The 25 Greatest Moments in TMNT History

As long as you don't go around picking up issues nilly-willy, you should totally check the comic book out. While it's nowhere near as consistently good as the 4Kids' cartoon, its high points, when they occur, are consistently higher. Doc Spengler's list is a good starting point, though.

All in all, a darn good list. While my list would have probably been considerably different (more TMNT 2k3 in it, for one, including this little beaut) there's not an item there which I wouldn't consider awesome (except for the ones I haven't personally seen, and even those sound cool the way Spengler describes them).

Personal additions to the list, in no particular order.


  • Bishop fights the turtles, Karai and Hun (TMNT 2k3, "Hun on the Run").
  • The Future turtles meet Hitler (Archie comics, issue 64).
  • Future Raph shoots Verminator X (Archie comics, issue 66).
  • "You have to know what a crumpet is to understand cricket!"--Raph meets Casey (1st TMNT movie).
  • Everyone vs. the Shredder and Karai (TMNT 2k3, "Same as it Never Was")
  • TMNT vs. the Shredder (TMNT 2k3, "Secret Origins, pt. 3")
 
Wow, what an education this was. I was almost completely ignorant of TMNT comics and now I know not only that they existed for a long time, but that they were apparently awesome at least as much as not. Cool.

Y'know, a long time ago when I was a kid my house got stuff from the TMNT fan club. We actually had the first issue of what I think was the original TMNT comic, where the black & white turtles were beating up purple dragons and stuff. I'm almost certain I have seen that splash on item #12 before. It got thrown away or given away when we grew out of the turtles. Damn it all, now I wish I had it.

I saw Imagi's TMNT film and I have to agree with his love for the Leo vs. Raph fight. That was intense, kinetic action and the storm added that extra touch to make it perfect.

Turtles Forever...clearly, I need to watch this and see what the fuss is about.

Hey, I remember that episode where Channel 6 blew up. That was definitely a memorable event. I still remember that episode because of Vernon whining that April was going to get a better office than him. Ha. Poor April, though.

The writer clearly loves Casey Jones, but you know what...even if he's biased that's okay. Casey was awesome. I'm surprised the way he finished the job on Shredder in the original TMNT movie went over with me and others so easily when I was young. I guess it was easy to accept since Shredder was such an evil villain and he was arguably dead already. It's kinda too bad TMNT II had to happen and bring him back. The first one ended so well.
 
Shredder always comes back from the dead or after being defeated at least once, so I didn't mind Shredder returning in the second movie. Of course the whole "Super Shredder" thing could have been handled better, but I was like only 7 years old when the second movie came out, and as a kid I loved it, even though I recognize its flaws as an adult. :)

There really are a lot of great moments over the 25 year history of TMNT. There were some many other cool moments in both of the cartoons, and many of the Mirage/Archie comics had some killer concepts.

Personally I loved the idea of Raph taking up the mantle of the Shredder and leading the Foot Clan for a short while in Image, before Lady Shredder took back control of the Foot from Raph and he was left kicking his wounds.
 
That list makes me want to read the comics even more than I already do.

I can't argue with the Casey spots, since Casey is a great character. In fact, I'm also saddened they didn't use him more in the old toon.
 
Interesting article. This guy certainly knows his TMNT.

Rather surprised to see Channel 6's destruction so high on the list actually along with 80s Toon Casey's job interview.

And I think he spotlighted some Image comics TMNT and I certainly wouldn't have included any of that.
 
Awesome read, thanks for posting!

Re #3 on the list: The man just summed up what I've been saying for years. Leonardo decapitating Shredder in the first season of 2k3 was a jaw-dropper moment, and even the immediate follow-up scene (where he picks up his head and walks away) was all kinds of freaky bizarre.

Really need to watch the "Get Shredder!" episode now...I'd heard of this happening but never hung around with the original toon long enough to watch it.
 
Thank you, this is practicly what I want to say every time someone brings up the "It was a robot" thing. That's not the point, the point was Leo's intent in that episode.
 
The episode really did have me thinking. I mean really if you think about it, it was their intent all along, to go in and murder the Shredder. I'm not drawing any conclusions about whether it was right or wrong, I'm just saying it really did have me thinking.
 
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