Abriged Vol. 1 Reading Order Suggestions

[Zog The Magnificent]

Hey guys,

I'm trying to get my brother into Mirage TMNT. However, as he is a more casual TMNT fan, and the Mirage catalog can be kind of overwhelming to a newer fan, I created an abriged reading order of Vol. 1 for him, which I have included with this post. The list is taken from TMNT Entity, and I have edited it down into what I think are the best and most essential stories of Vol. 1. I would love to hear your feedback on it, whether there's anything you think should be added that I missed and whatnot. Thanks in advance to anyone who has any suggestions! Also, big thanks to Mark Pellegrini for creating the full list in the first place!

Edit: I have moved this thread, because it occurs to me that I should have posted it in the comic discussion rather than the general discussion. My apologies.

Abriged Vol. 1 Reading Order

TMNT Vol. 1 #1 – The Turtles’ Origin is Told
TMNT Vol. 1 #2 – TMNT Vs. the Mousers
TMNT Vol. 1 #3 – The Great Chase
Raphael (microseries) #1 – Me, Myself and I
TMNT Vol. 1 #4 – Rescuing Master Splinter
TMNT Vol. 1 #5 – Teaming Up with Fugitoid
TMNT Vol. 1 #6 – The Triceraton Homeworld
TMNT Vol. 1 #7 – All is Revealed
Shell Shock – Terror by Transmat! †
Shell Shock – Complete Carnage an' Radical †
Shell Shock – Fun With Guns †
Michaelangelo (microseries) #1 – The Christmas Aliens
Shell Shock – Not One Word †
TMNT Vol. 1 #8 – Team Up with Cerebus
Turtle Soup Vol. 1 #1 – Turtle Soup and Rabbit Stew †
Usagi Yojimbo (Vol. 1) #10 – The Crossing †
Shell Shock – The Treaty †
Usagi Yojimbo (Vol. 2) #1 – Shades of Green part 1
Usagi Yojimbo (Vol. 2) #2 – Shades of Green part 2
Usagi Yojimbo (Vol. 2) #3 – Shades of Green part 3
TMNT Vol. 1 #9 – The Passing
Donatello (microseries) #1 – Kirby and the Warp Crystal
Shell Shock– Crazy Man †
Shell Shock– Technofear!!! †
Tales Vol. 1 #5 – Complete Carnage and Radical
Tales Vol. 1 #7 – The Return of Savanti Romero
Shell Shock – Ghouls Night Out † and The Howl
Tales Vol. 1 #3 – All Hallow’s Thieves
Leonardo (microseries) #1 – What Goes Around… Comes Around!
TMNT Vol. 1 #10 – Silent Partner
TMNT Vol. 1 #11 – True Stories
Tales Vol. 1 #1 – A Tale of the TMNT
TMNT: Challenges
TMNT Vol. 1 #12 – Survivalists
TMNT Vol. 1 #13 – The People’s Choice
Mirage Mini Comics Collection story #11 – Casey Jones, Private Eye †
TMNT Vol. 1 #14 – The Unmentionables
TMNT Vol. 1 #15 – Dome Doom
TMNT Vol. 1 #17 – Distractions
Tales Vol. 1 #2 – Nobody’s Fool!
Tales Vol. 1 #4 – I, Monster
TMNT Vol. 1 #19 – Return to New York, Book One
TMNT Vol. 1 #20 – Return to New York, Book Two
TMNT Vol. 1 #21 – Return to New York, Book Three
Casey Jones #1 – North by Downeast, Part One of Two
Casey Jones #2 – North by Downeast: The Conclusion
Tales Vol. 1 #6 – Leatherhead
TMNT Vol. 1 #44 – The Violent Underground
TMNT Vol. 1 #45 – Leatherhead, Too
TMNT Vol. 1 #33 – Turtles Take Time
TMNT Vol. 1 #24 – The River Part 1: Down to the River
TMNT Vol. 1 #25 – The River Part 2: River Hymn
TMNT Vol. 1 #26 – The River Part 3: Old Man River
TMNT Vol. 1 #28 – Sons of the Silent Age
TMNT Vol. 1 #27 – Dreams of Stone
TMNT Vol. 1 #29 – Men of Shadow
TMNT Vol. 1 #30 – Sky Highway
Turtle Soup Vol. 2 #1 – Donatello: The Ring †
TMNT Vol. 1 #37 – Twilight of the Ring
TMNT Vol. 1 #42 – Juliet’s Revenge
TMNT Vol. 1 #43 – Halls of Lost Legends
TMNT Vol. 1 #46 – Masks Part I
TMNT Vol. 1 #47 – Masks Part II
TMNT Vol. 1 #48 – Shades of Gray, Part One of Two
TMNT Vol. 1 #49 – Shades of Gray, Part Two of Two
TMNT Vol. 1 #50 – City at War, Part 1
TMNT Vol. 1 #51 – City at War, Part 2
TMNT Vol. 1 #52 – City at War, Part 3
TMNT Vol. 1 #53 – City at War, Part 4
TMNT Vol. 1 #54 – City at War, Part 5
TMNT Vol. 1 #55 – City at War, Part 6
TMNT Vol. 1 #56 – City at War, Part 7
TMNT Vol. 1 #57 – City at War, Part 8
TMNT Vol. 1 #58 – City at War, Part 9
TMNT Vol. 1 #59 – City at War, Part 10
TMNT Vol. 1 #60 – City at War, Part 11
TMNT Vol. 1 #61 – City at War, Part 12
TMNT Vol. 1 #62 – City at War, Part 13

[Nortock Diab]

I like the idea yet in my opinion it is still not abridged enough. There are many shorts which could be considered confusing as they do not contribute much to the main storyline (if any in Mirage TMNT). Private Eye, Shell Shock stories, Challenge... come to mind.

Plus to read these stories, your brother would need to switch from one book to another quite often.

I would stick to 1-11, 19-21, 48-62 and all 5 micros to begin with.
That is the core of "canon" Mirage TMNT.

In a second time, your brother could dig deeper if he enjoyed that first bite.

If you wish to add other Vol.1 or Tales issues, I would not bother much with a chronological reading order.

[Abnormal Freak]

Eastman & Laird: 1–11 plus the four micros
Return to NY: 19–21
The River: 24–26 plus 28
City at War: 48–62

Those are the big story arcs. One could argue The River isn't as essential but they're some of my favorite stories. If you want to include one-offs, I'd throw these in:

14 - The Unmentionables
18 - Shell of the Dragon
43 - Halls of Lost Legends

And of course Soul's Winter, but that's an alternate story and unrelated to Mirage timeline, but it's just as important as the best issues.

[Igglet]

And of course Soul's Winter, but that's an alternate story and unrelated to Mirage timeline, but it's just as important as the best issues.

I think Soul's Winter might be a bit too confusing for someone who's just getting into the franchise.