New to TMNT Comics -- Need help!

[Donegal]

So I've been a TMNT fan since I was a little kid, but I never really got into the comics even during my comic collecting days. However, the other day when I was going through some old things I came across all my old books and some great prints of TMNT artwork which really reminded me how much I wanted to read all the original TMNT stories.

Thus, I'm asking for some help. I've been over to www.ninjaturtles.com reading all about the different TMNT volumes and seeing which issues were important to me and which I'd like to read and so on. I need recommendations though. Recommendations on books I may not list that I should read, and also how I might best come across these books. I'm mostly interested in being able to read and check out the artwork in these books in the cheapest way possible. It would be nice if all the volumes I wanted to erad were available in more affordable collected volumes, but I'm not sure they all are.

Anyway, here is basic book list I'd really like to read. Any further suggestions and buying info is appreciated.

Mirage Vol. 1
Issues-- 1-15 / 17-21 / 48-49 / 50-62 / (possibly 46-49 and 27 and 16, 22, 23)

Mirage Vol. 2
Issues-- 1-13 (all)

Image Vol. 3
Issues-- 1-23 (all...)

Mirage Vol. 4
Issues-- 1-14+ (and continuing...)

Tales of the TMNT
Issues-- 1-7 (all)

Tales of the TMNT Vol. 2
Issues-- 1+ (continuing...)

Dreamwave Series? I'm not sure about this one.

I'm definately not really interested in the Archie books I don't think.

Anyway, thanks! I look forward to some input and how I might best read these and any other important books.

[coryroo24]

ebay is always a good place to look, sometimes you can get a really good deal

[Aztec General]

I'd add 27-29 and 45-49.

Personally, I'd skip the Image series.

[jeff the cheff]

I would recomend the dreamwave series, and I am also interested in the cheapest way to read all of theese books.

[Karpo_007]

You didn't list them, so without doubt you should also get the TMNT one shots.

[MrPliggins]

You might want to try the TMNT collected books, which collect all of the stories of the Mirage series in different collected books up to #23, I believe. The first one is a reprint of 1-11 and the micro-series, so that's a good start. They have most of them on the official site to order.

The first time I discovered the original comics was through the First graphic novels, which are cool since they're in color! There are four books collecting up to #11. There are also color backup stories in most of them. I don't think these are availible on the official site, but you can probably find them on Ebay.

[Roseangelo]

Do not overlook reading the Archie books! They contain some of the best TMNT stories there have been! When Chris Allan takes over the pencils in #28 the book really starts to evolve, but IMO it really hit its mark starting with #42. It really is wrong to label it as the "kiddie" TMNT book, because it really wasn't. It just wasn't the Mirage book.

[MrPliggins]

I'll second that.. The Archie books were well-written and had some interesting stories and art. My favorites are probably mid-series and on. It was also cool when Laird was doing the covers, and the Future TMNT's rocked.

[Roseangelo]

*nodnodnod*

What he said!

[Cascadia]

I would personally knock off image...but I do recommend the original series and archie.

[impetus]

You might want to try the TMNT collected books, which collect all of the stories of the Mirage series in different collected books up to #23, I believe. 29, actually. Although it seems I'm the only person on earth has has all 7 volumes. (Not even Roseangelo can say that! lol)

You can get a lot (incuding some rarities) in one fell swoop on this auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2223803971&category=77

You'll still have to seek out the obscure ones, but there's most of the collection for ya.

I'd say if it stays under $300 then get it. Sounds like a lot but it'll cost more picking them up in smaller lots/single issues like I did!

If you have any questions about collecting, I'm pretty much a library of Mirage, and I can clue you in on the rarities and unknowns as well. same goes for Roseangelo, MrPliggins, and a few other hardcore collectors.

[Karpo_007]

Well you could do what I did, and get only the Canon issues. Meaning vol.1 vol.2 one shots, Tales, Challenges GN, etc.

[Donegal]

Thanks for the tips guys!

I'd be interested to hear more about the Dreamwave and Image series. I'll definately add the Dreamwave series to the list, as it's pretty small anyway. I guess I really like the idea of reading the Image stuff as well. Some of the things I've heard from that storyline sounds pretty crazy and interesting.

I'm aware of the collected books, and will certainly try to find all of those. The official site does have a lot for order.

I'd don't know much about these one shot issues. I guess there was one for each of the turtles? I also noticed there's a Casey Jones and Raph issue and then a two part Casey Jones story.

I'm afraid I just don't have all that much money to spend on this kind of stuff. If I could just go to the library and read all of it I would, but that's not exactly possible. I'll just have to see what I can collect over time.

The official site does have a lot of Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 4, TMNT Tales Vol. 1 and 2, and the collected books to order. So that's great. Has anyone ever ordered direct from them though? I just worry how the books might fare through the mail since it says they don't ship them in bags with boards or anything.

