The Turtles' redefining comic-book adventures - TMNT comics

[@TheTurtleNexus]

Thanks for watching! Are you a fan of this series?

[@frenchabortion]

I wasn’t, but I still had a ton of them. The Mighty MutAnimals- Oof

[@redred222]

I was a big fan my fav story was the united we stand ark with mutantant animals where they had to fight null and the 4 horsemen of death

[@lucasgibbs4050]

Will you talk about Archie’s Shredder in a separate video?

[@lucasgibbs4050]

Isn’t it ironic that Archie let Stephen Murphy go because his scripts were too dark, only to later go dark themselves?

[@TetsuDeinonychus]

This series is like what if the cartoon Turtles gradually evolved into the Mirage Turtles. It also added so many great things to the franchise and needs more love than it gets.

[@LowellLucasJr.]

Without the awesome Archie Comics..I wouldn't have Armmagon! Not only a favorite villain, but an awesome fighter in TMNT Tournament Fighters!

[@firestriker3580]

False

[@darkwoods1954]

Once it moved away from the cartoon series and became it's own thing Archie comics were really good. As a kid It was the Archie comics and movies that kept me into Turtles after I quickly got bored of the repetitive cartoon. The Future Shark Trilogy being my favorite story.

[@templeofthesmilingjackalop9860]

Adventures was a legitimately great TMNT book. I love that initial original storyline of #5-13, how it all ties together and how much it expands and defines that version of the Turtles. Then you had great stories like the Null/Malgina/Mutanimals arc, and the world tour with Ninjara, and United We Stand Divided We Fall, and the Future Shark Trilogy. I also dug the Mutanimals book its brief run, and the specials like Donatello & Leatherhead or the first April O'Neil trilogy. Just an all around under-appreciated version of the Turtles that contributed a lot to later versions, particularly IDW.

[@MegaMan87]

It is the best and my Favorite TMNT Comic Series ever! It showed the best of Adventures of our Four Turtles and Introducing The Mighty Mutanimals and my Favorite above all else: Ninjara aka Umeko. It showed a Realistic view and to Motivate us to Protect the Environment in order to make a Better Future for the world as you can see the Bad Future side of the world 100 years Prior. It was so sad... It was the Accursed Toyline Requirement that led to the Mutanimals Massacre by Null and his Four Mercenaries... And the Departure of Ninjara breaking up with Raphael when things got too heated and dark in the last arcs. Then it got Cancelled Stopping the Final Arc called the Forever War and replacing it with two final issues of the young turtles of how they got there weapons... And a Sequel three part series afterwards... However as the TMNT Fandom is still strong to this day, The Forever war arc is happening and still needs to be completed as they've done the first chapter. Please make it happen as the TMNT Adventures Archie series will finally get its true ending and to give there world a better Future with Evergreen and Everblue for Future Generations to thrive! Just like in Sonic CD! TMNT Adventures Forever for the Great Divine of TMNT lore...

[@chevy-is-a-good-boy]

Great episode, the Archie series was part of what made TMNT awesome fun - good memories.

[@sneakingelephant]

My parents grabbed me one of these comics and it came with a cassette. I used to listen to that cassette almost daily while re-reading the comic over and over

[@avgrecordings3194]

Me too!💪🏾

[@lucasgibbs4050]

You can actually find that here on KZbin. Search TMNT Heroes In A Half Shell comic.

[@sneakingelephant]

@@lucasgibbs4050 haha sweet, I'll check that out. Thanks man!

[@lucasgibbs4050]

@@sneakingelephant BTW, has anybody noticed that Krang sounds a bit like Dr. Claw?

[@arielgonzalez1851]

@@lucasgibbs4050 he sounds like a mix of Dr. Claw and Raiden from the 1995 Mortal Kombat movie...

[@isaacescalera9643]

These were the first comics I ever read. I have a good sized collection from my youth as well as collecting as an adult. I'm surprised how popular these comics have become recently

[@MichaelAlexKawa]

I have to be honest, TMNT Adventures was (and still is) my favorite comic book series from back in the day. I would ask my comic book store to add it to my hold box, they would say you know this is the "Archie" version, don't you want the Mirage, and I would say I love this series. Never missed an issue. I loved Ninjara and her relationship with Raphael, I loved all of the various characters.

[@conradojavier7547]

Imagine if Ken Penders was writing a TMNT Adventure Comics.

[@theotherjared9824]

All roads lead back to mirage. No matter how much a new entry in this franchise wants to do their own thing, all of them eventually become gritty, violent, and full of philosophical debates.

[@lg6884]

That Archie series was wild. It was like one moment everything looked on model with the show and light hearted, then bam! The turtles looked more like the DiC battleoads and Null guns the Mutanimals down, and Adolf shows up. I also never realized just how fixated the Archie series was on protecting the environment.

