2009 see's the 25th anniversary of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (or for those who remember the censored cartoon of the 90's Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles) although a quick look on IMDB will show that the cartoon didn't start til 1987, that's because TMNT began life as a black and white comic book created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman back in 1984.
The comic was meant to be a one off with only 3,000 copies of the magazine sized comic printed, but it turned out to be a hit spawning two cartoon series, three live action films a live action show and a animated movie as well as four volumes of comics (TMNT is still published today although is on hiatus however another book Tales of the TMNT is published on a monthly basis).
Unfortunately for those latecomers (such as myself) it is quite difficult to get hold of collected editions of the original comic series, although the official TMNT website has posted the first 15 issues on their website (as well as a few one shots), I've already read the first issue and you can tell it was meant to be a one shot. (the comics are in the comic book section near the bottom of the page).
Unlike the colour coordinated Turtles of the films and TV shows, these Turtles were garbed in red masks but they were still recognisable by their weapons, Leonardo with his katannas, Donatello with his Bo Staff, Raphael with his Sais and Michaelangelo with his Nunchucks.
Like many who grew up on a stable diet of 80's and 90's cartoons, Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles (as the UK titled it) was one of the few cartoons that provided countless entertainment, some of the episodes made it to VHS (I own at least one copy The Invasion of the Punk Frogs who were more surfer types than punks) however the show has yet to make it to UK shores on DVD (Series 7 is being released on four DVDs in the US next month) however TMNT fans can find copies of the complete Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation series on DVD (the live action show which followed on from the movies and featured the female Turtle Venus and a guest appearance by the Power Rangers) and of course the TMNT movies are on DVD. But as 2009 has seen 25 years of Turtle Power that could change which would be totally awesome dudes.
Cowabunga.
Like many who grew up on a stable diet of 80's and 90's cartoons, Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles (as the UK titled it) was one of the few cartoons that provided countless entertainment, some of the episodes made it to VHS (I own at least one copy The Invasion of the Punk Frogs who were more surfer types than punks) however the show has yet to make it to UK shores on DVD (Series 7 is being released on four DVDs in the US next month) however TMNT fans can find copies of the complete Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation series on DVD (the live action show which followed on from the movies and featured the female Turtle Venus and a guest appearance by the Power Rangers) and of course the TMNT movies are on DVD. But as 2009 has seen 25 years of Turtle Power that could change which would be totally awesome dudes.
Cowabunga.
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