A Visual History of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

When the evil Shredder attacks, these Turtle boys don't cut him no slack.

By Seth G. Macy

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were first introduced to the world way back in 1984. The original, Mirage Studios comic, created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, was a parody of several existing comic franchises. The success of the comic later spawned a syndicated cartoon program, and from there, Turtlemania swept the nation.

Suddenly the Turtles were everywhere, from video games to breakfast cereals, to an increasingly baffling line of action figures. The first live-action movie, way back in 1990, was a run-away success and spawned two follow-ups.

Here's a look at the Turtles' humble, surprisingly violent beginnings as comic book characters, all the way through to their upcoming appearance in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan.

The Turtles' shine dimmed, but never extinguished, and the four mutated brothers lived on in the shadows, like the ninja they are. In 2003, a new animated series warmed a new generation of kids to the Ninja Turtles, and more toys, movies, and games would soon follow. Is there such a thing as "peak Ninja Turtle?" It's hard to say, but more accurately, it's easy to say: there is no such thing as "peak Ninja Turtle."

Seth Macy is IGN's weekend web producer and just wants to be your friend. Follow him on Twitter @sethmacy, myIGN, or subscribe to Seth Macy's YouTube channel.

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