I enjoyed this collection of TMNT history in the original format. I've always been a fan of both TMNT comics, and cartoons and even the original movies. So this was walk down memory lane.

I had a hard time getting into this collection, as I wasn’t too jazzed on the artwork or the direction of the narrative.

But…

I put it down for a bit. And after reading the current Return to New York collection, I picked it back up this weekend. And it hit a little bit different. It screams vintage, because it is. And that was difficult to grasp, my mindset that TMNT wasn’t yesterday. It was decades ago (and modern, yes. But this, decades.) This was cutting edge at the time, that’s the mindset to have when starting this book.

Upon a revisit, I’m bumping my rating from 3 to 4. This is important TMNT history.

I really enjoyed experiencing this piece of Turtles' history. Being able to read the comics in their original colorization was such a wonderfully nostalgic experience. It helps that the comic was so fast-paced that you are never bored while reading. I especially enjoyed Lawson's introduction, which was such a beautiful look into why comics have had such a lasting impact on our culture for generations, and why the Turtles have endured as such a prominent part of pop culture since their creation. Fans of TMNT should definitely pick up a copy of this volume and revisit the magic and charm of Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael!

A great omnibus collection of a 13-issue storyline of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from the early 1990's that was a fun nostalgic read.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions written are completely honest and my own.

It took me a second to figure out how this version of the Turtles worked, but it was a fun ride after that. You really can't go wrong with a ninja turtle graphic novel, even if they all wear orange.

First off, huge thanks to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for the chance to check out this collection in advance. As always, this is my honest review.

Confession time: I haven’t read the Mirage TMNT issues before this run. My exposure to the franchise comes from the Archie comics and the first animated series (aka what my generation tends to call the "real" or "first" TMNT - even though we all know that’s not actually true). So, diving into this volume was like being tossed into a sewer without a map. At first, it’s chaotic. Confusing even. But once you settle in and let the characters guide you, it starts making more sense - assuming you already have at least a basic understanding of TMNT lore.

Speaking of pacing, this comic doesn’t just move fast - it sprints. I don’t think I’ve ever blasted through a 360-page omnibus so quickly. As a collected edition, that’s fantastic; as a monthly series back in the day? I’d probably have been frustrated waiting for each issue just to speed-run through it in minutes before the dreaded “to be continued” struck again.

The artwork? It’s weird. In a good way. The early ‘90s US comic style is definitely there, but there’s also a surprising influence that feels almost manga-esque. It’s a unique mix that makes the book visually stand out from its contemporaries. The coloring, while varied, is never overwhelming - just the right balance to keep things engaging without an assault on the senses.

This is an interesting read, particularly for dedicated TMNT fans who want to explore more of the franchise’s roots. Don’t expect an earth-shattering, mind-blowing storyline, but do appreciate it for what it is - a fascinating (almost) early chapter in TMNT history. If you’re here for a piece of comic book nostalgia, this delivers in spades.

Such an honor to be able to read the ARC version!!
Born in 96, The Turtles have been such a huge part of my childhood! i love all the movies, tv shows, toys, comics!! To be able to read the Mirage Years in colour!!! was amazing!!
Picking up after the events of City at War, TMNT Compendium Vol 3, Donatello and Splinter recuperate in Northampton Leonardo, Raphael and Michelangelo are in NYC staying with Casey, April and their child
Baxter Stockman is free from prison and builds a robot to host his brain/soul, and sets his sights on April
Federal Agents from the DARPA are searching for Stockman and mutants
dark, gritty and nostalgic!!

A huge thank you to NetGalley, IDW Publishing, and Jim Lawson for providing me with an ARC of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Mirage Years (1993-1995) in exchange for my honest review.

As a longtime TMNT fan, this collection was a blast of pure nostalgia. I devoured it in one sitting, drawn in by the signature mix of humor, danger, and the relentless battles against formidable villains that define the Turtles' adventures. Jim Lawson’s art and storytelling capture the essence of the era, making this a treat for fans of the classic Mirage run.

I rated this 4 stars, though nostalgia plays a big role in that score. The story is gripping but moves at a breakneck pace, and the abrupt ending left me wondering if it was initially meant to be part of a longer series. Still, the energy and charm make up for it.

For anyone craving a hit of TMNT nostalgia or just an action-packed read, this is definitely worth picking up. While longtime fans will appreciate the deeper connections, I believe newcomers could still enjoy it as a standalone introduction to this era of the Turtles.

