I have never read a TMNT comic...

[Bossk]

I grew up with the '03 show and ended up watching a couple of seasons of the '87 show as a kid and had all of the toys and the like. I always considered myself such a large fan of them, as I even now am watching the original turtles so finally see every episode, but I have never read a single of the comic books. I'm assuming that they're a fun read, especially because that's where they originated, but the question is where should I start? Around here I've heard of Mirage and IMT or something, so I don't really know where would be a good place to start the TMNT comics.

[Candy Kappa]

IDW have re-released the original Mirage comics in colored form. there is also the hardcovers IDW are releasing collecting several issues in one book chronologically.

I think the comics are easy to start at the beginning for any person, unlike other comic books like Superman or Batman. Since TMNT are fairly young comic history-wise

[Bossk]

IDW have re-released the original Mirage comics in colored form. there is also the hardcovers IDW are releasing collecting several issues in one book chronologically.

I think the comics are easy to start at the beginning for any person, unlike other comic books like Superman or Batman. Since TMNT are fairly young comic history-wise

Okay, so Mirage is the original?

[TurtleTitan97]

Okay, so Mirage is the original?

Yep. Mirage is what started the TMNT franchise.

[Zulithe]

in my opinion the best place to start right now is with the IDW series because it is currently ongoing and easy to obtain. it's great because you can discuss the new issues with other fans and the like as they are released.

Easiest and cheapest way to get into the comics is to buy the trades. these are softback (or hardback if you want to spend a little more $$$) collections of the comic issues which are normally released monthly. The trades collect about 6 issues per book and are released a few times per year. If you go on amazon and search for "IDW ninja turtles" (no quotes) you will find them all. You can also buy them digitally, great for reading on an iPad or other tablet.

If you have an iPad or iPhone go to the app store and search for TMNT, there is an app that has all the new comics!

if you want to spend more money you can start with the original mirage series first which ran from 1984 - 1993 and had 62 issues. the 13-part storyline "city of war" from this first volume is one of the most highly regarded turtle stories.

further reading:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teenage_Mutant_Ninja_Turtles_%28Mirage_Studios%29

http://www.comicvine.com/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles/65-26934/

[Venom]

If you want to be current, then pick up the IDW trades "Change is Constant", "Enemies Old, Enemies New", "TMNT Micro-Series tpb" and the upcoming "Shadows of the Past" - those trades will get you up to speed on the current ongoing comic series. Each trade collects 4 issues of the current series.

If you wish to delve into the original material, then check out IDW's Ultimate Collections, which collect is currently collecting the essential Eastman & Laird comics.

[Candy Kappa]

Okay, so Mirage is the original?

Yes Mirage was the original company that owned TMNT. It was later taken over by Image (Spawn, Witchblade, Invincible, Walking Dead) in the 90's. Mirage got the license back to do Volume 4 (Vol. 3 is Image) before Laird sold it all to Viacom

[Mewzard]

IDW is doing good putting out trades for both their own material and the older material.

IDW's put out trades of their own series with: Change is Constant (issues 1-4, both in cheap paperback, and more expensive Deluxe Hardcover with layouts from original series co-creator Kevin Eastman), Enemies Old Enemies New (issues 5-8 ), and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Micro Series (collecting the first four one shots).

For Mirage, IDW is collecting all of the Eastman/Laird comics in nice Hardcovers called "The Ultimate Collection". Little expensive ($50 at a comic shop, about $30 on Amazon), but they collect quite a few issues (volume one collects issues 1-7 and the Raphael one shot, volume two collects issues 8-11, and the Michelangelo, Donatello, and Leonardo one shots, volume 3 will collect issues 12, 14, 15, 17, and 19-21, and volumes 4 and 5 together will cover issues 48-62, finishing off Volume 1 of the Mirage work). Of those, only volume 1 and 2 are out, but volume 3 comes out next month. For the non Eastman or Laird stories, they'll be getting a much cheaper paperback reprint (in color, unlike the black and white hardcovers) starting next month with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Classics. About 3 issues or so worth of material (but don't worry, the old TMNT issues were a bit longer, like 40 pages from what I've read). Lastly, starting in November, they'll start reprinting the Tales of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, also in paperback.

If you want to try the Archie Comics version, based on the Cartoon, they put out a 100-Page Spectacular (only $7.99 for the four issue mini series they put out before the ongoing). After that, they'll start putting out the Teenage Mutant Ninka Turtles Adventures comic in a cheaper paperback as well.

Honestly, now is a good time to get into the comic through reprints, before too many are already out. I've loved the Mirage stuff so far (have the first two volumes), and am fond of the IDW series from what I've read as well (have the Deluxe Hardcover of Change is Constant, but haven't read my Micro Series trade, since I'm waiting for my copy of Enemies Old Enemies New to come in). The Archie stuff starts off closer to the cartoon, but does eventually go it's own way, from what I understand.

Welcome to the comic side, I'm new to it too, but I've enjoyed it (now, if only they would put out full DVDs of the 03 series, I would be a content fan).

[Scud]

If you have an iPad or iPhone go to the app store and search for TMNT, there is an app that has all the new comics!


Looking at the IDW and comixology apps for the iPad, I only see the old Black and white Mirage comics. Same as the ones from Volumes 1 & 2 of the Ultimate Collection. $1.99 an issue.

~S~

[Zulithe]

Looking at the IDW and comixology apps for the iPad, I only see the old Black and white Mirage comics. Same as the ones from Volumes 1 & 2 of the Ultimate Collection. $1.99 an issue.

~S~

Maybe not all issues appear in all apps? That is odd because I thought all of those apps were owned and linked to comixology.

My advice: Get the TMNT comics app. I just downloaded it again to double check. All of the current IDW stuff is on there, you can even buy digital trades (Micro series trade for $7.99)

The app has IDW Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 for FREE so you can get a free taste :) make sure to log in with your comixology account so you can keep all of your comics on the same account, even if you use different apps to access them.

*edit* i don't have an iPad nearby, it is possible some of these apps are iphone/ipod touch only and not ipad native... though that would be silly on their part. make sure to double check that.

*edit2* if you still don't see them i wonder if it has something to do with your region *shrug*

[Scud]

I tried an app search on the iPad (which search both iPad and iPhone apps) and got nothing.
Found the app online here:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tmnt-comics/id525819487?mt=8
so maybe it is a region thing, but that's weird since I'm just in Canada.

I'll have to do more digging.

~S~

[Scud]

Found it.
http://www.firstcomicsnews.com/?p=43025

Quote:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Comics can be found in the stand-alone TMNT Comics app, IDW’s Apple iPad™, iPhone® and iPod touch®, app – IDW Comics, and on the Web at read.idwpublishing.com. The series is also featured in the Comics by comiXology platform for iOS, Android, Web and Kindle Fire. TMNT digital comics are only available at this time for US readers.

p00p!

[corvus]

Yeah the hardcovers are your best bet. Tmnt are newer and never had a million titles a month or big crossovers, they're easy to jump into.