Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Comics

Overview

The video is a casual, personal rundown of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic books—especially the darker, more adult-oriented era.

Intro + Setup

• The speaker, Houston Howell, introduces himself.
• He explains that today he’ll focus on the first TMNT comic run, created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird and self-published through Mirage Comics, which quickly gained success.

Early Comics vs. the TV Version (Including a Joke)

• Howell points out a key visual difference: the early comics depict the turtles with red bandanas.
• He jokes that this is “kind of stupid” because it makes it hard to tell the characters apart unless they’re showing specific weapons or traits.

Why the Comics Looked So Different

• He explains that Eastman and Laird became more involved in the business/rights side of TMNT.
• Even though they continued to control the property, they allowed guest artists to create their own versions of the turtles.

The “Guest Artist” Concept

• Howell praises this approach, noting that each guest artist had a unique style.
• He compares the vibe to something offbeat—like a “Spunko” / Ren & Stimpy-style energy—where covers and visual tone could vary dramatically from issue to issue.

The Standout Issue That Haunted Him

• Howell zeroes in on one specific issue that “haunted” him as a kid.
• He describes it as super realistic and creepy, with the turtles portrayed as angry and unfriendly in a way that terrified him.

Most Memorable Panel / Image

• The highlight is a panel featuring a Crow/death-crow-like character taunting Raphael.
• Howell says the image has stuck with him his whole life.
• He calls it “badass” and expresses he’d love to see this version adapted into an animated or live-action movie.

Creator Control and Ongoing Permission to Be Darker

• He ends by emphasizing that even after the cartoon and movies, Eastman and Laird still owned the rights.
• That continued control is what allowed these darker/weirder comic interpretations to exist.
• He also says he’d love to own the full set if he can find them.

Notable Jokes / Reactions

• Bandana joke: Red bandanas make the turtles harder to distinguish.
• He jokingly references being called a “nerd” for reading/handling the comics, but notes that he read them anyway as a kid.
• His repeated “haunted me as a kid” reaction is the emotional centerpiece.

Personalities Appearing

• Houston Howell (speaker/narrator)