March 1984
Fantagraphics
UPDATE: CGC has officially recognized that this appearance predates the 1st issue of TMNT!
The CGC label reads:
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!
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!
