Synopses & Reviews
With Nickelodeons hit animated show putting TMNT firmly back in the limelight, and the new Michael Bayproduced movie on the horizon, the Heroes in a Half-Shell have never been more popular.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Visual History relates their amazing story. Beginning with the creative spark that led comic book artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird to envision these unlikely heroes, this lavishly illustrated book tracks the Turtles phenomenal explosion in popularity as they became mainstays of kids TV and the protagonists of one of 1990's biggest box office hits.
The Ultimate Visual History also looks at the periods when the Turtles briefly slipped out of fashion, showing how enthusiasm for these evergreen warriors was kept alive by new comic books, animated shows, and, of course, some hugely imaginative merchandising.
Bringing together exceptional visuals, including exclusive comic book artwork, candid behind-the-scenes shots, rare merchandise, and other never-before-seen material, The Ultimate Visual History uncovers the previously untold story of the multimillion-dollar franchise. Featuring interviews with key players, including Eastman and Laird, and the talented teams behind the cartoons, comics, movies, and merchandise, this comprehensive look at the TMNT phenomenon leaves no shell unturned.
Review
after looking through it for just a few minutes, we want to let every Shellhead know that this book will blow your mind. Turtles fans get your money out of your shell because this is a must own.”
—Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.com
A gorgeous hardcover book.”
Comic Book Resources
Out of the pages of an underground comic book, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles grew to become one of the largest pop culture icons of our age. This illustrated tome recounts the TMNT phenomenon using behind-the-scenes photos, comic art, and copies of rare advertisements.”
Game Informer Magazine
June 3, 2014. Features photos of movie concept art. With this book, you'll be able to trace the visual origins of the characters, up to and including Michael Bay's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and judge for yourself just how true the characters look to the original.”
Cinema Blend
Their June release ofTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Visual History is nothing short of perfection.”
Idle Hands
This beautiful hardcover book will have a wealth of information about the TMNT
with lots of pictures!”
TMNT
Review
Independent Publisher Book Award ("IPPY") - Popular Culture Gold Medal
PubWest Design Award - Gift/Holiday/Specialty Book Bronze Medal
and#147;Showcases every aspect of the half-shell heroes, from their earliest days in Eastman and Laird's self-published BandW comics, through multiple motion pictures, video games, and TV series.and#8221;
and#151;ComicsAlliance
and#147;...you owe it to yourself to pick this bad boy up. Itand#8217;s worth every penny.and#8221;
and#151;DVD Corner
and#147;Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Visual History is a must-have for fans and highly recommend for pop-culture aficionados.and#8221;
and#151;Cinema Sentries
and#147;When they included "Ultimate" in the title, they weren't kidding around!and#8221;
and#151;ComicBookMovie.com
and#147;Every TMNT fan needs to buy Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Visual History. Seriously, you wonand#8217;t be disappointed. You will have a hard time putting this book down once you start reading it.and#8221;
and#151;Geeks Under Grace
and#147;This book is something to be treasured.and#8221;
and#151;Examiner
and#147;If you know a lifelong Turtles fan, you can't go wrong with giving him/her this well-designed hardcover. It includes interviews with the franchise's creators, a reprint of the first Turtles comic, a poster and much more.and#8221;and#151;USA Today
and#147;This eminently readable and thoroughly researched tome is an obvious labor of love for Farago, who heads the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco. Itand#8217;s packed full of rare art and photos, including lots of facsimile documents and a reproduction of the very first TMNT comic. Well worth the time for anyone who grew up with echoes of 'Cowabunga!' in their heads.and#8221;
and#151;Animation Magazine
and#147;and#133;a much-welcomed addition to my bookshelf.and#8221;
and#151;Never Ending Radical Dude
and#147;A must have for any die-hard Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fan.and#8221;
and#151;Time to Play
and#147;and#133;all I have to say is and#145;Wow.and#8217;and#133; This book is, simply put, beautifuland#133;if you were ever curious about the history of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, there is no better place to start than right here.and#8221;
and#151;Geekadelphia
and#147;and#133;a must own for any TMNT fan, no question.and#8221;
and#151;Media Mikes
and#147;and#133;a whirlwind of sketches, animation stills, and behind-the-scenes photos thoroughly documenting the evolution of the beloved turtle franchiseand#133; So curl up with a pizza (no anchovies) and relive your childhood of skateboards, arcades, sunglasses, and some serious bad guy ass-kicking.and#8221;
and#151;Mania
and#147;and#133;a wonderful book for fans and non-fans alike.and#8221;
and#151;The HD Room
and#147;...a must have for turtle fans...there is one picture in the book that nearly had me in tears. It's a picture of the staff of the 90's turtles cartoon and seeing James Avery and Rob Paulsen was overwhelming me with nostalgiaand#133;It truly is a love letter to the creators, fans and staff who had taken part in this legendary franchise."