[@TheTurtleNexus]

I was probably 10 or 11 years old at the time, and remember learning a lot about the environment with these issues (there is a lot of heavy exposition about it). However, reading it as an adult, I got to understand the context of the issues a little better (especially because back then, I didn't have internet access).

[@susanfit47]

Archie Comics adapted their version of the pizza-loving sewer-dwelling reptiles from the 1987-1996 TMNT animated cartoon TV series, leaving behind the satire of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book. In their hands the comic immediately diverged from the cartoon series into unique new story arcs, often incorporating social, environmentalist, and animal-rights themes. It also introduced several new characters of various races and backgrounds, including humans, mutants, aliens, and other anthropomorphic creatures. Additionally, the series added new layers to established players such as April O'Neil, who began training with a katana, and the Shredder, who gradually revealed a sense of honor. The stories were often seen as 'deeper' and more 'serious' than the cartoon. As the new tales and characters were explored, original antagonists Krang, Bebop and Rocksteady were eventually phased out early, making later appearances during stories involving alien worlds. Shredder would remain a recurring adversary. Running from 7 years 1988 to 1995, the series ran for 72 issues. Archie did publish a final mini-series named "Year of the Turtle" from January to March 1996, ran for 3 issues; in addition, there were numerous annuals, specials and miniseries. Archie did reprint the ongoing series in a digest format series titled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Classics Digest which they published quarterly from 1993 to 1994, lasting 7 issues, with every digest reprinting three issues each, collecting Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures (Vol. 2) issues #5-#25. In celebration of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' 25th Anniversary, Archie Comics released a 104-page, full-color trade paperback collection of the three issue mini-series #1-3 in 2009, which was the adaptation of the original animated show's miniseries "Heroes in a Half Shell". Mirage Studios also printed a trade for the 25th anniversary, titled Future Tense reprinting Mighty Mutanimals #7 and TMNT Adventures #42-44 and #62-66 in July 2009. Future Tense was released to coincide with a planned release of the storyline from Mirage entitled Forever War, but this eventually was canceled.

[@JediMB]

As with many other localizations, reading these stories translated into Swedish was such a weird experience at the time. When the TMNT Adventures were canceled in the US, the Swedish TMHT book was still very popular, so when they ran out of new stories to publish they just started reprinting old filler stories with new covers and leaving the readers ignorant of that it was all over.

[@TheTurtleNexus]

In my country (Argentina), they ran out of stories right after their last fight with Krang (probably because the series was still ongoing and it was coming out biweekly). Or maybe because their popularity was waning and they just decided to stop buying the original material. What they did instead, was to print new stories, by remixing the previous issues and doing some modifications. I remember feeling cheated as a 9 year old :p

[@baxterstockman2191]

NECA brought me here, and I can say I am not disappointed

[@TheTurtleNexus]

Super excited about Mutanimals as well!

[@TurtleC0mic]

🤙🏻🤙🏻

[@lucasgibbs4050]

I would like it if NECA made an action figure of Krang’s android body from the Archie comics. Or even an Archie Shredder figure.

[@austinreed7343]

This wasn’t the last time an Archie kids comic went off the rails… Sonic went off the rails when TMNT ended.

[@erikmartinez1384]

I just remember being blown away by issues with turtles with eye patches, turtles with same color bandanas in the same scene, and the stories. As a kid, this was a nuts way to expand the universe. I gotta get these collected.

[@Rose_Bride]

I _really_ like and appreciate the neutral and unbiased ways you explain these characters. It's one of the many reasons why I *LOVE* this channel _so much._ Thanks for giving such detailed info and for respecting both the property and the fan base. I can tell that this channel is being handled by genuine Turtle fan(s)! 💚 For me, I was never a fan of the Archie comic-verse Turtles; the art style wasn't really my cup of tea, and after a while (what with all the animals) it seemed like it was starting to become less about the Turtles' adventure with The Shredder and his Foot Clan in favor of a more "furry" themed story with all the animal characters. (Nothing wrong with Furries, but I just didn't have much interest in a full on cast of animal characters.) Still, I enjoyed learning about the direction the team went in with these comics. I wonder if kids/parents ever got confused when they went to buy a TMNT comic; like, since this was being sold concurrently along with the Mirage version, did they [the parents] ever accidentally buy the Mirage version _instead_ of the more kid friendly Archie-version?

[@TheTurtleNexus]

Thanks for the kind words! At the time, the Archie comics were sold virtually anywhere, whereas, the Mirage comics were exclusive to comic shops. So parents never really had the chance to confuse the two unless they stepped into a comic-book store. Kids, however, were more likely to go into a comic-book store and buy the edgier Mirage material. But they were in black and white, so I am going to assume that they wouldn't have attracted young kids.