It's been a long time since I've frequented a comics store, is it possible for a local store to order stuff for me at all? The official site didn't have all the collected books, so I'd really like to find a place to get those.

Also, someone mentioned the Turtles "cannon". Could someone expand on the for me and let me know what's in it, or point me to a thread where that's been discussed before?

Thanks for any further help and info!

[impetus]

unless your local shop is particularly cool, ordering something will nearly always cost more than locating it yourself.

you're looking average of $3 or more for a "regular issue" book at a shop versus $1 to $2 per book or even significantly less in an eBay lot

[Roseangelo]

29, actually. Although it seems I'm the only person on earth has has all 7 volumes. (Not even Roseangelo can say that! lol)

That I can't. It's not really something I've been concerned with getting, since most of them are still available from Mirage. Eventually... :)

[summer]

Has anyone ever ordered direct from them though? I just worry how the books might fare through the mail since it says they don't ship them in bags with boards or anything.

Donegal, I've ordered through them about four or five times. They have always been shipped in a timely manner and arrived in perfect condition. The boxes were sent by postal mail so they were never bent or damaged in any way. The comics are packed tight in the box so they weren't jostled either.

Also, someone mentioned the Turtles "cannon". Could someone expand on the for me and let me know what's in it, or point me to a thread where that's been discussed before?

Canon means that it is recognized as part of the official turtle continuity. According to Dan Berger (Laird's right hand man), the following issues are canon:
Mirage Volume One #1-15, 17, 19-21, 27-29, 45-62
Microseries: Raphael #1, Michaelangelo #1, Leonardo #1, Donatello #1
Tales of the TMNT #1-7
Mirage Volume Two #1-13
Mirage Volume Four #1-11

This list was from September, so it would now include the new tales and the volume four issues that have been put out.

Canon issues have been debated on this forum, other forums, and the lists before, so if you search enough, you may find some threads where people have offered their input on which ones should/should not be included in the official list.

[Donegal]

Thanks guys, this is great info!

What's up with the Image series though? Most people seem to dislike it, and you didn't include it in the "canon". From what I've heard about those stories it seems like some interesting things happen, but past that I don't know much.

[azure turtle]

The Image series aren't part of the canon books. Peter Laird despised the direction that Image took the TMNT, so he scratched it. The current comics (Mirage Volume 4) actually continue after Mirage Volume 2, even though Image is still technically Volume 3.

Personally, I liked some of the changes made in Image, but I didn't enjoy the hollow characterizations and the excessive violence (TMNT maimings, really). However, I think it's a good series to read through as a "what if?" type of story. There were some awesome ideas that just weren't executed very well. I recommend reading through the first five or so issues. Then you can decide whether or not you want to read the rest.

Besides ebay and the official TMNT website, you can find lots of TMNT comics at www.milehighcomics.com , www.mycomicshop.com , and for all the new and current TMNT comics, www.midtowncomics.com I've ordered from all three sites, and they're very timely with shipping. Comics are packaged with great care, and I never received any damaged books. Also, Mile High Comcis and mycomicshop.com often have sales which sometimes include the TMNT comics. You can expect to see the prices slashed anywhere from 10% to 50%.

I hope that was helpful. Good luck with your collecting!

[Donegal]

Thanks a lot Azure! I really appreciate the links and info. I'll have to take a look around. I think to start off I'm particularly interested in the books that collect the early issues. It seems there were some that reprinted the original stories in color and also collect up through issue 23 or so. Those would be great to find although the official site either doesn't carry them or is sold out, so i'll have to find them somewhere else.

[impetus]

eBay. ;)

[Sparvid]

Although it seems I'm the only person on earth has has all 7 volumes. (Not even Roseangelo can say that! lol)*raises hand* Me! Me! :D

[Cascadia]

Although it seems I'm the only person on earth has has all 7 volumes. (Not even Roseangelo can say that! lol)*raises hand* Me! Me! :D

i would not know what to do with all of those issues. :)

[Donegal]

Well guys, I've been doing a lot of searching around in my free time and I've come up with a list of all the TMNT stories I think I'd like to read and have.

However, I'd like to start off with the early issues and I think the graphic novels/collected books would be an excellent place to do this. I'm really having trouble finding them though. I'd love to get the four books that collect issues 1-11 and Leo #1 in color, but the main site doesn't have them. I'd certainly settle for the other black and white collected series which spans 7 books and collects up through #29. The main site has book 2-5 available, but not the others. They also don't have any of the Tales of the TMNT vol. 1 back issues available. I've searched all over Ebay, the main site, other comic sites.... but i don't see any of these.

What I'd really like first more than anything is the Collected Book Vol. 1 (black/white) that has issues 1-11 plus the 4 microseries from Mirage Vol. 1. The main site is sold out and I don't see it anywhere else. That would be the perfect first book to get!

