Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Vol. 1 #39 (Mirage Publishing 1991)

This 1991 Mirage Publishing edition delivers the complete 32-page black and white run of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Volume 1, Issue #39, anchoring the standalone narrative “Spaced Out, Part 2.” Unlike modern reprints, this original print run preserves the exact linework, panel layout, and newsstand dimensions from when independent comic shops stocked the title.

Unfiltered Creator Vision

Story, interior art, and cover design were handled exclusively by Rich Hedden and Tom McWeeney. The issue expands the established universe by pivoting away from the core mutant squad and following Raphael as he assists stranded extraterrestrials in evading U.S. military pursuit. This character-focused, science-fiction premise highlights the editorial freedom that defined the pre-corporate Mirage era.

Archival Specifications

The book retains its original 32-page pagination, matching the structural standard for American periodicals of the late 1980s and early 1990s. With an original mask price of $2.00, it functions as a primary reference point for researchers and collectors tracking the shift of underground indie comics into mainstream distribution. Compile this issue to complete a full Mirage run, document the early collaborative workflow of Hedden and McWeeney, or study how early independent publishers experimented with mythos expansion beyond traditional franchise formulas.