[@lukethomas216]

That was absolutely fascinating. I barely remember reading the British reprints as a kid and probably haven’t thought of characters like Ace Duck and screw loose in summat like 33? Years! They helped form my abiding love of all comics. Great vid 😄

[@psychobilly42069]

I love how they were tasked with making a tmnt book for kids and those pesky turtles writers just couldn't help but shove in as much dark and weird bullshit as they could LMAO

[@austinreed7343]

Given their Sonic comic, it was quite possibly on Archie’s end.

[@DJ12850]

hell of a time to be a turtle fan right now lol

[@dirtrustle777]

Lol love how the narrator called him “scumbag” not scumbug

[@TMNTTHECONTINUITY]

Love both the 1987 TMNT series and the Archie comics ❤

[@MJbulls23airJs]

Littl disappointed Scul & Bean were not mentioned

[@TheTurtleNexus]

Maybe in a future video, I had to pick a few characters to keep the video short.

[@Insane-Howl-Cowl]

1:01 - I'm pretty sure Dave Garcia went on to become Doug Dimmadome!

[@padraicloingsigh421]

It was so brutal that they killed the Mutanimals like that, seriously wtf!?!? Were they just trying to be edgy? that pissed me off, let's just kill them off even though the series is ending. seriously tainted my fond memories of that series as a kid. I stopped reading them right before they killed of the mutanimals.

[@TheTurtleNexus]

The Mutanimals book was cancelled before they were killed off. I think it was a mistake, as their deaths didn't really contribute to anything. It does taint the experience of re-reading the series, as you know that is coming. It kind of reminds me of the "death" of Sherlock Holmes, and how people never completely forgave Conan Doyle for killing him. I am sure that, had the TMNT Adventures continued, the writers would have found a way of bringing them back. Not that there were plans to do that... but it would have been a waste of IP.

[@allthatisandeverwas]

@@TheTurtleNexus it honestly just sounds petty, like the creators were so mad about not being able to do the show that they decided to dump the characters entirely.

[@frankhall9483]

Actually I did learned that they create the Mutanimals comic in hoping it would turned into cartoon show and was supposed to air it but I forget reason they network canned the idea of mutanimals cartoon (it would be awesome cartoon sadly) so they decide not continue the comic book story on mutanimals and end it by kill them off the story sad! They were my favourite.. I was also sad they killed slash off too he sacrificed himself so turtles can escape I forever alien world name, it been long time lol

[@padraicloingsigh421]

@@allthatisandeverwas Yeah, I was totally on board when I was kid. I had money problems so I hadn't bought any TMNT comics for a while and went and started flipping through that issue and was like.. WTF?!?!? I never bought another Archie TMNT comic again. Honestly I feel that series could have continued if not for the writers suddenly no longer giving a shit.

[@Insane-Howl-Cowl]

3:46 - that art scares me

[@Insane-Howl-Cowl]

There is something about seeing the scales that make the turtles just look wrong.

[@omarortega55]

I loved this series

[@TigerClaw305]

I'm surprise that you didn't mention Katmandu, He is a four armed mutant tiger that teams up with the turtles, and Al'Falqa a mutant falcon who also teams up with the turtles in the comic. There are a lot of other characters that did not get any mention, Like in the future timeline, Future Raph was married to a mutant coyote name Mezcaal.

[@TheTurtleNexus]

It would have been a very long video, that is why I went with "notable characters" only. I can always talk more about other characters and storylines in future videos.

[@Pan-boyLandoSoychildDongLover]

Nice video, thanks !

[@beastmaster0934]

I love how some of the comics make the characters look like they came straight out of a Looney Tunes cartoon.

[@rjc_tmnt]

Not sure to if I want to complete this run or Usagi vol. 1?

[@F13fan]

I always loved Bebop & Rocksteady.(Rocksteady being my favorite and one of my first figures) I preferred the way they looked and acted in the first few episodes. Bigger, stronger and Rocksteady with his camo & helmet. When they finally showed up in a live action movie they were the best part of the movie but didn’t fight the “toitles” enough

[@pious83]

It's a shame there aren't any trade or hardcover collections of this run.

[@TheTurtleNexus]

Most of the run has been collected by IDW in softcover. (16 books). They didn't reprint some stories, but they included the crossovers with Mutanimals.

[@darkwoods1954]

Shame not all the stories were collected due to poncy ''modern sensibilities'' of the feeble minded.

[@JediMB]

As far as I'm concerned, the stories should be republished with a few paragraphs of text at the start to explain the issues. Bring in people from the cultures being portrayed to do the writing. That's a chance to both preserve the art and educate people.

