More than 40 years after four turtles crawled out of a New York sewer in a self-published black and white comic, collectors are still willing to pay big money to own a piece of that beginning. A first-printing copy of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1, signed by both of its creators, has sold for $192,000 at Hake’s Auctions.

It was the top result of Part I of the Lawrence Klein collection, a sale of 233 lots. Online bidding closed on October 21.

The $192,000 Turtles Copy Came Straight From Co-Creator Peter Laird

The comic is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 from Mirage Studios in 1984, graded CGC 9.8, with autographs from Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird on the inside front cover. Hake’s describes it as a first printing with the first appearances of the Turtles, Splinter and Shredder.

The lot page states that the copy was obtained directly from Laird, who is also the book’s co-creator. Hake’s says the first print run was only 3,000 copies, and those sold out within weeks, which led to additional printings.

That small first run is a big reason the issue has become a cornerstone of comic collecting. A copy in near perfect grade, with both creators’ signatures and a link straight back to one of them, is the kind of item that draws serious bidding.

A 1984 Comic Carrying A Turtles Ad Set A $132,000 World Record

The second-biggest result came from a book that never featured the Turtles on its cover. Gobbledygook #1, also from Mirage in 1984, sold for $132,000, a world auction record for the book in any grade. It is graded CGC 9.4 Signature Series, and Eastman authenticated it and signed the interior cover.

The comic introduces the character Fugitoid, and its back cover carries an advertisement for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1, placed before the Turtles had made their debut. For collectors, that small ad makes the book a companion piece to the bigger prize.

Hake’s said both top lots were expected to pass six figures, and they did.

Original Page Art From TMNT #5 Brought $60,000, A Record For Turtles Artwork

The art sold as well. An original pen and ink page from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5, drawn in 1985 by Eastman and Laird, brought $60,000. That is a record for any original Turtles comic page art.

Hake’s says the page had been held privately for about 40 years and had never been offered at auction before. Pages like this offer a look at the actual drawing board where the Turtles took shape, and the price shows how much buyers value that connection.

Spider-Man, World’s Finest And Batman Art Also Drew Strong Bids

The Turtles were not the only stars. A Todd McFarlane page from Amazing Spider-Man #302, published by Marvel in July 1988, sold for $48,000. Another McFarlane page, from Amazing Spider-Man #304, brought $40,800.

Neal Adams cover art for World’s Finest #209 from DC in 1972 sold for $31,200, and that cover has a story behind it. Hake’s says collector Lawrence Klein, as a young fan at an early 1980s convention, chose that Adams cover art over an Adams sketch priced the same. That decision sparked his interest in collecting comic art.

Other results included a Mike Grell page from Green Lantern at $16,200, a Jim Aparo splash page from Batman and the Outsiders #5 at $15,600, a Tom Grindberg Silver Surfer cover splash at $9,000 and an Arthur Adams Classic X-Men frontispiece at $8,400.

“The Turtles Have Still Got It,” Says Hake’s General Manager

Hake’s General Manager Kelly McLain called the collection “a virtual goldmine of comic treasure.” About the headline lots, she said “the Turtles have still got it.”

Klein himself grew up outside New York City, went to early conventions with his father, and says he was a Turtles fan from 1984. That makes the sale a collector’s life story as much as an auction result.

What This Means If You Have Old Comics In The Attic

Before you picture a $192,000 comic in a shoebox, keep in mind how unusual these results are. The prices reflect top grades, signatures from the creators and clear history, and most old comics will not come close. Condition is everything, and a copy graded 9.8 is a rare thing.

If you have a stack of 1980s black and white indie comics, a few simple steps help. Do not try to clean or repair them. Store them in acid-free bags and boards, keep them out of heat and sunlight, and check recent sold prices for your exact issue and printing, since later printings are worth much less than a first.

A grading company can authenticate and grade a book, but it costs money, so it makes the most sense for key issues in strong condition. For everything else, a comic you loved as a kid is still worth keeping for the memories.

Did you ever read the early Turtles comics, or did you meet them through the cartoon and the toys? Either way, this sale shows that four heroes in a half shell still have fans who will bid.

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