It’s kind of remarkable that a premise as absurd as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has had the cultural staying power that it has. From their debut as an independent comic book parody of superheroes like Daredevil and Batman, to their immensely popular ‘80s animated TV series, to the kitschy live-action ‘90s films featuring actors in rubber suits, all the way through various film and TV reboots up to the present day, the TMNT have successfully changed and adapted with the times in a way that creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird could have never predicted when they drew that first sketch of a humanoid turtle holding nunchucks.
Like many other long-lived comic book characters, the Turtles have a tonal malleability that makes them perfect for reinvention. Their first adventures were dark and gritty, and their original comic book run saw the ruthless, lethal warriors suffer serious wounds and psychological scars during their quest for vengeance. The TMNT became more sanitized and appealing to children thanks to the animated series, but the comic books, especially after IDW Publishing acquired the property, have straddled the line between being serious and being dour. One of the most popular TMNT storylines in recent memory was The Last Ronin, a Dark Knight Returns-inspired dystopian future that returns the turtles to their darker roots, and now that storyline is about to leap off the page and onto consoles.
