Eastman and Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Eastman and Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was the original comic book that spawned the later television shows, movies, and video games. They were first published in 1984 by Mirage Studios.

The concept originated from an evening of casual brainstorming. Kevin Eastman drew a picture of a turtle with nunchuks strapped to his arms. Peter Laird thought a slow turtle as ninja was very funny. Eventually, they created a team of four turtles, each specializing in a different weapon.

Using a tax refund and a loan from Eastman's uncle, they formed Mirage Studios and published a single-issue comic book that would parody Daredevil and The New Mutants. The traffic accident and truck carrying radioactive waste that caused the turtles mutation was an illusion to Daredevil's origin. The name "Splinter" is a parody of Daredevil's master, "Stick". Also, The Foot is a parody of a ninja clan in Daredevil called "The Hand".

Over the years, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles would cross over with other successful independent comic books, including Dave Sim's Cerebus, Erik Larsen's Savage Dragon, Bob Burden's Flaming Carrot, and Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo.

Publication History

Volume 1: 1983 - 1993

The first issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was advertised in issues #1 and #2 of Eastman and Laird's comic book, Gobbledygook, as well as in the Comic Buyers' Guide. The book premiered in May of 1984 at a comic book convetion in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The comic book was in an oversized magazine format with black-and-white art. It was printed on cheap newsprint and only 3,000 copies were produced. It was extremely popular and soon it sold for 50 times it's original price.

Others, wanting a piece of the action, produced parodies of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. These included the Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters, the Cold-Blooded Chameleon Commandos, and the Pre-Teen Dirty-Gene Kung Fu Kangaroos. None of them caught on.

By 1989, the series had found it's way to other media. Eastman and Laird were busy with licensing and fending of lawsuits, so they weren't very involved with the actually writing and illustration of the comic. Guest artists were invited to work on it. Because of this, the comic had a disjointed, anthology-like feeling. Some guest artists continued to draw for Mirage Studios. These include Michael Dooney, Eric Talbot, A.C. Farley, Ryan Brown, Steve Lavigne, Steve Murphy, and Jim Lawson.

Issue #45 was a major turning point because Mirage attempted to return to a continuity. Issue #50 began the City at War story arc and was the first issue completely written and illustrated by Eastman and Laird since issue #11. The story arc ran for 13 issues and ended Volume 1. The last issue, issue #62, was published in August 1993.

Volume 2: 1993 - 1995

Volume 2 started in October 1993, was fully colored, and maintained the continuity established in Volume 1. Written and illustrated by Jim Lawson, the series lasted 13 issues and ceased publication in October 1995. The ended production was due to waning popularity and lagging sales.

Volume 3: 1996 - 1999

In June of 1996, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Volume 3 was published under the Image Comics label, thanks to Erik Larsen. A total of 23 monthly issues were written by Gary Carlson and illustrated by Frank Fosco. The comics returned to their black-and-white format, but had a faster pace, more intense action, and a surprising plot twist. Because the comic was being published by Image Comics, the turtles crossed over to Savage Dragon a few times. The series ceased production in 1999 and is no longer considered "canon."

Volume 4

Peter Laird and Jim Lawson brought the turtles back to their roots with Volume 4. First published in December of 2001, the series is published bi-monthly and contains carefully-woven story threads as well as social commentary. The authors took this opportunity to correct the spelling of Michelangelo's name (it had sometimes been misspelled Michaelangelo).

TMNT is currently on an 8-month hiatus as Peter Laird works on the new TMNT movie. Tales of TMNT remains unaffected.

Plot Summary

Volume 1

Origin

The first issue relates the origin of the Turtles. As the story goes, the four Turtles were exposed to the mutagen when after a traffic accident with their young owner as a bystander. The mutagen mutated them into a more human form and more developed intellect. Splinter, a rat once owned by Ninjutsu master Hamato Yoshi, was also exposed. Splinter was fantastically smart and learned Ninjutsu by mimicking his master. Hamato Yoshi moved from Japan to New York in order to escape the bitter love triangle between him and Okoku Nagi, another member of his ninja clan. However, Yoshi was found and killed by Nagi's younger brother Oroku Saki. Saki was the leader of the New York branch of the Foot Clan and had taken the identity The Shredder. Yoshi's death had left Splinter homeless.

