40 years with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

On 5 May 2024, the 40th anniversary of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is observed. That was the day when the first comic issue, The Turtles' Origin is Told, was published by Mirage Studios. The main characters had been crated by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird in November 1983, and would grow to recieve international success during the upcoming years.

40 years later, we're still here with all the comics, cartoons, video games, movies, action figures and of course, hanging out at the Technodrome Internet Community for the last 25 years.

[KROW]

Hold your anchovie and whipped cream pizza high. Here's to sticking around for the next anniversary.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Time for the recurring comparison, and check out when did other fictional characters and franchises, we all see as well-established, observed their 40th anniversaries?

Tintin: January 1959
Spirou: April 1968
Mickey Mouse: November 1968
Donald Duck: June 1974
Superman: April 1978 (The Reign of the Superman from 1932 is not included here)
Batman: March 1979
Captain America: March 1981
Lucky Luke: October 1986
James Bond: April 1993
Smurfs: October 1998
Astrix: October 1999
Spider-Man: August 2002
GI Joe: February 2004
Action Man: 2006
Star Trek: September 2006
Star Wars: November 2016 (the novelization was first published in November 1976, six months prior to the 1977 movie)
Donkey Kong and Mario: July 2021

[neatoman]

Originally Posted by Original TMNT Cartoon Fan

Time for the recurring comparison, and check out when did other fictional characters and franchises, we all see as well-established, observed their 40th anniversaries?

Astrix: October 1999
Mickey Mouse: November 1968
Donald Duck: June 1974
Superman: April 1978 (The Reign of the Superman from 1932 is not included here)
Batman: March 1979
Captain America: March 1981
Lucky Luke: October 1986
James Bond: April 1993
Spider-Man: August 2002
Star Trek: September 2006
Star Wars: November 2016 (the novelization was first published in November 1976, six months prior to the 1977 movie)
Tintin: January 1959

I always find it amusing that first theatrical Spider-Man movie (which was intended to be theatrical) wasn't actually released until the 40th anniversary. Not because nobody was interested in making one, quite the opposite in fact because the comic was a huge success, but because various different companies claimed to have the film rights. The 1994 animated series is literally the remnants of a deal that fell through because of the dispute, with it initially being intended as tie-in show.

... And of course, Disney and Sony keep on wrestling for the movie rights even to this day...

[CyberCubed]

Man Spider-man was only 40 years old in 2002? It feels like it was a lot older, I guess because something created in the 1960's already felt like "ancient history" by the early 2000's.

While TMNT does feel old too as the 1980's is a long time ago, it still doesn't feel "as old" comparably as a lot of the other superhero comics did at their time.

Fun fact: Dragon Ball and TMNT are also the same age, Dragon Ball manga started in 1984 the same year as TMNT. It's hard to believe the Turtles were created the same time as Goku.

[Coola Yagami]

I'm like '40 years??? I'm not even 50 yet', but then I remember they were around for a few extra years before the cartoon first hit.

[IndigoErth]

Oh good, was hoping someone would make a post. I was considering it, but yours is better.

Anyone else planning on having pizza Sunday? Might see if a store has any green tinted drinks.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Another interesting thing to check out is how the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fandom has evolved in popularity through the years. Just like a business cycle (Roaring-Golden 1920's, 1930's Depression), this franchise has experienced its up and down periods.

1984–1987: The beginning: TMNT is a popular independent comic, but not so much more.

1987–1988: Introduction to a younger audience. The first two seasons of the Fred Wolf cartoon and the Archie comics forms a new generation of fans.

1989–1993: Turtlemania. The franchise is booming, and scoring international success. Through marketing, the Turtles appear everywhere. These years also see the Turtles appearing in video games and live-action movies.

1993–1997: Declining success. With the Animated Batman cartoon spawning edgier cartoons, and the Power Rangers becoming popular, as well as video games becoming even more popular, the Turtles can't continue as successful as during previous years.

1997–2001: The First Dark Period. Only Next Mutation airs on television, while the Image Comics are cancelled.

2001–2009: 4 Kids Revival. Mirage volume 4 combined with the 4 Kids cartoon, and 1980's nostalgia allow the Turtles to experience a reival, thoguh they never become as popular as during Turtlemania. Thanks to the Internet a lot of former TMNT fans, who've usually reached their 20's and often begun working or studying in a university, rediscover their TMNT fandom During these years, we also get a computer-animated movie.

2009–2011: The Second Dark Period. Nickelodeon purchases the franchise from Mirage Studios, and we get less Mirage comics. But at least, we also get Turtles Forever.

2011–2017: Nickelodeon Reival.The IDW comics and the Original Nickelodeon cartoon allow another TMNT revival and it all ends with Fred Wolf nostalgia in the Bebop and Rocksteady crossovers. Two live-action movies are also produced.

2017–2023: Rise of the TMNT years. The Original Nickelodeon cartoon is cancelled, and instead we get Rise of the TMNT and its upcoming movie. To the disappointment of many fans.

2023–: Current period. Starts with Mutant Mayhem, to be followed up by another cartoon and movie.

