Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a popular comic book series created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird in 1984. The series follows the adventures of four anthropomorphic turtles – Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael – who were trained in martial arts by their rat sensei, Master Splinter. The turtles live in the sewers of New York City and fight against various villains, including their arch-nemesis, The Shredder.

The origins of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles go back to a drawing that Eastman made of a turtle with a mask standing upright with nunchucks in his hands. Laird saw the drawing and came up with the idea of having four turtles named after famous Renaissance artists. The first issue of the series was self-published in May 1984 by Mirage Studios, a company that Eastman and Laird formed specifically for this purpose.

Mirage Studios’ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles quickly became a cult hit, largely due to its irreverent humor and its parody-like take on popular comics and TV shows. The series was also notable for its gritty, black and white artwork, which drew inspiration from underground comics and Japanese manga.

The success of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles led to an animated TV series, a live-action movie franchise, and numerous merchandise tie-ins. The Turtles’ popularity even led to a significant shift in the comic book industry, as other independent publishers sought to replicate the success of Mirage Studios.

In the early ’90s, after the Turtles had become a household name, Eastman and Laird sold the rights to the series to Viacom (now Paramount Global), who has since acquired more media properties like SpongeBob SquarePants and Rugrats. Although Eastman and Laird are no longer commercially involved with the franchise, they remain fondly remembered by fans for their creation of the original comic.

The influence of Mirage Studios’ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles can still be felt in popular culture today. The Turtles have been rebooted several times in comic form, including adaptations by IDW Publishing and IDW parent company ViacomCBS, as well as a recent adaptation by IDW’s new comic book imprint; former colleagues of Peter Laird, including fellow comic book artist Steve Lavigne and writer Gary Carlson, have continued the Turtles’ adventures through the independent publisher, Mirage Publishing.

The Turtles’ influence stretches beyond their own franchise, too. Their gritty, street-level approach to superhero stories was a precursor to the darker, more adult-oriented takes on superheroes that have become increasingly popular in recent years. They were also an early example of the merchandising meant to support individual entertainment brands.

Overall, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles remains one of the most beloved and enduring comic book franchises of all time. Its humble beginnings as a self-published comic book by Mirage Studios have given rise to an entire industry of Turtle merchandise, TV shows, movies, and video games. Yet, the series remains rooted in its rebellious, anti-establishment spirit that continues to resonate with fans of all ages. Despite the many changes in the franchise over the years, the Turtles have never lost their connection to the people who originally created them.

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