TMNT Time Capsule

TMNT Time Capsule
Kevin Eastman Studios

This unique collectible may not be a vintage item, but it does contain many reproductions of the earliest known TMNT print pieces/appearances. Created by Kevin Eastman, this hand-signed, hand-assembled collection can only be acquired by purchasing something from his online studio. It serves not only as a thank you to his fans, but also authenticates the item as having come directly from his personal collection. These Time Capsules do appear to be a rare item as they are hardly seen on the open market.

The Comics Journal 89 March 1984 Rare TMNT

The Comics Journal 89
March 1984
Fantagraphics

UPDATE: CGC has officially recognized that this appearance predates the 1st issue of TMNT! 

The CGC label reads:

Leonardo drawing in "Newswatch" predates Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1

This issue features one of the earliest appearances, if not THE earliest appearance, of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! This issue, listed in the masthead as their May issue, was actually printed and released in March (see the zoomed in credits), ONE MONTH before Amazing Heroes 45 (April 15) and The Comics Buyer's Guide 542 (April 6). It's also listed on the official The Comics Journal website as their March 1984 issue.

While this image does not show the full team like the other press release ads, it does feature the Leonardo illustration from the T-shirt Iron-On ad (T5) inside the back of the 1st issue. This image must have been pulled from a press kit and chosen because of its size to fit in the space allotted for this issue.

One other interesting note: this Leonardo illustration also graced the covers of the Archie comics series in the indicia area. This early appearance is a very rare find indeed!

Comics Collector Magazine 6 1st Color TMNT

Comics Collector Magazine 6
January 1985

In an earlier post I mentioned that there was a color image published prior to February 1985 (the date of TMNT #2, 3rd printing), and this is it! This may very well be the first time we see the TMNT (or more specifically, Leonardo, in that classic Eastman and Laird style) in full color. Since there were no color reprints in 1984, and the merchandising hadn't begun until the RPG in September of that year, all signs point to this predating all other color versions in print. More to come!

Comics Collector Magazine 10

Comics Collector Magazine 10
January 1986

This issue features a 3-page article on the early success of the TMNT comics. There are a couple of black and white photos of Eastman and Laird, a full color illustration of Leonardo wearing a red bandana, and a reprint of the press release ad sent to news media in Spring 1984!

And here's another ad showing the cover of the 1st issue with an $85 (1st printing) price listing.

Comics Collector Magazine 8

Comics Collector 8
June 1985

Like The Comics Buyer's Guide, this magazine was published by Krause Publications, Inc., but only ran for 10 issues. A couple of notable appearances here, but let's start with the TMNT. There's an ad that features a very small image of the Turtles. What's interesting is this image looks to be the exact same one used to promote the Portsmouth, NH, Mini-Con, except for the background panels from the 1st issue. See the 2 images below. (Note: I do not own the flyer)

Here's another great find. This issue spotlights Batman and may contain the 1st appearances of Frank Miller's Bruce Wayne and Carrie Kelley in The Dark Knight Returns! This issue predates The Dark Knight Returns 1, which was published in February 1986. More to come!

New Age Comics 1

New Age Comics 1
1985


It's tough to nail down which image of the TMNT first appeared in color in a published piece. There's certainly the back cover to this Fantagraphic's published one-shot, but without the month listed, we can't know for sure. There's also TMNT #1, 4th printing, which also appeared sometime in 1985, and TMNT #2, 3rd printing, from February 1985. The RPG TMNT & Other Strangeness (1st printing) was printed later in the year, in September. So was there a color image published prior to February 1985? The answer is yes. Stay tuned!

Amazing Heroes 73

Amazing Heroes 73
June 15, 1985

A later entry but a cool find nonetheless, this promo image features the inked art to the cover of the Raphael one-shot. Duo-Shade was typically used by the creators to shade their art to give it depth, but is noticeably absent here (similar to the Comics Buyer's Guide and Amazing Heroes 45 press release art).

Although Amazing Heroes listed many of the upcoming issues of TMNT in their Preview Specials, most of the listings typically did not feature any accompanying artwork.

Amazing Heroes 45

Amazing Heroes 45
April 15, 1984

This recently discovered gem shares the same press release image as CBG 542 along with a brief description of the then soon-to-be released 1st issue.

Comics Buyer's Guide 547

Comics Buyer's Guide 547
May 11, 1984

This full page ad, purchased with the remaining money borrowed to print the 1st issue, appeared 6 days after the Portsmouth, NH, MINI-CON, where TMNT premiered. It served Eastman and Laird well, as this fully illustrated ad garnered lots of interest from the public and comic dealers. This copy has the added bonus of being signed and sketched by both creators!

Comics Buyer's Guide 542

Comics Buyer's Guide 542
April 6, 1984

To promote their new comic book, Eastman and Laird sent press releases to various news outlets and comic magazine, or "fanzine," publishers. CBG 542 is one of the earliest known to feature the cover art from the 1st issue, as well as background information on the creators and the book itself.

Comics Buyer's Guide 544

Comics Buyer's Guide 544
April 20, 1984

This CBG contains an ad for the Portsmouth, NH, MINI-CON, which featured the premiere of Eastman and Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Although there isn't an actual image of the Turtles, this ad does call out the comic by name. And the "LONG-AWAITED" refers to the Turtles earlier appearance in CBG, issue 542.

Welcome!

Welcome to my TMNT Rarities blog! I'll share some pics and background info on some of the hardest to find TMNT print pieces from my collection. Stay tuned!

Pete