The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been on top of the world for what feels like forever now. Since 1984 these heroes in a half shell have taken the globe by storm with countless television shows, movies, iconic toys, and what started it all, comic books.
While the mean green ninjas may have got their start in the paperback panels that's not where most know them from and because of that most turtle fans missed out on some of the greatest story arcs in the comic book world. That's why we feel like some of these arcs should be made into the next TMNT film.
10 GANG WARS
The last Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles story arc before the Viacom acquisition of the Ninja Turtle brand. Due to this acquisition, the arc Gang Wars was never completed. This setback, however, didn't stop the arc from being one of the most badass arcs in the series. Gang Wars was one of the most gritty stories in the TMNT universe when compared to the rest of the Mirage run.
This arc was based around a gang war carried out by the last faction of the Foot Clan in New York City after the rest were reformed or wiped out after the City at War arc.
9 MOUSERS AND BAXTER STOCKMAN
Mousers are one of the most iconic enemies of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles universe and have been featured in countless videogames and television adaptations. They along with their creator Baxter Stockman were the first enemies of the turtles besides Shredder and his Foot Clan.
Surprisingly this great arc where the turtles first met their greatest human ally, April O'Neil hasn't been adapted into a live-action film yet. Maybe we'll finally see the mousers hit the screen with the next reboot.
8 FUTURE SHARK TRILOGY
Unlike our last two entries which were both a part of the Mirage run of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics, this one comes from the Archie Comics Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures. This run of turtles comics began as an adaptation of the lighthearted 1987 cartoon series as the same name but soon became it's own entity and started creating darker stories.
One of those dark stories in this series is the Future Shark Trilogy where the turtles are transported to a future New York damned by pollution and The Shredder and must face enemies like Armaggon and Verminator-X.
7 BODYCOUNT
Most likely the most adult-oriented Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arc and another member of the original Mirage run. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Bodycount was a spin-off series starring the hotheads of the main TMNT series, Raphael and Casey Jones.
This series was extremely violent and the only turtles series to earn an adult-only rating. It also had a volume run under the Image Comics label and is the only part of the series run under that label that is still considered canon to the original Mirage run.
6 INVASION OF THE TRICERATONS
You'd have to be crazy to think we wouldn't include an arc from the amazing IDW turtles run on this list. In this arc it's an epic battle between the Earth Protection Force and the Triceraton race as the aliens come to our planet. However, the Triceratons come looking for a home and peace, not war.
The turtles are caught in the middle of this battle and wish to sort things out but due to the meddling of Agent Bishop and Earth's Protection Force, it's going to be much harder than it should.
5 SHADES OF GREEN
Shades of Green is a three-part miniseries of the comic book series Usagi Yojimbo by Stan Sakai that features a crossover with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. We think it's about time that Miyamoto Usagi finally has got a bit of limelight being the underrated character he is. Not to mention it would be really cool to see the turtles' greatest interdimensional ally team up with them on the big screen.
It'll definitely never happen but come on! We can dream!
4 JOHN BISHOP
John Bishop is one of the most badass characters in the turtles' universe. Any human that can defeat our four boys solo and barehanded deserves to have his own film. John Bishop is a special agent of the U.S. government and is the head of the Earth Protection Force where he works to protect the Earth from alien races with ill intentions.
His first run-in with the turtles has led to them strapped to tables ready to be cut open and studied. What follows is one of the most epic fights in the series. From then on Bishop becomes a recurring character as both an enemy and, when their interests intersect, an ally to the turtles.
3 CITY FALL
The seventh and one of the most brutal arcs in the IDW run of the TMNT. In this story, the Foot Clan becomes the main criminal force in New York City and in turn becomes the closest thing to rulers of the city. It's one of the most popular story formulas in turtles history and this version of it isn't an exclusion.
This is something that is actually very feasible when it comes to the next turtles film and we feel it could be a great change of pace and would be the perfect way to raise the stakes for the film.
2 FUJITOID
This is a must-read arc for any turtles fan! The gist of it is that the turtles are transported to a far off planet which is under the reign of the Tricertaton species. They meet and befriend a scientist named Professor Honeycutt who is transported into his robot's body in attempts to hide the formula for a planet-destroying device from two factions, the Triceraton Republic and Federation.
In the protection of the man now known as the Fujitoid, the turtles will have to fight against these intergalactic enemies through gladiator battles and while on the run-in hiding. It's as badass as the turtles get.
1 CITY AT WAR
Quite possibly the most important arc in turtles history when it comes to the Mirage run of the comics. This arc is also the longest in the entire series. Clocking in at 13 parts, City at War is a storyline that is begging for a live-action film adaptation.
After the turtles defeat The Shredder New York becomes ground zero for a faction war between the Foot Clan and Shredder's elite guard. The turtles, in the middle of dealing with family problems, decide to partner with the Foot in order to defeat the elite guard who wishes to completely destroy The Big Apple.