Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures #71

This September 1995 issue of Archie's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures kicks off "The Early Years" two-parter with a cover by Brian Thomas that perfectly sets the mood: four pint-sized, chibi-style Turtles — Michelangelo, Leonardo, Donatello, and Raphael — stand together in the foreground, while their larger, more imposing shadowy forms loom behind them, weapons drawn. The contrast between the compact, younger-looking Turtles and their dramatic silhouettes hints at a story rooted in origins and growth, tying directly into the "How the Turtles Got Their Weapons" premise. It's a genuinely clever visual concept that makes this installment stand out among the Archie run's later issues.