I Was So Surprised to Find Out That the Ninja Turtles Started in New Hampshire

Wait... What?

If you grew up in the late ’80s or early ’90s, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles probably just existed. They were everywhere, cartoons, cereal boxes, lunchboxes, toys you definitely stepped on barefoot.

But their origin story? Way scrappier. Way weirder. And honestly… kind of perfect. To be honest, I had TMNT bedding, pjs, maybe even underwear. I may be wearing some right now.

Can you believe that The Turtles started as a joke in Dover, NH?

As a kid, I was all in on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I couldn’t wait to watch them, read about them, or see what they were doing next. If the Turtles were on, everything else could wait.

According to the Atlas Obscura, back in 1983, two broke comic book artists, Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, were hanging out in New Hampshire, drawing comics in their apartment and trying to make rent when one night, Eastman doodled a turtle standing upright, holding nunchucks. Laird added another turtle. Then another.

They laughed at how ridiculous it was… they went all in on the idea.

They called them Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a name that was intentionally over-the-top, poking fun at the darker, grittier comics that were popular back then.

Here’s the wild part: this article from The City of Dover said that they scraped together money from a tax refund and a loan from Eastman’s uncle and self-published the first issue in 1984 under Mirage Studios.

It was published in black and white. It was violent. It was gritty. Nothing like the cartoon you remember, and WMUR reported that it sold out immediately.  Crazy, right?

Then came the unexpected glow-up for the TMNT.

I think it was the mid-to-late '80s when the turtles exploded into pop culture thanks to the animated series, toys, movies, and pizza-fueled catchphrases. It became a kid-friendly phenomenon.

The TMNT weren’t designed to be perfect. They were born from creativity, humor, risk, and a couple of guys betting on an idea that made them laugh.

So, if you know anything about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, you know the names. They’re iconic. They’re very un-turtle-like. And they’re not random at all.

READ MORE: New Hampshire Pizza Place Offers Hilarious Special for Ninja Turtles

They are all named after famous Renaissance artists.  That's so weird, but it's one of those details that sounds bizarre until you realize that’s kind of the entire TMNT brand.

Here’s how it breaks down.

Leonardo

Screen Rant said that Leonardo is named after Leonardo da Vinci, the ultimate Renaissance overachiever, artist, inventor, thinker, and all-around genius.

It makes sense that Leo becomes the leader of the group. He’s focused, loyal, and always trying to do things the “right” way. His weapon of choice is the Katana sword.

I would say his personality is serious and disciplined, which makes him the perfect leader.

Michelangelo

The entertainment website highlighted that Michelangelo is named after the artist behind the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo Buonarroti, but this turtle is way more about jokes than frescoes.

He’s the comic relief of the group, laid-back, optimistic, and usually the reason things spiral out of control. He’s also the heart of the team, even if he pretends not to care. He prefers nunchucks. He's the fun one and a jokester.

He loves pizza. Probably why he's my favorite.

Donatello 

Donatello takes his name from the Renaissance sculptor Donatello, and this turtle is all about building, inventing, and fixing things, according to Screen Rant.

He’s the one hacking computers, inventing gadgets, and figuring out how to save the day when brute force won’t cut it. He's the smart one.  A problem solver.

The tech genius and his weapon is the Bo staff.

Raphael

Raphael is named after the Renaissance painter Raphael, but personality-wise, he’s all edge, the entertainment website stated.

He’s intense, sarcastic, and constantly questioning authority, especially Leonardo’s. Underneath the tough exterior, though, he’s deeply loyal and protective of his family.

He is fiercely loyal and emotional but can be a hothead. His weapon is the Sai.

Four turtles, a sewer, some ooze, and a whole lot of heart.

Not bad for something that started as a doodle on a random night in New Hampshire.