Right now, it may seem crazy that the world was ever without theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, as it’s as thoughTMNThas been a childhood staplesince the beginning of time. But, truth be told, the Heroes in a Half-Shell have only been around since the ‘80s, which is when the original Mirage Studios comic book series by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird was released. And that era ofTMNTcontent paved the way for theversion of the Ninja Turtlesfans know and love today.
There are many reasonswhy the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are so iconic, from their unique personalities to their radical adventures. However, the most fundamental aspects of who they are and what the series is about as a whole started in the original‘80s indie comic book series. Those aspects include other characters, main villains, and classic storylines that laid the groundwork for the entire franchise, and are whyTMNTis an absolutely timeless series. Here arethe best ‘80s stories that turned the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles into pop culture icons!
7TMNT Introduces Shredder
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles#1 (1984)
Shredder is arguably just as iconic as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles themselves, as he is and has always been their main villain, no matter the era ofTMNTcanon. And, in the very firstTMNTissue, the Shredder is introduced - though not in a way many might expect. Yes, Shredder was the main antagonist of the book, whose origins are tied to that of Master Splinter, and he is the leader of the Foot Clan. Fans know all that, as subsequentTMNTseries have reiterated these constant aspects of Shredder’s character. What’s surprising, however, is that the Ninja Turtles actually killed the Shredder at the end of the first issue.
Shredder has become such a lasting character, and a big reason as to why and how theTMNTfranchise has lasted as long as it has, sothe fact that Shredder was actually killed off in the first-ever issue is definitely a bit shocking, to say the least. But, thankfully, Eastman and Laird knew how great of a character Shredder was, and not only brought him back in a future storyline (leading into the “Return to New York” event), but ensured that Shredder was a mainstay character for years to come.
6TMNT Introduces the Mousers (& Baxter Stockman)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles#2 (1984)
Baxter Stockman is aTMNTvillain who recently made an appearance in the latest installment of the franchise:Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, and he’s also been a major antagonist in the modern IDW PublishingTMNTcomics as well. In other words, while some casual fans may not know him by name (ie, he might not be as immediately recognizable as Shredder),Baxter Stockman certainly made a lasting impact on theTMNTfranchise, and fans have definitely seen him around recently. And, inTMNT#2, Baxter Stockman made his debut, along with his most violent invention: the Mousers.
The Mousers were designed to hunt and ‘eat’ (which really just means mash-up with their jagged metal ‘teeth’) rats. The Mousers were Stockman’s answer to a growing rat problem in New York City, but as they traversed the sewers looking for vermin, the Mousers became a major nuisance for the Ninja Turtles - specifically, Master Splinter. Since then,Mousers have been highlighted inTMNTcanon on numerous occasions, including as the first antagonists of the 2003TMNTanimated series.
5TMNT Introduces the Utroms (& Reveals the Secret of the Ooze)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles#3-4 (1985)
Utroms are a race of aliens (more accurately, interdimensional lifeforms from Dimension X) who are responsible for developing the mutagen ooze that mutated the Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Splinter (along with every other mutant featured in the series). The Utroms are also the race of aliens to which Krang belongs, though Krang was not among the original Utroms featured in the ’80s comic book series, despite the fact that he’s easily the most popular and recognizable Utrom inTMNT. In fact,even though Krang is famously aTMNTvillain, the Utroms were originally not that way at all- quite the opposite, in fact.
As revealed in theseTMNTissues,the Utroms were merely displaced aliens who became stranded on Earth, and they accidentally released the canister of the mutagen ooze that gave life to the Ninja Turtles. They didn’t want to take over the planet, and they certainly didn’t want to harm the Turtles themselves (as they proved by rescuing and tending to Splinter). However, even though they were originally peace-loving aliens, the Utroms’TMNTlegacy is far from heroic - and it all started with this storyline.
4TMNT Introduces the Fugitoid
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles#5 (1985)
“Introduces” might be the wrong word here, since the Fugitoid is actually a character who predates the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles within the wider umbrella of the Mirage Studios universe. But, this is the issue where theFugitoid officially became a part ofTMNTcontinuity, which turned out to be a majorly impactful decision on the parts of Eastman and Laird. Fugitoid is a robot with the mind of a human scientist, Professor Honeycutt. After joining forces with the Ninja Turtles, Fugitoid became their leading resource in all-things technological - especially extraterrestrial.
