Donatello

One of four ordinary turtles exposed to a mysterious radioactive ooze in the sewers of New York City, Donatello was raised and trained in ninjutsu by the mutant rat Splinter, becoming one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Few characters have left as indelible a mark on comics as Donatello, who burst onto the scene in 1984's landmark Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 — a scrappy, self-published Mirage Comics debut from creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird that would reshape pop culture forever. That first issue alone is one of the most celebrated keys of the Bronze Age, and Donatello has racked up six collector-significant appearances across a remarkable 42-year publishing run stretching all the way to 2026. Throughout hundreds of issues of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and beyond — including turns in Savage Dragon — he shares his adventures with beloved figures like Splinter, April O'Neil, Casey Jones, and his brothers Michaelangelo and Michelangelo. With 165 catalog appearances and a legacy that refuses to slow down, Donatello is living proof that four unlikely heroes born in a black-and-white indie comic can conquer the ages.