Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

In this early, self-published run from Mirage Studios, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles evolve from a gritty, black-and-white indie comic into a cultural phenomenon. Co-creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, joined by Dave Sim and Michael Dooney, push the series beyond its origins, deepening the bond between Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Donatello, Raphael, Splinter, and April O'Neil. Though only four issues long, this foundational arc (1986–1988) cemented the Turtles' voice and visual style, proving that a scrappy parody could forge its own lasting mythology.