This issue was the first time the Fugitoid and the TMNT ever interacted, but this storyline merely opened the door for years of storylines featuring their strong alliance. Not only wasthe Fugitoid a major player in IDW Publishing’s mainTMNTcanon(indeed, he was responsible forsaving Donatello’s life after he was beaten to death by Bebop and Rocksteady), butthe Fugitoid continues to be a main character in theLast Ronincontinuityto this very day (specifically, theRe-Evolutionstoryline).
3TMNT Introduces the Triceratons
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles#6 (1986)
Like the Fugitoid, theTriceratons actually predate the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, as they first appeared in the first issue of Fugitoid (Eastman and Laird’s pre-TMNTcomic). But, also like the Fugitoid, this issue is the one that brought theTriceratons intoTMNTcanon, which changed the landscape of the entire franchise forever. Fans will recognize the Triceratons as big, orange, anthropomorphic triceratops who are also a race of planet-conquering aliens. This issue confirmed just how deadly of a species the Triceratons really are, but the lasting significance of this issue goes way beyond just that.
Sure, Triceratons are amazing villains, but their legacy in theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlescanon is far more fascinating. How? Well, it’s revealed in IDW Publishing’s mainTMNTcanon (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles#76, to be exact) thatthe Triceratons aren’t even aliens; they’re mutant triceratops. Apparently, the Utroms kidnapped triceratops from Earth millions of years ago and experimented on them with the mutagen ooze in Dimension X, giving life to the Tricerton race. This led to an epic storyline in modernTMNTcomics where the Triceratons try to conquer Earth, not as alien invaders, but as those laying claim to a world that is technically rightly theirs.
2TMNT Introduces the Idea of Time Travel
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles#8 (1986)
InTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles#8, the Ninja Turtles meet Renet who is a Timestress (or Time Lord). That means Renet can travel through time at will, and in this issue, she becomes friends with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and that friendship stems throughout everyTMNTcontinuity from that point forward (including and especially in the modern IDW PublishingTMNTcontinuity). While Renet’s inclusion inTMNTcanon is awesome, that only scratches the surface of whatthis issue offers the widerTMNTuniverse, as it also does something much more significant: introduces the idea of time travel.
It’s fair to say thatthe idea of time travel revolutionizedTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, as it’s been utilized on many occasions and in many different forms. One of the most iconic ways time travel was utilized inTMNTwas in the hit arcade video gameTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time, which saw the Ninja Turtles traveling to different time periods and taking out bad guys in glorious side-scrolling fashion. Time travel was also used in the live-action filmTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, where the Turtles travel back to Feudal Japan to save the day.
Sure,Renet isn’t always used, but her inclusion inTMNTwent well beyond her character alone, as she represented the larger idea of time travel.
1TMNT Introduces the Idea of Astral Projection (& Reincarnation)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles#9 (1986)
InTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles#9,Master Splinter is meditating, allowing his spirit to traverse the astral plane, when he encounters another spiritual traveler in this otherworldly space: Gosei Hatsumi. Hatsumi is dying, but before he goes, he wishes to pass along the spirit of his ancestors to his grandson through a ritual that can only be done in person. So, Hatsumi passes the spirit to Spinter, and asks that Splinter conduct the ritual with his grandson in his place. Splinter and the Ninja Turtles accomplish this task, and the spirit of the great Gosei Samuari Clan is able to live on.
This storyline is incredibly impactful toTMNTcanon, especially regarding the modern IDW Publishing comics.TMNT#9 opens the franchise up to the more spiritual aspects of its universe, not just the ninja/mutant/alien stuff. It confirms that Splinter can astral project, and it also introduces the idea of reincarnation (to a certain degree) - and both of those ideas are heavily utilized in IDW Publishing’sTMNT.
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In the IDW continuity, the Turtles themselves (along with Splinter) are reincarnated versions of their human selves who were murdered by Shredder in Feudal Japan. Not only that, but the Ninja Turtles found themselves in otherworldly locations on numerous occasions (especially during theArmageddon Gameevent). Indeed, astral projection and reincarnation have become major aspects ofTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlescanon, and it all started with this ’80s storyline.