[frank_one]

The year 2000 is probably the darkest year for the franchise with absolutely no new product put on the market: Next Mutation ended in 1998, Image cancelled Volume 3 in 1999. For a whole year (as far as I know) nothing with the Turtles logo came out, before Laird relaunched the comics in 2001 with Volume 4.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by frank_one

The year 2000 is probably the darkest year for the franchise with absolutely no new product put on the market: Next Mutation ended in 1998, Image cancelled Volume 3 in 1999. For a whole year (as far as I know) nothing with the Turtles logo came out, before Laird relaunched the comics in 2001 with Volume 4.

Nothing was published between the final issue of Image Volume 3 (October 1999) and the first issue of Mirage Volume 4 (December 2001).

[IndigoErth]

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

Might see if a store has any green tinted drinks.

Drink acquired. With a conveniently TMNT related name.

[Mad Dog McMutt]

I will celebrate by consuming something else that is green.

[Braeden99]

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

Drink acquired. With a conveniently TMNT related name.

https://i.imgur.com/NVNCa0V.jpg

Now this is a fan who knows how to Turtle!

[IndigoErth]

Originally Posted by Mad Dog McMutt

I will celebrate by consuming something else that is green.

Pickles?

Spoiler:

Stop it brain, just because it was vague doesn't mean it was innuendo!

I'll see myself out...

[Mad Dog McMutt]

Of course I am talking about a nice Caeser salad with a Mountain Dew.

[IndigoErth]

Ah. lol

edit: Wow, sorry that gif is so big.




If I wasn't already thinking of pizza, either getting one or just throwing a frozen I already have into the oven, I'd possibly consider.... Sliders.

I wish chocolate Turtles candy weren't typically made with pecans. I'd totally get some peanut ones if I saw any. edit: Ooh, Little Debbie Turtle Brownies (with peanuts) are a thing... might hunt those down instead. Make a nice little theme of snacks for the fun of it.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Original TMNT Cartoon Fan

Another interesting thing to check out is how the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fandom has evolved in popularity through the years. Just like a business cycle (Roaring-Golden 1920's, 1930's Depression), this franchise has experienced its up and down periods.

1984–1987: The beginning: TMNT is a popular independent comic, but not so much more.

1987–1988: Introduction to a younger audience. The first two seasons of the Fred Wolf cartoon and the Archie comics forms a new generation of fans.

1989–1993: Turtlemania. The franchise is booming, and scoring international success. Through marketing, the Turtles appear everywhere. These years also see the Turtles appearing in video games and live-action movies.

1993–1997: Declining success. With the Animated Batman cartoon spawning edgier cartoons, and the Power Rangers becoming popular, as well as video games becoming even more popular, the Turtles can't continue as successful as during previous years.

1997–2001: The First Dark Period. Only Next Mutation airs on television, while the Image Comics are cancelled.

2001–2009: 4 Kids Revival. Mirage volume 4 combined with the 4 Kids cartoon, and 1980's nostalgia allow the Turtles to experience a reival, thoguh they never become as popular as during Turtlemania. Thanks to the Internet a lot of former TMNT fans, who've usually reached their 20's and often begun working or studying in a university, rediscover their TMNT fandom During these years, we also get a computer-animated movie.

2009–2011: The Second Dark Period. Nickelodeon purchases the franchise from Mirage Studios, and we get less Mirage comics. But at least, we also get Turtles Forever.

2011–2017: Nickelodeon Reival.The IDW comics and the Original Nickelodeon cartoon allow another TMNT revival and it all ends with Fred Wolf nostalgia in the Bebop and Rocksteady crossovers. Two live-action movies are also produced.

2017–2023: Rise of the TMNT years. The Original Nickelodeon cartoon is cancelled, and instead we get Rise of the TMNT and its upcoming movie. To the disappointment of many fans.

2023–: Current period. Starts with Mutant Mayhem, to be followed up by another cartoon and movie.

For me:

1984 - 2009 : Some shifting balance of decent TMNT content out there, under the surface. Periods here and there of "nothing."

2010 - Present : Mostly crap. And it's shocking how rapidly things are getting worse. Lately when you think they can't do something worse, they somehow find a way. It's remarkable, really.

[Mad Dog McMutt]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

For me:

1984 - 2009 : Some shifting balance of decent TMNT content out there, under the surface. Periods here and there of "nothing."

2010 - Present : Mostly crap. And it's shocking how rapidly things are getting worse. Lately when you think they can't do something worse, they somehow find a way. It's remarkable, really.

I don't think anything can be worse than Rise. It just doesn't seem possible. Mutant Mayhem isn't any good, but it's not as bad as Rise.

[IndigoErth]

Darn it, in my quest to throw together a small assortment of turtle-themed goodies just for fun, a store location I don't usually go to lied about having those Little Debbie Turtle Brownies. Not even an empty spot on the shelf...

[tmntpower1988]

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

If I wasn't already thinking of pizza, either getting one or just throwing a frozen I already have into the oven, I'd possibly consider.... Sliders.

I wish chocolate Turtles candy weren't typically made with pecans. I'd totally get some peanut ones if I saw any. edit: Ooh, Little Debbie Turtle Brownies (with peanuts) are a thing... might hunt those down instead. Make a nice little theme of snacks for the fun of it.

When you mention the word Sliders I think of this show It's been a while since I've watched it: