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Characters & first appearances

What is the first appearance of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?

Published Sep 14, 2026 · Updated Sep 14, 2026 · 1 min read

Short answerThe Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles first appeared in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1, cover-dated May 1984, self-published by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird as Mirage Studios in Dover, New Hampshire. The first printing was a black-and-white, magazine-sized comic of about 3,000 copies. Later printings from 1984 and 1985 look similar but are clearly marked, and only the first printing carries the high value.

The book

Eastman and Laird financed the first printing with a tax refund and a loan, printed roughly 3,000 copies, and advertised it in the Comic Buyer's Guide. The story is a parody of Frank Miller's Daredevil and Ronin — the ooze, the ninja clan, the gritty New York — played straight enough to work. The characters became a global franchise within three years.

Identifying the first printing

PrintingDateHow to tell
FirstMay 1984No printing statement in the indicia; approximately 3,000 copies
SecondJune 1984"Second printing" stated; about 6,000 copies
ThirdFebruary 1985Stated; larger run
Fourth and later1985 onwardStated; some with colour or different covers

Always read the indicia. The first printing is one of the most counterfeited independent comics; grade or authenticate before buying.

Collecting

A first-printing TMNT #1 is the most valuable Copper Age comic and among the most valuable independents ever published. Later printings are affordable and collectible in their own right — the copy in the store is a 1985 printing in CGC 9.6 with a witnessed signature, listed with its printing stated.

  • TMNT #2 (October 1984) — first printing about 15,000 copies.
  • Raphael #1 (1985) — first Casey Jones.

See the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles character page, the Mirage Studios publisher page and TMNT #1 printings explained.

Written by the Rare Comics Collectors grading team. Spotted an error or have a question this guide does not answer? Tell us.

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Key issueLast copy

Mirage Studios · Copper Age

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1

CGC 9.6 · Signature Series

Origin and first appearance of the Turtles (third printing), signed and sketched by Kevin Eastman

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$437

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