Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | |
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Publication information | |
Publisher | Mirage Studios |
Format | Ongoing series |
Genre | Action-adventure, science fiction |
Publication date | 1987–2010 |
No. of issues | 77 |
Main character(s) | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles |
Creative team | |
Created by | Kevin Eastman & Peter Laird |
Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, called Tales of the TMNT in its later Volume 2 incarnation, is an anthology comic book series published by Mirage Studios, starting in May 1987, [1] presenting additional stories featuring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and their supporting cast as a companion book to the main Turtles comic series filling in the gaps of continuity in the TMNT universe. It was published in two distinct volumes.
The title's first run was from 1987 to 1989, released in alternating months with the regular Eastman & Laird book, with Ryan Brown and Jim Lawson handling the writing and artwork. [2] [3]
Although only seven issues of Volume 1 of Tales were published, it provided an opportunity to expand the TMNT character roster to include characters such as Nobody, Leatherhead, Rat King, Complete Carnage, and Radical – most of whom went on to feature in the main title. Tales is also notable for borrowing a unique tradition that originated in Creepy magazine: an opening splash page would feature an introduction by a TMNT character and conclude with the ominous line, "Let me tell you a story". This page also served as a showcase of sorts for a variety of guest artists. The title ceased publication in 1989 when the TMNT became a licensed property. Jim Lawson moved to Mirage's ongoing TMNT series while Ryan Brown shifted toward art and design work for TMNT licensees, including the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures title from Archie Comics. [4] [3]
Sixteen years later, under the direction of Stephen Murphy, a relaunch of the series began publication in January 2004. The new Tales of the TMNT (as the covers read) focused on events that occur throughout the Turtles' lives, including some of the "lost" thirteen years occurring between TMNT Volumes 2 and 4. Issue #25 featured the return of the original Tales creative team of Brown and Lawson. This revived title maintained the tradition of including a "Let me tell you a story" splash page at the beginning of every issue, in homage to its 1980s predecessor. In May 2010, the second volume ended its run with a total of 70 issues, ten times as many as its predecessor. [5] [3]
The original series' entire run has been collected twice as trade paperbacks, first in 1989 and again in 2007. Each version of the trade features new story contents, with the 1989 collection featuring a new 10-page back-up story at the end written and drawn by Jim Lawson. The 2007 collection features a new 27-page story by Lawson entitled "Spinal Tapped" with this story taking place after issue #7 and a 4-page epilogue by Murphy and Lawson. The 2007 edition does not include the new back-up story from the 1989 collection. Additionally, the 2007 collection also features new opening splash pages, omitting the original opening splash pages completely.
Five volumes of Tales of the TMNT Volume 2 have been collected by Mirage Studios from 2006 to 2008, selecting random issues, or based on linked themes/characters.
IDW Publishing would later also collect issues of both volumes of Tales of the TMNT (reprinted in color) after acquiring the comic book licensing rights from new franchise owner Viacom.
Volume 1:
Volume 2:
Volume 1+2 IDW Imprint:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, commonly abbreviated as TMNT, is a media franchise created by the comic book artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. It follows Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo, four anthropomorphic turtle brothers trained in ninjutsu who fight evil in New York City. Supporting characters include the turtles' sensei, a rat called Splinter, their human friends April O'Neil and Casey Jones, and enemies such as Baxter Stockman, Krang, and their archenemy, the Shredder.
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Peter Alan Laird is an American comic book writer and artist best known for co-creating the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with writer and artist Kevin Eastman.
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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures is an American comic book series that was published from August 1988 to October 1995 by Archie Comics. The series, which was aimed at a younger audience than other Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics at the time, ran for 72 issues. In addition, there were numerous annuals, specials, and miniseries.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) is an American comic book series that was published by Mirage Studios between 1984 and 2014. Conceived by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, it was initially intended as a one-shot, but due to its popularity it became an ongoing series. The comic created the Turtles franchise of five television series, seven feature films, numerous video games, and a range of toys and merchandise.
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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an entertainment franchise about a group of anthropomorphic turtles who fight evil.
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