Are The Ninja Turtles DC or Marvel?
If you’ve ever been curious to know whether the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles belong to the DC Comics or the Marvel universe, you’re not alone – this is a very common question!
Heart of the Matter
The bottom line is: the Ninja Turtles do not belong to the DC Comics universe. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) were created in May 1984 by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, as independent comic book characters.
History Timeline
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- In 1990, the Ninja Turtles were adapted into an animated television series from Murakami Wolf Swenson
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- In 1991, their first live-action film was released
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- In 2003, another animated series was released
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- In 2007, their first CGI film was released
The popularity of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has significantly grown ever since they were created over thirty years ago, and they’ve released multiple feature films, cartoon series, and toy lines.
No Ties with Marvel or DC
The Ninja Turtles have been mass produced by various companies since their creation. Initially, the rights belonged to Mirage Studios – independent publishers who have no affiliation with either Marvel or DC Comics.
Although Eastman and Laird signed a deal with Playmates Toys to produce Ninja Turtle toys and merchandise, they still didn’t sign with either Marvel or DC. And despite the continuous success, the Turtles are still an independent property that is managed by ViacomCBS.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are an independent comic book series, and have no ties to the DC Comics or Marvel universe.
The characters have captivated an entire generation of fans since they were created, and they still remain an independent entity to this day.