Raphael

One of four pet turtles accidentally exposed to a mysterious radioactive ooze in the sewers of New York City, Raphael mutated into a humanoid form and was raised by his sensei, the rat Splinter, in the ways of ninjutsu.

Few characters can claim to have shaken the comic book world quite like Raphael, who burst onto the scene in 1984's landmark Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 — a scrappy, self-published Bronze Age debut from creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird that would ripple across pop culture for decades. With six key issues to his name and 166 catalog appearances spanning an extraordinary 42 years, Raphael is a testament to enduring creative energy, appearing most prominently across Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and its related titles, with even a notable foothold in Savage Dragon. He shares his adventures with an iconic cast — Splinter, April O'Neil, Casey Jones, and his brothers Michaelangelo and Michaelangelo — a roster that signals just how rich and expansive this corner of comics has always been. Whether you're a longtime Mirage devotee or a curious newcomer, Raphael's four-decade journey from black-and-white indie sensation to collector cornerstone makes him absolutely essential reading.