[@TheTurtleNexus]

I know they are a little offensive, but in general Murphy's point of view was very progressive. This is an issue with comics these days... where it is hard to reprint Golden Age stories because they were very... very racist.

[@momuvid777]

I'm only Complaint with Archie TMNT Adventures is that there is No Casey Jones, who never Appeared until like Fricking 2024 in IDW's TMNT 40th Anniversary Comic

[@rockmanmix6242]

I believe that shredder’s revenge could have been a good way to end the forever war

[@SuperSonic1984]

I notice Amazon has the entire comic series on kindle but the paperback is hard to find.

[@handznet]

In my country they stopped releasing the comics before the end - it was so confusing for me as a kid. The turtles were still very popular here and we never got any conclusion, it was a super cliffhanger.

[@TheTurtleNexus]

I know how you feel. In my country they stopped during the dragon warrior story.

[@omiliag904]

What was going on on those Archie comics man? Gawdamn

[@JustAlanDoingAlanThings]

FYI Dreadmon is an Aardwolf

[@TheTurtleNexus]

I didn't know the species even existed until you mentioned it. To be honest, the TMNT Archie sourcebook says he is a wolf-man... but he doesn't look like one... where did you get that he was an aardwolf from?

[@jamesmoss3424]

Tmnt adventures comic series is still cool today. 😀👍🐢

[@Se7enBeatleofDoom]

Archie Ninja Turtles fans had it better than Archie Sonic fans.

[@traviswall1982]

No one has yet to do a video on why Raphael turned black in the Archie series.

[@TheTurtleNexus]

It's on my list! 😄

[@lucasgibbs4050]

You make it sound like Raph turned into a black guy.

[@traviswall1982]

@@lucasgibbs4050 Haha. No. He wears a black costume. It was explained in a video because of my comment, but at the time, I had no idea what happened. Without context, I thought he was turned to oil or something. Maybe a hex.

[@lucasgibbs4050]

@@traviswall1982 I know about the black costume and the story. Just try phrasing things correctly.

[@traviswall1982]

@@lucasgibbs4050 it was phrased correctly for someone who had no idea it was a costume. Raphael turned black. Period.

[@midwestmonster9886]

6:35 Ugh. Killing off the cast doesn't punish the studio. It just punishes the fans.

[@lucasgibbs4050]

Who was the voice for Krang in the audio cassette? He makes Krang sound like Dr. Claw.

[@TheTurtleNexus]

I have no clue, I have seen names of some actors before, but never seen who did what.

[@daviborgo7539]

3:50 if jagwar speaker Spanish that means he is Latino and could be from every other except Brazil speaks Portuguese

[@TheTurtleNexus]

He was born in the Amazon rainforest, and lived with a native tribe (that also didn't speak Spanish, if I remember correctly). The most accepted theory is that the writer didn't know he was supposed to speak Portuguese.

[@daviborgo7539]

That’s pretty funny😂😂😂

[@ioannespaulusify]

The Forever War is currently being published by a third party, pencilled by Chris Allan.

[@NO-NAME894]

Where can i find the backround song i cant find it anywhere specifically

[@TheTurtleNexus]

The outro song from the 87 series? It's on KZbin. This version in particular is probably an edit I made, but 99% of it should be the same.

[@NO-NAME894]

@@TheTurtleNexus thank you!

[@lucasgibbs4050]

I know about the Forever War storyline being brought back by fans, in fact I actually have the 4 existing issues. I’m still waiting for the final issue to release, but it’s taking much more time to release than you do to respond to my replies and comments. BTW, how would The Forever War be like with Chris Pratt? Edit: I finally have the entire story via hardcover!!!

[@TheTurtleNexus]

That would be the Tomorrow war. I tried getting at least the collected edition, but had no response from Arseniy. My understanding is that the current conflict made it impossible to deliver the last issue. And who knows how long it will last.

[@lucasgibbs4050]

@@TheTurtleNexus I know about the Tomorrow War, I’m talking about the Forever War. You don’t think he could survive the Forever War?! Do you think Arseniy would have a better time with the comic here in the US?

[@TheTurtleNexus]

Well, I am not sure if he would be able to do it in the US... I believe the main reason he was able to do it was because Illusion Studios had the rights for the Archie series. But since it is fan made... maybe he wouldn't have a problem... but I am not sure how that works.

[@lucasgibbs4050]

@@TheTurtleNexus Have you tried reaching out to him on Facebook? I just friend requested him not too long ago.

[@TheTurtleNexus]

@@lucasgibbs4050 I sent him an email, which was the preferred way to do it for him. But I do not expect to hear any news until the (real world) war is over.