Booknote: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Collection, Volume 1

 Kevin B. Eastman and Peter A. Laird, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: the Ultimate Collection, Volume 1. San Diego, CA: IDW, 2012. ISBN: 978-1613770078.

Genre: graphic novels and comics
Subgenre: superheroes
Format: Oversized hardcover.
Source: My workplace library. 

For fans who know how the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles got started before they got sanitized by Nickelodeon and bad movies, this is a great compilation. It is also great for folks who do not know how the TMNT got their humble beginnings.

The art is in black and white. However, this volume is an oversized edition, so it really let's you appreciate the details. The volume's covers are done in color, and they look great. This was clearly not a comic for little kids. In this volume, we get the origin story of the TMNT. Did you know that Splinter trained them to kill Shredder? Yes, the honorable sensei was actually training a hit squad to get his revenge. The stories are entertaining, and they offer plenty of action. They are actually pretty deep in terms of plot as well. It is also interesting to note that the creators were not sure if the comic would survive; they went on to create a substantial series and story line that goes from the inner city to space and beyond.

This volume includes the following:

• The Mirage Studios run of TMNT issues 1-7. 
• The Raphael Micro series one-shot. 
• Annotations and commentary by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. This definitely adds value to the volume. Fans will appreciate reading their insights and learn about the creative process. If you are interested in "how they did it," then this additional material should be of interest. 

 I would say that for collectors this volume is a must-have. It makes an excellent library selection, but again, I have to emphasize this is not for little kids. This is one I highly recommend, and I will seek out other volumes in the set. It is one I would add to my personal collection, though at the moment its almost $50 retail price is a bit out of range for me, but maybe down the road.

5 out of 5 stars.