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So the Michael Bay-produced reboot of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles may not have been everything that you'd wanted—even though they did at least sneak a "cowabunga!" in there when you least expected it. But now that it's got you jonesing for some good, old-fashioned TMNT, where should you turn?
The heroes in a half shell have been around for three decades so obviously there's a lot out there to choose from, but we'd like to help you simplify your intake. Below are some suggestions of where to start on your Teenage Mutant Ninja journey, whether you're looking for history, nostalgia, weird oddities, or just plain good stuff. Just settle down with a pizza and dig right in.
The original version of the Turtles' tale, created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, is remarkably dissimilar to the one most people know. The series actually began as a parody of Frank Miller's then-contemporary run on Marvel's Daredevil (if you've ever wondered why the ninja clan was called The Foot, it's because Daredevil had one called The Hand; it's really that simple), and the first issues of the series demonstrate an irreverence, and even a clumsiness, that might seem out of place with the Turtles as people think of them today. However, it is nonetheless charming and exciting in and of itself. Think of it like embarrassing high school photos of famous celebrities, but replace "embarrassing" with "actually kind of awesome."
How to read it: Available digitally and in collected editions.
Full-on hardcore action might not be something you really expect from the Turtles, but this one-off story in which Leonardo gets ambushed by the Foot Clan and, well, gets his reptilian ass handed to him, is well worth checking out. It's not just that Leonardo has to deal with a gaggle of ninjas on his own, but that he completely and utterly loses in the epic battle that follows. There's not even a redemptive ending; he simply gets thrown through a window. The story continued in the regular TMNT comic afterwards, but if you take this on its own, it's a wonderfully nihilistic gem of a comic.
How to read it: Available digitally and in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Works Vol. 1 collected edition.
Arguably, the first animated series for the property is responsible for the Turtles as everybody knows them today. Far lighter in tone—as befits a kids' show—the series is also responsible for the characters and catchphrases ("cowabunga," anyone?) that many people still associate with the franchise. For nostalgic value, check out the first couple of seasons, but if you're looking for some cognitive dissonance, both the "Vacation in Europe" episodes (exactly what they sound like) and the final three seasons of the series, where things get retooled to be "grittier" but still within Saturday morning standards, are good places to start.
How to watch it: Available on DVD as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Original Series.
When you consider the high concept behind this animated flick—literally, "What if we team up three different versions of the characters (the original 1984 comic book versions, the 1987 animated team, and another incarnation from a separate 2003 cartoon series) for ... reasons?"—the fact that it got made is either a commentary on the strength of TMNT fandom or on the sad state of confusion over the franchise a few years ago. The final product is a genuinely strange experience on a number of levels, whether it's that the 1984 Turtles are grey because their comic was in black and white or the fact that the story ends with Laird and Eastman creating the first Turtles comic 25 years earlier. It's perhaps the strangest, most intentionally schizophrenic anniversary celebration of a massive pop culture property in recent memory.
How to watch it: An edited-for-TV version is available on DVD.
One of many re-imaginings of the property in the last few years—in addition to this comic series and the new movie there's also a new television show—this new series from IDW has a couple of things in its favor. Not only does it mix and match some of the best of the many previous versions of the characters, but it also has the participation of Eastman, who co-plots and does layouts for each story. Think of it as the J.J. Abrams Star Trek of Turtle-dom, but with less lens flare.
How to read it: Available digitally and in collected editions.
