Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 is a notoriously difficult book to identify because the first three printings look nearly identical at first glance (all have the same cover art). However, the value difference is massive.
The 1st Print is the "Holy Grail" of indie comics. It had a tiny print run of only 3,000 copies, printed on cheap newsprint, making high-grade copies incredibly rare.
Here is the breakdown of the three printings, their release dates, and record sales:
TMNT #1: Print Run & Value Guide
| Printing | Release Year | Print Run | Highest Auction Value Sold (CGC 9.8) |
| 1st Print | May 1984 | ~3,000 | $250,000 (2022) |
| 2nd Print | June 1984 | ~6,000 | ~$15,100 |
| 3rd Print | Feb 1985 | ~35,000 | ~$4,850 |
How to Identify Your Copy
Since the covers look similar, check these specific details to know which one you have:
1. The 1st Print (The Grail)
* Interior Back Cover: Contains an ad for "Gobbledygook #1". (This is the #1 way to tell).
* Cover Art: The red color is a deep, blood red.
* Size: It is slightly oversized (wider) compared to standard modern comics.
2. The 2nd Print
* Interior Back Cover: The Gobbledygook ad is gone. It is replaced by an ad for "T-Shirt Iron-Ons".
* Interior Front Cover: Usually states "Second Printing" (in the indicia text at the bottom).
* Cover Art: The red is distinct but the artwork is identical.
3. The 3rd Print
* Front Cover: The bottom left or inside front cover explicitly states "Third Printing".
* Cover Art: The red often looks slightly lighter or more pinkish/magenta compared to the deep red of the 1st print.
* Title Detail: Look at the "T" in TURTLES. In the 3rd print, the blood splatter on the letters is often visibly different (more "splattery") compared to the clean red of the 1st/2nd.
Why the price gap?
The 1st print is the true origin. By the time the 3rd print arrived in 1985, the "Turtlemania" wave had begun, and the print run was increased to 35,000, making them much more common today.
Early Concept Art
The first concept sketch of all four Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from 1983 by Kevin Eastman (pencils) and Peter Laird (inker), who also added "Teenage Mutant" to the logo. The sketch was sold by Heritage Auctions for $71,700 in May 11, 2012.