and#151;Otakus and Geeks
and#147;and#133;treats the Green Machine with the reverence and respect their rich lore and history deserves...Farago and his team cared to much to not give the Turtles the respect they deserve. It drips from every page how passionate they are about the turtles and how important it was to them to get this right.and#8221;
and#151;We The Nerdy
"A wonderfully designed art book with just enough interesting factoids, itand#8217;s the perfect complement to the empty pizza boxes littering your swanky sewer pad."
and#151;Chico News and Review
and#8221;and#133; it is tremendous. Everything is covered, from the first Turtle drawing to the upcoming blockbuster film, via toys, TV shows and Vanilla Iceand#8217;s Ninja Rap. Full of interviews, the book is a particularly useful tool in finding out the stories behind some of the lesser known chapters of TMNT history. Perhaps most exciting, it features lots of leaflets and press releases and such stuck onto the pages, like a demented scrapbooker has been enhancing stock in the warehouse. This book is must have for Ninja Turtles fans, or for people who like things that are brilliant. Just donand#8217;t expect me to lend you mine.and#8221;
and#151;Den of Geek
and#147;and#133;what makes this book truly great is the way Farago's writing immerses you in this franchise's history. You can tell he had a more than extensive interview with all of the talent and guides us through every era in an engaging fashionand#133; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Visual History is a must buy if you're a big fan of the heroes in a half shell. Even if you think you know plenty about the franchise's history, this is still an engrossing read that'll shed so much more light on its story and the constant supply of artwork and inserts is thoroughly entertaining. It's a very well-made collection that's full of treats and the trip down memory lane kept this TMNT fan smiling virtually the entire time. If you love TMNT, I strongly recommend adding this to your collection.and#8221;
and#151;Comic Vine
and#147;and#133; almost a museum on the printed page. Farago puts together an impressive package; even the text shows enthusiasm for the subject and appreciation for their creators and stewards.and#8221;
and#151;Red Headed Mule
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Visual Historyand#133;a gorgeously detailed coffee table book written by San Franciscoand#8217;s Cartoon Art Museum curator Andrew Farago, is exactly what the title promises. It explores, across some 192 pages, everything a fan could possibly want to know about Michelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo and Raphaeland#133;If youand#8217;re a series fan, an armchair comic book historian or simply a geek looking for a coffee table book to rival the famedTransformers Vault in both overall comprehension and phenomenal pack-ins, then pick up your copy today.and#8221;
and#151;GeekDad
and#147;Any fan of the turtles, of any iteration, are going to love this book.and#8221;
and#151;Nerds in Hell
"Bottom line is, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Visual History is a must have and companion guide for any TMNT fan.and#8221;
and#151;Alien Bee
and#147;and#133;such a well written and expertly laid out book that it would be hard to imagine a fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles not wanting to pick up a copy of the book.and#8221;
and#151;BioGamerGirl
and#147;and#133;after looking through it for just a few minutes, we want to let every Shellhead know that this book will blow your mind. Turtles fans get your money out of your shell because this is a must own.and#8221;
and#151;Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.com
and#147;A gorgeous hardcover book.and#8221;
and#151;Comic Book Resources
and#147;Out of the pages of an underground comic book, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles grew to become one of the largest pop culture icons of our age. This illustrated tome recounts the TMNT phenomenon using behind-the-scenes photos, comic art, and copies of rare advertisements.and#8221;
and#151;Game Informer Magazine
June 3, 2014. Features photos of movie concept art. and#147;With this book, you'll be able to trace the visual origins of the characters, up to and including Michael Bay's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and judge for yourself just how true the characters look to the original.and#8221;
and#151;Cinema Blend
and#147;Their June release ofTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Visual History is nothing short of perfection.and#8221;
and#151;Idle Hands
and#147;This beautiful hardcover book will have a wealth of information about the TMNTand#133;with lots of pictures!and#8221;
and#151;TMNT
Synopsis
Discover the complete story of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for the first timeand#150;from their humble beginnings in black-and-white comics created in a home studio in Dover, New Hampshire, to their multimillion-dollar breakout success, and their position as four of the best-loved characters of all time.
Featuring interviews with every key figure in the Turtlesand#8217; evolution, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Visual History presents the tale straight from the mouths of those who were there, including co-creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, animation legend Fred Wolf, creature effects maestro Brian Henson, and even the man behind the and#147;Ninja Rap,and#8221; Vanilla Ice.
In visually stunning detail, this book explores each iteration of the Turtles from the past to the present, including the hit animation show from Nickelodeon and the Michael Bayand#150;produced live-action movie from Paramount starring Megan Fox. Bringing together the rarest art and artifacts from three decades of TMNT comics, TV shows, and films, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Visual History leaves no shell unturned!
About the Author
Andrew Farago is the curator of the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco and the author of The Looney Tunes Treasury. He has also written for Marvel Comics, The Comics Journal, and Animation World Network. He lives in Berkeley, CA, with his wife, cartoonist Shaenon K. Garrity.