Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 1988 VG Fourth Printing Vintage Comic

Author: Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird
Art: Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird
Cover Art: Peter Laird, Steve Lavigne

The first issue, where it all began, introduces the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles successfully battling thugs before returning to Master Splinter in the sewer. Splinter reveals their origin and mission of retribution: he was the pet rat of the slain warrior Hamato Yoshi, who was murdered alongside his lover Tang Shen by the vengeful ninja Oroku Saki, who took the mantle of The Shredder. After this tragedy, Splinter and four turtles were exposed to a mutagen from a TCRI truck, leading to their mutation. Splinter trained the Turtles in ninjutsu for years, preparing them to avenge his Master’s death by defeating The Shredder.

The mission begins immediately with Raphael challenging The Shredder to a duel on the rooftops. After quickly dispatching the Foot Clan, the Turtles defeat Shredder in a close combat using teamwork. When Shredder refuses to commit seppuku and threatens to kill them all with a concealed thermite grenade, Donatello intervenes, knocking him off the building. The grenade explodes in a blinding flash as Shredder falls to his death, seemingly fulfilling the TMNT's mission of vengeance—though the final panel leaves the certainty of his fate in question.

This is a raw vintage comic. Please examine photographs carefully. Contact Dreamworld Comics if you wish to see more photographs of this issue.