Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird self-published the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic in 1984 as a parody of the grim Marvel books of the era — black and white, and all four turtles wore red. The 1987 cartoon is what made them enormous: it gave each turtle a coloured mask so viewers could tell them apart, and turned a niche comic into a merchandising empire.

Shop officially licensed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles t-shirts featuring Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo and Donatello, plus Splinter, Shredder, Krang, Bebop and Rocksteady, the Party Wagon and a great deal of pizza. Plus size tees run up to 6XL with Tall fits available.
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Who created the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?
Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird created the Turtles. They published the first comic through their own company, Mirage Studios, which they founded in 1984.
How did the Turtles start?
In November 1983, Eastman drew a masked turtle standing on its hind legs holding nunchucks just to make Laird laugh. Laird added the words "teenage mutant" to the title, and the idea grew from there.
When did the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic come out?
The first issue was published in May 1984. It had a print run of 3,000 copies, and all of them sold within weeks.
Where was Mirage Studios based?
Mirage Studios started out in Eastman and Laird's home in Dover, New Hampshire.
Was TMNT a parody?
Yes. It poked fun at popular comics of the time, mixing the teenagers of New Teen Titans, the mutants of Uncanny X-Men, and the ninja skills of Daredevil with funny animal comics like Howard the Duck.
Why are the Turtles named after artists?
Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo are named after Italian Renaissance artists. Laird said the names felt just quirky enough to fit the concept.
What color mask and weapon does each Turtle have?
Leonardo wears blue and uses katanas, Raphael wears red and uses sai, Donatello wears purple and uses a bo staff, and Michelangelo wears orange and uses nunchucks.
Did the Turtles always have different colored masks?
No. The color-coded masks, along with the catchphrases, the love of pizza, and the lighter tone, were introduced by the 1987 animated series.
How long did the original cartoon run?
The 1987 series began as a five-part miniseries and ran for ten seasons until 1996. It was produced by Fred Wolf Films.
Who made the Turtle costumes in the 1990 movie?
Jim Henson's Creature Shop built the animatronic heads. The film had a darker tone closer to the original comics.
How successful was the 1990 movie?
It was the fourth highest grossing film of 1990 and earned more than $200 million worldwide, breaking the record for the highest grossing independent film at the time.
Why were they called Hero Turtles in the UK?
In the UK the franchise was renamed Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles because of the violent connotations of the word "ninja."
Is there a female Turtle?
Yes. A 1997 live-action series introduced a fifth turtle, Venus de Milo. The show was canceled after one season.
Did the Turtles ever go on a concert tour?
They did. The "Coming Out of Their Shells" tour, featuring live-action Turtles playing as a rock band, premiered at Radio City Music Hall in August 1990.
Who owns the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles now?
Eastman sold his share to Laird in 2000, and Laird sold the franchise to Viacom on October 21, 2009. Eastman later returned as a co-writer of IDW's comic series in 2011.