“Yesterday’s” Comic> Michaelangelo, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle

“When I get home this driver is getting such a bad Uber review.”

Michaelangelo, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle

Mirage Publishing (1985)

“The Christmas Aliens”

WRITERS/ARTISTS: Kevin Eastman & Peter Laird

LETTERER: Steve Lavigne

Note that the old free online version does not include Michael Dooney’s back-up story “One Unconventional Robot”, featuring the unrelated character of Gizmo Sprocket. So I can’t review it.

Mikey is enjoying the winter season, using a scarf to hide enough of his turtleness to walk around in the snow. He runs across a stray cat he names Klunk, and goes to a toystore to find Christmas presents for his friends. While there he observes thieves making off with the year’s hottest toy, Li’l Orphan Aliens, that the store is donating to an orphanage. So Mikey tries to catch the crooks but while he stops them there’s the worry of the police catching him with the truck and trying to ensure it ends up with the kids and not evidence lockup. So he enlists the help of April and his brothers to ensure those kids have a Merry Christmas. Also the Turtles have a cat now.

What they got right: You may have seen this adapted into the 2003 series and with good reason. This is a good Christmas tale. Mikey and the others try to get the kids a good Christmas, enjoys the holiday gathering, and give us a good adventure in the bargain.

What they got wrong: Some minor mistakes with the lettering, at least in this digital posting.

What I think overall: If you have a list of comics you break out to read at Christmas to help get you into the season this is one to add to that list. Or watch the episode, which has some minor alterations, like the Purple Dragons aren’t the thieves in the comic (I think they’re all dead along with Shredder after issue #1 but won’t get resurrected).

I made the mistake of researching Klunk’s further exploits and made myself sad. Luckily that’s not coming for a long time in my readings.