This book has everything you'd want from a TNT comic. Lots of action, some drama, some comic relief, and over the top 80s (even though these were originally released in the 90s) art, dialogue, and plot.
The art style is certainly unique, I'm not quite sure how to describe it. I liked it though.
The start of the book was pretty melancholy following the previous events that took place, but the book picks up speed quick.
None of the plots were particularly interesting or deep, but they did their job.
One note for pre-release, I would've loved a "Previously in TMNT" section at the start for newer readers to catch up on this chapter of the characters.
Thanks to IDW and NetGalley for this ARC!

Thank you to IDW Publishing for sending me a copy through NetGalley.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Mirage Years is not the entry point for the comics of the pizza-eaters creatures I was expecting. The choice of stories whose style is aged badly, mixed with the lack of an introduction to the narrative told in this collection makes it difficult to follow for the not passionate, and turning this comic into something nostalgic and strictly reserved to a public who loves the Turtles. The positive elements are linked with the characters themselves and their iconicity, their irony and the way the authors never have been scared of playing and changing them permanently, where the idea of mutation is here used in the most expressive and imaginative way, while this urban, street-punk world appear in front of us as something incredible and interesting. So, if you can go over the limitations linked with the contents, this would be a volume you want inside your library. Otherwise, there are too many omissions to really start from this publication.

STYLE: 3,5
WRITING: 3,5
STORY: 3,5
WORLDBUILDING: 4
RHYTHM: 2,5
CHARACTERS: 4
VILLAINS: 3
ARTISTIC FEATURE: 3,5
ATMOSPHERE 3
EMOTIONAL IMPACT: 3

FINAL VERDICT: ⭐⭐⭐

Somewhere in my pile of book boxes in the basement I have the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles collections from Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, so I was looking forward to revisiting my youth with “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Mirage Years (1993–1995)” by Jim Lawson. And although I was completely lost at first, the style, characters, and mood soon brought me back to a familiar place.

I have to admit that the first part of the book is quite moody and confusing for anyone who is not familiar with where the story was in 1993, myself included. The four heroes in a half-shell were all out on their own, having weird dreams of the future and Splinter’s death, some living in a basement apartment below Casey and April, others crawling back through the sewers.

Then we get to the good part. Giant robot attacks, going after April in particular. It turns out that the robot is controlled by Baxter Stockman, who (I assume) is a bad guy from the past, out for revenge. The turtles manage to defeat the robot but lose Raphael in the process. This also raises some questions – where did Baxter get the time and materials to build this robot? And who are the mysterious folks who have captured Raphael? With some unexpected help from a neighbor, our heroes go to rescue their brother from a secret government lab. And, as an aside, try to prevent an alien invasion of earth.

Enjoyable, even if you don’t know the backstory of all of the side characters (like me). Brings back the memories of the independent comics of the 1980s-1990s, harsh graphics, bold storylines, ushering in the landscape that we have today.

I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from IDW Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you!

Thank you to IDW Publishing and NetGalley for access to this ARC for review.

A somewhat enjoyable trip down memory lane to the Turtles during their Mirage Studios days. While I don't remember this particular arc, it was not one of the better ones from this era. Jim Lawson did a good job picking up the vibe of the original Eastman and Laird but the art has a few odd departures in character styling/scale. The gritty stylings of the art work fit the gritty nature of the storylines which are a huge departure for those who grew up only with the sanitized cartoons. These were among the stories, though, that made indie comic labels into the creative forces that helped all of comics move beyond the status quo. Lawson's monster design is top notch, but his human characters always seemed a little "off" which is probably why I don't recall this arc.

Still, the re-release of these editions, especially when they were not the best examples from the era, is vital to preserving the history and art of iconic characters like the TMNT crew. IDW deserves kudos for keeping these originally colored works available for newcomers and veterans alike.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. I grew up with TMNT and loved everything about them growing up; so this was a great throwback. I’d forgotten that they all started with one color instead of the four that we all know.

IDW Publishing provided an early galley for review.

I remember when the Turtles came on the comic scene, but at the time I was not very into independents. While I was dabbling a bit more in that space when this run came out in the early to mid-90's, it still did not hit my radar. Looking at it now, though, I can see why this was a popular series. There is a charm to it with its storyboard approach to the narrative and its often utilization of dialogue-less pages (letting the artwork do all the talking). That is something that can be missing in more modern-day comic books.