Other books I'd like to find first include:
Collected Books Vol. 2-7 (main site has 2-5)
Collected Tales of the TMNT (has #1-7 of that series)
Shell Shock
Challenges (the main site has this one!)


These seem like a great place to start along with some back issues of Mirage Vol. 1 ordered from the main site. The thing is, the main site doesn't have many back issues available of the early stuff so the collected books are really a must find. After #30 they have almost all available so I can get those there.

Also, does anyone have Shell Shock or Challenges? Are they cool?

Anyway, thanks for all the help in compiling the issues and books I'd like to get-- but does anyone have any other ideas where I might be able to find these collected books for a decent price? They seem like the first thing to get and try out, but I can't spend too much. Perhaps it's too much to hope for.

Info appreciated! Thanks, and I'll keep looking

[Karpo_007]

I used http://isbn.nu/welcome.html to find the First Publishing books.

[impetus]

donegal

yes, Shell Shock is excellent!

It collects MANY short stories. This is important. TMNT appeared in short stories in a great number of independent comics and in their own books as back up stories. If you want to read them without tracking down obscure issues of a plethora of indie comics (which I am doing right now), get the book.

only problem is it's a little hard to find. If you come across a stash, get one for Karpo too. :)

BTW there were only 7 books in Tales. So that book (which is also great) is the entire series. This one's easy enough to find on eBay if you give it some time.

just FYI I started out doing the same as you are, looking for the collected books. After I had them all, I kicked myself and started collecting everything. there are many great books which aren't collected, so just getting the collections is limiting. And the issues are really NOT any cheaper by the collected method (in terms of eBay lots), so my advice is to COLLECT THE INDIVIDUAL BOOKS. :wink: You will not regret.

[MrPliggins]

What I'd really like first more than anything is the Collected Book Vol. 1 (black/white) that has issues 1-11 plus the 4 microseries from Mirage Vol. 1. The main site is sold out and I don't see it anywhere else. That would be the perfect first book to get!

Other books I'd like to find first include:
Collected Books Vol. 2-7 (main site has 2-5)
Collected Tales of the TMNT (has #1-7 of that series)
Shell Shock
Challenges (the main site has this one!)


These seem like a great place to start along with some back issues of Mirage Vol. 1 ordered from the main site. The thing is, the main site doesn't have many back issues available of the early stuff so the collected books are really a must find. After #30 they have almost all available so I can get those there.

Also, does anyone have Shell Shock or Challenges? Are they cool?

Anyway, thanks for all the help in compiling the issues and books I'd like to get-- but does anyone have any other ideas where I might be able to find these collected books for a decent price? They seem like the first thing to get and try out, but I can't spend too much. Perhaps it's too much to hope for.

Info appreciated! Thanks, and I'll keep looking

yes, I have Shell Shock. I think I ordered it from Mirage years ago, though I could be wrong. I know they don't have any in stock now. It collects lots of TMNT short stories, lots of them done by Eastman and Laird themselves. I think all the stories from the Role Playing Game books are in this book too.
Challenges by Michael Dooney is good too, although it's been so long since I read it that I don't remember much about it. I have the softcover version.
Just a side note about the collected books, I am only missing #6, if anyone gets an extra one and wants to sell it, let me know. Thanks

[Nate]

Don't listen to people. Image is good. Read Image.

Especially if your a fan of traditional super hero comics.

[Donegal]

Again guys, great info!

I'm definately looking for more than JUST the collected books, but I thought the collected books would be a great place to start-- especially for a lot of the early issues that would also be very hard to find. However, I'm very interested in many other issues from Vol. 1 and all of Vol. 2 and Vol. 4 as well as the Tales stuff.

In fact, I've sort of decided the thing I want to get before anything else is Collected Book Vol. 1 (#1-11 plus 4 microseries). I think that's the perfect thing to read first and see how I think it and all. I'm just having a very hard time finding it though. There were a few things on Amazon and Half.com that caught my interest, but there are no descriptions or pictures and it's VERY hard to tell exactly which book it is that the people are selling. Amazon itself seems to be selling SOMETHING called TMNT Collected Book Vol. 1, but they seem unsure they have any or can get any more which could lead to extra order costs and lots of waiting. Anyway, I'll be keeping my eyes open. I haven't had luck anywhere else, but maybe Ebay eventually. Or perhaps I'll come across one in a comic store somewhere. If I don't find one soon though I think I'll be placing a mirage order for everything Vol. 1 that they've got, including all the collected books.

Oh, and thanks for the tip about Image! It does seem lots of people don't like it, but from the story bits I've heard I'm really interested to read it.

If anyone sees any auctions or copies of the collected books for sale, let me know! I'll do the same if I find any for Book #6 or any others.