Splinter happens to see the Turtles after the accident and adopts them. Within days, both Splinter and the Turtles grow to human size and develop speech. Splinter trained them in Ninjutsu, so they could avenge the murder of Hamato Yoshi. Splinter choose their names from a book about Renaissance artists: Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael. The Turtles challenge Shredder and the Foot Clan on a roof top and defeat them. Shredder falls off the roof, holding a bomb that blows up.

The Fugitoid

Looking further at their origin, the Turtles discover that the mutagen is a by-product of research done by a group of aliens called the Utrom. During their research, the Turtles accidentally teleport themselves acroos the galaxy. They meet Professor Honeycutt, a brilliant scientist whose mind is trapped in the body of a robot. They must save the professor from the Triceraton, a race of aliens who would use his transmat to conquer the universe.

Silent Partner

Shredder, returned from the dead, seeks his revenge on the Turtles. In an ambush on Christmas Eve, the Turtles, Splinter, April O'Neil, and Casey Jones are forced to retreat to Casey's grandmother's farmhouse in Northhampton, Massachusetts. Leonardo is badly hurt in the battle.

Return to New York

A year later, the Turtles return to defeat the Shredder. In a dramatic conflict, Shredder reveals to Leonardo how he was brought back to life. After the first conflict, the Foot recovered his remains. Using a combination of mysticism and science, his body was revived as a colony of worms. Leonardo decapitates the Shredder and they cremate his body to prevent his return.

City at War

New York is the site of the battle between the factions of the leaderless Foot Clan battle each other for dominance. In response to the chaos, the Japanese Foot Clan sends Karai to be the new leader. Karai enlists the help of the Turtles to restore order. In exchange for the help, the Foot Clan must never bother the Turtles again. Meanwhile, Splinter duels the Rat King, April reconnects with her sister Robyn, and Casey falls in love with a woman named Gabrielle.

Volume 2

The Turtles decide to go their separate ways. They have lost their purpose without the threat of the Foot Clan. Meanwhile, Baxter Stockman constructs a robotic body while imprisoned at DARPA. He places his brain in it and starts his mission to get revenge on April. Raphael encounters Stockman and they battle. Raphael is thrown from the roof and captured by DARPA.

The three other Turtles reunite and defeat Stockman. Having defeated him, they turn their attention to their lost brother. With the help of Casey and Nobody, they infiltrate DARPA and find several alien species, including Triceraton, being experimented on. The Turtles battle DARPA. A freed Triceraton threatens a planetary invasion from his colony. The Turtles escape with the help of another test subject.

Volume 3

The Turtles' birthday party is interrupted by cyborg assassins, Pimiko, and her 'ninja babies'. Donatello and Raphael are both badly injured during the fight. Both Donatello and Splinter are kidnapped. The remaining Turtles relocate to a graveyard while Donatello and Splinter are taken to upstate New York by helicopter. Donatello wakes on the way and a fight ensues. Donatello and a cyborg fall from the helicopter, still fighting. Donatello kills the assassin with it's own gun, but breaks his shell and is paralyzed. Donatello fuses with the cyborg. Being cyborg, Donatello gains many new ability, but loses his shell.

Raphael and Michelangelo are ambushed by Pimiko and her ninja babies at the graveyard while Leonardo is in a trance. They fend them off and trace their employer, Lord Komodo. Meanwhile, Splinter awakes and fins himself captive of Lord Komodo. He interacts with Mako. Meanwhile, Raphael, Leonardo, and Michelangelo find the spot where Donatello fell. Seeing only his shell, they believe him dead. They set off on a rescue/revenge mission. The three Turtles accidentally fight Mako and find that Donatello is alive, though he is a cyborg. Reunited, they break into Lord Komodo's lair. Lord Komodo turns himself into a Komodo Dragon and Splinter into a giant bat. Pimiko escapes. The Turtles try to track Splinter.

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