You can also see the influences of manga and anime in Lawson's work here. The Turtles owe their origins to the Eastern art forms, and elements from those come into play in these early stories.

The story builds over the course of the issues, but it then comes to a rather abrupt ending in the thirteenth issue. I suspect that the end of the series was an unexpected occurence which forced Lawson to wrap it all up quickly. It seems like he was building to something even bigger prior to that.

For fans of the medium interested in the evolution of the format in the US during this time period, I would recommend checking this volume out when it is released.

This a great 13-issue collection of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics. Any fans of the TMNT will enjoy reading this collection. It was nostalgic for me. I recommend this collection to all fans of TMNT.

3 / 5 Stars

Thank you to IDW Publishing and NetGalley for the ebook ARC. I'm very grateful to review this book.

This is a review from someone who has NOT read the collection that preludes this series of volumes. Please keep this in mind.

This is a collection, continuing from TMNT Compendium 2 (I believe?), about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fighting off Baxter Stockman while protecting April and their other friends. That’s the simplest way to describe it, as other things also happen in it.

For me, I wasn’t a fan of the beginning or ending. For lack of better terms, I felt it didn’t grip me, especially with the aged art (although it’s not all bad - the turtles are most drawn great), but also how detached the beginning was. As it continued, the plot became more developed with Baxter Stockman becoming more apparent and destructive.

In the middle, I loved the action and stakes in the story. One of the characters gets kidnapped, a battle, and a race to get them back. And the banter and comedy, while somewhat arbitrary, I loved and made the ending more enjoyable.

In the middle, I also enjoyed how different the turtles’ characteristics were from traditional renditions. Leonardo felt more laid back, Michelangelo was more serious and independent, Donnie was more brawn than brains, and Raphael was more dependent and helpless (although this isn’t much different since his arrogance got him into trouble). Everyone felt different and it was a breath of fresh air.

When it came to the ending, it felt pointless. I won’t spoil it, but it was rushed to an ending that made everything else feel obsolete or not feel earned in the grand scheme of things.

Overall, I enjoyed this collection but I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it or purchase it myself. Some things make it different and unique from other versions of this beloved franchise, but the art and plot somewhat hold it back from the pacing and writing decisions.

I don’t regret reading this, though. Interesting time.

I'm a big fan of the OG TMNT.
I own and have read all the reprinted collection of the B&W series and own a precious few issues bought over the years.
I've alway been curious about the series, but not enough to track down the singles, this collection was a much appreciated chance to dive in and enjoy this bit of the TMNT history.
The art is a bit rough and a much different approach to the turtles. It still fit well enough with the B&W stuff, and the monsters are fun, but the people all felt weird and roughy draws.
The story is an interesting one and feels like a plot we would expect from Eastman and Laird,
Sadly, the formatting of the advance copy made it difficult to really get immerse in the comic, but I look forward to lolking at a physical collection.

This isn’t a neat reprinting of a single arc, as we’ve come to expect from more recent collections. There are standalone issues and oddities, but Lawton’s preoccupation with the dreamlike balance of peaceful daily minutiae and action-packed adventure pulls them together into a charming whole.

Picking up after the events of “City At War” (collected in TMNT Compendium Vol. 3), Donatello and Splinter recuperate in Northampton while the rest of the Turtles are in New York City with April. Meanwhile, Baxter Stockman wreaks havoc in the desert at a top-secret D.A.R.P.A. facility. As the family drifts apart a killer robot controlled by Stockman has April in its sights and the boys have to come together to fight it off!
What nostalgia thank you sir for ourchildhood bestmemories.

It’s the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, so its good. I grew up with the cartoons but had never read the comics. To be honest, it wasn’t what I expected, although I knew the source material was darker than the children’s cartoons. This likely isn’t the best comic that the series has to offer, but its still solid. Any fan of the series would enjoy this collection, and it is nice to have so much all together in one place to enjoy all together.

Reading this, I want to give it 4-stars I think. Its good, but maybe not 5-stars good. That said though, I’m giving this one full marks simply because I think re-releasing old comics like this is a wonderful thing that makes them accessible to a new audience without having to try and find low-quality pirated scans online somewhere (I have done this, ill admit it, but it was the only way!). Collections like this are something that should exist, and I want to support it. Also, each issue works together along with the rest to tell the full story so this existing and being available makes the other issues of the comic better by association.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.