
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