Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

First appearance of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles — Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird self-publish 3,000 copies of a black and white indie comic that becomes one of the most successful franchises in entertainment history. First Splinter. First Shredder. One of the most valuable independent comics ever printed.

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Second issue — the Turtles battle the Mousers, robotic machines created by Baxter Stockman. First appearance of Baxter Stockman. The underground world of the Turtles expands.

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Third issue — the Turtles are teleported into space and encounter the Triceratons. Eastman and Laird push beyond the streets of New York into cosmic territory.

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Fourth issue — the Turtles meet the Utroms, the alien race responsible for the mutagen that created them. A mythology-defining issue.

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Second printing — the original sold out instantly. Even the early reprints are significant collector items. Multiple printings exist with different cover markings.

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First appearance of Cerebus crossover — Dave Sim's Cerebus the Aardvark meets the Turtles. Two of indie comics' biggest creations collide. A major crossover key.

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Shredder returns — the Turtles' arch-nemesis comes back for a rematch. Eastman and Laird deliver a definitive Shredder confrontation.

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Raphael solo story — April O'Neil's apartment is burned down. The Turtles lose their home. A pivotal status quo change.

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Return to New York Part 1 — one of the greatest Mirage arcs. The Turtles return to Manhattan for a final confrontation with the Shredder and the Foot Clan.

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Return to New York conclusion — Leonardo decapitates the Shredder. The most violent and definitive ending to the Turtles' greatest rivalry in the original series.

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First Splinter — the mutant rat sensei who raised and trained the Turtles in ninjutsu. A reincarnation of Hamato Yoshi's pet rat. The father figure of the franchise.

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First Shredder — Oroku Saki, leader of the Foot Clan and the Turtles' arch-nemesis. His rivalry with Splinter spans lifetimes.

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First April O'Neil — the journalist who becomes the Turtles' closest human ally. In the original comics she is Baxter Stockman's lab assistant.

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First Baxter Stockman — the brilliant scientist who creates the Mousers. A recurring villain across every version of TMNT.

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First appearance of Casey Jones — the hockey mask-wearing vigilante who becomes Raphael's best friend. One of the most popular TMNT supporting characters.

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Raphael Micro-Series — first Casey Jones. Raphael meets the vigilante in a rooftop brawl. Their friendship becomes one of the franchise's most enduring relationships.

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Michelangelo Micro-Series — the party dude gets his own solo adventure. A lighthearted contrast to the darker main series.

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Donatello Micro-Series — the tech genius gets his own story. Explores Donatello's intellect and inventiveness separate from the team.

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Leonardo Micro-Series — the leader faces a solo challenge. Leonardo's discipline and sense of duty are tested without his brothers.

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TMNT and Usagi Yojimbo crossover — the Turtles meet Miyamoto Usagi. Two of indie comics' greatest creations together. Leonardo and Usagi's swordsmanship bond begins.

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Archie Comics launches TMNT Adventures — the all-ages series based on the animated show. Runs for 72 issues and introduces original characters like Ninjara, Mondo Gecko, and the Mutanimals.

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TMNT Adventures ongoing begins — the series shifts from TV adaptations to original stories. Dean Clarrain and Chris Allan create a beloved run.

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First Leatherhead — the mutant alligator who becomes an ally. One of the most popular original TMNT Adventures characters.

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First Mondo Gecko and the Mighty Mutanimals — a team of mutant animals spin off from the Adventures series. A fan-favorite group.

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Image Comics relaunches TMNT — Gary Carlson and Frank Fosco's controversial volume. Darker, grittier stories including Raphael losing an eye and Donatello becoming a cyborg.

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Final Image Comics issue — the controversial volume ends. The status quo changes were never fully resolved until IDW's continuity.

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IDW relaunches TMNT — Kevin Eastman co-plots with Tom Waltz. A complete reboot that honors the original while creating a fresh continuity. The definitive modern TMNT series.

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First IDW Krang War — the interdimensional tyrant escalates his invasion. Eastman and Waltz deliver epic sci-fi action.

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Donatello is killed — Bebop and Rocksteady murder Donatello. One of the most shocking moments in TMNT history. He is later resurrected but the impact is devastating.

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Shredder dies — the Turtles' final confrontation with Oroku Saki. Leonardo kills the Shredder in single combat. A landmark issue that redefines the franchise.

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Milestone 100th issue — a massive celebration. The City at War arc concludes. Splinter dies. Kevin Eastman draws. One of the most important TMNT issues ever published.

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The final issue of the IDW ongoing — the longest continuous TMNT run concludes after 150 issues. Waltz and Eastman wrap up the definitive modern Turtles saga.

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IDW first Old Hob — the one-eyed mutant cat who becomes a recurring antagonist and eventual anti-hero. An original IDW creation.

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IDW first Krang — the interdimensional warlord reimagined for IDW continuity. A far more serious and threatening version than the cartoon.

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IDW first Shredder arc — Oroku Saki returns in IDW continuity. Eastman and Waltz reimagine the Turtles' greatest enemy with reincarnation mythology.

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IDW Slash debut — the mutant snapping turtle reimagined. He becomes a more complex character in IDW than his cartoon counterpart.

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First Jennika solo — the fifth Turtle gets her own miniseries. A human Foot Clan member mutated into a turtle. An original IDW fan-favorite.

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The Last Ronin begins — Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird's long-planned story. In a dark future, only one Turtle survives. He wages a one-man war against the Foot Clan to avenge his brothers. A masterpiece.

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The Last Ronin continues — flashbacks reveal which brothers died and how. The surviving Turtle trains for his final mission. Eastman and Laird deliver a brutal, emotional epic.

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The Last Ronin Part 3 — the Turtle infiltrates the Foot Clan's stronghold. The action intensifies as the endgame approaches.

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The Last Ronin concludes — the identity of the surviving Turtle is confirmed and the final battle delivers a devastating, satisfying ending. The best TMNT story since the original Mirage run.

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Last Ronin sequel — Eastman continues the dark future timeline. The next generation of Turtles rises. The most anticipated TMNT comic in years.

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TMNT/Cerebus crossover — Dave Sim's Cerebus meets the Turtles. Two of the most important independent comics of the 80s collide.

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TMNT/Usagi Yojimbo crossover — the Turtles meet Miyamoto Usagi in the main Mirage series. Leonardo and Usagi's mutual respect as swordsmen becomes legendary.

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Batman meets the Turtles — DC and IDW crossover. James Tynion IV writes the Dark Knight alongside the Heroes in a Half Shell. Freddie Williams II art. The crossover nobody expected and everybody loved.

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Batman/TMNT sequel — Tynion and Williams return. Bane meets Bebop and Rocksteady. The crossover continues.

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Batman/TMNT trilogy concludes — the Crisis on Infinite Turtles. Multiple versions of the Turtles across the multiverse.

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The holy grail — first printing, 3,000 copies. One of the most valuable independent comics in existence. First Turtles, first Splinter, first Shredder. Eastman and Laird self-published masterpiece.

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First Casey Jones — the hockey-mask vigilante's debut. A major TMNT key connecting to every version of the franchise.

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IDW relaunch — the start of the definitive modern TMNT run. Kevin Eastman returns. A key modern independent comic.

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The Last Ronin — the most anticipated TMNT story in decades. First prints sold out instantly. Multiple printings. A modern grail.

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Batman meets TMNT — the crossover event. A major modern key for both franchises.

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Archie Comics launch — the all-ages TMNT series. Connected to the animated show that made the Turtles a global phenomenon.

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